DENVER — Owners of a Colorado grocery store focused on sustainable packaging have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand their business — and their impact — with an appearance on “Shark Tank” right here on Denver7 on March 11 at 8 p.m.
“Honestly, they weren’t as sharky as I was expecting,” said CEO and Co-founder of Nude Foods Market Rachel Irons, laughing. “We made a list of over 100 questions that we thought they might ask us, put answers to them and practiced those to make sure that we were ready for whatever they could throw at us.”
Denver7’s Ethan Carlson
Rachel Irons, CMO of Nude Foods Market, credits some of the store’s success to the sustainability-minded culture of Colorado.
“Shark Tank” producers reached out to Irons and Verity Noble, CMO and another co-founder of the small grocery business, after learning about their business model. They have a store in Boulder and in Denver, and they are zero-waste grocery stores where all of the products are packaged by employees into pre-weighed glass jars. Customers head home with those containers and return them to the store the next time they go shopping.
“Not only is our packaging sustainable, but every piece of food in here is deeply researched to make sure it’s good for people and planet,” Noble said. “We want to be a one-stop shop for people. So, we want to be an actual viable alternative to mainstream grocery shopping.”
Nude Foods started during the pandemic as an online grocery-delivery service in Boulder. Not wanting to harm the environment by packaging foods in single-use plastic containers, customers would be given glass jars that they would give back to the delivery drivers on their next order.
Denver7’s Ethan Carlson
CMO of the store Verity Noble is excited, and a bit nervous, to see their pitch on national television.
The business boomed, and after only about a year they opened their first retail store in Boulder. The owners credit a lot of that success to the culture of Colorado.
“I think Colorado is the perfect place to open a zero-waste grocery store,” Noble said. “People here love the outdoors. That generally makes them more interested in the environment, more thoughtful, and more conscious about what they put out there.”
Now, they are trying to grow. First, they want to expand to five stores in the Denver area to prove that their business model works and to automate some of the jarring they currently do by hand. If that is successful, they plan on expanding to other cities in the United States. They’re hoping the sharks can help them make their dream come true.
“Rachel and I probably ran through our pitch, I don’t know, 250 times,” said Noble, laughing. “However big you made it, they wanted it bigger, so we had to be really over the top with it, which was kind of fun.”
Watch the show on Denver7 on March 11 at 8 p.m.
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Ethan Carlson is a multimedia journalist who focuses on stories that affect your wallet. You can check out his consumer reporting at Denver7’s Smart Shopper. If you’d like to get in touch with Ethan, fill out the form below to send him an email.
Today is Friday, Feb. 27, the 58th day of 2026. There are 307 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Feb. 27, 1973, members of the American Indian Movement occupied the hamlet of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, the site of the 1890 massacre of Sioux men, women and children; the occupation would last for over two months.
Also on this date:
In 1933, Germany’s parliament building, the Reichstag, was gutted by fire; Chancellor Adolf Hitler, blaming communists, used the fire to justify suspending civil liberties.
In 1942, the Battle of the Java Sea began during World War II; Imperial Japanese naval forces scored a decisive victory over the Allies.
In 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a president to two terms in office, was ratified.
In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai issued the Shanghai Communique, a historic joint statement that called for normalizing relations between their countries, at the conclusion of Nixon’s historic visit to China.
In 1991, Operation Desert Storm came to a conclusion as President George H.W. Bush declared in a White House address that “Kuwait is liberated, Iraq’s army is defeated,” and announced that the allies would suspend combat operations at midnight, Eastern time.
In 1997, Ireland became one of the last countries in the world to legalize divorce. Divorce remains illegal in just two countries: the Philippines and Vatican City.
In 2010, in Chile, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed 525 people and caused up to $30 billion in damage and a major power blackout.
In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin dramatically escalated East-West tensions by ordering nuclear forces put on high alert while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to talks with Moscow as Russia’s troops and tanks drove deeper into the country.
Today’s birthdays:
Actor Joanne Woodward is 96.
Football Hall of Famer Raymond Barry is 93.
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader is 92.
Broadcast journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault is 84.
Rock musician Neal Schon (Journey) is 72.
Actor Timothy Spall is 69.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire is 68.
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — The Town of Castle Rock will begin wildfire mitigation work next week as an unusually warm and dry February has heightened concerns about critical fire risk across Colorado.
The town, with the help of Colorado State Forest Service, will target roughly 23 acres of timbered open space on the southeast side of Metzler Family Open Space.
About 150 trees have been marked for removal, along with thick brush and low branches that could help a fire spread.
Castle Rock Fire Chief Norris Croom walked the property with Denver7 Thursday and explained the dry conditions make the work urgent.
“You look at this, and this is all dead and dry, and so without that moisture, fire is going to carry rapidly,” Croom said.
Denver7
Norris Croom, Fire Chief at Castle Rock Fire & Rescue Dept.
Crews will also remove low-hanging branches — what fire officials call ladder fuels — trimming trees to prevent a fire from climbing into the tree canopy.
The work will also address trees infected by mountain pine beetles as part of a broader effort to improve forest health.
“So really, we’re doing mitigation, forest health and beetle kill mitigation all the same time,” Croom said.
With the open space sitting in close proximity to homes, the effort represents one step the town can take — but residents say protecting communities from wildfire is a shared responsibility.
Denver7 met Sammy Beveridge, who was enjoying the trails at Metzler Family Open Space Thursday afternoon.
She welcomed the mild weather but said the dry conditions have her on edge.
“This year might be a little scarier than some of the past ones, just because of how dry it’s been,” Beveridge said.
Denver7
Sammy Beveridge, Franktown resident
She added that even small actions by residents can make a meaningful difference.
“Even if it’s just a couple branches here and there, it’s going to make a huge difference,” Beveridge said.
