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Colorado paid $767M in Trump tariffs before SCOTUS ruling

The question now is whether businesses — or everyday Americans — will get refunds.

News

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court declared a large swath of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump&#x27;s tariffs illegal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-illegal" data-vars-content-id="cf8904ab-5df9-477a-a8b6-4b0686605804" data-vars-headline="Colorado paid $767M in Trump tariffs before SCOTUS ruling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-illegal" target="_self">President Trump&#x27;s tariffs illegal</a>, the question is whether businesses — or everyday Americans — will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="get refunds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-states-refunds" data-vars-content-id="cf8904ab-5df9-477a-a8b6-4b0686605804" data-vars-headline="Colorado paid $767M in Trump tariffs before SCOTUS ruling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-states-refunds" target="_self">get refunds</a>.

Community leaders rally, demand unity amid increased ICE activity

Immigrant advocates, community leaders, artists and a state lawmaker urged unity against what they characterize as aggressive immigration enforcement.

Parents are afraid to take their children to school. People are skipping important cultural celebrations. Others are hesitant to go to work.State of play: Those are some of the ripple effects described Friday by community leaders, who say <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Immigration and Customs Enforcement&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/01/27/colorado-immigration-ice-state-lawmakers" data-vars-content-id="f559426e-8e44-47e6-8327-9fe1dce57448" data-vars-headline="Community leaders rally, demand unity amid increased ICE activity" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/01/27/colorado-immigration-ice-state-lawmakers" target="_self">Immigration and Customs Enforcement&#x27;s</a> increased activity is affecting daily routines in parts of Denver&#x27;s Indigenous, Asian American, Black and Latino communities.

Environmental concerns among Westerners mount, new poll shows

From President Trump's first term to his second, Westerners have become more intensely concerned about the rollback of environmental protections.

From President Trump&#x27;s first term to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="his second" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/02/19/colorado-voters-oppose-trump-cuts-federal-public-lands-poll" data-vars-content-id="5468e355-c646-47d0-8cd9-1e88f8232d86" data-vars-headline="Environmental concerns among Westerners mount, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/02/19/colorado-voters-oppose-trump-cuts-federal-public-lands-poll" target="_self">his second</a>, Westerners have become more intensely concerned about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the rollback" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/18/epa-endangerment-finding-lawsuit" data-vars-content-id="5468e355-c646-47d0-8cd9-1e88f8232d86" data-vars-headline="Environmental concerns among Westerners mount, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/18/epa-endangerment-finding-lawsuit" target="_self">the rollback</a> of environmental protections, a new poll shows.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="numbers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewest/2026-poll-data/cc-national-press-release.pdf" data-vars-content-id="5468e355-c646-47d0-8cd9-1e88f8232d86" data-vars-headline="Environmental concerns among Westerners mount, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewest/2026-poll-data/cc-national-press-release.pdf" target="_blank">numbers</a> from the annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Conservation in the West poll" data-vars-click-url="https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewest/2026.html" data-vars-content-id="5468e355-c646-47d0-8cd9-1e88f8232d86" data-vars-headline="Environmental concerns among Westerners mount, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewest/2026.html" target="_blank">Conservation in the West poll</a> released Wednesday suggest conservation isn&#x27;t a niche issue — it&#x27;s political bedrock in eight Southwest and Rocky Mountain states.

Colorado group seeks new congressional maps to counter Trump-backed redistricting push

Coloradans for a Level Playing Field filed four potential ballot initiatives.

Election

A new Colorado ballot initiative set for introduction Wednesday would ask voters to temporarily suspend the state&#x27;s independent congressional redistricting system and approve new maps for the 2028 and 2030 elections, arguing the move is necessary to counter a GOP-led <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mid-decade redistricting drive" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/28/redistricting-illinois-indiana-trump-jeffries" data-vars-content-id="7ba3aa77-f2dc-444a-bdc0-63fe74eb7ba5" data-vars-headline="Colorado group seeks new congressional maps to counter Trump-backed redistricting push" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/28/redistricting-illinois-indiana-trump-jeffries" target="_self">mid-decade redistricting drive</a>.Why it matters: Colorado voters created an independent commission in 2018 as part of an effort to curb partisan gerrymandering. Now, Democratic-aligned organizers want to manipulate the drawing of congressional districts.

