AGP Executive Report

Mail-Ballot Legal Fight: A federal judge temporarily blocked a new USPS rule that would have forced states to get federal approval for ballot designs and use a new USPS portal, saying compliance before the Nov. 3 election was “practically impossible” and could risk disenfranchisement; Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold called it a win against efforts to restrict access to mail ballots. Teen Tech Accountability: Meta’s massive U.S. settlement over children’s social media harms is driving renewed pressure for tougher protections, including daily usage limits and school-hour notification muting for under-18s, with lawmakers and parents demanding broader action. Colorado River Water War: Nevada sued over the federal Colorado River management plan, arguing upstream states won’t face mandatory cuts while southern Nevada bears the brunt—raising stakes for Western water planning. Local Governance & Safety: Greentop approved a storm/fire siren bid and discussed zoning and speed-limit changes amid concerns about data centers. Community & Health: Colorado Springs kids graduated from an entrepreneurship and financial literacy program focused on wellness and second chances.

Right-to-Repair Fight: Colorado’s new electronics right-to-repair law is getting its first real court test as Acme Revival sues Toast, Owl Labs, and Blackmagic, alleging they didn’t provide parts, schematics, tools, or software needed for independent fixes. Public Safety & Health: Former detainees say medical conditions worsened in a Colorado ICE facility, while Colorado authorities push for access to investigate a tuberculosis case. Election Law: A Supreme Court procedural ruling isn’t expected to change mail-ballot operations in Montrose County for now, but fresh lawsuits keep the fight alive. Water & Drought: The federal Colorado River plan is finalized, yet cities and farmers face uncertainty as Nevada sues over the rules and reservoirs hit record lows. Business & Travel: Southwest is opening record-high spring 2027 flight schedules, including major Denver-area departures. Sports (Local): The Broncos closed preseason strong with a 34-6 win over the Vikings, turning focus to roster decisions.

Election Security: Colorado’s Secretary of State said a website update accidentally exposed 133,000 confidential voter profiles for 11 days, including names, voter IDs, party info and residential addresses, before the issue was fixed and affected voters were notified. Tech & Kids: Meta abruptly ended a major U.S. case over addictive design, agreeing to a multibillion-dollar settlement and platform changes tied to lawsuits led by state AGs including Colorado. Local Politics: In Colorado’s 5th Congressional District debate, Republican Rep. Jeff Crank and Democrat Jessica Killin traded barbs on affordability and foreign policy. Public Health & Food: Denver’s latest survey found 35% of residents skipped meals due to financial strain, prompting a Food Justice Summit. Water & Risk: A Colorado State Patrol laser incident at Centennial Airport forced an aborted landing and is now being treated as a felony-level threat. Sports: The Broncos face roster cut decisions after the preseason finale, while Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is reportedly held out amid trade chatter.

Election Law: Colorado officials say USPS’s last-minute mail-in ballot portal rule would take “an act of God” to meet, after the Supreme Court cleared it and lawsuits seek to block parts of it. Invasive Species: Utah detected zebra mussel DNA in the Colorado River for the first time, urging boaters to clean, drain, and dry gear to stop spread. Tech & Kids: Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1B in a landmark child-safety settlement and will change Instagram/Facebook features for minors, with Colorado tied to the broader multistate fallout. Colorado Courts & Policy: A federal judge upheld Oregon’s packaging recycling law, a sign for other states’ EPR efforts that face constitutional challenges. Local Health: A Littleton substance abuse treatment center says its Medicaid contract ends in February 2027, warning residents could lose recovery and housing support. Sports Law: Courts are reshaping college eligibility again, with new fights over athletes returning after pro contracts. Business & Growth: Aurora is moving toward regulating data centers instead of banning them, as residents raise energy and water concerns.

