Today on Colorado Edition: we’ll hear the highlights from Colorado’s legislative session, which finished on Monday, and learn about rental assistance for Coloradans facing eviction. We will also learn about the education budget in our state, and what COVID-19 will mean for summer camps.
Colorado’s Legislative Session Concludes
Colorado lawmakers just finished what many are saying was the strangest legislative session they have ever seen. KUNC’s Scott Franz followed the last three weeks of drama at the state Capitol. He joined us to talk about what the legislature got done in the final days, and what happens next.
Rental Assistance For Coloradans
In early May, Gov. Jared Polis banned evictions for a month, due to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of June, Polis had extended the order for two more weeks, as state lawmakers prepared to address the issue in the legislative session.
Now that the legislative session has come to a close, lawmakers and the governor have taken action to protect renters, although evictions will be able to start up again. KUNC’s Matt Bloom explains.
Bolstering The Education Budget
We’re going to shift now to education. Lawmakers have been focused on addressing a major budget shortfall and, at the tail end of the legislative session, approved two measures that could channel money into the state’s education budget.
Erica Meltzer, Bureau Chief at Chalkbeat Colorado, joined us to talk through these efforts to bolster the education budget. She also broke down the changes the state legislature made to the Public School Finance Act, which you can read here.
Summer Camps Open, With New Rules
Sports and day camps are open – but have to operate under new rules as part of the state's "safer-at-home" order. These coronavirus guidelines present different challenges for different programs. That’s meant some have delayed opening while others have found new spaces for their participants. As KUNC’s Stephanie Daniel reports, this includes one new business that’s offering summer camps for the first time.
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Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs.
Colorado Edition is hosted by Erin O'Toole (@ErinOtoole1) and Henry Zimmerman (@HWZimmerman), and produced by Lily Tyson. The web was edited by digital editor Jackie Hai. Managing editor Brian Larson contributed to this episode.
KUNC's Colorado Edition is a news magazine taking an in-depth look at the issues and culture of Northern Colorado. It's available on our website, as well as on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can hear the show on KUNC's air, Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m., with a rebroadcast of the previous evening's show Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 a.m.