Long COVID can still kill, new Colorado data shows

The state's mortality rate is still higher than pre-pandemic years at 682 per 100,000 people.

Health

Long COVID is a &quot;significant contributing factor&quot; in the death of 38 Colorado residents in 2023 and another 14 so far in 2024, new state figures show.Why it matters: Years removed from the height of the pandemic, chronic conditions derived from COVID-19 continue to contribute to the state&#x27;s death rate, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CPR reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cpr.org/2024/07/10/colorado-deaths-long-covid/" data-vars-content-id="c4f3141d-4280-4e5b-adee-56824b91ad1f" data-vars-headline="Long COVID can still kill, new Colorado data shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cpr.org/2024/07/10/colorado-deaths-long-covid/" target="_blank">CPR reports</a>.

How long COVID is still affecting Coloradans

Recent surveys estimate 5-7% of the population is suffering the effects of long COVID.

COVID

Four years after the pandemic <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shut down Colorado" data-vars-click-url="https://coloradosun.com/2020/03/25/colorado-staty-at-home-order-coronavirus/" data-vars-content-id="15f4a663-6f56-4046-9d76-4b1c61ce40e5" data-vars-headline="How long COVID is still affecting Coloradans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/03/25/colorado-staty-at-home-order-coronavirus/" target="_blank">shut down Colorado</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the coronavirus" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/covid" data-vars-content-id="15f4a663-6f56-4046-9d76-4b1c61ce40e5" data-vars-headline="How long COVID is still affecting Coloradans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/covid" target="_self">the coronavirus</a> is an afterthought for many. Yet for one in seven of those who became infected, it remains an everyday burden.Why it matters: The scope of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="long COVID" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/16/long-covid-test-treatment-vaccine" data-vars-content-id="15f4a663-6f56-4046-9d76-4b1c61ce40e5" data-vars-headline="How long COVID is still affecting Coloradans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/16/long-covid-test-treatment-vaccine" target="_self">long COVID</a> is just now coming into focus, and the state says a new approach is needed as patients wait months for care and suffer major symptoms at home.

COVID climbs in Colorado as holiday travel season gears up

Masking up this holiday season may not be a bad idea.

Masking up this holiday season may not be a bad idea.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wastewater analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/11/wastewater-diseases-covid-polio-monkeypox" data-vars-content-id="9104e139-e076-4121-a48c-b4c9363e0105" data-vars-headline="COVID climbs in Colorado as holiday travel season gears up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/11/wastewater-diseases-covid-polio-monkeypox" target="_self">Wastewater analysis</a> sites nationwide are showing high levels of COVID, the latest CDC data shows.<ul><li>Almost every state reporting such data is showing at least &quot;high&quot; levels compared to baseline trends, with 22 reporting &quot;very high&quot; levels.</li></ul>

COVID booster shots hard to find in Colorado

If you're looking for a COVID-19 booster shot, good luck.

If you&#x27;re looking for a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19 booster shot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/11/fda-approves-updated-covid-19-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="21b891be-4786-4094-a945-891c0760e8e3" data-vars-headline="COVID booster shots hard to find in Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/11/fda-approves-updated-covid-19-vaccines" target="_self">COVID-19 booster shot</a>, good luck.Driving the news: High demand and limited supply is making the vaccine hard to find in Colorado as health care providers struggle to get allocations.

Colorado health officials watching COVID cases closely as hospitalizations rise in the U.S.

New variant EG.5, "Eris," is now the dominant strain in the U.S.