The mitigation work at Metzler Family Open Space is expected to take about a month.
The town said crews will be visible in the area during daylight hours, beginning at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
The open space will remain accessible; however, due to tree felling and vegetation removal activities and equipment, portions of the trails will be closed throughout the project. Closures include the eastern part of the Red Loop as well as the Crowfoot Connector.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Election-year legislation to impose strict new proof-of-citizenship requirements on voting appears stalled in the Senate, for now, despite President Donald Trump’s call in his State of the Union speech that Republicans in Congress pass the bill “before anything else.”
Trump’s push for the bill, backed by House conservatives and his most loyal supporters ahead of the midterm elections, has put new pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune as he tries to navigate an effort from inside and outside Congress to bypass normal Senate procedure. Thune has said he supports the legislation and that his GOP conference is still discussing how to pass it.
Senate Republicans “aren’t unified on an approach,” Thune said on Wednesday after Trump’s speech.
In an effort to get around Democratic opposition, Trump and others have pushed a so-called “talking filibuster,” which would bring the Senate back to the days of the movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” when senators talked indefinitely to block legislation. Today, the Senate mostly skips the speeches and votes to end debate, which takes 60 votes in the Senate where Republicans have a 53-47 majority.
Republicans wouldn’t have to change the rules to force a talkathon. They could simply keep the Senate open and make Democrats deliver speeches for days or weeks to delay taking up the legislation. But Thune would still need enough support from his caucus to move forward with that approach, and he said this week that “we aren’t there yet.”
The tension has put the affable, well-liked Thune in a tough spot with Trump and many of his voters who argue that the legislation is necessary for a GOP victory in the midterm elections. Trump has already made clear that he will blame Democrats, and potentially Thune, if they lose their majorities in Congress in November — even though Republicans won control of Congress and the White House in 2024 without the bill’s requirements.
Democrats oppose the bill because “they want to cheat,” Trump claimed in his speech on Tuesday.
“We have to stop it, John,” Trump said, calling out Thune by name.
Election Voting Official Debra Mikell, left, and Patricia Ocon check touchscreen voting machine at New Chicago Voter Supersite in Chicago, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Complicated and risky maneuver
Trump and his supporters, including Utah Sen. Mike Lee, say the talking filibuster would allow them to pass the legislation — called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act — without any Democratic votes. But the maneuver could end up creating more problems for Republicans.
Under a talking filibuster, Democrats would have to stay on the floor and give speeches for an indefinite amount of time to block the bill. Each senator is only allowed two speeches on a particular piece of legislation, so the idea is that Democrats would eventually run out of speeches or quit due to exhaustion, allowing Republicans to proceed with a simple majority vote.
“We won’t pass the SAVE America Act unless we start by making filibustering senators speak,” Lee said on social media. “This will take time and effort, but we’d be crazy not to give it the effort it deserves.”
The reality on the floor would be more complicated. Democrats would be able to throw up procedural roadblocks, including restarting the clock for speeches if enough Republicans weren’t also present on the floor. That means nearly all 53 Republicans would need to remain close to the Senate during the filibuster, while only one Democrat would have to keep speaking. The process could last for weeks, given that there are 47 Democrats in the Senate.
Even if Republicans managed to break the first filibuster, Democrats could then offer an unlimited number of amendments on anything they wish, forcing Republicans to take hard votes in an election year and potentially adding some of their own priorities to the legislation if they have some bipartisan support. Each amendment would bring a new round of speeches as well.
“We’d have to have 50 to defeat every amendment,” Thune said. “And that’s not a where we are right now.”
Republican concerns
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., joined at left by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, reflects on President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address as he meets with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
As Thune has discussed the possibility with his conference in recent weeks, some Republicans have expressed worry that the process could lead to rules changes that could lead the Senate to “go nuclear” and eventually vote to erode the legislative filibuster.
Most Senate Republicans have said they do not want to lower the 60-vote threshold for ending debate on legislation, even though it has been lowered for presidential and judicial nominations.
“I agree with the SAVE Act,” Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said after Trump’s speech. “But I’m not going to nuke the filibuster.”
Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said that “the reason or method doesn’t matter — it’s breaking the filibuster.”
Other Republicans could also block the process. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she opposes the SAVE Act, and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former GOP majority leader, has opposed similar legislation in the past.
GOP senators who support the maneuver were also realistic about the difficulty of the talking filibuster approach.
“You’d have to have a deep commitment among almost all of our members,” said Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, who supports it.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called it “hard but doable.”
GOP election strategy
FILE – A Vote Here sign is posted amongst political signs as people arrive to vote at the Rutherford County Annex Building, an early voting site, Oct. 17, 2024, in Rutherfordton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek, File)
The voting bill would require Americans to prove they are citizens when they register to vote, mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate. It would also require a valid photo identification before voters can cast ballots, which some states already demand. The House approved it earlier this month on a mostly party-line vote, 218-213.
Republicans said the legislation is needed to prevent voter fraud, but Democrats warn it will disenfranchise millions of Americans by making it harder to vote. Voting experts have warned that more than 20 million U.S. citizens of voting age do not have proof of their citizenship readily available, and almost half of Americans do not have a U.S. passport. Critics also said the bill’s enactment could cause chaos in this year’s elections and confuse voters because some of it would take effect immediately.
Federal law already requires that voters in national elections be U.S. citizens, but there’s no requirement to provide documentary proof when registering, though they do affirm under oath at the risk of prosecution that they are eligible.
Experts said voter fraud is extremely rare, and very few noncitizens ever slip through the cracks. About one in 10 Americans doesn’t have readily available paperwork proving they are citizens.
The legislation also would require states to share their voter information with the Department of Homeland Security as a way to verify the citizenship of the names on the voter rolls. That has drawn pushback from elections officials as potentially intrusive on people’s privacy.
