All Entries in the "Consumer Issues" Category
Colorado wants to limit SNAP from paying for soft drinks
Colorado Healthy Choice Waiver would apply to sweetened beverages without milk or significant juice The rule would apply only to foods covered by SNAP, so recipients could pay for those beverages separately if they have the money to do so. Ending SNAP funding for soft drinks has been a priority for Gov. Jared Polis for […]
Colorado State Representative Ty Winter proposes Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
For too long, families across House District 47 have been stretched thin by the rising cost of everyday necessities. When you live miles from the nearest big box store, every dollar matters. Since I was elected, I have worked to make sure rural communities are no longer an afterthought in policy discussions at the Capitol. […]
Colorado Employment Situation — December 2025 – Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Increase by 1,200 in December; Unemployment Rate Decreases to 3.8 Percent
Colorado Employment Situation for December of 2025 Household survey data According to the survey of households, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 2,000 to 123,800 from November to December. Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point over the same time period to 3.8 percent. The national unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of […]
The fees Colorado consumers will face after “junk fee” law has taken effect
Article courtesy of Tamara Chuang, Business/Technology Reporter/The Colorado Sun The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported, nonprofit news organization that strives to help local publications by providing news stories free of charge. Learn more at coloradosun.com Colorado’s new law prohibiting deceptive pricing went into effect Jan. 1. But that doesn’t mean diners won’t see a “kitchen appreciation” or […]
Colorado Continues to Drive Down Auto Theft in 2025
(COLORADO) – Colorado is starting the New Year with some good news – the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) and the Colorado State Patrol are pleased to announce that Colorado saw further reductions of auto theft in 2025. Colorado is on a positive trend in reducing motor vehicle theft, and 2025 marks the third […]
Colorado faces $24M federal funding cut over illegal commercial driver’s licenses
DENVER (AP) — The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation threatened Monday to withhold $24 million in federal funding from the state of Colorado for what he described as a slow response to a major violation of federal commercial driver’s license regulations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pointed to a nationwide audit conducted in October that […]
Coloradans will soon no longer have to pay to recycle
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) approved the Producer Responsibility Program Tuesday. The program shifts recycling costs to the businesses that produce packaging. “It’s going to simplify recycling, meaning that we’ll have one standardized list of what’s accepted. So, instead of it being different from city to city or different parts of the state, […]
Colorado Employment Situation — September 2025
Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Increase by 500 in September; Unemployment Rate Decreases to 4.1 Percent Household survey data According to the survey of households, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 4,800 to 134,300 from August to September. Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point over the same time period to 4.1 percent. The national […]
Already tough, housing affordability has worsened in rural Colorado
419 Willoughby Way in Aspen sold for $108 million last year, making it the highest priced home ever sold in Colorado. (Courtesy of David O. Marlow) State leads the nation for the income rural households need to buy a typical home, according to Redfin Colorado has the highest rural median home prices and the highest […]
Xcel Energy seeks $355.5M revenue hike, increasing residential bills nearly 10% on average
Utility says rate increase would cover costs associated with growth in demand, reliability Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest electric utility, has asked state regulators for an increase of $355.5 million to its rate base, which would boost the average residential electric bill by nearly 10% per month. Xcel filed the proposal Friday with the Colorado Public Utilities […]
Government shutdown ends with late-night vote
Government shutdown ends after House passes spending package, Trump signs it By Caitlyn Kim – CPR News Nov. 12, 2025, 7:14 pm Jacquelyn Martin/APPresident Donald Trump signs the funding bill to reopen the government, in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Washington. Updated at 8:33 p.m., on Wednesday, November […]
What happens when the government shuts down?
The federal government shut down Wednesday after lawmakers left the Capitol without passing a funding bill. Agencies and departments have issued guidance in recent days on what to expect when the money runs out. Here’s what will happen during the shutdown. How does a shutdown affect the military? The majority of veteran benefits and military […]
DOR warns of new text message scam in effort to get ahead of fraudsters
Denver – September 19, 2025 — The Department of Revenue wants taxpayers to be aware of a new text-based tax scam that is spreading throughout the country, and could target Coloradans. Recently, the Colorado Department of Revenue received reports of taxpayers in other states being targeted by fraudsters. It is likely that Centennial State residents will […]
Lamar and La Junta mayors blindsided by Safeway’s abrupt announcement of closure of both stores
Mayor Kirk Crespin learned late in the morning on September 9, 2025 that the Lamar Safeway is being closed by Safeway’s corporate office. The news came as a complete surprise, confirmed with an official notice from the Director of Communications with Safeway’s Mount West Division. He said he was on the phone or exchanging emails […]
National Corn Growers Association alarmed about economic crisis hitting rural areas
Last week, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) continued to raise alarm about the economic crisis hitting rural America, as commodity prices drop at a time when input costs remain at near-record highs. As NCGA urges Congress and the administration to act to drive increased demand for corn, such as higher blends of ethanol and increased foreign market […]
