🦠 New COVID variant in CO

🇺🇸 SCOTUS Takes Up Trump’s Appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from former President Donald Trump’s defense team on the Colorado high court’s decision to bar Trump from appearing on the state’s 2024 primary ballot. Oral arguments are scheduled for Feb. 8. [CO Sun / AP]

🚍 RTD Offers Up More Free Rides

RTD is prepared to dole out $1 million in grants to local nonprofits as part of its new Transit Assistance Grant program allowing social service organizations (for seniors, low-income residents, refugees, people with disabilities, etc.) to offer free rides to their clients. [Denverite]

• Dive deeper: What else has RTD been up to? Here is a look back at some of the 2023 highlights. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

⚖️ Aurora Cop Receives Jail Sentence

A judge has sentenced former Aurora police officer Randy Roedma to 14 months in jail and four years of probation after he was convicted last fall on charges of third-degree assault and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Elijah McClain. [CPR]

🍺 The Truth Behind CO’s Alcohol Deaths

Colorado has some of the lowest alcohol taxes in the country, while our rate for drinking-related deaths are among the highest. Could raising the cost of alcohol change that statistic? And if so, why hasn’t it happened yet? A four-part investigative series from the Denver Post digs into those questions and more. [Denver Post 🔒]

Can Johnston House Another 1,000? Plus, Who Did Boebert Punch?

Mayor Johnston declared victory in his goal to shelter 1,000 unhoused Denverites before the end of 2023. Will he aim even higher in 2024? Plus, Congresswoman Boebert is in the news again, and spoiler alert: it’s not good news.