Trump said in his speech on Tuesday that the bill would be “country-saving.”
Echoing his false claims of voter fraud when he lost the 2020 election, Trump said that Democrats “want to cheat, they have cheated, and their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat.”
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Matt Brown in Washington contributed to this report.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston holds a press conference to sign a bill prohibiting federal overreach, condemning tactics used by ICE in front of the City and County Building in Denver, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 26. 2026.
McKenzie Lange/CPR News
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston signed an executive order Thursday that attempts to limit the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to operate in the city.
The order blocks ICE agents from staging on city property to enforce immigration law if they don’t have a judicial warrant, a court order or other legal mandate. And it empowers Denver Police officers and sheriff’s deputies to arrest ICE agents in some instances.
“When civil immigration enforcement operations disrupt our neighborhoods, they don’t just target individuals — they spread fear, tear families apart, and erode the trust that holds our community together,” the executive order states. “These actions put our residents and law enforcement personnel at risk and undermine the values we stand for as a community. Our responsibility is clear: We will work to protect the people who call Denver home and guard against federal overreach.”
ICE did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The order was inspired by community members who asked the mayor and city council how they planned to protect residents against a potential immigration surge from President Donald Trump’s administration.
“We’ve seen Americans like Renee Good and Alex Pretti killed for peacefully raising their voices,” Johnston said at a Thursday press conference. “And Denverites ask me every day, ‘What will we do if that chaos comes to Denver?’ To answer that question for Denverites today, I will sign Executive Order 152.”
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston holds a press conference to sign a bill prohibiting federal overreach, condemning tactics used by ICE in front of the City and County Building in Denver, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 26. 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
The order was informed by Johnston’s conversations with mayors around the country — including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — who have been trying to protect their communities from ICE surges.
Denver City Council members, who have been working on banning law enforcement from wearing facial coverings in response to ICE actions, backed the order.
“No one should live in fear, not the fear of being separated from their families, not the fear of being targeted because of who they are, and not the fear of systems that are inaccessible,” City Council President Amanda Sandoval said. “Public safety must mean safety for every one of us in every neighborhood.”
And, Sandoval said, that includes safety from law enforcement itself.
What does the order do?
The order explicitly states that Denver Police and Sheriff departments must intervene if immigration enforcement agents engage in actions that could kill or seriously injure someone. That could include arresting, citing or detaining federal agents.
The focus, though, Police Chief Ron Thomas said, would be de-escalation rather than physical or deadly conflict.
Per the order, law enforcement now explicitly has the right to provide life-saving aid if people are harmed by ICE agents. If agents interfere, Denver Police would be permitted to cite or arrest them.
“We are not looking to create hostility or to create conflict or to escalate,” Johnston told Denverite. “But when it comes to protecting people’s rights, [Denver police] swear an oath to do that and they’re going to keep doing that.”
ICE and ERO officers stand in the middle of Park Avenue, in Minneapolis, a block away from where Renee Good was killed. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.Courtesy: Ben Hovland/Minnesota Public Radio
The department will document ICE activity with body-worn cameras. Police will independently investigate any reported legal violations and will refer potential felonies to the Denver District Attorney or the Colorado Attorney General for prosecution – whether a simultaneous federal investigation occurs.
City agencies will continue to refuse to share databases or enter into technology use agreements with the Department of Homeland Security or immigration enforcement unless the law explicitly requires them to do so.
Finally, the order continues to bar ICE from schools, churches, stadiums, libraries and hospitals, and the agency is also barred from racially profiling residents.
Protecting residents or ‘poking the bear’?
The order immediately made national news, in part because the mayor granted The New York Times an exclusive early interview to break the story.
One reporter asked the mayor whether he was “poking the bear,” and another wondered whether Johnston feared signing the order could provoke President Donald Trump’s administration to invade Denver.
The executive order could pit armed Denver officers against armed federal officers, raising the possibility of a standoff or even a conflict.
When Denverite asked Thomas about the possibility of the executive order leading to a civil war, he said: “I think that that is a reasonable concern, but again, we are experts in de-escalation. That is our value. That is what we will lead with.”
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston holds a press conference to sign a bill prohibiting federal overreach, condemning tactics used by ICE in front of the City and County Building in Denver, Colo., on Thursday, Feb. 26. 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
He’s also aware ICE has used deadly force against armed residents and understands that could occur with his own officers.
“At the end of the day, I think we’re all human, and I think that we’re going to hope that humanity prevails,” Thomas said.
Thomas told reporters he has run multiple “tabletop” scenarios about possible interactions between his officers and ICE, and he’s confident his team will not engage in a fight.
“We’ve developed systems that really work for public safety and law enforcement here, and we are going to extend those to the people that do operations here,” Johnston said.
Denver has offered free enrichment programs since 2013 through the MY Denver Card. Students hope lawmakers will create a similar My Colorado Card to expand access statewide.
Sujie Kim reads to her daughter, Emerie, in a reading nook within the Denver Art Museum’s “Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak” exhibit. Oct. 10, 2024.
Thomas Jefferson High School junior Mai Travi has visited Denver’s zoo, museums, recreation centers, and much more, thanks to the city’s MY Denver Card.
The card has provided Denver youth ages 5 to 18 with free access to those opportunities since 2013. But she thinks more of her peers could benefit.
“Students who live outside the Denver area often have fewer opportunities to explore the cultural, educational and enrichment experiences that help shape who they become,” she said.
There’s a chance lawmakers will end up agreeing. House Bill 1055 would create a pilot program in a limited number of communities outside of Denver to give students in grades 6-12 a similar My Colorado Card. The card would essentially be a free pass, not a voucher with dollars attached to it.
The bill passed its first hearing in the House Education Committee on Tuesday with a 7-5 vote.
