Mike Weissman

Colorado Free Application Days are back!

From October 7–9, 2025, students can apply for free to all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado, as well as many private institutions.

Who’s eligible?
All Colorado residents applying to undergraduate programs—including associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and certificates—at public or participating private institutions.

What to do now:
- Start applications ahead of time (most platforms let you save progress).
- Gather materials like essays and recommendations.
- Submit applications between October 7–9 to take advantage of the fee waiver.

Colorado Free App Days | Colorado Department of Higher Education Home The Colorado Free Application Days campaign is an initiative designed to inspire more Coloradans to continue their education. From Tuesday, Oct. 7 through Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado and several private institutions will waive their application fees, m...

Adams-Aurora residents - Adams county is inviting comment for its "Housing Needs Assessment and Balanced Housing Plan" - see below to take their quick survey:

Housing Needs Assessment and Balanced Housing Plan - PublicInput Adams County is working on a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) to understand the range of housing needs in the county. Based on those needs the County will create a Balanced Housing Plan (BHP) to guide housing strategies. Below is a short survey which asks a few key questions regarding your experience....

Every year, Congress must pass 12 spending bills to fund federal agencies and programs before the fiscal year ends on September 30. They can also pass a continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily extend funding. If neither measure passes, the federal government runs out of money and shuts down.

Today is the first day of that shutdown. Republicans refused to accept a funding package that included key protections and instead pushed for deep cuts and policy changes. Democrats are calling for an extension of tax credits - which are set to expire - that make health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans, and for a reversal of cuts to Medicaid that have been made by Trump.

Here is a quick FAQ on the impact on government benefits and services:

• Will I continue to receive my Social Security checks?

Yes. You will continue to receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks. However, some Social Security services are likely to be affected, including benefit verifications and the issuance of Medicare replacement cards. There may also be reduced hours at field offices.

• I am on food assistance. Will my programs be affected?

Not immediately. Individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will continue to receive their October 2025 payments, even if there is a shutdown. If the shutdown lasts longer than 30 days, SNAP benefits could be delayed or interrupted entirely.

Benefits through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) also should not be impacted if there is a short shutdown. However, if the shutdown lasts longer than a week, WIC benefits could be impacted.

• Will I still be able to use my Medicaid and Medicare?

Yes. Medicare and Medicaid will not be impacted and benefits will continue as usual.

• Will I still receive my mail?

Yes, the U.S. Postal Service will remain operational.

• I am a veteran, will my health care be impacted? How will other veterans’ services be impacted?

No, veterans’ health care will not be impacted by a shutdown. Benefits such as pension, education, and housing benefits will continue to be processed and delivered.

Access to some Veterans’ Affairs (VA) resources will be restricted, including outreach, career counseling, transition assistance, and cemetery grounds maintenance. Regional VA offices, like the Bronx Vet Center, will close.

• Will immigration applications still be processed?

Visa and passport operations are not normally impacted during a shutdown. Some immigration cases may be delayed.

Please note that law enforcement, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, will still be conducting arrests.

• Do I still have to pay my student loans?

Yes, student loan borrowers will still be required to make payments on their outstanding student debt. Federal student aid employees will still be working during a government shutdown.

What happens when the government shuts down? Federal departments and agencies have put out guidance about which programs will stay open and which ones won't during the funding lapse.

Yesterday, our state received its quarterly economic forecasts.

The forecast confirms what we already know: the chaotic economic policies of the Trump administration are harming Colorado’s economy and the entire country. Tariffs are driving up costs in critical industries like housing and increasing costs for consumers, while H.R.1 increased administrative costs and slashed federal assistance for programs like health care and food assistance.

Back in July, Republicans in Congress passed a law called H.R.1 that gave corporations big tax breaks. That meant Colorado suddenly lost about $1 billion in tax revenue that those corporations would normally pay into the state budget.

To deal with the hole this created, we held a special session last month. We were able to close about one-third of the gap by closing corporate tax loopholes and tapping into the state’s “rainy day fund,” which is like an emergency savings account for tough times.

Medicaid costs, driven by rising health care prices, more people needing care, and Colorado’s aging population, are climbing even faster than expected, up about $350 million in the next year alone. H.R.1 makes things worse by cutting Medicaid funding, which could cost Colorado billions in federal dollars and put coverage at risk for more than 370,000 people.

You can read more here:https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/sept_2025_forecast_presentation.pdf

You can go back and listen here:
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20250923/54/17666