Eric Galatas

Some 18,000 children on average experience homelessness each year in Colorado, according to most recent Colorado Department of Education data.

Solving homelessness key to success in multiple regional and national priorities

Eric Galatas

A new documentary released by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless shows how, from better health to food security to good education, housing is foundational to every aspect of well-being, building stronger communities, promoting economic growth and opportunities for all Coloradans.

Colorado communities can apply for state and federal funding to help reduce fuels that feed wildfires.

Wildfire mitigation increases odds of saving Colorado homes

Eric Galatas

2022 is shaping up to be another grim year for the climate crisis, with heat and drought records being broken across the Western United States. Coloradans can take simple steps to help protect their properties against wildfires, which are becoming a year-round phenomenon.

Outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world visit rural Pitkin County, where more than one-third of homes are second homes or homes intended for seasonal use.

Addressing affordable worker housing in mountain resort towns

Eric Galatas

Colorado’s mountain resort towns are seeing the pros and cons of attracting America’s wealthiest residents.

The annual value of terrestrial ecosystem services globally, including watersheds that filter and clean drinking water, is estimated to be roughly equivalent to the annual global Gross Domestic Product.

State lawmakers press Biden to create national biodiversity strategy

Eric Galatas

State lawmakers from all corners of the nation want President Joe Biden to do more to protect the biosphere.

The use of peripheral catheters in patients with late-stage kidney disease costs more than $14,000 per incidence and has a high risk of actually harming patients.

Report: Use of low-value health services high even during pandemic

Eric Galatas

Certain diagnostic tests, screenings and treatments where the risk of harm or cost exceeds the likely benefit for patients - known as low-value health-care services - resulted in $134 million in excess spending in Colorado in 2020.

Senate Bill 154 would require assisted facility owners to check Colorado's Adult Protective Services Data System prior to hiring an employee who is responsible for the care and welfare of residents.

Measure to protect assisted-living residents advances in Colorado Legislature

Eric Galatas

Colorado lawmakers are considering a proposal to increase safety measures in Colorado’s assisted-living facilities to protect residents and prevent abuse and neglect of older Coloradans. Among other protections, Senate Bill 154 would require facilities to give residents at least 30 days' notice of discharge and create a transparent appeals process.

Well sites that produce less than 15 barrels of oil equivalent a day account for 80% of the nation's oil and gas wells.

Plugging methane leaks key to improving Colorado air quality

Eric Galatas

A new report published in the journal Nature Communications shows that half of all methane pollution in the United Nations is produced by smaller marginal wells that only contribute 6% of the nation’s oil and gas output. Clean-air advocates are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to require frequent inspections and equipment upgrades to capture lost natural gas.

It's estimated that 85% of individuals with intellectual disabilities are not working, or are under-employed, despite their willingness and ability to contribute to the workforce.

Colorado disability measures aim to expand access to higher-education, reduce poverty

Eric Galatas

Two bills making their way through the Colorado General Assembly would make it easier for people with disabilities to access college and other public institutions of higher learning. House Bill 1107 would fund proven strategies for making college more universally accessible.

"Scared straight" tactics, assumptions that sending a kid to jail will lead to improved behavior, tend to backfire, experts say, increasing the likelihood of children's longterm connection with the criminal justice system.

Colorado lawmakers consider raising minimum age for juvenile prosecution

Eric Galatas

Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would raise the minimum age for prosecuting children for crimes from 10 to 13 years old, except in cases involving sexual assault or homicide.