Students involved with a Denver-based nonprofit organization called FaithBridge helped craft the bill that’s sponsored by state Rep. Mandy Lindsay, an Aurora Democrat. FaithBridge is an advocacy organization that helps students advocate for educational improvements.
“When students have access to out-of-school activities such as public museums and recreation centers, they’re able to explore their interests and find a passion, same as I was,” said Jack Baker, who is also a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School and is involved with the nonprofit.
The program would be administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and sunset in 2031. The participating communities would be selected in December.
Denver school board member Marlene De La Rosa, who testified in support, said the city has provided over half of Denver’s 90,000 students with a MY Denver Card, which is funded by Denver tax dollars approved in a 2012 ballot measure.
“They represent safe spaces, friendship, physical activity, cultural exposure, academic reinforcement, and community connection,” she said. “And if one program and the city can reach 45,000 youth, imagine what a statewide investment can do.”
The My Colorado Card program would have to be funded through gifts, grants, and donations, the amended legislation says. It would cost about $250,000 in its first year and about $80,000 in subsequent years, according to a legislative analysis. The bill would also require a report to lawmakers that would evaluate the program.
Although no one testified against the bill during the Tuesday committee hearing, some lawmakers expressed reservations about the program, including its cost and whether it represented an appropriate role for state government.
Rep. Lori Garcia Sander, an Eaton Republican, said she wanted to know more about how the card would be used and what data would be collected on students.
Lindsay said the MY Denver Card helped her kids figure out their interests and more youth deserve that opportunity.
“I think we really need to listen to young people when they are telling us and asking us for what they want,” she said.
Correction: Feb. 25, 2026: A previous version of this story misstated the first name of student Jack Baker.
Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at [email protected].
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — Pre-evacuation orders were issued south of Golden Gate Canyon State Park as Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a house fire in Jefferson County.
The pre-evacuation notices were issued within a three-mile radius of the Drew Hill Road and Spirit Horse Trail area of Jefferson County “due to a house fire spreading to wildland,” according to Jefferson County’s emergency communications center.
Subdivisions affected by the pre-evacuation warnings include areas of Golden Gate Estates, Braecher Ranchettes, Smith Hill Road, Crawford Gulch Road, and areas east of Highway 46 from Short Dirt Road as well as east of the 3000 block from Gap Road, according to the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office.
“Residents in this area should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Gather essential items, medications, pets, and important documents,” officials said on X, formerly Twitter.
In a social media post a few minutes earlier, an official from the sheriff’s office said deputies were responding with multiple fire units to the Ralston Creek Road near the Spirit Horse Trail on a report of a wildland fire.
The image below shows the approximate location of the wildland fire in Jefferson County:
Google Maps
Details about the size of the fire were not immediately available.
This is developing, breaking news story and will be updated.
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The trash truck dropped “a hot load” at an unspecified location south of Franktown, which sparked the 1,081-acre Dahlberg fire, according to an update from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The update did not specify why the truck dropped the load.
Dry vegetation and up to 20 mph winds allowed the flames to spread quickly, county officials said. The fire was first reported near Dahlberg and Lake Gulch roads at 12:39 p.m. Tuesday, roughly 8 miles south of Franktown and 8 miles east of Larkspur.
More than a dozen homes and the nearby Cherry Valley Elementary School were evacuated, but no property damage was reported and residents were able to safely return home, sheriff’s officials said.
The fire was fully contained Tuesday evening, sheriff’s officials said in a 4:54 p.m. post on social media. Crews remained on scene overnight to mop up hotspots and ensure high winds didn’t rekindle the flames.
U.S. Olympian Brock Nelson scored his 30th goal of the season in Colorado’s four-goal second period and the NHL-leading Avalanche beat the Utah Mammoth 4-2 on Wednesday night.
DENVER — With a 4-3 vote, a bill that would allow certain offenders in Colorado to petition a court to reconsider their sentence advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday afternoon, following passionate testimony from former inmates and fierce opposition from those who believe victims would be put on the back burner as a result.
Senate Bill 26-115 would only apply to inmates who committed a crime when they were younger than 21, or those who are 60 or older. In both instances, the offenders must serve at least 20 years of their sentence before they can seek such a hearing.
Certain crimes would not be eligible for the second look hearing. Those include crimes that resulted in life without the possibility of parole sentences, inmates convicted of sex offenses, and crimes against children or first responders.
State Sen. Julie Gonzales, D — District 34, is the prime sponsor of the legislation. She told the Senate Judiciary Committee it would allow a judge to consider who a person is currently, while giving offenders the hope needed to encourage personal growth while incarcerated.
Gonzales is running the bill alongside State Sen. Mike Weissman, D — District 28, who said that sentencing is passing judgment on a person in the moment, but argued that decades later the emphasis should be on who the person has become.
A number of former inmates testified in support of the bill, sharing their own personal stories and explaining how they have changed over the years.
One of those people was Patrick Sanchez, who said he was 17 years old when he shot another person in the leg, and was convicted of attempted murder. Sanchez said he was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison, but was released early last January.
While incarcerated, Sanchez experienced the loss of a child, and said it completely changed his perspective.
“I like to say that I, with my actions and my choices, I behaved my way into prison. And when I thought nobody was looking, and making that conscious decision to do better and be better, I feel like I behaved my way out of prison,” Sanchez said.
Denver’s Micah Smith explored the intricacies of restorative justice during an episode of”Real Talk,” where two of the people who testified in support of SB26-115 shared their story:
Real Talk with Micah Smith, Episode 105: Restorative justice
Sanchez supports SB26-115, believing it will provide a light at the end of the tunnel for people staring down sentences that last decades.
“We can’t take it back, but what we can do is be the best person that we can. You know, moving forward, we can honor and pay homage to our victims by doing the right thing,” said Sanchez. “There’s so many men and women in there that are beyond deserving, far more than I am. But I’m here, so that’s why I’m here. I’m here to be the voice for them, for those that can’t be here.”