Local Politics: In the race for Colorado governor, Attorney General Phil Weiser and Greg Lopez sparred in a televised debate, trading plans on housing, data centers, and gun laws while Marx skipped the event. Land Use Fight: El Paso County commissioners voted 4-1 to let a proposed Buc-ee’s move forward without public hearings after an appeal, but opponents say they’ll keep challenging the decision. Public Safety: Donations are being accepted for a Colorado State Patrol trooper seriously hurt in the Woodland Park-area shooting that left another trooper wounded and ended with the suspect killed. Water Watch: Denver Water approved an Oct. 1 ban on lawn sprinklers, with escalating fines for repeat offenders as drought tightens restrictions. Legal/Business: Colorado’s AG accused EarnIn of making illegal payday loans through its earned wage access product. Tech & Media: Meta’s teen social media addiction settlement is driving broader scrutiny of platform rules, while the FTC is probing YouTube over account suspensions and policy practices. Sports/Eligibility: The ACC weighed in on pro-athlete eligibility rules, adding to the legal churn around college sports and returning players.

Child Safety Legal Fallout: Meta agreed to pay up to about $17–$18B to states over claims it designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to minors, with default daily limits and nighttime blocks, stronger parental controls, and limits on certain feeds—while denying wrongdoing. Colorado Money & Policy: Colorado is set to receive about $615M from the settlement, as state officials frame it as a first step toward protecting kids online. Elections & Courts: Colorado AG Phil Weiser joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging new USPS mail-voting rules, arguing they could unlawfully restrict access. Local Infrastructure: Denver City Council approved $5.3M for the design of a pedestrian bridge linking the future Denver Summit FC stadium to the I-25/Broadway RTD station, aimed at improving safety for fans and neighbors. Water Restrictions: Denver Water will end residential lawn watering on Oct. 1, with some exemptions, as reservoirs remain low. Tech & Government Sales: Cloverleaf AI raised an $8M Series A to help B2G sellers with pre-RFP intelligence.

Meta Settlement: Colorado is set to receive about $615 million as Meta reaches a landmark multistate deal over alleged harms from Instagram and Facebook to children, including two-hour daily limits for teens and nighttime blocks without parental consent. Local Safety: Aurora police warned businesses about a crew of five shoplifters tied to 139 crimes and roughly $60,000 in stolen goods. Public Health: Colorado health officials urged people to watch for toxic algae as late-summer water temperatures rise, warning it can sicken people and be fatal to pets. Water & Drought: Denver Water is moving ahead with outdoor lawn watering bans starting Oct. 1 as reservoir levels stay under pressure. Courts & Sports Eligibility: The NCAA’s shifting rules on athletes returning to college keep triggering lawsuits, with Colorado-linked cases still unfolding. Wildlife/Outdoors: Toxic algae and drought pressures are also shaping how Coloradans use lakes and reservoirs before summer ends.

Big Tech Accountability: Meta agreed to pay up to about $17.1 billion and overhaul Facebook and Instagram teen features in a multistate child-safety settlement, including default daily time limits, overnight blocks, age-checking, and tighter controls on harmful content—while Meta denies wrongdoing. Colorado Election Fight: Colorado and other states sued the U.S. Postal Service to block a rule tied to Trump’s mail-ballot push, arguing USPS has no authority over who can vote by mail and that the timeline could disenfranchise eligible voters. Water Under Pressure: Denver Water ordered lawn sprinklers off starting Oct. 1 as drought drives reservoirs to record lows, and a rare Yampa River call curtails junior junior water rights amid historic conditions. Sports Policy: The SEC and Big Ten moved to bar athletes who sign pro contracts from returning to college, adding fuel to ongoing eligibility legal battles. Local Business/Community: Grand Junction’s Guardian Storage opened a new facility, and the Grand Junction Area Chamber honored 20 young professionals with NEXTGen awards.

