The federal government began to reopen Thursday, but in some areas, the processes for getting things back to normal after a record 43-day shutdown will take time.

Congress has roughly two months to find bipartisan agreement to curb rising health insurance costs if lawmakers want to avoid another government shutdown.

Colorado and six other states failed to reach a broad agreement this week on how to share the Colorado River’s dwindling water supply, missing a federally-imposed deadline after days of intense closed-door negotiations.

Commentary: The proposed widening of Interstate 270 shows the Colorado Department of Transportation hasn't learned from its mistakes.

Colorado state lawmakers in charge of writing the state’s budget are questioning Gov. Jared Polis’ proposal to fund Medicaid less than it was projected to grow over the upcoming fiscal year.

UPDATED: The longest shutdown in U.S. history ended Wednesday night when President Donald Trump signed a spending package that reopens the government and funds most of it through January.

Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva was sworn in to office Wednesday, after a delay that critics allege was because the Arizona lawmaker pledged to be the deciding signature on a petition to release the so-called Epstein files.

The U.S. House plans to approve a stopgap spending bill Wednesday evening that will end the record-breaking 43-day government shutdown once President Donald Trump signs the legislation.

Commentary: The $1 billion Vibrant Denver bond package will shape the future of city parks, streets and public facilities. If managed well, it will also build trust.

U.S. House Democrats investigating the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein released emails Wednesday they say show President Donald Trump knew about the financier’s abuse of underage girls as far back as 2011.

The U.S. Supreme Court has extended through Thursday a pause on lower courts’ orders that the Trump administration authorize a full month of benefits for a food assistance program that 1 in 8 Americans use to buy groceries.

After the Senate passed a stopgap funding bill that does not include extended Affordable Care Act tax credits, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet is not confident that a future floor vote in the Senate will lead to an extension.

Coloradans who receive money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program should get partial payments in the coming days, state officials said Tuesday.

The shutdown tug-of-war over SNAP benefits: a timeline

As states compete for rural health care dollars from a new federal fund, Colorado is proposing to increase remote patient monitoring for rural patients living far from care.

The Trump administration continued Monday to press the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn lower court decisions requiring the federal government pay for full benefits for a major food program, even as Congress appeared to approach an end to the record-breaking government shutdown.

Colorado Democrats in Congress on Monday asked the U.S. Department of the Interior to keep in place a 2024 rule that allows federal public lands to be leased for environmental protection, which the Trump administration intends to rescind.

The U.S. Senate was on track to approve a stopgap spending bill Monday that will end the longest government shutdown in American history once the measure becomes law later this week.

The Colorado Department of Corrections has not received a request from the federal Bureau of Prisons to move Tina Peters from state prison into a federal facility, despite reported calls from advocates and government officials to do so.

A small crowd demonstrated at the entrance to Centennial Airport on Sunday, protesting Colorado-based Key Lime Air over its operation of detainee transport flights for ICE.

ICYMI: US Senate advances bill to end record-breaking government shutdown

A deal was within reach Sunday night to end the longest federal government shutdown in history, when it appeared enough U.S. Senate Democrats had agreed to join Republicans on the agreement. Colorado Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper were opposed to the deal. By @ashleymurray.bsky.social

A small crowd demonstrated at the entrance to Centennial Airport on Sunday, protesting Colorado-based Key Lime Air over its operation of detainee transport flights for ICE.

Following a Friday emergency ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration has instructed states that authorized full November SNAP benefits to return a portion, another unprecedented reversal for a program that helps 42 million people afford groceries. By @fischler.bsky.social

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked Friday night a lower court’s order that the Trump administration pay for a full month of food benefits. Only about 32,000 Coloradans out of about 600,000 SNAP recipients received payments before the high court's decision. By @fischler.bsky.social

The first flights affected by a new FAA directive led to widespread delays and cancellations Friday. Denver International Airport was in the top 5 for cancellations. By @fischler.bsky.social

The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states Friday it was releasing full November funding for the nation’s major food assistance program that helps 42 million people afford groceries, complying with a federal court order issued Thursday.