Meanwhile, representatives from the 23rd Judicial District spoke out against the bill, calling it a “massive step in the wrong direction” and a “betrayal of victims.”
District Attorney George Brauchler said the purpose of sentencing is punishment, not rehabilitation.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Nate Marsh said he tells victims at the start of any case that he will not be able to achieve justice for them because of Colorado laws. Marsh said this law would only make his job more difficult, and urged lawmakers to vote ‘no’ because the bill will strip the finality of a resolution from victims.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the sponsors told the committee the bill would prevent individuals from filing repetitive litigation, and reiterated that a judge would never be required to release an offender applying under the second look.
According to the fiscal note on the legislation, which compiled data from the Colorado Department of Corrections to determine how many inmates this would impact, there are approximately 98 offenders younger than the age of 21 when they committed their offense who have served over 20 years of their sentence. 203 offenders are 60 or older and have spent more than 20 years behind bars. Out of those two groups, 164 received murder convictions without the possibility of parole, meaning they would not be eligible for the sentence reconsideration.
That leaves 137 individuals who would be eligible to petition the court under the conditions of SB26-115.
The two Republicans on the committee, State Sen. Lynda Zamora Wilson and State Sen. John Carson, voted against moving the legislation forward, along with Democratic State Sen. Dylan Roberts.
SB26-115 heads to the Appropriations Committee for consideration next.
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ERIE, Colo. — Perfectly positioned between Denver and Boulder is the town of Erie, with a charming main street that brings together local businesses and the loyal community members who support their favorite spots. Denver7 | Your Voice visited the area to hear from the people who live and work there about what makes this place so special.
Briggs Street bustles with businesses and local stores and is known as the Old Town district. Denver7 | Your Voice stopped inside Fox Dog Coffee to experience the local flavor and community charm firsthand. Steph Hauser and her husband opened the doors to the business in 2019. Since then, they have been serving up coffee drinks and bites to eat.
“Our biggest mission in building Fox Dog was to create a space where the community could come together, and our biggest motto is love, serve, inspire,” Hauser said. “So, what we do is we sort of want to create the environment for our friends here in Erie to come and feel like they can be loved on, they can be served, but they can also serve and love each other.”
Having been in the business for seven years, Hauser has witnessed the area’s remarkable growth and the community’s generous heart.
Cesar Sabogal
“There is nothing like this group of people here in Erie,” Hauser said. “They are so supportive of each other. They are so wanting to do good for their neighbors. We’ve seen that time and time again. We just have such a lucky vantage point from behind the counter here.”
Behind the counter, customers can see a mural depicting the town of Erie and the surrounding cities. Hauser understands the importance of the town’s location and its ability to bring together people from all walks of life.
“It’s become the sort of nucleus for big families, starting families, people who are retiring,” Hauser said. “You have this incredible mix of people who have been here for decades and decades, and seeing the city change over time, and us coming in — we get to be a part of that change.”
On a cold January day, Larry Faulks and Seajay Crosson were inside the business enjoying a warm drink along with the pastry. The two moved from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Erie to be closer to family.
Cesar Sabogal
“It’s a different world here. I’m familiar with Texas plants and Arkansas plants, and she’s familiar with Indiana plants and Arkansas plants,” Faulks said. “But Colorado is a different world.”
While the two moved to an unknown place, they quickly discovered the strong sense of community and the immense pride many have for Erie.
“When we moved here, a couple neighbors actually brought us over cookies, and I don’t think I’ve ever lived somewhere where neighbors brought us cookies,” Crosson said.
When it comes to the biggest challenges of living in Erie, the two expressed concerns about the rapid growth impacting the small-town charm and the lack of grocery stores nearby.
Cesar Sabogal
“You actually have to get in the car and go quite some distance to get some groceries, and then another thing: It’s mostly restaurants here. So, I wish there was a fuller array of businesses so that we didn’t have to drive so much to other places,” Crosson said.
Carly Brooks Rogers was another customer enjoying a cup of coffee. Originally from Washington, she moved to Erie to stay close to family and loved that it felt like a safe place to call home.
“I was kind of deciding between places and wanted to be closer to family, and I had only been here during the winter, actually, because I used to work with a ski team, so I would go to the mountains, and then I would come here and see my aunt. So, I just wanted to be closer, and it was a cute small little town,” Rogers said.
Cesar Sabogal
During her time living in Erie, Rogers has watched the town become “up and coming” and wonders how the continued growth might impact crime and traffic.
Just a couple of blocks from the coffee shop is Briggs Street Books and Music, run by Casey and Dan Gump. The store celebrated a major milestone recently: one full year in business after opening on Feb. 1, 2025.
“We wanted to add something to the community down here, and we really love it down here,” Dan Gump said. “So, we need more retailers.”
The store is located inside the Coal Park building and is upstairs next to the restaurant Piripi. Besides books, records are on sale, where there is a listening station for customers to enjoy.
Cesar Sabogal
“Music brings people together, and so we wanted that kind of space that like, you can just come out, you can come hang out and go sit at the listening station and listen to some music,” he said. “Buy a book, sit in the corner, hang out, go grab a cup of coffee and come down, or have dinner across the hall.”
While the business is fairly new to the area, Gump has lived in Erie since 2020 and has watched more people discover the town alongside the other local businesses that have opened.
“It’s growing, it’s changing. We’ve got new restaurants coming in. We’ve got new retail things coming in, and it’s just I would say it’s very up and coming, and give it a shot,” Gump said.
A short drive from the Old Town district is Lil’ Buckaroo’s Petting Zoo, which opened in 2021. The farm manager, Martina Carlucci, said there are 40 animals total, including miniature donkeys, miniature belted galloway cows, alpacas, and more.