Teen Social Media Trial: Instagram boss Adam Mosseri testified in Meta’s landmark case, admitting teen safety tools like “Take a Break” had low early use and that Meta didn’t disclose those figures, as 29 states seek about $200B in damages. Local Government & Public Safety: Aurora council members apologized on the anniversary of Elijah McClain’s death after approving pay raises for police and firefighters. Colorado Courts: A judge denied bond for a Lone Tree crash case that killed two people, and ordered a suspect held without bond. Road Safety: Boulder County identified an 85-year-old cyclist killed in a Longmont-area crash. Denver Environment: Denver’s new recycling and composting rules for restaurants and other businesses kick in Sept. 1. Sports & College Rules: The SEC joined the Big Ten in blocking former pro athletes from returning to play college sports. Business/Tech: A $37.5M NSF award boosts CU Boulder quantum research tied to faster sensors and disease detection. Nuggets/NFL: Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said his unit looked “unengaged” in a preseason loss to Green Bay.

Social Media Trial: Instagram chief Adam Mosseri is expected to testify Tuesday in a landmark case accusing Meta of designing Instagram and Facebook to hook children and mishandling kids’ data, with states including Colorado seeking massive penalties. Public Safety: Two Colorado State Patrol troopers were shot during a traffic stop near Woodland Park; a Blue Alert was issued, a shelter-in-place order briefly went into effect, and the suspect was later apprehended. Colorado River Fight: Nevada is suing over the Trump administration’s Colorado River operating guidelines that cut water deliveries to Lower Basin states, setting up more legal battles as reservoirs hit record lows. Local Housing & Planning: Greeley continues downtown water and sewer upgrades, while Denver’s Design Commission is set to review an East Colorado affordable housing plan replacing auto-sales buildings. Community & Culture: Sundance’s Boulder debut is getting clearer with dates and venues, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado opens public bidding for its Big Little Gala auction. Business & Tech: Honeycomb Insurance expands its Lessor’s Risk Only coverage into Colorado, and ElektraFi grows broadband options in Grand County.

Colorado River Legal Fight: Nevada sued the U.S. Interior Department over the federal Colorado River cut plan, arguing the Lower Basin gets hit far harder than the Upper Basin and that the Interior review didn’t properly account for impacts on southern Nevada. Denver Ethics & City Hall: An anonymous Denver city employee filed an ethics complaint against City Attorney Miko Brown tied to the city’s hiring of Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell at $800 an hour, raising questions about recusal, rate-setting, and contract oversight. Local Infrastructure Oversight: A Denver auditor report found oversight failures and planning gaps behind the $175.6M 16th Street Improvement Project, including an $18M increase and nearly a yearlong delay. Gun Purchase Waiting Period: A federal judge heard arguments on whether Colorado’s three-day waiting period for firearm purchases is constitutional. Education & Policy: Denver Public Schools welcomed 89,000 students back, including the start of a districtwide bell-to-bell phone ban. Pueblo Local Rules: Pueblo City Council passed a resolution requiring retailers to pay fees for abandoned shopping carts. Tech & Water Demand: A data center boom is drawing pushback as communities cite strain on power grids and cooling water needs.

Colorado River Legal Fight: Nevada sued the Trump administration over the new Colorado River Operations Record of Decision, arguing the plan could force Nevada to take up to 70% cuts while Upper Basin states like Colorado aren’t required to contribute, with no court date set. Local Schools & Taxes: Jefferson County voters will weigh $133 million in property tax increases in November to boost teacher pay, fund career/technical education, repair buildings, and add security—district leaders warn more cuts could follow if measures fail. Colorado Business Incentives: Beehive Industries won a $4.2 million performance-based job growth tax credit from the state, targeting 220 new jobs as it expands production assembly and test operations in Centennial and unincorporated Arapahoe County. Statehouse/Records: Attorneys general are withholding emails tied to a long-planned multistate effort to sue the Trump administration, according to a confidential document. Tech & Compliance: Colorado’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility rules are moving into active reporting and fees, pushing manufacturers to rethink costs and compliance across multiple states. Sports: Jeffco’s ballot fight comes as Colorado sports headlines roll on—from Dodgers’ surge over the Rockies to NWSL power rankings keeping Gotham near the top.

