Denver voters approved major funding for mental health care and addiction treatment, but a new audit questions how that money is being handled. Then, a federal judge in Colorado is expressing frustration as ICE agents are accused of continuing to make arrests without warrants, potentially violating his order. Plus, as Lunar New Year celebrations begin, we go behind the scenes with some lion dancers preparing for the big performances.

Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members.

Join us next month for our anniversary event, Colorado Today Live: Up First with A Martinez, March 10 at the Holiday Theater in north Denver. Get your tickets at cpr.org/coloradotodaylive.

Read more on the stories in today’s show:

• CPR’s Ben Markus reports on the Denver auditor’s review of spending on mental health, and Ben's original investigation into Caring For Denver.
• CPR’s Allison Sherry reports on the feds apparent noncompliance with a court order blocking warrant-less arrest.
• CPR’s Sandy Battulga learned how to Lion Dance.

This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Bazi Kanani and Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Arlo Pérez Esquivel, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

We have some safety advice after a wacky week in Colorado weather – from fragile avalanche conditions in the high country to deadly dust storms on the plains. Then, one woman's fight to get Colorado to issue her a birth certificate could change the future for other stateless adults. And, one of the last professional theater critics in Colorado shares his recommendations for what to go see this winter.

Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members.

Read more on the stories in today’s show:

• Freelancer John Henderson on Mikaela Shiffrin’s Olympic gold medal performance.
• CPR’s Haylee May on Colorado’s dangerous avalanche conditions.
• CPR’s Dan Boyce on Colorado’s new rules for stateless people and Abigail McKinnon's life without a legal identity.
• CPR’s Raise the Curtain series, which shines a light on Colorado theater and the people who make it possible.

This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel and Bazi Kanani. It’s edited and produced by Arlo Pérez Esquivel, Mateo Schimpf, Megan Verlee, Bazi Kanani and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

Colorado’s highest court is back to full strength, after Gov. Polis appointed a judicial veteran to fill its open seat. Then, a splashy set of indictments last summer was supposed to show the danger a Venezuelan gang poses to Colorado, but when CPR News followed up on those legal cases, the outcomes we found tell a different story. Plus, ski areas get all the attention in low snow years, but plenty of other businesses are taking a hit to the bottom line too. And the Swedish DIY furniture giant is preparing to open a third Colorado outpost.

Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members.

Read more on the stories in today’s show:

• CPR’s Rae Solomon on Colorado’s newest Supreme Court justice.
• CPR’s Allison Sherry on the plea deals being offered to Venezuelan immigrants arrested on gun and drug charges.
• CPR’s Haylee May on the businesses suffering from this dry winter.
• CPR’s Ryan Warner covers the 2011 opening of the Centennial IKEA.

This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Haylee May. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Arlo Pérez Esquivel, Haylee May and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

It’s a painful question many Colorado homeowners may find themselves asking this year: my home value went down, so why is my property tax bill going up? Plus, men can struggle to make the social connections that are so vital for mental wellbeing. A dinner program in the high country aims to help with that. And we remember a self-taught flutist who delighted downtown Denver for decades.

Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members.

Read more on the stories in today’s show:

• Denverite’s Andy Kenney on what’s happening with Colorado’s property taxes.
• CPR’s John Daley on Dude Talk Dinners in Idaho Springs.
• You can learn more about Jentry McCombs in two documentaries about his life and music: Denizen ep. 6 by Rob Shearer and Jentry McCombs: 2nd to none and still Number 1.

This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Bazi Kanani and Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Bazi Kanani, Arlo Pérez Esquivel, Mateo Schimpf and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

The Colorado Today team is taking a hard earned break for President’s Day. We’ll be back with all the latest in Colorado news tomorrow. But in the meantime, we want to give you a chance to discover Purplish, the politics podcast from CPR News and the Colorado Capitol News Alliance.

Colorado, like the rest of the country, is experiencing more, and worse, climate disasters, wreaking havoc on people’s homes — and their homeowner’s insurance rates.