Cesar Sabogal
“It’s really cool to see people come in here and just light up and laugh and giggle when they’re feeding the goats, and it’s a really big confidence builder for little kids as well, to go in there with an animal that’s maybe larger than their comfort zone,” Carlucci said.
Growing up around horses, Carlucci said she went to college for horse management and has always wanted to be around these animals. She first started working on the property on the horse boarding side and then moved over to the petting zoo.
Cesar Sabogal
“There’s a ton of benefits to being with animals from a mental standpoint. It also gets people outside, and you’re able to meet people in your area. It’s a fun rainy day activity,” Carlucci said.
Over the years, she has also seen firsthand how Erie has developed.
“Even just when I moved here a couple of years ago, there were a lot less neighborhoods around us, so I’ve been here about four years,” said Carlucci. “There’s been some pretty rapid growth around here.”
As more people move to Erie and call it home, Carlucci believes the town’s small business community will flourish alongside it.
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Colorado lawmakers who are concerned about rising gambling addiction and betting scandals in professional sports filed a bill Wednesday that would prohibit sports betting apps from offering proposition bets on individual athletes’ performances.
The bipartisan responsible gaming bill — SB26-131 — would also attempt to slow down gambling habits by eliminating credit card usage on sports betting apps, limiting the number of deposits a person can make into an account, and banning push notifications to gamblers’ cellphones from betting companies such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
“Frankly, the more I looked into i,t the more I became really, really alarmed by everything that has happened as a consequence of legalized sports betting and, in my view, placing very few restrictions on it,” said Sen. Matt Ball, D-Denver, one of the bill’s sponsors.
Ball, who is sponsoring the bill with Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, said the rapid growth of sports betting in Colorado is causing unexpected problems — including financial debts — across the state, and the legislature needs to move to protect people and the integrity of professional and collegiate sports. The bill also has a Democratic and a Republican sponsor in the House.
He cited studies that show more than half of 18-to-22-year-olds have engaged in some form of sports betting, and surveys of high school students that report that between 60% and 80% have gambled for money within the previous 12 months.
“We just didn’t know what we didn’t know,” Ball said of Colorado’s quick entry into legalized sports betting. “It’s just exploded and it’s happened very fast. I think we can see the harm that’s happened very clearly.”
Colorado voters legalized sports betting in 2019 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a law that previously had prohibited states from allowing it. It was one of the first states to launch online sports books in May 2020, just after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the country, including putting a pause on most sports. But the state’s residents quickly took to sports betting apps as the world returned to normal.
The amount Colorado bettors have wagered has steadily increased each year, with people betting more than $6 billion on sports in 2025. At the same time, the number of people calling the state’s problem gambling hotline has risen, too. The hotline averaged about 350 calls per month in 2025, according to the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado.
Joshua Ewing, executive director of Healthier Colorado, an advocacy group that pushes for better health policies in the state, said new studies are showing a growing rate of addiction among young men and boys who gamble, and addiction is causing financial debt, strained relationships and emotional stress.
“It’s not about rolling back voter-approved betting. It’s about guardrails,” Ewing said of the bill. “The goal is smart policy, not prohibition.”
The sports betting industry is prepared to push back on the legislation.
“Colorado should seize this moment to strengthen its state-regulated market — not hand it back to illegal operators or chase bettors to federally regulated platforms,” said Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance. “This proposal undermines the very consumer protections it claims to advance, rewarding actors who openly flout Colorado law and contribute nothing to the state’s communities by way of tax revenues.”
Maloney said the alliance will continue to engage elected leaders and regulators to reinforce consumer protections and responsible gaming standards that the industry already follows.
Proposition bets, or prop bets, are the moneymakers for sports betting apps because they come with higher odds. In those bets, a gambler could bet on whether Denver Nuggets star Nicola Jokic will score 30 or more points in a game or whether Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will throw more than one touchdown.
Sports betting apps also allow gamblers to make multiple prop bets at one time to form parlays, which further increase odds in favor of the sportsbooks, but are wildly popular with gamblers.
For example, Bet365 on Wednesday offered a parlay bet called “Joker x Jamal,” where a gambler would win if the Nuggets’ Jokic and Jamal Murray both scored more than 20 points, and if Murray had more than 10 assists and Jokic grabbed more than 10 rebounds. A $10 wager could earn $100 if all four things happened in the Nuggets game against the Celtics.
Colorado already prohibits prop bets on college athletes, but Ball and the bill’s other sponsors want to prohibit all of these bets because of the temptation among athletes to take bribes to influence outcomes for gamblers.
The bill also aims to curb the barrage of television advertisements and phone notifications that people see during sporting events.
It would prohibit advertisements for sports betting apps between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. It would also ban the betting companies from sending push notifications or text messages to gamblers that solicit bets or deposits.
Revenue from Colorado’s sports betting market goes to the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which awards grants to various projects around the state that protect and conserve lakes, streams and groundwater.
Ball did not anticipate that the bill would impact those projects, saying sports gambling continues to grow in Colorado every year.
“Any impact that this has on revenue of the sports betting industry is going to be vastly outweighed by the growth of the industry and how much more tax money is coming into Colorado year over year,” he said.
This is the second bill filed this month that addresses gambling in Colorado. Last week, a group of legislators filed a bill that would block the Colorado Lottery Commission’s plans to open online lottery ticket sales.
The development of a data center in north Denver met dramatic backlash on Tuesday night, with hundreds of residents packing a meeting in Elyria-Swansea to demand answers about a sprawling new computer processing center.
CoreSite, a Denver-based developer, is building the 180,000-square-foot facility and has plans for two more structures on the site. Growing furor about the plan recently led Mayor Mike Johnston to propose a pause on data centers in Denver — but the announcement wasn’t enough for a building full of frustrated neighbors.
