childcare

The two candidates vying for a seat on the Montezuma County Commission disagreed on issues such as child care and the controversial “Big Beautiful Bill” at a forum Wednesday evening in Dolores.

County-commission candidates Rebecca Busic and Rodney Cox voiced similar views on some issues but clearly disagreed on others during a forum put on by the Republican Women of Montezuma County in Cortez on Thursday.

SCYC served 353 students in Mancos last school year through federally funded before- and after-school programs. The program is free and has no waitlist, but transportation home remains a significant barrier for some families.

Rebecca Busic, a candidate for Montezuma County commissioner, discusses housing, childcare, economic development, and county budget challenges in an interview with KSJD.

It’s the latest in a series of executive branch moves targeting the state.

A Georgetown University report warns that proposed Medicaid cuts could harm early childhood education in Colorado. Many child care workers rely on Medicaid for health care, and cuts could deepen the child care crisis.

Governor Polis signs a bill to protect educators from pressure to remove books from school libraries, while Cortez renews its Urban Forestry program. Other updates include health-related resignations in Arizona, a proposed tobacco tax delay in the Navajo Nation, and wildfire mitigation efforts across the West.

Colorado loses $2.7 billion annually due to lack of affordable child care. A new initiative in Mesa County highlights the impact of investing in child care infrastructure and workforce development.

House Bill 25-1011 would have required daycare chains to be more transparent about pricing and to notify parents prior to layoffs. But opponents said it'll discourage operators from opening up centers.

National chains are a growing share of the state's childcare providers, and lawmakers want regulations before they get any larger.