Rocky Mountain Voice

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It’s take three for the unpopular, anti-gun SB 3 returning Thursday to the Colorado Senate floor
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

It’s take three for the unpopular, anti-gun SB 3 returning Thursday to the Colorado Senate floor

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice It's a déjà vu moment in the Colorado Senate. Senate Bill 25-003 will be up for a second reading Thursday, Feb. 13, for the third time in three weeks. The bill, which some have said would make Colorado the most anti-gun state in the country, has been laid over twice — in a Democrat-controlled Senate — almost assuredly because the majority party does not have the votes to pass the measure. Without a second reading the bill is frozen in the Senate and may not be taken up by the Colorado House. The Senate convenes at 9 a.m. Thursday. SB 3 is a wildly unpopular bill among conservatives and among vulnerable Democrats, many of whom believe it is unconstitutional. If passed, the bill, led by Democrat Sens. Tom Sullivan and Julie Gonzales and spon...
Bipartisan bill to help inmates clear warrants before release sails through committee
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Bipartisan bill to help inmates clear warrants before release sails through committee

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Occasionally, there is a concept with such merit that it transcends party lines in Colorado's General Assembly. House Bill 25-1116 is one of those, Denver Democrat Rep. Jennifer Bacon says. "It is such a good idea that Rep. Ryan Armagost and Jennifer Bacon would be on the same bill," Bacon noted. She is the assistant majority leader in the Colorado House for the Democrats. Armagost, a Republican representing Larimer and conservative Weld County, is the minority party's whip. Together, they are the House sponsors of the bill that would help Department of Corrections inmates have a more successful reintegration into society. "When an inmate is getting released, they are notified [of release] just prior to their release," Armagost said, ex...
HOA foreclosure bill that would add homeowner protections is back in front of lawmakers
Approved, CBS Colorado, State

HOA foreclosure bill that would add homeowner protections is back in front of lawmakers

By Karen Morfitt | CBS Colorado A new bill being considered by Colorado lawmakers would protect homeowners from losing everything should they end up in foreclosure with their HOA. Colorado resident Holly Crystal is among those testifying in support. For nearly 10 years, Crystal has been in and out of court. "I will say this has absolutely changed my life," she said. She says it was the only way to fight a property dispute with her homeowner's association. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
King Soopers files for temporary restraining order against striking employees
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

King Soopers files for temporary restraining order against striking employees

By Brooke Williams | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News King Soopers has filed for a temporary restraining order against union workers, accusing picketers of harassing customers amid a strike across 77 Denver metro grocery stores. King Soopers employees who are represented by the Colorado grocery union UFCW Local 7 went on strike last Thursday after several months of failed negotiations. Many workers continue picketing outside of Denver metro area stores this week. The grocery giant filed a lawsuit against the union on Friday, accusing the union of unlawfully requiring it to bargain with out-of-state labor unions that do not represent its associates. Tuesday, King Soopers filed a complaint in the Denver District Court calling for a temporary restraining order against the union. ...
Colorado Springs approves long-debated City Council e-bike policy
Approved, gazette.com, Local

Colorado Springs approves long-debated City Council e-bike policy

By Seth Boster | The Gazette The Colorado Springs City Council on Tuesday voted 6-3 to expand electric bike access across parks and open spaces after another long discussion that represented the culmination of a yearslong debate. After hearing dozens of residents supporting and opposing the move, Parks Department Director Britt Haley told council members: "We've been working on a policy since 2018 because we need this in some format." READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Senate committee questions Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis’ response to ethics complaint
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Senate committee questions Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis’ response to ethics complaint

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The Senate Ethics Committee began its discussion on the ethics complaint against Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, on Tuesday but appeared to take a dim view of how she responded to the complaints. Last week, the committee released dozens of documents about the complaints against Jaquez Lewis, who was re-elected to her second and final term last November. Included in that release: a 14-page response filed by the senator, who has been accused of abusive behavior against five legislative aides dating back to at least 2022. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Aurora follows Jurinsky plan to change public comment rules, creates separate speaking session
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Aurora follows Jurinsky plan to change public comment rules, creates separate speaking session

By Kyla Pearce | The Denver Gazette Aurora councilmembers approved a resolution Monday night that changes the rules of public comment, adding a separate speaking session before meetings that will not be livestreamed.  The resolution, sponsored by Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky, passed with seven 'yes' votes and three 'no' votes from councilmembers Crystal Murillo, Alison Coombs and Ruben Medina. The proposed resolution comes after months of back-and-forth between councilmembers and protesters for Kilyn Lewis, who have attended every meeting since July to request action from the council. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
FBI agents may be source of leak on immigration operations like Aurora, ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan says
The Center Square, Approved, National

FBI agents may be source of leak on immigration operations like Aurora, ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan says

By Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square Border Czar Tom Homan says information indicates the FBI may have leaked details of an immigration enforcement operation to the media, thereby “putting officers at risk.” He says the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the matter and may criminally prosecute the responsible individuals. “[The Attorney General’s office] has promised not only will this person lose their job and pension, but they will go to jail,” said Homan in a televised interview Monday on Fox, where he also noted the possibility of an “ambush” due to the leaking of operational details READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
Senate Bill 63, which would set parameters for removal of books in school libraries, advances
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Senate Bill 63, which would set parameters for removal of books in school libraries, advances

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Should state officials weigh in on how books are selected in your child's school library? That's the core question behind Colorado's Senate Bill 25-063, the 'Freedom to Read' bill, which was discussed this week in a Senate Education Committee hearing. The bill, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, requires school districts to set written policies for selecting, reconsidering and removing library materials.  It prohibits books from being removed based on the author’s identity, political objections or sexual content, unless they meet the Supreme Court’s obscenity standard under Miller v. California.  Only parents of current students would be allowed to challenge books, and a title could not ...
Trump nominates Coloradan Kathleen Sgamma to head up Bureau of Land Management 
Approved, National, Washington Examiner

Trump nominates Coloradan Kathleen Sgamma to head up Bureau of Land Management 

By Callie Patteson | Washington Examiner President Donald Trump has nominated Kathleen Sgamma to head up the Bureau of Land Management, further cementing an oil and gas focus for the Department of Interior under his administration.  The nomination was formally sent to the Senate from the White House on Tuesday, where it will be considered by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, according to the congressional record.  Sgamma has served as president of the Denver-based oil and gas trade group Western Energy Alliance since 2006. For over 50 years, the group has represented independent oil and gas producers, advocating increased access to public lands for drilling as well as mining operations. READ THE FULL STORY ON THE WA...