Author name: Jen Schumann

Silent signature, rising resistance: HB1312 becomes law, but parents vow to fight on

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Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 25-1312 into law on Friday, May 16, without a press conference, social media announcement or public ceremony.

While the bill, known as the “Kelly Loving Act,” was hailed by progressive lawmakers as a milestone for transgender rights, many Coloradans who opposed the bill say the governor’s quiet signature is a telling indication of just how controversial the legislation had become.

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Wolves roam, pups are born, riders deployed—but land-use plans still stuck in 2023

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories / / , , , , , , , , ,

Wolves are roaming, ranchers are riding – but the rulebook hasn’t changed. Wolves are traveling farther, forming dens and producing pups. Many have turned up dead—especially in Wyoming, where wolves that prey on livestock can be killed on sight under state law. 

Yet not one federal or state land-use plan in Colorado has been updated since gray wolf reintroduction began in December 2023.

That’s the backdrop for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s May 13 press release announcing that its Range Rider Program is fully operational and patrolling western Colorado. 

Eleven contracted riders hired by CPW have joined two staff from the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) to monitor livestock, haze predators and report signs of wolf-livestock conflict across nine counties.

Wolves roam, pups are born, riders deployed—but land-use plans still stuck in 2023 Read More »

LPEA special election: Mail ballots due by May 20 as member frustrations grow

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories / / , , , , ,

It’s crunch time for mail-in ballots in the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA)  board election – and with contested seats and rising costs in the mix, turnout matters.

Ballots have to be in LPEA’s hands by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 20 – postmarks don’t count. With slow mail times a known issue, LPEA voters who haven’t yet mailed their ballot should drop it off in person or vote online through SmartHub.

LPEA special election: Mail ballots due by May 20 as member frustrations grow Read More »

The $5 million shadow ledger: Pueblo Democrats’ HQ funded by bingo, not disclosed in filings

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories / / , , , , ,

A building paid for with bingo money. A political party using it as their headquarters. And more than $5 million in unreported financial activity that, to date, no one has answered for.

That’s the core of Pueblo resident Jonathan Ambler’s ongoing legal challenge against the Pueblo County Democratic Party and its Central Committee. Ambler, a former Republican candidate, filed two complaints last fall alleging the party used a bingo-funded building for years without reporting it in TRACER.

After the Colorado Secretary of State dismissed both complaints in April, Ambler – without an attorney – petitioned the Denver District Court for judicial review.

The $5 million shadow ledger: Pueblo Democrats’ HQ funded by bingo, not disclosed in filings Read More »

Boebert presses FBI, joins Trump and allies rallying to free ‘political prisoner’ Tina Peters

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A 69-year-old grandmother with no prior record is serving nearly a decade in prison. Now, Donald Trump and Lauren Boebert are calling her what they believe she is: a political prisoner.

Rep. Lauren Boebert is demanding federal action on behalf of Tina Peters, the former Mesa County Clerk sentenced to nine years in prison over her efforts to preserve election records following the 2020 election. In a March 21 letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Boebert called the case a “staggeringly harsh” example of political prosecution and urged the bureau to investigate potential violations of Peters’ civil rights.

Boebert presses FBI, joins Trump and allies rallying to free ‘political prisoner’ Tina Peters Read More »

Backlash ignored: Senate approves HB25-1312 without parental rights protections

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Proponents hail the bill as a civil rights milestone for transgender youth. But Republicans say it strips parental rights, embeds compelled speech into law and threatens custody in future court cases. After weeks of public backlash, failed compromise efforts, and a marathon Senate floor debate, Colorado lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to HB25-1312 – a bill that critics say severs parents from decisions about their children’s identities in school.

Backlash ignored: Senate approves HB25-1312 without parental rights protections Read More »

A turning point for Colorado: RMV announces first Mountain Majesty Gala featuring Eric Trump on June 21 

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories / / , , , ,

The conservative grassroots in Colorado is waking up – and gathering for something bigger than politics as usual.

Tickets are now on sale for what organizers are calling a major turning point for Colorado conservatives. Rocky Mountain Voice will host its first Mountain Majesty Gala on June 21 at the Denver Marriott West in Golden. Doors open at 5:00 PM, and guests are encouraged to dress formal for an evening built to energize Colorado’s conservative movement – something many say is long overdue.

Grassroots leaders, elected officials and media voices will gather for a night of connection, clarity and shared purpose.

A turning point for Colorado: RMV announces first Mountain Majesty Gala featuring Eric Trump on June 21  Read More »

Members left in the dark: LPEA board spends big while margins shrink and bills climb

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories / / , , , ,

When La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) members open their May power bills, most will see the effects of a 7.72% rate increase that quietly took effect April 1. While LPEA’s board says the hike is needed to cover infrastructure and supply costs, many members are beginning to ask harder questions – not just about what they’re paying, but about how their cooperative is being run.

Members left in the dark: LPEA board spends big while margins shrink and bills climb Read More »

Michelle Chandler stopped a predator — and uncovered victims who may never know

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, State, Top Stories / / , , , , , ,

On May 11, 2024, at Nordstrom Rack in Lakewood, Colorado, Michelle Chandler caught a man filming her inside a women’s fitting room. She didn’t freeze or panic. Instead, she confronted him, pinned him to the ground and held him until help arrived – or so she thought. 

What happened next wasn’t the swift arrival of justice. It was abandonment: by store employees, by security and later, by a system more concerned with procedure than protection.

Michelle Chandler stopped a predator — and uncovered victims who may never know Read More »

“Drawing the line”: School boards warn HB25-1312 oversteps on parental rights, brings policy chaos

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories / / , , , , , , , , ,

More than 70 school board members and education leaders have signed a letter urging lawmakers to reject HB25-1312, also known as the Kelly Loving Act.

Andrea Haitz, president of the District 51 Board of Education, warned that the bill “risks placing schools in an even more precarious legal position, especially when parents disagree on matters like gender identity or preferred names.”

Jason Jorgenson, secretary of the District 11 Board of Education and a lead organizer of the opposition letter, said HB25-1312 “risks encouraging youth to pursue a path of gender transition without appropriate parental involvement.”

“Drawing the line”: School boards warn HB25-1312 oversteps on parental rights, brings policy chaos Read More »