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Author: Jen Schumann

‘Colorado has told California to hold our beer’: Rep. Bradley warning it’s time for new direction
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‘Colorado has told California to hold our beer’: Rep. Bradley warning it’s time for new direction

Douglas Co. representative calls for Coloradans of all walks to get involved with legislation By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice State Rep. Brandi Bradley, a Republican from House District 39 in Douglas County, won't back down in the fight against government overreach. With the 75th General Assembly now in full swing, Bradley is focused on key bills she will pursue. They aim to protect children and parental rights, enhance public safety and combat the high cost of living. Bradley is calling on grassroots Coloradans to join her. “The line in the sand has been drawn,” Bradley said. “Conservatives can't just sit back and watch our rights be taken away. It's time to stand up.” She is rated fifth out of 100 legislators on the Colorado Liberty Scorecard, a...
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Lawmakers have introduced 10 education-focused bills thus far in 75th session
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Lawmakers have introduced 10 education-focused bills thus far in 75th session

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado lawmakers hit the ground running as the 75th General Assembly opened last week, introducing more than 130 bills on the first day. Ten of those bills were education-related. The bills cover diverse topics, from workforce development in natural resources to food waste reduction in schools.  Below is an overview of the education bills, their prime sponsors and some pros and cons to be considered. 1. HB25-1078: Forestry & Firefighter Workforce & Education Prime Sponsors: House: Rep. Andrew Boesenecker (D, District 53)  and Rep. Elizabeth Velasco (D, District 57)  Senate: Sen. Janice Marchman (D, District 15)  and Sen. Lisa Cutter (D, District 20)  Summary: Aims to enhance workforce developmen...
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Mijares bridges Montrose divides with whiskey bar, now hopes to do so in office
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Mijares bridges Montrose divides with whiskey bar, now hopes to do so in office

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Montrose County Commissioner-elect Scott Mijares never set out to run for office. His path to becoming a public servant started at Wild Horse Wine and Whiskey, a Main Street business he and his wife, Julie, opened in 2021.  Mijares doesn’t fit the typical image of a bar owner.  “People ask me all the time, ‘What’s your favorite whiskey?’ And I tell them, ‘I don’t drink,’ ” he said. “I might take a sip here or there just to be educated, but I learn about the whiskey from the people I serve it to.” The bar business isn’t about indulging in drinks for Mijares. “We talk politics at the Wild Horse,” Mijares said.  “Both our guests and sometimes myself get asked to join the conversation. Our mantra is, the more talk ...
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District 11 ends decades-old contract with teacher union in effort to deliver for students, families
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District 11 ends decades-old contract with teacher union in effort to deliver for students, families

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice The District 11 School Board has decided against renewing its master agreement with the local teacher union — the Colorado Springs Education Association (CSEA). The CSEA is a branch of the Colorado Education Association (CEA), an affiliate of the largest teacher union – the National Education Association (NEA).  District 11 President Dr. Parth Melpakam described it as a move to empower nimble governance and improve student outcomes: “Without the master agreement, it just gives us a lot more flexibility to address some of our persistent challenges and change the narrative of a district that was becoming irrelevant in the landscape of Colorado Springs.”  “The agreement was a layer of complexity that limited our ability t...
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Freshman state Rep. Larry Don Suckla brings grit and vision of rancher to legislature
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Freshman state Rep. Larry Don Suckla brings grit and vision of rancher to legislature

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Meet Larry Don Suckla, the cowboy legislator from Colorado's vast District 58, who's set to shake up the Golden Dome with his down-to-Earth wisdom and dash of rural humor. Suckla has attended three training sessions along with other newly-elected state representatives in preparation for the 75th Legislative Session. One thing he’s already noticed? The capitol’s dress code. “I didn’t know you couldn’t wear a hat in the Supreme Court chambers, or denim in the chambers where we’ll be voting,” he said. “But I like to wear black denim — you can’t even tell it’s denim. To me, representing the eight counties of HD58 includes the way I dress." Suckla has engaged in debates over the capitol’s dress code because he sees his a...
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Marc Catlin drawing on youth football, rafting and Bigfoot for inspiration as he ‘graduates’ to Senate
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Marc Catlin drawing on youth football, rafting and Bigfoot for inspiration as he ‘graduates’ to Senate