Serious cases of COVID-19 in Colorado have remained low throughout the summer, but it may not stay that way for long.Driving the news: COVID hospitalization rates across the state fell 11% between June and July, despite signs of a late summer wave sweeping much of the U.S., Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/covid-19-cases-2023-uptick-where-why" data-vars-content-id="8edac4c9-eecb-4f5e-a469-c09fe691bd46" data-vars-headline="Colorado health officials watching COVID cases closely as hospitalizations rise in the U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/covid-19-cases-2023-uptick-where-why" target="_self">report</a>.

Denver considers issuing COVID checks

City council is set to hear a proposal today to use $3 million in federal pandemic aid money for one-time, direct cash assistance for families directly impacted by COVID-19.

Denver residents who were ineligible to receive federal public benefits like unemployment checks during the pandemic could get a one-time cash transfer from the city.Driving the news: The city council is set to hear a proposal Wednesday to use $3 million in federal pandemic aid money for one-time, direct cash assistance for families directly impacted by COVID-19.

Colorado recorded 5th-most COVID-19 deaths, which now top 15,000

Three years after the pandemic arrived in Colorado, the state reached a bleak milestone.

Three years after the pandemic arrived in Colorado, the state reached a bleak milestone: 15,000 COVID-19 deaths.What&#x27;s happening: The state reported 15,007 deaths as of Wednesday, making it the most deadly event in Colorado in history, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CPR reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cpr.org/2023/03/22/colorado-covid-deaths-15000/" data-vars-content-id="8e58a80b-22df-457e-82e7-0949f6792972" data-vars-headline="Colorado recorded 5th-most COVID-19 deaths, which now top 15,000" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cpr.org/2023/03/22/colorado-covid-deaths-15000/" target="_blank">CPR reports</a>. The first fatality was on March 13, 2020.

Denver wants to test your poop for viruses

COVID is waning in Denver, but the city is starting a program to replace a state-run effort testing wastewater for viruses.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19 is waning" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/03/03/denver-ends-covid-state-of-emergency" data-vars-content-id="70dcd94d-20ab-4aa3-a215-750e071bf098" data-vars-headline="Denver wants to test your poop for viruses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/03/03/denver-ends-covid-state-of-emergency" target="_self">COVID-19 is waning</a> in Denver, but the city&#x27;s public health department is starting a program to replace a state-run effort testing wastewater for the virus.Why it matters: The city wants to use the testing program to detect and track other viruses in the future, city public health department spokesperson Courtney Ronner tells Axios Denver.

Mayor Hancock officially ends Denver's COVID state of emergency

The move marks the end of the pandemic for the Mile High City.

Denver&#x27;s COVID-19 state of emergency ended this week, nearly three years after Colorado&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first case" data-vars-click-url="https://covid19.colorado.gov/press-release/colorado-has-first-positive-case-covid-19" data-vars-content-id="d7c2411a-c5c9-4fc7-ba8c-4aa2a3c903a5" data-vars-headline="Mayor Hancock officially ends Denver&#x27;s COVID state of emergency" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://covid19.colorado.gov/press-release/colorado-has-first-positive-case-covid-19" target="_blank">first case</a> was reported March 5, 2020.Why it matters: The move marks the end of the pandemic for the Mile High City.

Denver to close online elementary, marking pandemic milestone

Parents lobbied to keep the online school available for students who struggle in traditional classrooms

Denver will stop offering its online elementary school after this year as student enrollment declines and COVID-19 fears subside.Why it matters: Denver Public Schools created the online learning hub in fall 2021 as an alternative to in-person learning, and its closure announced Monday marks a milestone in the pandemic.

COVID 🦠

Long COVID can still kill, new Colorado data shows

How long COVID is still affecting Coloradans

COVID climbs in Colorado as holiday travel season gears up

COVID booster shots hard to find in Colorado

Colorado health officials watching COVID cases closely as hospitalizations rise in the U.S.