As we all watch with heartbreak what Texas is dealing with after the deadly Fourth of July flood, we realize that flooding is a real threat in Colorado. Yes, we’re hot and dry now, but monsoon season is right around the corner. I asked the Insider panel to weigh in on our past floods, the state of warning systems, and more. We also had to confront a new reality before state lawmakers: rewriting Colorado’s budget because of changes in the federal budget. That’s where we start this week.

Colorado Budget Crisis: A special legislative session of the Colorado General Assembly is imminent after passage of the new federal budget.

• Eric Sondermann, Colorado Politics Columnist: “It’s the big beautiful bill, which, you know, was half correct… It was big.”
• Patty Calhoun, Westword Editor: “We’re talking about at least a half-billion dollars in cuts, is what it’s looking like right now. For Colorado, this is déjà vu all over again. We just had cuts and they weren’t easy to make during the last legislative session. And now, on top of those cuts, we have more cuts. God bless the JBC, the Joint Budget Committee, which is already getting prepared with their ideas.”
• Tyrone Glover, Attorney: “From a civil-rights perspective, I’m watching what they’re going to do with the AI law passed in 2024—the first of its kind in the United States regulating AI systems. This technology is rapidly evolving; we need to add guardrails or at least give some guidance.”
• Chris Rourke, Rourke Media Consultant: “Another thing that could be handled in the special session is whether or not tips are going to be taxed. The legislature this past session passed a measure that would tax overtime pay. Now they may add tips, which is a response to a federal exemption.”

Immigration and ICE Enforcement in Colorado: ICE arrests are up 300 % statewide—1,355 from January–June 2025 versus 342 in the same period in 2024.

• Tyrone Glover: Worries that Denver immigration courts are keeping lawyers and legal observers out of proceedings.
• Eric Sondermann: “Police have limits. They wear body cameras and name tags. We’re basically building a police force in the immigration realm that is outside all of those usual rules, and that scares me greatly.”
• Chris Rourke: “I don’t see the outrage over a 700 % increase in attacks on ICE agents since last year.”
• Colorado towns under consideration for new ICE detention centers include Burlington, Walsenburg, La Junta, Hudson, and Colorado Springs. Aurora currently hosts the state’s only facility.
• Tyrone Glover: “We’re starting to see reduced enforcement of drug trafficking, fentanyl, guns, and violent criminal enterprises so resources can pursue people who are mostly law-abiding but here illegally.”

Higher Education Leadership & Controversies:

• Tyrone Glover: Calls the censure of CU Regent Wanda James “retaliatory for her viewpoint and her outspokenness,” noting a campaign that depicted Black cannabis users with the label “lazy” at a university that is roughly 63 % white and 3 % Black.
• Patty Calhoun: Says the censure feels “petty” and undermines “the voice of the voters.”
• Chris Rourke: Notes a faculty no-confidence vote for DU Chancellor Jeremy Haefner over finances and his response to a pro-Palestinian encampment. Historically, such votes lead to leadership turnover within 6–12 months, harming recruitment and student success.

Colorado Flood Preparedness and Climate Concerns: Colorado’s flood history and current drought conditions put the state at risk as monsoon season approaches.

• The Big Thompson Canyon flood of 2013 caused 9 deaths and destroyed 2,000 structures; the 1976 flood was even deadlier, with 144 deaths during Colorado’s Centennial.
• Chris Rourke: Warns that drought-hardened soil and sudden heavy rain can create fast, destructive floods: “It moves fast and it moves furious.”
• Patty Calhoun: Points out Colorado’s outdated siren systems—Aurora has already flagged its own—and says cell-phone alerts alone are not enough.

Even our well-spoken Insiders struggle to describe the despair caused by the Texas flooding. Tyrone mentions how tough it is to have his kids away at camp right now. We wish everyone a safe week ahead.