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In preparation of his move to Colorado's upper chamber for the 75th legislative session, Marc Catlin has reflected upon a time in which he coached youth football. “There was a little boy who came up to me and said, 'Coach, I think something is wrong with me'," Catlin recalls. "When I asked him what he meant, he said, ‘It feels funny inside.’ I told him, ‘Well, that’s just butterflies. If you don’t have those, you’re not gonna play well.’ And that little critter played like a tiger that day.” The newly-elected state senator views his new role through a lens of humor, humility and determination. “If you don’t have some anxiety about it, you’re probably not thinking about it," he said. He served as a state representati...
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Boebert’s Fish Recovery Act saves endangered fish, secures water for future generations
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Boebert’s Fish Recovery Act saves endangered fish, secures water for future generations

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Last week, Rep. Lauren Boebert's Fish Recovery Act passed, protecting four endangered fish species and empowering water use and development. Part of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the bipartisan legislation extends two vital conservation programs while enabling thousands of water and power users to continue operations uninterrupted. “These projects, including 1,200 in Colorado alone, encompass major water reservoirs, agricultural water users, ski areas and power generation facilities that collectively use more than 3.7 million acre-feet of water per year,” Boebert said. She underscored the role these programs play in balancing environmental protection with ongoing water and power operations. In ...
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After six-year struggle, Boebert’s CONVEY Act now just needs Biden’s signature to transfer land to Mesa Co.
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After six-year struggle, Boebert’s CONVEY Act now just needs Biden’s signature to transfer land to Mesa Co.

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Almost half of the land in the American West — 46.4% to be exact — is owned by the federal government. To put this into perspective, in most other parts of the nation that number sits only at 4.2%.  This often creates hurdles for local communities planning for growth. The six-year struggle to acquire a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) parcel in Mesa County demonstrates this. Even though the land was designated as surplus, federal red tape delayed its transfer.  On April 28, 2023, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert introduced the CONVEY Act to challenge this bureaucratic bottleneck. Passing the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support last week, it now awaits final approval from the President.  Once signed into law, it wi...
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Delta County schools grapple with state-mandated gender policies in community opposed to it
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Delta County schools grapple with state-mandated gender policies in community opposed to it

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In January 2025, House Bill 24-1039 will take affect across Colorado, requiring public schools to honor students' chosen names and pronouns. Schools are engaged in discussions as they form policies that adhere to the law. The community outcry in Delta County, a rural community in Western Colorado, reflects the challenges many school districts face. Delta residents have a history of taking a stand for local control and community values in the face of what they see as state overreach and an inappropriate pro-LGBTQ+ agenda in schools. Last year, the Delta County School Board passed Resolution 2023-29 to ensure that any social studies curriculum addressing LGBTQ cultures would be age-appropriate and focused on achievements...
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Tina Peters is now a Larimer Co. inmate. Here’s detail on why Mesa Co. chose to transfer Peters
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Tina Peters is now a Larimer Co. inmate. Here’s detail on why Mesa Co. chose to transfer Peters

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Fears expressed by Tina Peters to Mesa County Sheriff's Office deputies during her stay in the county's jail led to the decision this week to relocate the former Mesa County clerk, the Rocky Mountain Voice has learned. In an overabundance of caution and to help ensure her feeling of safety, Peters has been transferred to the Larimer County jail. Sgt. Justin Montover, of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Professional Standards and Internal Affairs Unit, clarified key details regarding Peters’ incarceration and the measures taken to address her concerns.  “On several occasions, Tina was asked if she felt safe and to provide specifics about any issues," he said. "She expressed fears, but did not provide clear details about d...
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