“What I want to know is really simple,” said retired teacher Rob Prince. “Can we stop it now?”
Renee Chacon reacts during a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
Overflow rooms for the meeting were completely full, leaving some people to listen to the meeting outside even as temperatures dropped below 40 degrees. Occasionally, the outside crowd pounded on the windows in support of something being said inside. City officials hung their heads in silence as their words were swallowed by loud chanting.
Tensions have run high enough that the developer bailed out of the meeting, citing safety concerns — though critics dismissed that as an excuse.
Beyond noise and light pollution, residents worry the project will drain water resources, increase energy prices and periodically pollute the already polluted neighborhood with diesel backup generators.
Alfonso Espino, an organizer with the GES Coalition, said activists spent months meeting with Denver council members behind the scenes to push for a data center moratorium, which could pause the construction of future facilities for at least a few months.
While he was relieved to see Mayor Johnston endorse the idea, Espino said it doesn’t mark the end of the battle over data centers, including the CoreSite project.
Community members hold signs during a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
“I don’t want any bare minimums,” Espino said. “The protections should be so strong that it might disincentivize the data centers from being built in the first place.”
Groups nationwide have been pushing back against an explosion of data center construction, with activism halting plans in Virginia, North Carolina and more.
Meanwhile, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed a nationwide moratorium on data center construction — an idea that hasn’t picked up steam in Congress.
Tech companies are pouring billions into data centers in response to the heavy processing demands of artificial intelligence.
Community members, who were not able to enter the meeting due to capacity, hold signs in the windows from outside during a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
CoreSite was set for a rare face-to-face meeting with neighbors. It pulled out at the last minute.
Denver City Councilmember Darrell Watson originally organized the meeting so CoreSite could discuss its project with Globeville and Elyria-Swansea residents.
After the city announced its planned moratorium, however, CoreSite pulled out of the meeting.
“Given some developments over the weekend and in the interest and safety of our CoreSite team, we have made the hard decision to refrain from participating in tonight’s community meeting,” said Megan Ruszkowski, a CoreSite spokesperson, in an emailed statement.
Council members Paul Kashmann and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez watch on during a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, February. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
It’s unclear what developments she was referring to.
With CoreSite absent, elected officials and representatives of agencies like Xcel Energy and Denver Water sat before the packed room at the Geotech Environmental building on 40th Avenue.
Many speakers were frustrated that CoreSite was allowed to build in the neighborhood despite limited engagement with residents. The company held a pair of sparsely attended community meetings in 2024 before construction began, but community groups say it wasn’t enough.
“When I hear somebody say this is the start of the process tonight, that is negligence,” said a woman who did not identify herself.
Elena Klaver, with Kalpulli ColorAztlan Quetzalcoatl, prepares copal to bless community members before a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
At times, the panel was drowned out by jeering from the audience, and there was a deep disconnect between the official speakers and the crowd.
On one hand, the official types tried to direct the discussion to the future, talking about how similar data centers could be kept out of beleaguered neighborhoods.
“We do not have data center regulations within our (city) code right now … That’s why we need to change the code and that’s why we’ve been discussing with Community Planning and Development,” Watson said early in the meeting.
But neighbors frequently were more concerned about the present.
Peggy B., who declined to give her last name, speaks up for friends in the community during a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
“We do not know about process or [expletive] permits or what should have happened before the data center came in and ate up all our water,” said Clarise Williams, a Community College of Denver employee. “We want to know how to stop it.”
Officials notably avoided answering whether or not construction of the CoreSite facility could be stopped. While the moratorium will temporarily prevent the company from building two more planned data center buildings in Elyria-Swansea, it doesn’t affect construction on the first portion of its project.
Espino has one idea for how city officials could win back the neighborhood’s trust: use eminent domain to force CoreSite to sell its land.
“The city has used eminent domain for everything except for the people of these neighborhoods. They did it with CDOT, they did it for the National Western,” he said. “My suggestion is they should look into that too.”
Gul Herrera protests outside with community members after a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, February. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
After the meeting, a crowd stayed outside the Geotech building for a makeshift rally. Many said they were upset that CoreSite pulled out of the meeting at the last minute, saying they didn’t buy the company’s safety concerns.
“People were not going to attack them. They would’ve attacked them verbally, but nobody was going to attack them physically,” said Nancy Fey, a retired nurse. “They just didn’t have a way, they had no good answers. So how are they going to address a crowd like this?”
Espino felt that the meeting would have been more productive if CoreSite had shown up.
“Our expectation up until this morning was that they would be here to answer our platform and our demands, and we’ve been doing and operating and will continue to do so in good faith,” Espino said. “But to not show up to a meeting that was built all around you is shameful and quite stupid in my opinion.”
Community members watch the meeting from outside due to capacity during a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
CoreSite’s withdrawal frays an already tenuous relationship with the neighborhood.
Before the meeting, local activists passed out papers outlining a potential “good neighbor agreement” — a deal between a business and neighborhood groups to address specific community issues.
Local groups want CoreSite to install cleaner backup generators, disclose its power and water usage, fund a community health study and refuse to work with companies engaged in “mass surveillance” and “dragnet policing.”
The group also wants the company to drop plans for the two additional buildings in Elyria-Swansea. The full plan includes 590,000 square feet of interior space, but that expansion depends on future demand for CoreSite services and wouldn’t move forward until the 2030s, Ruszkowski says.
Community members react during a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, February. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
If fully built, the project’s electricity usage would peak at around 60 megawatts, more than the total power currently required to operate Denver International Airport.
Cooling data processors inside the first building alone will require up to 275,000 gallons of water per day, roughly equal to the average daily irrigation at some of Denver’s larger golf courses. The fully completed site is expected to require up to 805,000 gallons of water per day.
