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Author: Jen Schumann

Mesa County launches Ballot Verifier, giving voters unprecedented access to ballots
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Mesa County launches Ballot Verifier, giving voters unprecedented access to ballots

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Mesa County launched a first-of-its-kind ballot transparency tool last month, allowing residents to view redacted ballot images and corresponding cast vote records online—without filing a CORA request. Supporters say it could reshape public trust in elections. Others say it doesn’t go far enough. But one thing is certain: Mesa County is at the heart of a national battle over election integrity, and the Ballot Verifier came to fruition out of demand — and the innovation of an election stats company that wanted to answer to it. Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Bobbie Gross said the tool was made possible by an initial $30,000 investment to develop the system and redaction process. “I believe $20,000 every year to keep it goin...
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Not political theater: Montrose federal intervention request grounded in Constitutional oath
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Not political theater: Montrose federal intervention request grounded in Constitutional oath

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice What does it mean to defend the Constitution? Two commissioners say this is what it looks like. On April 16, the Montrose County Board of County Commissioners voted 2–1 to send a formal Request for Federal Intervention to President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Commissioner Sue Hansen abstained.  The letter, authored by Commissioner Sean Pond and finalized with Chair Scott Mijares’ signature, argues that recent legislation passed by the Colorado General Assembly—particularly SB25-003—violates constitutional rights. The message does not call for military action or oversight. Instead, it asks national leaders to review Colorado laws, advocate for liberty and support rural coun...
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Rep. Crank’s BLOC Act gains Mesa County’s support: “Align federal funds with public safety”
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Rep. Crank’s BLOC Act gains Mesa County’s support: “Align federal funds with public safety”

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Mesa County commissioners want federal dollars tied to immigration enforcement—and they’re backing Rep. Jeff Crank’s bill to make it happen. During their April 15 administrative hearing, the Mesa County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a letter backing a federal immigration bill that would strip transportation funding from sanctuary jurisdictions that fail to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The letter, addressed to U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, voiced support for H.R. 1984—the Blocking Lawless Open Border Cities (BLOC) Act. The bill halts funding of federal transportation dollars going to cities and counties that refuse to notify ICE at least 48 hours before they release an illegal immigrant. Rep. ...
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Outnumbered but not outmatched: House Minority Leader Pugliese’s grassroots push
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Outnumbered but not outmatched: House Minority Leader Pugliese’s grassroots push

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice At the Colorado Capitol, House Republicans are outnumbered two to one. But House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese is still swinging—and she’s not swinging blindly. She’s drawing from somewhere real. “My father started his life with 50 cents in his pocket and a dream to own his own restaurant.” Pugliese added, “Almost every day it feels like I’m back to having spare change and a big dream—only this time it’s at the legislature.” The daughter of Italian immigrants, Pugliese was the first woman in her family to graduate from college.  https://twitter.com/RoseforCO/status/1904928098535223618 She now juggles two jobs, the House minority leadership and single parenthood—raising two children on her own, including a ...
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Self-defense on hold: House GOP announces letter to AG Bondi at capitol press conference
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Self-defense on hold: House GOP announces letter to AG Bondi at capitol press conference

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A young woman in her twenties stood outside Rep. Scott Bottoms’ church recently and asked him for help—she needed a firearm. Not for sport. Not to make a point. For protection. “She was worried, she was frightened… She had no way to protect herself,” Bottoms said during a House Republican press conference Wednesday. “She has to wait three days. She can't even get her own firearm to protect herself.” That delay, he argued, could be the difference between safety and tragedy. It’s the kind of real-life scenario House Republicans say they had in mind when they gathered on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol the morning of April 16 to speak out against SB25-003.  At the press conference, lawmakers said they...
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HB25-1312 and the silencing of parents: What the Rocky Mountain Summit revealed
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HB25-1312 and the silencing of parents: What the Rocky Mountain Summit revealed

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice From court-ordered gag rules to the looming threat of custody loss, this isn’t hypothetical — it’s happening now. Colorado families gathered at the Rocky Mountain Summit in early April to share what it means to raise children under a system that increasingly treats concern as abuse. What happened at the Summit Held April 6 in Englewood, the event brought together medical professionals, whistleblowers and families.  Their message was clear: parents are being sidelined by courts, schools and legislation that favors affirm-only practices. And proposed legislation like HB25-1312 may take things further, redefining parental objection as emotional abuse under the law. The Summit marked a milestone for 14-year-old Chl...
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Over 20 Colorado pastors unite in urgent call to action against HB25-1312
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Over 20 Colorado pastors unite in urgent call to action against HB25-1312

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice “If you don’t speak up now, it may be too late.” That’s the message from a growing coalition of Colorado pastors urging fellow faith leaders to take a public stand against HB25-1312 — a bill they say undermines parental rights, criminalizes biblical truth and puts families at risk. Pastor Jeff Anderson, Senior Advisor for Faith Outreach to Congressman Jeff Crank, sent a letter Friday afternoon to pastors across Colorado urging them to speak out against the bill.  “We want to bring to your attention a critical issue affecting parental rights in Colorado,” Anderson wrote. “This bill includes provisions that could have significant implications for parents and families.” The bill, titled “Legal Protections for Transge...
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Polis signs SB25-003 into law after months of protest and 95,000 petitions
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Polis signs SB25-003 into law after months of protest and 95,000 petitions

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In the end, Governor Jared Polis didn’t make a speech. He didn’t stand before cameras or take questions. He didn’t even put the signing on his public calendar. On April 9, behind closed doors and without public ceremony, Polis signed Senate Bill 25-003 into law—legislation that critics say is one of the most restrictive gun ownership laws in the country. The signing came after months of resistance from Colorado citizens, lawmakers and small business owners who warned the bill was not only unconstitutional, but economically and socially devastating. Here’s how it happened. January: early warnings SB25-003 was introduced on January 8, the first day of this legislative session. Lawmakers and residents immediately began...
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“Celebrate the win”: Boebert’s gray wolf delisting bill clears key House committee
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“Celebrate the win”: Boebert’s gray wolf delisting bill clears key House committee

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In rural Colorado, the fight over wolves isn’t just about wildlife—it’s about life and livelihoods. On Tuesday, a bill sponsored by Reps. Lauren Boebert and Tom Tiffany passed a key House committee, aiming to take gray wolves off the Endangered Species List and block federal courts from reversing the move. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act (PALPA) cleared a key vote, handing a win to farmers, ranchers and energy producers across the West. In Colorado, wolf attacks on livestock and fears that the predators could stall energy projects have kept the issue front and center. Boebert took to social media to celebrate the committee’s vote and reaffirm her stance on state-led wildlife management. https://twitter.com/RepBoe...
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