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Author: Brian Porter

Rep. Weinberg’s constitutional carry bill would give Coloradans rights that 29 other states already have
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Weinberg’s constitutional carry bill would give Coloradans rights that 29 other states already have

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice When the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, written by James Madison, was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791, along with the other Bill of Rights, Americans believed the Founders had provided a right that "shall not be infringed" to own and possess firearms, wherever they may be and however they may wish. A bill introduced this week in the Colorado House would mostly and finally provide that unrestricted right. House Bill 25-1164, by Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg, would add Colorado to the growing majority of states with constitutional carry. It is a more long-awaited bill for gun owners than the repeal of the high-capacity magazine law. Constitutional carry is as it sounds, a right, as intended in the constitution, where anyone who can legally...
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Senate Dems’ whip says ‘I am a no’ to SB 3, the semi-auto gun ban bill, absent of significant changes
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Senate Dems’ whip says ‘I am a no’ to SB 3, the semi-auto gun ban bill, absent of significant changes

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The house of cards on Colorado Senate Bill 25-003 appears to be collapsing in the wee hours before it is set for a vote. Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, a Pueblo County Democrat and the majority party's whip, has declared his opposition to the bill "prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, and purchase of specified semiautomatic firearms" that some have said would make Colorado the most anti-gun state in the country. https://twitter.com/NickForCO/status/1886526899926786130 SB 3, sponsored by Democrat Sens. Tom Sullivan and Julie Gonzales and by Democrat Reps. Andrew Boesenecker and Meg Froelich, is slated for a second reading postponed from Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. Friday, when a vote could be taken. "I believe that, broadly, semi-au...
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Colorado House committees to tackle school lunch waste, NIL deals; Senate to hear 911 obstruction bill
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Colorado House committees to tackle school lunch waste, NIL deals; Senate to hear 911 obstruction bill

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice In schools across Colorado, the waste during a lunch period might be astounding — on average a school-age child throws away 67 pounds of food annually. One bill in the Colorado House aims to limit it. House Bill 25-1059, by Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg and sponsored in the Senate by Democrat Sen. Janice Marchman and Republican Sen. Janice Rich, asks school officials to establish policies by which it can reduce waste in school cafeterias and food preparation facilities. The bill will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 5, in the House Education Committee upon adjournment of the House in Room 0107. School policies may address "food waste diversion and aversion initiatives, including composting and share tables," which the bill indicates would permit st...
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Property squatters would face stiff $1,000-a-day fines in HB 1104, slated to be heard Feb. 4
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Property squatters would face stiff $1,000-a-day fines in HB 1104, slated to be heard Feb. 4

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The Colorado solution to a national problem of squatters occupying a property without consent or ownership and with few remedies to remove them will be considered Tuesday during the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 25-1104, by Rep. Rebecca Keltie, is slated to be heard at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in HCR 0107. It will mark the first hearing of a bill written and sponsored by the freshman Republican representing District 16 in El Paso County. "A person who occupies a premises without the consent of the landowner commits the new crime of squatting," the bill reads, with a first offense resulting in an unclassified misdemeanor and a $2,000 fine per offense. Upon conviction, the court shall fine the offender $1,000 per day the property was ...
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Gun owners, 2A advocates asked to ‘stand up and fight’ during first caucus event
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Gun owners, 2A advocates asked to ‘stand up and fight’ during first caucus event

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice LOVELAND — A collection of state legislators, advocates and gun dealers gathered here Saturday at The Gallery Range & Restaurant in an effort to unify the state's 2nd Amendment supporters. "This is the first step we are a taking as a caucus," said state Rep. Ryan Armagost, who with Rep. Scott Bottoms chair the newly-formed 2nd Amendment Caucus in the Colorado House. "We're trying to get the word out on a lot of levels," Bottoms added. "What does it mean to be a firearms owner in Colorado?" They were joined by freshmen Reps. Rebecca Keltie, in El Paso County's District 16, and Larry Don Suckla, from the eight-county District 58 on the Western Slope. "I'm not just a gun advocate," Keltie said. "I support the 2nd Amendment. I believe i...
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Wolves will continue to be a ‘burden’ to livestock producers, Cattlemen’s Association says at Farm Show
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Wolves will continue to be a ‘burden’ to livestock producers, Cattlemen’s Association says at Farm Show

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A little more than four years ago, voters statewide supported Prop. 114 to reintroduce gray wolves to Colorado. As long as it is the law, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are directed to implement it, cattle raisers are going to have to face the challenge, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Erin Karney said Tuesday in a lecture kicking off the Colorado Farm Show. "It is going to continue to be a burden to livestock producers," she said. She argues, though, what might be viewed as a Western Slope issue is a concern on both sides of the continental divide, noting the operations of Eastern Colorado cattle raisers, feedlots, sale barns and processing plants. "A lot of our members are directly affected," Karne...
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Cattle rustling, labor and tariffs among concerns for ranchers, Cattlemen’s Association tells Farm Show audience
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Cattle rustling, labor and tariffs among concerns for ranchers, Cattlemen’s Association tells Farm Show audience

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice There's some similarity in a 19th century problem, which led to the beginnings of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, and today's environment for cattle raisers. Founded in 1867, the Colorado Cattlemen's Association predates statehood and helped form the National Western Stock Show in 1899, the Colorado Brand Board in 1902, and the Colorado Beef Council in 1956. "We are still focused on the same issues today — we are still dealing with cattle theft," said Erin Karney, the organization's executive vice president during a lecture kicking off the Colorado Farm Show. A year ago in Rifle, there were 150 or more head of cattle stolen. Just recently, there were 160 or more head of cattle stolen from a handful of landowners in Montrose, she note...
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Rep. Luck questions why tribal members aren’t part of Colorado’s American Indian Affairs Committee
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Luck questions why tribal members aren’t part of Colorado’s American Indian Affairs Committee

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Whether tribal members should be provided a place on Colorado's American Indian Affairs Committee was a consideration for a pair of House members Monday during a hearing for House Bill 25-1057 in front of the State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. "We listen, we pay attention and we learn," said Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg, a prime sponsor of the bill establishing the five-year American Indian Affairs Interim Committee. The committee's purpose is to "examine issues and challenges that impact American Indian Tribal Nations," the bill summary reads. It would consist of six members of the general assembly who serve for the duration of the committee, outside of a resignation or are no longer in office. The committee can meet up...
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Rep. Luck’s bill to increase transparency in legislation gains broad committee support
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Luck’s bill to increase transparency in legislation gains broad committee support

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice If you are not a political insider, the two-month period between electing your state lawmakers to the General Assembly and the filing of bills as the state legislature begins might be filled with radio silence. That's the point of a bill from Rep. Stephanie Luck, a Southern Colorado Republican in District 60. House Bill 25-1069 would seek to increase transparency in the legislative process for all Coloradans. It was heard Monday in the House's State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. The bill would create an online forum for a member of the General Assembly to voluntarily share drafts or titles of bills being considered with the public. "Our constituents seek more than just periodic updates," said Democrat Eliza Hamrick, a ...
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Colorado Farm Show is Jan. 28-30 at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Colorado Farm Show is Jan. 28-30 at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A winter rite of passage in agriculture returns this week, as the Colorado Farm Show takes place at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. The three-day exhibition of farm and ranch equipment, vendors, exhibits, seminars and more takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, and Wednesday, Jan. 29, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. Admission is free. A $5 fee for parking assists in funding of youth agricultural scholarships. Read the full schedule of events HERE. See the list of scholarship recipients HERE. See exhibitor maps HERE. See the Greeley Tribune's Farm Show Guide HERE.
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