Judge Limits Forced Prison Work Punishments

A judge on Friday ruled that the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) has been compelling prisoners to work, violating the state constitution’s ban on involuntary servitude.

The ruling comes in response to a class-action lawsuit alleging Colorado has failed to comply with Amendment A, which removed an exception clause for prison labor from the state’s prohibition of slavery.

In the Feb. 13 ruling, the court ordered CDOC to stop using certain disciplinary measures, such as long stretches in isolation, as punishment for not working, finding such policies to be unconstitutionally coercive.

Unless it’s appealed by the state, the decision could mean rapid, system-wide changes to how work is assigned and enforced in state prisons.

Colorado Health Funds Spared For Now

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to rescind $600 million in public health funds from Colorado and three other Democrat-led states.

The funds, which come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allow the states to track disease outbreaks and collect public health data. Colorado stands to lose $22 million from the cuts.

Federal officials cited concerns of fraud and mismanagement as reasons for the rescission. The four states’ attorneys general argue the funds were pulled over “policy disagreements,” including about diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

The judge, in addition to issuing a temporary restraining order, scheduled a hearing for tomorrow, Feb. 18.

Senior Athletes Take Over Keystone

The Summit 50+ Winter Games, an annual winter sports competition for athletes ages 50 and up, took place in Keystone and Frisco last week.

Dozens of athletes, some nearly 90 years old, competed in multiple ski, skate, ski mountaineering, and shooting events over three days. Biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, was among the most popular.

This year’s awards named a King and Queen of the games to recognize those who participated in the most events. Thomas Kullman, 67, of Keystone, competed in eight events, more than anyone else.

Guy Gadomski, the current event director of this decades-long tradition, says he wants to double the number of participants next year and add new events in the future.

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➤ Aurora: During congressional testimony, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons accused local law enforcement of leaking details of an operation targeting Tren de Aragua gang members, which he said jeopardized the operation. (See Details)

➤ Eastern Colorado: Xcel Energy said it doesn’t plan to perform any public safety power shutoffs this week, but enhanced powerline safety settings may result in wind-triggered outages. (See Details)

➤ Idaho Springs: A woman pleaded guilty to defrauding six entities, including investors for the Mighty Argo Cable Car project, of nearly $11 million from 2019 to 2021. She faces up to five years in prison. (More)

➤ Evergreen: A man opened fire with a shotgun inside a local health care facility before taking his own life Thursday. No one else was injured. (More)

➤ Aurora: A judge on Friday denied several families’ request to resume sex change treatments for minors at Children’s Hospital Colorado, which suspended the treatments amid federal pressure. (More)

➤ Aspen: The fire department signed a contract to purchase five autonomous firefighting drones capable of carrying up to 20 gallons of water plus 80 gallons of foam. (More)

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➤ Former Colorado Buffaloes tight end Christian Fauria tore into Deion Sanders’ coaching style in a recent interview: “I don’t think he’s very bright. I don’t think he can manage a game. I think there’s a lot of flash, but I think there’s no substance… He’s got a lot of people, like, brainwashed.” (More)

➤ The Denver Broncos hired USC assistant coach (and former Houston defensive coordinator) Doug Belk to coach defensive backs next season. (More)

➤ NBA superstar Anthony Edwards called out Nuggets center Nikola Jokić for his lack of effort and desire to play in the league’s All-Star game. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: Olympics | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ Walmart plans to build a 191,300-square-foot Supercenter and fueling station in Windsor after nearly two decades of delays, having first bought the parcel of land in 2007. (See Details)

➤ Denver consumer prices climbed 2.6% from a year earlier in January, slightly above the national inflation rate of 2.4%. (See Report)

➤ The World Famous Dark Horse, a Boulder restaurant and bar, announced it will permanently close on March 14 after more than five decades in business. (More)

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➤ Brick Planet, an exhibition of sculptures made from 1.5 million LEGO bricks at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, is open now and runs through May 3. (See Photos)

➤ The Denver Zoo recently welcomed its first-ever Huon tree kangaroo joey. Born in July, the joey is now six months old and can be occasionally seen peeking out of its mother’s pouch. (See Photos)

➤ This list of mountain-town restaurants along Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 285 spotlights everything from a Leadville saloon to the nation’s highest-elevation fried chicken. (See List)

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How often do you ski?

1. Several times per season
2. Once or twice a year
3. Every now and then
4. I’ve never skied
5. I don’t ski anymore

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite sport at the Winter Olympics?

1. Figure skating: 15%
2. I don’t watch: 14%
3. Skiing: 13%
4. Ice hockey: 13%
5. Curling: 12%
6. Snowboarding: 11%
7. Bobsledding: 11%
8. Other: 11%

 In 1889, the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride became the first bank robbed by what infamous outlaw?

Show me the answer