Colorado
As Colorado legislative session winds down, property tax reform is still in the air, but progress on other fronts
For the second year in a row, the sounds of Cinco de Mayo echoed into the Capitol as lawmakers toiled on a Saturday to find common ground on proposed reforms to state land use and property tax policy.
The 120-day legislative session ends Wednesday, and lawmakers are still wrestling with some of the marquee proposals of the session, though with some breakthroughs on issues that had threatened to chew up valuable time — while other potential hot spots emerged.
The Senate passed Saturday a significantly narrowed ban on minimum parking requirements, one of the proposed land use reforms that emerged from the failure of last year’s omnibus proposal. The original bill had aimed to ban parking minimums throughout many of Colorado’s cities and suburbs. To tone down opposition, sponsor Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, a Pueblo Democrat, limited the ban just to areas along transit corridors. (Senators also ribbed Hinrichsen by offering an amendment that would remove his parking spot at the Capitol.)
“It will save a lot of money for builders, and they’ll be able to offer more product in the form of affordable housing, to actually build housing, as opposed to building parking and housing for folks that don’t necessarily want any parking,” Sen. Kevin Priola, a Henderson Democrat and bill sponsor, said.
The proposal, House Bill 1304, will now need to return to the House for reconsideration. Meanwhile, two other major land use proposals — one to boost the number of accessory dwelling units through the state and another to increase density along transit corridors — still need to formally pass the Senate after passing the House. Some senators have raised concerns about both as possibly stepping on local control.
Meanwhile, lawmakers negotiating a proposed long-term reform to property taxes continued to run around the Capitol to find a deal in the waning days. It needs to be introduced on Monday at the latest to have enough time to clear the building before the end of the regular session — and stave off another potential special session on property tax.
In addition to filling a gap in tax policy left by the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment and giving property owners a break on rising property taxes, they’re trying to head off ballot initiatives that would severely cap property tax collections. Backers of the initiatives argue it’s about keeping the government from growing faster than paychecks and keeping homeowners solvent. But state officials, including some elected Republicans, warn it would lead to draconian cuts to state and local government services.
Parties on all sides of the negotiation say they’re closing in on a deal, but it is still being tuned — and not guaranteed.
“We’re pushing really hard,” said Dave Davia, president of Colorado Concern, a business group backing some of the initiatives, adding that they’re hoping for a legislative solution.
Other priority bills for Democratic leadership continued apace Saturday.
The Senate formally passed a pair of bills to reduce emissions from oil and gas production and levy a per-barrel fee to pay for transit and wildlife habitat. The bills were introduced this week to ease simmering tensions between environmental groups, legislators and the industry and end dueling legislation and ballot initiatives affecting the industry. They will now go to the House for consideration.
Another bill, to put a 6.5% excise tax on guns and ammo in Colorado, also cleared a key Senate committee after concerns about its movement through the chamber boiled over into the public. The tax would raise an estimated $39 million a year and go to victim services and behavioral health programs.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus of Colorado publicly accused Sen. Kyle Mullica, a Thornton Democrat, of holding up the bill and threatening to kill it. He called the letter full of “falsehoods” and said the bill was merely going through standard amendment negotiations. He praised advocates and bill sponsors before voting yes on the bill in committee.
Meanwhile, the amended bill raised the hackles of Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, a Highlands Ranch Republican, because it removed school security as a possible use for the excise tax. He promised “vigorous” debate on the Senate floor if it isn’t replaced — a potent threat as lawmakers race against the Constitutionally required end of the session.
Voters will also have the chance to remove defunct language in the Colorado Constitution defining marriage as between a man and woman, after the House approved a referred measure Saturday. It already cleared the Senate. Referred measures to amend the state Constitution need at least two-thirds support in each chamber to pass. It passed with bipartisan support in the Senate, but near party lines in the House, where Democrats hold a supermajority.
The proposed amendment would remove a ban approved by voters in 2006. It has been unenforceable since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide with its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. A majority of voters will need to approve the proposal this November for it to take effect.
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Colorado
Point spread, betting odds for Boise State vs. Colorado State
Despite scoring seven points apiece in its last two games, Boise State will enter Saturday’s home finale against Colorado State as a massive favorite.
The Broncos (6-4, 4-2 Mountain West) are favored by 16.5 points over the Rams (2-8, 1-5). As of Monday mornings, Boise State is -880 on the moneyline while Colorado State is +580.
The over/under is set at 45.5 points.
Kickoff between the Broncos and Rams is scheduled for 5 p.m. Mountain time on Saturday. The game will air live nationally on FS1.
Boise State is coming off consecutive poor offensive performances in losses to Fresno State (30-7) and MWC-leading San Diego State (17-7). The Broncos have scored exactly seven points in all four losses this season.
After the San Diego State game, Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson reaffirmed his support of first-year offensive coordinator Nate Potter.
“I have absolute confidence in Nate Potter,” Danielson said. “Absolute confidence in him, absolute confidence in our offensive staff. But obviously it’s not good enough right now, I’m not running from that … but I don’t lose the trust in our coaches. We’ve got to look at it, though.
“We’ve got to see what are we missing, what are we teaching, why are we not able to create more explosive plays? And we weren’t, and I have to see why we didn’t see some of those things and what maybe scared us away from them.”
