Politics reporter

Nick Coltrain

Nick Coltrain covers state politics for the Denver Post. He joined the news organization in 2022 after covering the Iowa caucus and COVID-19 for the Des Moines Register and all things for the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet speaks during press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

At town hall, Bennet faces protests over Israel’s attacks in Gaza

May 29, 2025 at 11:20 a.m.

A string of protestors against Israel's assault on Palestinians in Gaza disrupted U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet's town hall at the University of Denver on Wednesday, leading to several ejections from...

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs Senate Bill 45 into law while supporters and sponsors watch from behind during a bill signing for bills SB25-130 and SB25-045 at the Governor's Mansion on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. SB-45 requires the Colorado School of Public Health to create a report on model legislation for universal, publicly financed health care in Colorado. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)

Colorado increases penalties for wage theft under bill signed by Gov. Jared Polis

May 23, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

House Bill 1001 also increases the amount of money employees can recoup from successful wage theft claims to $13,000 from $7,500.

In this photo illustration, capsules of the drug Kratom are seen on May 10, 2016 in Miami, Florida.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Colorado legislators tightened regulation of the herbal remedy kratom. But will Gov. Jared Polis veto the bill?

May 23, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Supporters of Senate Bill 72 say the new law would help rein in the most dangerous forms of kratom, while leaving consumer choice intact.

Rep. Shannon Bird speaks during the General Assembly at the Colorado State Capitol Building on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

State Rep. Shannon Bird, budget committee vice chair, joins race against U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans

May 20, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Rep. Shannon Bird, vice chair of the powerful Joint Budget Committee in the state legislature, is the third Democrat to announce their bid for the congressional seat.

Truck driver Mike Segelke tightens up chains on his semi-truck at a chain-up station along westbound I-70 at Georgetown January 10, 2017. The Colorado Department of Transportation closed down I-70 westbound from Georgetown to Silverthorne due to avalanche reduction work. Andy Cross, The Denver Post

New Colorado law allows tire-chain help by vendors along highways

May 16, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Colorado drivers will soon be able to hire people to install tire chains on their cars or commercial trucks before crossing mountain passes in winter weather.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis hands a pen used for a signature to Rep. Andrew Boesenecker after signing Senate Bill 45 into law during a ceremony at the Governor's Mansion on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Denver. SB-45 requires the Colorado School of Public Health to create a report on model legislation for universal, publicly financed health care in Colorado. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)

Gov. Jared Polis signs laws ordering universal health care study, emergency abortion protections

May 14, 2025 at 5:56 p.m.

Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday signed a pair of health care bills that will enshrine federal protections for emergency care in state law and potentially start Colorado down the path...

People stand on the platform of the W-Line train at the Lamar Station in Denver on March 10, 2025. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

RTD must create 10-year plan, face accountability committee under new law signed by Gov. Jared Polis

May 13, 2025 at 3:09 p.m.

The agency that oversees metro Denver's train and bus system will need to create a 10-year master plan and face a new accountability committee under a law signed Tuesday by...

Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie, front left, hugs Gov. Jared Polis at a news conference where they reflected on the 2025 legislative session, which concluded Wednesday, in front of West Holden Place Modular Housing in Denver on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Polis signed Senate Bill 2, which is aimed at making it easier to construct factory-built structures. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Four big dynamics drove Colorado lawmakers’ session, from defending against Trump to boosting affordability

May 9, 2025 at 10:06 a.m.

During the 120-day Colorado legislative session, Democrats pushed through policies on gun rights, trans rights and immigration. Here's a look at other dynamics.

House Majority Leader Monica Duran, left, and Sen. Anthony Hartsook, right, chat on the floor of the House during the last day of the 2025 legislative session at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Colorado legislature ends with an AI fizzle as delay falters — further stoking talk of a special session

May 7, 2025 at 7:25 p.m.

Colorado lawmakers wrapped up their work Wednesday night, but not before calls for a special session rang out over an impasse on first-in-the-nation regulations for artificial intelligence.

Lawmakers work in the House chamber during the General Assembly’s 2025 session at the Colorado State Capitol building in Denver on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Live updates: Lawmakers pass Uber/Lyft bill with plea for Gov. Polis to sign it; House sorts through failed AI delay aftermath

May 7, 2025 at 9:28 p.m.

The Colorado General Assembly enters its final day of the 2025 session Wednesday after a late-night scramble in the House over artificial intelligence regulations.

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