Rocky Mountain Voice

Approved

Walz Called to Answer as House Oversight Probes Massive Minnesota Fraud
The Western Journal, Approved, National

Walz Called to Answer as House Oversight Probes Massive Minnesota Fraud

By Bryan Chai | The Western Journal The hits just keep on coming against Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The same day reports first surfaced that Walz was facing a formal criminal complaint for his alleged role in the fraud scandal that has engulfed his state, it appears Congress wants some answers, too. On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee came out with a blistering announcement that it plans to hold a hearing titled, “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part I.” And they’ve invited Walz and Democratic state Attorney General Keith Ellison to explain how this rampant fraud exploded under their watch. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE WESTERN JOURNAL
Ben Nighthorse Campbell Longtime Colorado Lawmaker Dies at 92
CBS News, Approved, State

Ben Nighthorse Campbell Longtime Colorado Lawmaker Dies at 92

By Jesse Sarles | CBS News Former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Northern Cheyenne tribal chief who became a prominent American politician, has died. He was 92. His daughter Shanan Campbell confirmed to CBS News that her father died Tuesday at his home on a ranch in southwestern Colorado surrounded by family members.   Campbell served in Colorado's congressional delegation across three different decades. He started out as a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1980s. In the mid-1990s, three years after his election to the U.S. Senate, he decided to leave the Democrats and switch to the Republican Party. He served two terms as senator and then retired in the 2000s because of what he said were concerns...
New Colorado Laws Take Effect Jan. 1 With Sweeping Changes for Health Care Housing and Gun Shows
Colorado Politics, Approved, State

New Colorado Laws Take Effect Jan. 1 With Sweeping Changes for Health Care Housing and Gun Shows

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A new year means new laws in Colorado, covering everything from health insurance and gun shows to “junk fees” and protections for wild bison. Here’s a list of laws passed during the 2025 legislative session that will go into effect on Jan. 1. House Bill 1002: Medical necessity determination insurance coverage This law codifies and clarifies mental health parity requirements for insurers, ensuring that individuals receive the same coverage for mental health and behavioral services as they do for physical care. House Bill 1030: Accessibility standards in building codes This law requires new local building codes to meet or exceed international accessibility standards. It prohibits them from providing less protection than ...
Trump Rejects Arkansas Valley Water Pipeline Bill Citing Federal Taxpayer Burden
DENVER7, Approved, State

Trump Rejects Arkansas Valley Water Pipeline Bill Citing Federal Taxpayer Burden

By Sophia Villalba | Denver7 DENVER — President Trump has vetoed a bill aimed at providing reliable, clean drinking water to rural communities in southeastern Colorado. It's another setback for the decades old "Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act" that would have completed a 130-mile pipeline bringing drinking water to 39 Colorado communities on the Eastern Plains. This is the president's first veto of his second term in the Oval Office. He rejected the bipartisan bill that passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate unanimously, saying the project would cost federal taxpayers too much money. The Arkansas Valley Conduit was first approved back in 1962, but according to the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, it wasn’t built for deca...
Lowering The Bar In The Name Of Equity At MSU Denver
Complete Colorado, Approved, Commentary, Local

Lowering The Bar In The Name Of Equity At MSU Denver

By Ari Armstrong | Commentary, Complete Colorado Standard American English does not exist, says Metropolitan State University’s writing center, but also it “is a social construct that privileges white communities and maintains social and racial hierarchies.” Yet the very MSU document damning standard English and calling for its rejection is written in—you guessed it—standard English. (MSU’s ‘linguistic white supremacy’ webpage has been taken down, but here are screenshots from the document). You might think that a writing center’s goal should be to help students write clearly and intelligibly. No, no, no. Obviously you’re a racist if you think that. The goal of MSU’s writing center is to “be actively anti-racist,” to fight white supremacy, to challenge inequali...
Xcel Seeks Gas Rate Hike as Colorado Customers Face Rising Utility Costs
The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Xcel Seeks Gas Rate Hike as Colorado Customers Face Rising Utility Costs