Local Government & Recycling: Littleton City Council backed a plan to expand recycling access by creating a hauler licensing system and an “Equal Space” ordinance so new developments set aside room for both trash and recycling pickup. Public Safety Tech: Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley is calling for compromise after backlash over the company’s surveillance network of automated license plate readers and cameras that critics say eroded privacy rights. Denver Infrastructure: Denver’s 16th Street Improvement Project hit major delays after crews uncovered an undocumented centuries-old brick storm sewer, adding $18M in costs and 301 days. Colorado Politics & Immigration: Districts across the Front Range are clarifying policies as ICE enforcement at or near schools remains a flashpoint for families and administrators. Wildfire Recovery: Gov. Polis is seeking federal disaster help after fires and flooding damaged hundreds of homes, including in Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain. Sports Business: Joe Sakic returned to the ice while working on a contract extension for Cale Makar, with training camp approaching.

Colorado River Update: The federal government finalized 2027–2028 Colorado River operating guidelines, with Lower Basin states taking the biggest cuts: Arizona 760,000 acre-feet, California 440,000, and Nevada 50,000—while Colorado and other Upper Basin states avoid set cut targets for now. Local Safety Scam Alert: Park County warned residents about scammers posing as deputies, spoofing local numbers, and claiming arrest warrants tied to missed jury duty—officials say no real agency will demand payment over the phone. Business Climate for Startups: A BizWest CEO roundtable heard that Colorado’s startup scene is strong, but keeping companies past Series A is harder as mid-to-late investors and hard-tech funding lag behind neighbors. Home Insurance Pressure: A new report highlights how repeated inland hail is reshaping homeowners insurance, pushing more coverage into the excess-and-surplus market. Community & Health: Colorado’s hail and pollution risks keep showing up in everyday life—from insurance costs to residents demanding answers about environmental burdens.

NCAA Eligibility Fight: Kentucky’s Mark Mitchell is cleared to chase a fifth season after a judge granted temporary relief, following a separate Colorado federal ruling that had opened eligibility for some Class of 2022 athletes—while the NCAA vows to fight similar cases. Denver Sports Business: The Nuggets add DeMar DeRozan on a one-year veteran minimum deal, expected to come off the bench after Denver traded Peyton Watson to Cleveland in a sign-and-trade that’s already sparked debate about Denver’s roster direction. Local Justice & Safety: A Colorado family says a K-9 attack left them facing $300,000 in medical debt, raising questions about county support after the incident. Colorado Courts & Crime: A former Durango teacher was sentenced to decades in federal prison for posing as a teen girl online and coercing images from dozens of boys. Colorado Economy & Energy: A CSU rooftop experiment found saffron grown under semi-transparent solar panels can nearly double yields, pointing to dual-income rooftop farming. Public Health & Environment: Federal officials finalized major Colorado River cuts, with Arizona taking the biggest reductions as drought worsens. Community & Violence Prevention: A Denver-area walk raised awareness and resources for domestic violence and sexual assault.

Nuggets Move: Denver is adding veteran wing DeMar DeRozan on a one-year deal worth the NBA veteran minimum ($3.9M), after trading Peyton Watson to Cleveland—an effort to keep Nikola Jokic’s title window alive. Broncos Update: Bo Nix returned from his ankle injury and looked “smooth” in his first preseason action, leading Denver to a touchdown in a loss to Green Bay. College Sports Legal Fight: A federal appeals court in Denver temporarily halted an NCAA eligibility ruling that would have given some 2022 graduates an extra year, keeping the situation in flux. Public Safety: Denver police are asking for help after a hit-and-run left a pedestrian seriously injured; a statewide “Medina Alert” was issued for the suspect truck. Colorado River: The federal government finalized deep Colorado River water cuts for 2027–28, with Arizona facing the biggest reductions. Meta Youth Safety: 29 states’ lawsuit against Meta over child safety claims is getting fresh attention, with Harry and Meghan backing the case.