Rocky Mountain Voice

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Trump says he’s creating ‘External Revenue Service’ for tariffs
Approved, National, THE HILL

Trump says he’s creating ‘External Revenue Service’ for tariffs

By  Alex Gangitano | The Hill President-elect Trump said Tuesday he wanted to create an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs and other revenue from foreign countries, comparing it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which collects taxes from Americans. “For far too long, we have relied on taxing our Great People using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Through soft and pathetically weak Trade agreements, the American Economy has delivered growth and prosperity to the World, while taxing ourselves,” Trump said on Truth Social. “It is time for that to change. I am today announcing that I will create the EXTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE to collect our Tariffs, Duties, and all Revenue that come from Foreign sources.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE HILL
Ben Van Dyke wants to be voice of reason and of the people on Grand Junction City Council
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Ben Van Dyke wants to be voice of reason and of the people on Grand Junction City Council

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Independent-minded, solution-oriented, and practical pragmatism is what Ben Van Dyke says is missing on the current Grand Junction City Council. He intends to change all that, for the residents and businesspeople in Grand Junction, if he is elected to City Council in April. “I never thought that I would run for any political office, it was never something I had thought about until the disastrous way the Council handled the unhoused in our community, and then watched as they created another disaster with 4th and 5th Streets,” Van Dyke said. Van Dyke is a fourth-generation resident of Grand Junction, and his roots run deep in the Grand Valley. He is a father, husband and business owner. Since the late 1960s, his fam...
Final phase of Grand Junction downtown parking updates to be rolled out this week
Approved, KKCO-TV Grand Junction, Local

Final phase of Grand Junction downtown parking updates to be rolled out this week

By Kacie Sinton | KKCO-TV 11 News The City of Grand Junction is making some changes to parking in the downtown area. Starting this week, the final phase of updates will be rolled out to downtown parking. Grand Junction workers will be installing 17 kiosks around various downtown parking lots. Officials will also begin allowing 10-hour parking for people with applicable permits at 600 Rood Avenue and 500 Ute Avenue, plus four-hour parking in the 400, 500, and 600 blocks of Colorado Avenue. READ THE FULL STORY AT KKCO-TV 11 NEWS
Schools with declining enrollment brace for “gut punch” from governor’s budget
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Schools with declining enrollment brace for “gut punch” from governor’s budget

By Erica Breunlin | The Colorado Sun School districts in urban, suburban and rural parts of Colorado fear serious funding cuts — amounting to as much as 30% of their total budget — that could force tough decisions next year under Gov. Jared Polis’ latest budget proposal. The prospect of less funding for those districts adds another complication to the school finance puzzle as district leaders in the upcoming months begin piecing together their budgets. Not only are districts grappling with rising costs driven by inflation, but they have also had to figure out how to sustain — or eliminate — programs, resources and staff positions they funded with federal COVID relief dollars that expired in September. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
Johnson’s Corner, home of the giant cinnamon roll, has closed for business
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Johnson’s Corner, home of the giant cinnamon roll, has closed for business

By Jesse Sarles | CBS Colorado A popular truck stop in northern Colorado is going through some changes. The restaurant at Johnson's Corner closed suddenly over the weekend. The diner-type eatery off Exit 254 opened in the 1950s and became known to travelers on Interstate 25 over the decades as a great place to get large cinnamon rolls. Ten years ago TravelCenters of America purchased the restaurant and recently it faced a big challenge to its business with the opening of Colorado's first Buc-ee's truck stop not far down the interstate in Johnstown.   READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Senate Bill 25-005 would unwind labor compromise, prompt ‘right to work’ initiative
Approved, completecolorado.com, State

Senate Bill 25-005 would unwind labor compromise, prompt ‘right to work’ initiative

By Sherrie Peif | Complete Colorado Colorado workers and their employers have lived in relative peace under a deal struck more than 80 years ago that stopped years of violence over salary and working conditions. Colorado Democrats want to unravel that deal, but one local policy influencer isn’t going to let it pass without a fight. Jon Caldara, president of the Independence Institute*, has filed a ballot initiative that won’t only unravel Senate Bill 25-005, should it pass, but it would also make Colorado what’s called a “right-to-work” state, giving employees the right to refuse to join unions, and denying unions the ability to force non-union employees to still pay dues. READ THE FULL STORY AT COMPLETE COLORADO
16th Street Mall stabbing suspect spent last six years in and out of jail
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

16th Street Mall stabbing suspect spent last six years in and out of jail

By Carol McKinley | Denver Gazette The suspect in four random stabbings that occurred this weekend in downtown Denver was no stranger to the police. Elijah David Caudill, 24, who appeared to be on probation, had threatened to kill at least one person with a knife in years past, according to records.  Caudill appeared in court Monday morning for his first advisement. He is currently being held without bond. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
In 8-5 vote, Denver votes to remove cap and distance requirement on needle exchange programs
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

In 8-5 vote, Denver votes to remove cap and distance requirement on needle exchange programs

By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette Denver City Council's decision to remove restrictions on syringe exchange programs, including a cap on the number of sites and distance limits from schools and daycare centers, could lead to an increase in these programs in 2025. City Council voted 8 to 5 vote Monday night to update the existing city municipal code and remove the cap on the number of sites permitted and lift a distance barrier that prohibited their operation within 1,000 feet of schools and daycare centers. Councilmembers Flor Alvidrez, Kevin Flynn, Amanda Sawyer, Diana Romero Campbell and Darrell Watson all cast “no” votes. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Single-engine aircraft landed in field near Monument due to engine trouble
Approved, Fox21, Local

Single-engine aircraft landed in field near Monument due to engine trouble

By Ashley Eberhardt | Fox 21 News An initial report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that a Piper single-engine airplane that landed in a field near Monument on Jan. 6 experienced engine trouble. The Piper PA-12 landed in a field near Highway 105 between Monument and Palmer Lake around 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6. According to FAA records, the plane took off from Kelly Air Park in Elbert, Colorado, about 25 miles northeast of Monument. The plane was only in the air for about 20 minutes before making the emergency landing, according to FlightAware data. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 21 NEWS
Rep. Winter asks Coloradans to ‘get out to the stock show’ and see the state’s $47 billion industry
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Winter asks Coloradans to ‘get out to the stock show’ and see the state’s $47 billion industry

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A leading voice of agriculture in the Colorado House, Rep. Ty Winter reminded urban and rural legislators alike Tuesday of the National Western Stock Show in Denver. "Its stock show week here in Denver," said Winter, the assistant minority leader and representative for nine Southeastern Colorado counties. The 119th edition of the National Western Stock Show runs through Jan. 26 with a variety of livestock exhibitions, rodeos and more. "Please get out and see your ag producers," said Winter, in an announcement from the floor of the House. "See what they do to make sure you have food on the table and clothes on your back." Among Winter's district in Southern Colorado is Prowers County, which boasts $430 million in annual agricultural prod...