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Colorado's drought sparks lawn wars

Denver Water has a message for anyone mourning their emerald green yard: "Brown lawns are a badge of honor right now."

News

Coloradans are keeping tabs on their neighbors&#x27; sprinklers as cities like Denver crack down on water use during one of the state&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most punishing droughts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/exceptional-drought-denver-worst-categories-colorado/" data-vars-content-id="45eac834-ffbe-47a3-abf6-cd2d6d1569cd" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s drought sparks lawn wars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/exceptional-drought-denver-worst-categories-colorado/" target="_blank">most punishing droughts</a> in decades.Why it matters: Extreme heat and scant precipitation are straining water supplies, turning neighborhood lawns into a public test of who&#x27;s naughty or nice.

Melat Kiros sits on a Democratic island in Colorado

The 29-year-old democratic socialist has spent most of the campaign alone on the trail.

Election

Two days after her upset in the Democratic primary for Colorado&#x27;s 1st Congressional District, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Melat Kiros" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/04/02/progressive-challenger-kiros-tests-degette-primary" data-vars-content-id="0bb490e3-96aa-4cbb-b3a3-cc8cf07fc2bd" data-vars-headline="Melat Kiros sits on a Democratic island in Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/04/02/progressive-challenger-kiros-tests-degette-primary" target="_self">Melat Kiros</a> stood with party leaders behind a banner that read: &quot;Together We Win.&quot;<ul><li>Yes, but: Now she appears quite lonely.</li></ul>

Denver Public Schools starts year with sweeping phone ban

The personal communication device ban is one of the strictest in the state.

Denver Public School students return to class next Monday with a new rule: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="No mobile phones in class" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2024/09/05/colorado-school-districts-crackdown-cellphones-classrooms" data-vars-content-id="ebb9c759-56b7-4203-8e92-2cd5b3894758" data-vars-headline="Denver Public Schools starts year with sweeping phone ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2024/09/05/colorado-school-districts-crackdown-cellphones-classrooms" target="_self">No mobile phones in class</a> — at least not until the final bell rings. Why it matters: Colorado&#x27;s largest school district is adopting one of the state&#x27;s strictest personal device bans — part of a broader push by educators to keep students focused on whiteboards instead of pocket-size screens.

Cooler weather arrives in Denver

The shift starting Thursday could bring some much-needed rain.

Relief from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="scorching conditions should" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/05/27/colorados-summer-weather-outlook-is-wetter-and-hotter" data-vars-content-id="d38c1590-e886-4cf5-81af-134b1591a9e6" data-vars-headline="Cooler weather arrives in Denver" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/05/27/colorados-summer-weather-outlook-is-wetter-and-hotter" target="_self">scorching conditions should</a> arrive in Denver soon.Why it matters: The shift this week could bring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="some much-needed rain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/04/08/denver-water-drought-pricing-water-restrictions" data-vars-content-id="d38c1590-e886-4cf5-81af-134b1591a9e6" data-vars-headline="Cooler weather arrives in Denver" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/04/08/denver-water-drought-pricing-water-restrictions" target="_self">some much-needed rain</a> and reprieve after July&#x27;s record-breaking heat crept into August.

Colorado communities split on data center boom

Local communities' different approaches to data center development has created a patchwork of moratoriums, incentives and new restrictions.

Business

Colorado communities are taking dramatically different approaches to the boom in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center development" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/07/16/ai-data-center-water-regulations-cu-boulder" data-vars-content-id="0603ed11-e326-4195-bef4-abf5110ba9a1" data-vars-headline="Colorado communities split on data center boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boulder/2026/07/16/ai-data-center-water-regulations-cu-boulder" target="_self">data center development</a>, with a patchwork of moratoriums, incentives and new restrictions.Why it matters: The local experimentation is filling a vacuum left by state lawmakers, who failed last legislative session to agree on how Colorado should regulate the resource-hungry facilities.

Victor Marx's LG pick poised to play a key role

George Markert is a 54-year-old retired Marine colonel who lives in Broomfield.

Before George Markert agreed to join the Republican ticket <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="as lieutenant governor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/31/victor-marx-george-markert-lieutenant-governor-pick" data-vars-content-id="69faced5-6972-46f9-ad71-8378d4cb86f7" data-vars-headline="Victor Marx&#x27;s LG pick poised to play a key role" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/31/victor-marx-george-markert-lieutenant-governor-pick" target="_self">as lieutenant governor</a>, he questioned <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Victor Marx" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/09/marx-wins-gop-nomination-colorado-governor-kirkmeyer" data-vars-content-id="69faced5-6972-46f9-ad71-8378d4cb86f7" data-vars-headline="Victor Marx&#x27;s LG pick poised to play a key role" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/09/marx-wins-gop-nomination-colorado-governor-kirkmeyer" target="_self">Victor Marx</a> about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="his controversial past" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/08/10/victor-marx-colorado-governor-what-to-know" data-vars-content-id="69faced5-6972-46f9-ad71-8378d4cb86f7" data-vars-headline="Victor Marx&#x27;s LG pick poised to play a key role" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/08/10/victor-marx-colorado-governor-what-to-know" target="_self">his controversial past</a>.What he&#x27;s saying: Markert, a 54-year-old retired Marine colonel, left convinced Marx is the right person for the job.