Your support for Colorado Newsline is an investment in a vital public good. When you give now, you help us unlock a $1,000 Access Match from #newsCOneeds! Support information about Colorado today. 👉 www.coloradogives.org/organization...

Commentary: As Colorado Gov. Jared Polis unveils his next state budget, his commitment to fully fund education, including kindergarten, carries real weight. We can’t afford to turn back. From Jamita Horton of @teachplus.bsky.social Colorado

States’ death penalty policies are heading in sharply different directions. Colorado is among states that have abolished the death penalty. From @stateline.org

After a strong start in October, the pace of Colorado ballot returns slackened in the days leading up to Election Day this week, putting 2025 on pace for a middle-of-the-road turnout figure for an off-year election. By @chasewoodruff.bsky.social

Researchers for Colorado’s racial equity study said they plan to have a draft of the full historical report by next November that details inequalities caused by systemic racism in the state. By @sarawilson.bsky.social

Over 60% of Latino voters in Colorado think their civil rights have become less secure since President Donald Trump began his second term, according to survey results released Thursday. By @sarawilson.bsky.social

ICYMI: Far-right Colorado podcaster Joe Oltmann sues Mike Lindell and MyPillow over unpaid $3 million loan

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will reduce the largest monthly food assistance payments by about 35% in November, a smaller decrease than the department initially estimated, according to a court filing late Wednesday. By @fischler.bsky.social

U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who made history as the first woman to hold the speaker’s gavel, announced Thursday she will retire, ending a 40-year legislative career as one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress. By @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social

Commentary: A Trump smackdown was seen throughout Colorado's election results, and the message from voters says as much to Democrats as to Republicans headed into next year’s election.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday the Federal Aviation Administration would restrict air travel in 40 “high-traffic” areas of the country to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working without a paycheck since Oct. 1. By @fischler.bsky.social

The U.S. Supreme Court during lengthy arguments Wednesday weighed whether President Donald Trump violated the Constitution when he became the first U.S. president to impose sweeping global tariffs under an economic emergency powers statute usually reserved to combat rare and unusual threats.

Following major Democratic wins in local and state elections across the country on Election Day, top Democratic congressional leaders pushed for a meeting with the president to end the federal government shutdown, which on Wednesday became the longest in U.S. history at day 36.

Latino groups in Colorado condemned U.S. Rep Lauren Boebert’s costume at a Halloween party over the weekend, calling it racist and cruel.

NEW: Far-right Colorado podcaster Joe Oltmann is suing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a onetime ally in the national election conspiracy theory movement, alleging Lindell breached the terms of $3 million loan agreement. By @chasewoodruff.bsky.social

Democrats won virtually every high-profile contest in elections across the nation Tuesday. Following are some selected passages from stories written by the local reporters with States Newsroom network affiliates and partners in the states where the elections happened. From @nevadacurrent.com

Top Colorado election results Progressives ahead in key local races: coloradonewsline.com/2025/11/04/c... Boost to free school meals program: coloradonewsline.com/2025/11/04/c... Denver bond package, flavored tobacco ban ahead: coloradonewsline.com/2025/11/04/d... By @chasewoodruff.bsky.social

Colorado made plans to close coal plants. Trump agenda could force a reversal.

Early, unofficial Colorado election results Tuesday night showed progressive, union-backed and Democratic-affiliated candidates leading in many of the highest-profile races at the local level. By @chasewoodruff.bsky.social

ELECTION UPDATE: Colorado voters have passed Proposition MM, according to @apnews.com. The measure would shore up funding for Colorado's free school meals program by taxing rich households.

The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race in Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s favor. She will be Virginia’s first woman governor. From the @virginiamercury.com

Two ballot measures to fund Colorado’s universal school meals program, the only statewide contests in the 2025 off-year election, led in early results Tuesday night. By @chasewoodruff.bsky.social

Democrat Mikie Sherrill was elected New Jersey governor on Tuesday, the Associated Press projects, landing a hard-fought victory that many election observers regarded as a rejection President Donald Trump. From @newjerseymonitor.com