Serving the community since 1906
WEEK OF MAY 29, 2025
VOLUME 118 | ISSUE 22
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BRIGHTON CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF 2025 P2
Officials worry about Medicaid as budget bill advances BY CAITLYN KIM AND JOHN DALEY CPR NEWS
she had been a stay-at-home mom taking care of her children. “I have also worked at American Express and in project management. This business makes sense,” Ziglebaum said. Her husband Josh Zygielbaum is the Adams County Clerk and Recorder, said that owning a coffee and tea shop and a bookstore has been Christina’s lifelong dream, and she had the opportunity to purchase the building.
Colorado’s two members on the House Energy and Commerce committee took different views and votes on the changes Republicans are proposing for Medicaid as the party looks for cuts to fund its budget reconciliation package. Republican Rep. Gabe Evans voted with his party to advance the changes to the federal health insurance program for children and low-income people, while Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette voted against it. The measure passed May 14 afternoon along straight party lines, 30-24, after a marathon 26-hour mark-up session. According to a Congressional Budget Office estimate, under the Republican changes, 10.3 million people will lose coverage over the first decade it’s in effect. Millions more would lose coverage due to the Affordable Care Act changes approved by the committee. “You can’t save $700 billion and not cut anybody off of Medicaid,” DeGette told CPR News. The CBO estimated the Medicaid changes would save $625 billion.“You’re going to have red tape and a whole bunch of people who are working fall off of Medicaid because they’ll get thrown off by the states.” The Denver congresswoman argues that new work and documentation requirements under the proposal would make it harder for eligible people to access their benefits. “They can’t do the paperwork. And we saw that in two states,” DeGette said, pointing to Georgia and Arkansas. “They tried to do a work requirement. It ended up throwing a whole bunch of people off of Medicaid who were working and it ended up costing more money.” Evans countered the bill will prevent waste, fraud and abuse, and that Democrats weren’t seeking to preserve coverage for eligible recipients. “We’ve heard, what is it now, almost 24 hours of arguing to keep 1.4 million illegal immigrants on the rolls and 1.2 million people who aren’t eligible for Medicaid,” Evans told CPR News, citing what he said are CBO’s numbers.
SEE COFFEE SHOP, P2
SEE MEDICAID, P6
A new Main Street coffee shop fulfills a dream ‘7 a.m. Somewhere’ cuts the ribbon on cozy spot for the Brighton community BY BELEN WARD BELEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Christina Zygielbaum has always dreamed of opening a coffee and tea shop, with plans to include a shelf with books her customers could browse. Her dream became a reality – books and all – and she opened “7 a.m. Somewhere” coffee shop in the heart of Brighton at 119 N. Main Street with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 16. Johna Garrison, president of the Brighton Chamber of
Commerce, congratulated Zygielbaum saying she did a fantastic job with the place and made it unique. Brighton had no coffee shops, and now it have several, all at once. “This coffee shop is special because it offers a space for moms to gather, a place for you to work or meet a friend, and a spot for kids to play — this combination is unique among all other shops. It also features a beautiful patio out back and amazing murals,” Garrison said. “It’s amazing to see Brighton growing like this and
creating spaces where people can come together to build a stronger community, which is exactly what is needed.” In addition to coffee, Zygielbaum’s coffee shop boasts handcrafted beverages, artisanal pastries and delectable dishes. They also provide gluten-free options. “This is my dream for the future to bring the community together and offer great drinks,” said Christina Zygielbaum. She said that before buying her coffee shop five years ago,
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