Lucas Brady Woods
Reporter, State CapitolEmail: lucas.woods@kunc.org
I’m the State Capitol Reporter at KUNC, which means I help make sense of the latest developments at the Colorado State Capitol. I cover the legislature, the governor, and government agencies.
My work as a reporter has always been about practical, responsible journalism. But there’s also more to it than that, especially these days. Fact-based journalism about elected officials, elections, and government policy helps us participate in our democracy. It also holds those in power to account. I’m also a firm believer in public radio as a way get that reporting to the public. KUNC and stations like it go a long way in keeping the news independent and free for everyone.
Before joining KUNC, I was the news director at KSJD, an NPR station in Montezuma County, in Southwest Colorado. While I was there, one of my stories there covering the housing crisis won an award from the Colorado Broadcasters Association in the spring of 2022.
When I’m not reporting, I could be exploring a new neighborhood in Denver or a trail in some far-flung corner of our beautiful state. That, or hanging out on my couch with my dog.
-
Automatic voter registration systems are in place across the country, but Native American reservations have historically been excluded—until now. State and tribal officials in Colorado are rolling out the first voter registration system of its kind for tribal members ahead of the 2024 presidential election. -
The four-day Global Conference for Israel drew hundreds of protestors to the Denver Convention Center over the weekend. The conference went ahead as planned, despite attempts to disrupt it.
-
The state legislature's Democratic majority pushed through a tax relief package for next year. The package includes tax rate adjustments, flat TABOR refunds, rental assistance, food benefits and an expanded income tax credit—all as tensions over the conflict in Gaza spilled onto the House floor.
-
Lawmakers convened at the State Capitol Friday for the first day of a special legislative session focused on providing property tax relief next year. Bipartisan collaboration seems unlikely as Democrat and Republican proposals remain at odds and several GOP bills have already been killed.
-
After his Democrats' tax relief plan failed this week, Gov. Jared Polis wants lawmakers to come up with a plan to avert next year’s sharp property tax increases, but they only have a few weeks to figure it out.
-
Statewide ballot measure Proposition HH was rejected even though it would provide the most immediate relief from rising property taxes. Voters also weighed in on mayoral races in Boulder and Fort Collins and school board races across Northern Colorado, including in Denver, the state’s largest district.
-
Colorado voters have just a few days left to cast their ballots for the 2023 election. The outcomes will impact how much Coloradans will have to pay in property taxes next year, who will run two of the state’s biggest cities, as well as the makeup of local school boards.
-
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston made addressing homelessness top priority as soon as he took office this summer, but advocates say local governments can’t solve the problem alone.
-
Colorado will pay up to $6,000 to residents who exchange their old, gas-powered cars for electric vehicles. Applications for the new program open this week.
-
Colorado student performance still lags post-pandemic, 'persistent and troubling' disparities remainThe Colorado Department of Education released student assessment data this week for the 2022-2023 academic year. It shows that student performance is still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels despite meager gains. Significant disparities based on gender, race, wealth and disability also remain.