The Broncos were down three offensive starters against the Aztecs: quarterback Maddux Madsen, leading receiver Chris Marshall and left guard Jason Steele. The status of all three is unknown heading into Saturday’s matchup with Colorado State.
The Rams fired head coach Jay Norvell last month following a home loss to Hawaii. Colorado State will enter Albertsons Stadium on a four-game losing streak.
FanDuel has listed early betting lines for the other five Week 13 MWC games: Hawaii at UNLV (-3.5), Nevada at Wyoming (-6.5), New Mexico (-2.5) at Air Force, Utah State at Fresno State (-2.5) and San Jose State at San Diego State (-10.5).
Spread: Boise State -16.5
Moneyline: Boise State -880, Colorado State +580
Over/under: 45.5 points
Records against the spread: Boise State 5-3-2, Colorado State 4-6
Game time: 5 p.m. Mountain time | Saturday, Nov. 22
Location: Albertsons Stadium | Boise, Idaho
Live stream: Watch Boise State vs. Colorado State live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)
TV channel: FS1
Odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Colorado
Jonathan Drouin didn’t want to leave Colorado, but is fitting in well with Islanders
Patrick Roy was very familiar with Jonathan Drouin, the phenom, from his days coaching against him in the QMJHL.
A dozen years later, they’ve been reunited in the NHL with the New York Islanders. Roy is a different coach in his second go-round behind an NHL bench.
And Drouin is a different player than he was as a teenager terrorizing opposing defenses alongside Nathan MacKinnon for the Halifax Mooseheads.
“He’s very mature right now,” Roy said. “When he was in junior, he was a phenomenal playmaker. When he was playing with Nathan in Halifax, they were always a threat, and they were the leaders of their team. What I love about his game right now is that he is playing both sides. He makes really good plays for (Mathew Barzal), but he also defends really well. The 200-foot game that he’s playing shows me a lot of maturity in his game.
“I’m very impressed with him.”
Drouin’s evolution as a player has not happened on a linear path, but his two years with the Colorado Avalanche did wonders to rebuild his career and his value. The Avs got him on a bargain one-year deal after an up-and-down tenure with the Montreal Canadiens.
He fit in well and earned another one-year deal. Eventually, it was time to ask for more, and the Avalanche — with Gabe Landeskog coming back and Brock Nelson needing a long-term deal — could not provide it.
“It sucked. Obviously, sometimes you’ve got to do a decision for your family and for other reasons,” Drouin said. “I enjoyed my time in Colorado. I would have loved to stay here for the rest of my career, but the business side of it doesn’t allow it sometimes. You’ve got to move on and do different things.”
Drouin’s relationship with MacKinnon got him in the door with the Avs, but he became an integral member of the club for two seasons on his own. He had 19 goals and 56 points two seasons ago, then 11 goals and 37 points in just 43 games last year.
His development as a two-way player was a consistent talking point with Avs coach Jared Bednar. That was something Roy echoed. Drouin had 14 points in his first 17 games with the Islanders.
“He’s been a great addition for us,” Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri said. “I think he’s a guy you can put with anybody, and he elevates that line. He’s done a great job so far, and hopefully he continues to get better and more comfortable. It’s awesome to have a guy like that in your room and your lineup.”
When last season ended, it was pretty clear there wouldn’t be room for Drouin in Denver unless he was willing to take a discount again. Asking a player to do that multiple times in the prime of their career just isn’t feasible. Drouin said there were plenty of talks with the Avalanche, but he also knew before the free-agent market opened that a return wasn’t going to happen.
So on July 1, Drouin went back to the Eastern Conference, signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Islanders. That meant parting ways with MacKinnon.
“It was tough,” Drouin said. “Obviously, he brought me here. He was one of the main reasons I came here. It’s a very close group over there. It sucked to leave. Some of those happen as part of the business, I guess.”
Landing with the Islanders has meant a few reunions. Drouin and Anthony Duclair have been friends going back even before his Halifax days with MacKinnon. He knew Roy well, but he’s also played for assistant coach Ray Bennett with the Avs.
And he’s now in a position to be a veteran mentor for the other guy making his return Sunday night to Ball Arena. When the Avs traded for Nelson, one of the key parts of the deal going the other way was Calum Ritchie.
Colorado selected him in the first round of the 2023 NHL draft, and he became the club’s top prospect at one point. He played seven games for the Avs at the start of last season before returning to juniors.
Ritchie started this season in the AHL, but has played eight games for the Islanders without a point.
“I’m trying to help him as much as I can, honestly,” Drouin said. “I knew him from Colorado, a couple of games before he got sent down last year. He’s been great with us. He’s a kid that wants to learn, wants to get better. That’s always cool to see.”
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Colorado
Driver reportedly runs red light, causing multi-vehicle crash south of downtown Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – A multi-vehicle crash left lanes of a busy road closed south of downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday, according to police.
They told 11 News they responded to the crash a little before 7 p.m. at South Nevada and Southgate/Cheyenne Road.
Springs police said they believe a driver ran a red light there and crashed into three other vehicles, causing one to flip over. At least one person was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to police.
That intersection was closed while police investigated. So far, they said it’s early in the investigation and they are still looking into what happened.
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