The Colorado Independent

First shots fired in Colorado payday loan war

By Joseph Boven | 03.09.10 | 11:24 am

DENVER– Perhaps no issue will underline the divide separating state Democrats and Republicans this legislative session as well as the war to rein in the payday loan industry. That war saw its first real skirmishes Monday at the capitol when roughly 150 payday-loan business owners and employees rallied outside the building in advance of a hearing on a bill that seeks to cap payday interest rates and limit the infamous cycle of personal payday-loan debt the industry depends upon to generate millions in profits.

Consent-to-search bill takes aim at racial profiling

By Joseph Boven | 02.24.10 | 9:16 am

DENVER– Backed by a coalition of citizens’ rights groups, Democratic lawmakers Rep. Karen Middleton of Aurora and Sen. Pat Steadman of Denver introduced a bill that would require police to inform citizens of their right to refuse voluntary searches. The groups backing the bill believe it would limit traffic stops and searches that stem from discrimination.

Ferrandino weighs taking on payday loan industry in Colorado

By Joseph Boven | 02.03.10 | 11:44 am

The payday loan industry gouges Coloradans like it does Americans across the country, targeting mostly low-income single women, including military spouses. Denver Democratic state Rep. Mark Ferrandino tried and failed to introduce legislation in 2008 that would have curbed the worst of the abuses, where desperate borrowers take loans at hundreds of percent interest and enter a debt cycle they rarely are able to exit. Ferrandino may try it again this year.

Hotline To Take Police Bias Complaints

By Erin Rosa | 04.08.08 | 7:37 am

A coalition of civil rights leaders is set to introduce the creation of a statewide “police discrimination hotline” in Denver today, meant to to take complaints and offer services to individuals who claim to be racially profiled by members of…