By Mark Jaffe | The Colorado Sun Colorado consumer advocate says second rate-increase request in a quarter is testing the will of customers and the Public Utilities Commission. Xcel Energy is aiming to raise its gas customers’ bills by an average $7.59 a month — for a total of $190 million — to pay for safety improvements, rising operating and maintenance costs and investor returns. The company filed the proposed rate hike with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Monday. The rate request comes a little more than a month after Xcel Energy filed for a $356 million electric rate increase, which would raise the average residential electric bill 10% to $110 a month. In late November, the PUC also approved a $155 million plan to deal wi...
Lake Powell Drops 36 Feet in One Year Sparking Fears Over Power and Water Supply
Fox13, Approved, FOX 13 Salt Lake City, National

Lake Powell Drops 36 Feet in One Year Sparking Fears Over Power and Water Supply

By: Chris Reed | Fox13 PAGE, ARIZONA — Lake Powell has dropped 36 feet in just the past year, leaving the massive reservoir at only 27% of its capacity and raising concerns about the ability of the Glen Canyon Dam to generate power. "There was a time when this was all covered… where we were standing was above water," said Charles Weiss, a 25-year resident living near the Wahweap Marina who works at Glen Canyon Dam. During a seven-state Colorado River conference in Las Vegas before the holiday, Bureau of Reclamation senior water resource program manager Carly Jerla warned that the lake's decline is happening faster than expected. "We're always just a couple dry years away from tipping into crisis mode," Jerla said. "The trend and the declining inflow into th...
From Firebrand to Lawmaker Boebert Reflects on Growth and Accountability
Colorado Politics, Approved, State

From Firebrand to Lawmaker Boebert Reflects on Growth and Accountability

By: Thelma Grimes | Colorado Politics For years, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s name has become a shorthand for controversy in her home state and in the nation’s capital. Recently, the outspoken Colorado Republican has drawn rare praise from some of her fiercest critics, particularly after breaking expectations during a key vote. Boebert insisted the moment isn’t a departure from her values but a reflection of how she has matured as a lawmaker navigating power, loyalty, and accountability in Congress. Epstein files Boebert made national headlines when she was summoned to the White House and met with officials in the Situation Room last month. Many immediately pounced, painting the meeting as a bullying session and speculating that the president was likely pus...
Bird Resignation Rekindles Debate Over Unelected Lawmakers
Complete Colorado, Approved, State

Bird Resignation Rekindles Debate Over Unelected Lawmakers

By Sherrie Peif | Complete Colorado DENVER – Despite new laws governing vacancies in the Colorado legislature, Democrat statehouse member Shannon Bird has still found a workaround that throws a wrench into her constituents’ ability to choose their representative at the ballot box. Bird announced earlier this month she would be stepping down from her seat in House District 29 on Jan. 5 to focus on her bid for the US Congressional District 8 seat, currently held by Republican Gabe Evans. Bird’s unique timing for vacating HD 29, which includes parts of Adams and Jefferson counties, takes advantage of a quirk in the law allowing for her replacement to serve possibly an entire extra year more than state statute sets forth for House members. The meaning of ‘half’ ...
High Rents Red Tape Leave Downtown Boulder Offices Empty
DENVER7, Approved, Local

High Rents Red Tape Leave Downtown Boulder Offices Empty

By: Colette Bordelon | Denver7 With "for lease" signs scattered throughout the City of Boulder, housing experts effort solutions to high commercial vacancy rate. BOULDER — Almost six years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and downtown Boulder still faces a "historic" commercial vacancy rate, according to experts working closely on the complex issue. "Real estate is, if not the No. 1, it's the No. 2 question that we have," said Jonathan Singer, senior director of policy programs with the Boulder Chamber. "Right now, we are looking at a historic commercial vacancy rate. Not just in our community, but across the world.” The number of empty buildings throughout the city, with "for lease" signs hanging in their windows, is all Max Lord can see a...