CoreSite, however, has said its project would generate $200 million in property taxes over two decades for local services. Last year, the company also announced plans to revamp a computer room at the local Boys & Girls Club and pledged to join other companies to donate $25,000 to Denver community groups.
“We remain committed to working alongside community partners and the city on its mediation process for a good neighbor agreement. Community input and engagement is important to us, which is why we have met with the community in the past,” Ruszkowski said.
Community members protest outside after a public meeting regarding the CoreSite DE3 data center that is being built in the Globeville, Elyria-Swansea neighborhood at Geotech in Denver on Tuesday, February. 25, 2026.McKenzie Lange/CPR News
DENVER — Travelers at Denver International Airport and parishioners at a church in Littleton may have been exposed to measles over the weekend after an out-of-state traveler came to Colorado while infectious with the highly contagious disease.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) said people could have been exposed at DIA between 9:15 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Feb. 21, after the individual arrived at Gate A83 in Concourse A, traveled through the airport’s main terminal and left the airport for Littleton.
The individual then attended a church service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, located at 6853 S. Prince St., on Sunday, Feb. 22, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. People there could have been exposed to the virus at either the 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. service, or at a reception that took place at 10:30 a.m., state health officials said.
The out-of-state traveler could have also exposed people at the airport between 9:30 p.m. Sunday and 1:30 a.m. Monday after their flight departed from Gate A76 in Concourse A at 11:29 p.m., a CDPHE spokesperson added.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air and can remain airborne for up to two hours — meaning the individual may have exposed thousands of people at DIA and hundreds more at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, even if they were nowhere near the infected person at the time.
What to do if you believe you were exposed
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed — especially those who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine — should monitor for symptoms for 21 days and avoid public gatherings or high-risk settings, health officials said in a news release.
State health officials said those who were potentially exposed over the weekend may develop symptoms through Monday, March 16.
Symptoms to watch out for include anything from a fever, a cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes that develop into a rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body about three to five days after symptoms first start. A person with measles is contagious four days before and four days after the rash appears.
While most people recover within two or three weeks after contracting the virus, unvaccinated people run the risk of complications from the disease, including ear infections, seizures, pneumonia, immune amnesia, brain damage and ultimately, death.
Measles only spreads from people who show symptoms; it does not spread from people who aren’t feeling sick, state health officials said.
Denver7 took an in-depth look at measles vaccine hesitancy through the eyes of infection experts, a holistic pediatrician, and the psychology behind the politics of it all. You can watch that report in the video player below:
Pediatrics, psychology, and politics: Denver7 goes 360 on measles and vaccine hesitancy in Colorado
Unvaccinated people exposed to the virus can get the MMR vaccine 72 hours after exposure (but before symptoms are present) to prevent an infection, according to health officials. Immunoglobulin (IG), if administered within six days of exposure, may also be used in some circumstances, they added.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community,” the CDPHE spokesperson said.
People who got vaccinated against measles before 1968 should talk to their health care provider about possibly getting a booster as the vaccine used before that year wasn’t as effective.
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Colorado state Rep. Ron Weinberg will face more scrutiny for allegations of unethical behavior following a vote of his peers Wednesday morning.
The House Ethics Committee found probable cause to further investigate two out of six allegations filed against Weinberg, a Loveland Republican, by fellow GOP Rep. Brandi Bradley. One surviving claim involves allegations that he copied or otherwise misused a master key that could access any of the offices of his fellow legislators and that he used the key to enter at least one member’s space.
The other still-active claim by Bradley alleges that Weinberg made sexually suggestive and inappropriate comments to her and others on multiple occasions.
Weinberg originally faced seven claims, but two of them were combined. The committee, made up of three Democrats and two Republicans, voted unanimously on all counts either to continue with or dismiss them.
Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat, said it was the pattern of alleged behavior, more than evidence around individual accusations, that warranted further discussion.
“There’s a pattern and practice of behavior here that suggests maybe some form of sexual harassment that crosses the line has happened,” Mabrey said.
That logic followed for accusations that Weinberg may have misused a master key to access areas of the building he normally wouldn’t be able to. Rep. Matt Soper, a Delta Republican, noted that legislative leaders had their offices rekeyed following the allegation — proof that suspicion was at least widespread enough to warrant further examination.
“They took action that they otherwise would not have taken,” Soper said. “And you don’t take action like that if you honestly don’t believe someone had ever had a key or had access to a key.”
Claims that Weinberg carried a gun in the Capitol and while drunk, both potentially crimes, were found to be unsubstantiated and dropped by the Ethics Committee. Claims that Weinberg accosted Bradley and was beligerent toward Rep. Stephanie Luck, also a Republican, during a 2025 committee meeting were also unsubstantiated as crossing ethical lines.
“Nothing this body has decided at this point determines one way or the other whether an ethics violation has occurred,” Rep. Steven Woodrow, a Denver Democrat, said. “It has simply found probable cause to proceed forward on those two points, and that’s all anyone should take away from this.”
Weinberg did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning.
He can request an evidentiary hearing to further investigate the claims against him, which would kick off more proceedings to determine if he breached ethical guidelines. If he does not make that request, the Ethics Committee will recommend to the House which actions, if any, it should consider taking against him, potentially including a reprimand, censure or removal.
Weinberg has denied all the accusations. He has characterized them as politically motivated to keep him from running for a leadership position within the Republican caucus.
The Secretary of State’s Office is conducting a separate investigation into whether Weinberg used campaign funds for personal expenses. The Ethics Committee considered claims regarding the alleged campaign finance violations but voted to defer to the Secretary of State’s investigation.
Weinberg has also faced other accusations that he sexually harassed two women prior to joining the General Assembly. Weinberg sued the women for defamation but dropped the suit in January.
He joined the legislature for the 2023 session after Rep. Hugh McKean died. Weinberg was then elected to a full term in 2024. He announced in January that he would not seek reelection this year.