In the wake of devastating hail storms and massive wildfires, Coloradans face rising premiums, less choice and availability, and in some cases, getting dropped by insurers altogether. The state is now one of the top ten most expensive in the country for homeowners insurance.

CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Andrea Kramar from Rocky Mountain PBS explain how insurance reached the breaking point, and explore what our state is trying to do to turn the tide.

Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members.

Read more on the stories in today’s show:

• Enjoyed today’s episode? Find the Purplish podcast here.
• Watch the RMPBS/CPR documentary, Undercovered: Colorado’s Home Insurance Dilemma, from Andrea Kramer and Bente Birkeland
• CPR’s Ishan Thakore with the latest on how hail is driving up homeowners insurance in Colorado.

Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. Sound designed and engineered by Shane Rumsey. Theme music is by Brad Turner. CPR’s executive producer of podcasts is Megan Verlee.

Purplish is produced by listener-supported CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Colorado hospitals are now required to share personal information about undocumented immigrants with the federal government. The data could be used by ICE. Then, RTD announced it would revive pre-pandemic transit schedules days after closing the door on a decades-long rail project. Plus, an old family castle is added to the list of endangered places in Colorado. And, if you’re lookin’ for love this Valentine’s weekend, May-belle is available. We take you to a kissing booth… with a fine bovine.

Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members.

And finally, you're invited to join us in celebrating Colorado Today’s first anniversary, with an event featuring A Martinez of Up First, March 10 at the Holiday Theater in Denver. Find ticket information here.

Read more on the stories in today’s show:

• CPR’s John Daley and Bente Birkeland report on new data sharing rules for Colorado hospitals.
• Denverite’s Andrew Kenney reports on RTD’s increased rail service.
• CPR’s Ava Kian on the hottest Valentine’s date in Colorado.
• CPR’s Ryan Warner learns about Hartman Castle.

This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel and Bazi Kanani. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

President Trump labeled a video in which Democratic members of congress, including Rep. Jason Crow, urged members of the military not to follow unlawful orders as "sedition." But a federal grand jury refused to indict him. Then, former state DNA scientist Missy Woods pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that she tampered with results in more than a thousand cases.

Plus, we dive deep into the topic of domestic violence. A bill at the statehouse would require lawmakers conduct a lethality assessment when they respond to situations of possible abuse. The sponsor says the tool might have helped her, if it had been used years ago. But while the assessment can encourage survivors to seek services, around half of Colorado's counties don't have an emergency shelter they can go to. What does that mean for helping people break out of abusive situations?

And finally, Michelin says it will start looking statewide, when it reviews restaurants in Colorado.

You're invited -- in honor of the show's first anniversary, Colorado Today is hosting an event with A Martinez of Up First, March 10 at the Holiday Theater in Denver. Find ticket information here.

Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members.

Read more on the stories in today’s show:

• Denverite's Kyle Harris on the rain on tap for Denver this weekend.
• The Associated Press reports on the grand jury's refusal to indict Rep. Crow and others for unlawful orders video.
• CPR's Ava Kian on Missy Wood's not guilty plea Wednesday.
• CPR’s Ava Kian reports on a bill that would make a protocol for domestic violence victims mandatory statewide.
• University of Denver’s Kaitlyn Sims writes about the state’s dearth of emergency shelter programs for domestic violence survivors for The Conversation.
• CPR's Tom Hesse on the Michelin Guide going statewide.

This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Stephanie Wolf, Arlo Pérez Esquivel, Mateo Schimpf, Bazi Kanani, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

Democratic lawmakers are trying to stop some of the president’s new policies, right at the state line. You’ll hear how they plan to do it. Then, more layoffs at one of the state’s largest research laboratories. And we meet a group of women responsible for sending love around the world each Valentine’s Day.

Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members.

Read more on the stories in today’s show:

• CPR’s Haylee May takes you inside the Loveland Remailing Program.
• CPR’s Sam Brasch reports on the most recent layoffs at the National Lab of the Rockies.

This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Haylee May. It’s edited and produced by Haylee May, Arlo Pérez Esquivel, Mateo Schimpf, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.