Manny Rutinel once said veganism is a solution to food costs

"I eat for 3 dollars a day completely vegan," Manny Rutinel wrote on Reddit.

In newly unearthed social media posts, 8th Congressional District hopeful Manny Rutinel once said veganism is a solution to the high price of food.<ul><li>&quot;I eat for 3 dollars a day completely vegan,&quot; Rutinel wrote on Reddit in 2017. &quot;I think meat is what may be costing people so much.&quot;</li></ul>

Colorado puts new limits on sports betting as wagers soar

The rules aim to curb harmful gambling practices as sports betting reaches record highs.

A new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state law" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/03/18/colorado-sports-betting-advertising-prop-bets-limits" data-vars-content-id="f45047fb-2d06-4ce1-a0f1-ebc4bde3aeee" data-vars-headline="Colorado puts new limits on sports betting as wagers soar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/03/18/colorado-sports-betting-advertising-prop-bets-limits" target="_self">state law</a> imposing a sweeping set of restrictions on Colorado&#x27;s booming sports betting industry takes effect Wednesday.Why it matters: Colorado is trying to curb the harms of a soaring sports betting industry while increasingly relying on the tax revenue it generates to fund water conservation projects.

What we know and don't know about Victor Marx

Victor Marx is an enigma. The claims about his life are hard to prove and stretch the imagination.

Victor Marx is an enigma. The claims about his life are hard to prove and stretch the imagination.Why it matters: The Republican gubernatorial candidate&#x27;s biography — and its veracity — is central to his campaign and whether voters will support him in November.

Newcomer Blau casts himself as Denver's moderate candidate

Blau is running as an independent against another political newcomer.

It took independent congressional candidate Shimon Blau just three days in July to secure a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spot on the November ballot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/24/denver-colorado-progressive-2026-primary-election-data" data-vars-content-id="7c655f63-d785-42bb-93be-ad72d7aaf3d9" data-vars-headline="Newcomer Blau casts himself as Denver&#x27;s moderate candidate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/24/denver-colorado-progressive-2026-primary-election-data" target="_self">spot on the November ballot</a> to run for the Denver seat. He credits the effort to voters who he says want &quot;less polarization in politics.&quot;Why it matters: Blau is mounting a long-shot grassroots bid as a political unknown in the 1st Congressional District, hoping to pull off a massive upset this fall.

Military service key for Democratic congressional candidates

One reason Democrats are so bullish on flipping three GOP districts is their slate of candidates.

One reason <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democrats are so bullish" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/08/05/democrats-campaign-gop-districts-colorado-2026-election" data-vars-content-id="881ab027-24a2-430d-8f0a-f460ce9b5c3e" data-vars-headline="Military service key for Democratic congressional candidates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/08/05/democrats-campaign-gop-districts-colorado-2026-election" target="_self">Democrats are so bullish</a> on flipping three GOP districts is their slate of candidates, who can cross political boundaries as military veterans.State of play: The three Democratic contenders in the 3rd, 4th and 5th districts — Dwayne Romero, Eileen Laubacher and Jessica Killin, respectively — all served in the military, a key credential likely to boost their profiles among traditional Republican and unaffiliated voters.

Democrats think they can win all GOP seats in Colorado

The Democratic Party is looking to do the once-unthinkable this November.

The Democratic Party is looking to do the once-unthinkable this November: win all eight congressional districts in Colorado.Why it matters: If successful — especially in three right-leaning districts — the wins would likely push Democrats into control of the U.S. House, riding a wave of discontent about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/12/12/colorado-trump-administration-fights-escalate" data-vars-content-id="acaba7cb-095d-45b1-a9b5-bc2f201ce326" data-vars-headline="Democrats think they can win all GOP seats in Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/12/12/colorado-trump-administration-fights-escalate" target="_self">President Trump</a> and the Republican Party.

Special election set for Denver City Council seat

Sarah Parady's resignation went into effect Wednesday.

Denver voters will get an unusual opportunity to elect a new City Council member this fall after the body set an election date to fill the at-large seat <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="formerly represented by Sarah Parady" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/06/01/councilmember-sarah-parady-resign" data-vars-content-id="21a8154f-b062-4b94-ba5a-aa808420d14b" data-vars-headline="Special election set for Denver City Council seat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/06/01/councilmember-sarah-parady-resign" target="_self">formerly represented by Sarah Parady</a>.Why it matters: Replacing the progressive leader is the latest test for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democratic Socialists of America" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/07/denver-dsa-biggest-win-melat-kiros" data-vars-content-id="21a8154f-b062-4b94-ba5a-aa808420d14b" data-vars-headline="Special election set for Denver City Council seat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/07/denver-dsa-biggest-win-melat-kiros" target="_self">Democratic Socialists of America</a>&#x27;s local chapter, which backed Parady and hopes to retain the seat.

Politics 🇺🇸

Independent Bob Chew bets big on Colorado Senate bid

Colorado communities split on data center boom

Melat Kiros sits on a Democratic island in Colorado

Victor Marx's LG pick poised to play a key role

Manny Rutinel once said veganism is a solution to food costs