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Sengenberger: CU regent & pot purveyor Wanda James — under scrutiny
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Approved, Commentary, gazette.com

Sengenberger: CU regent & pot purveyor Wanda James — under scrutiny

By Jimmy Sengenberger | Commentary, The Gazette Did CU Regent and marijuana retailer Wanda James break Board of Regents policies and state law to advance her own business interests — at the expense of the institution she’s sworn to serve? That’s the question at the heart of a legal memorandum to the board’s leadership. It regards James’ crusade to terminate a public health education program mandated by the Legislature and funded with $4 million in marijuana tax revenue. In 2021, lawmakers directed CU’s School of Public Health to research high-potency THC and educate the public about its impact on the developing brain and mental health. CU’s researchers systematically reviewed over 60,000 scientific articles showing how today’s high-potency marijuana can affect youth under 25 and p...
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‘I’m for choice,’ Rep. Crank says, on health services for America’s veterans
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘I’m for choice,’ Rep. Crank says, on health services for America’s veterans

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice When about 90% of the Colorado population wants to see a doctor for an ailment, they call for an appointment and generally within a week or less can be seen on a non-emergency. Other times, a family practice physician is known to "fit them in today" to an already booked schedule in an emergency. That's not so for the other 10%, one Army veteran told U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo. Springs, during a town hall this week. "I don't feel like dying for my country as a peaceful citizen," said the veteran, who had to wait one month to be seen with a stroke. "It is absolute hell getting treatment from the VA. Every time you call them, you spend an hour plus on hold." The veteran's name is being withheld from this story to protect his identity. ...
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RMV founder Heidi Ganahl announces opening of regional Town Center newsroom and community hub
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

RMV founder Heidi Ganahl announces opening of regional Town Center newsroom and community hub

By Rocky Mountain Voice The grand opening of Rocky Mountain Voice's first regional Town Center newsroom and community hub will take place Wednesday, March 12, Founder Heidi Ganahl announced this week. "Rocky Mountain Voice was built to inspire a citizen-driven community and collaboration — online and on the ground," Ganahl said. "We're excited to open our first Town Center in Fort Morgan." The Northeast Colorado Town Center is located at 528 State St. in Fort Morgan, which locals will recall formerly as the historic State Armory, created by an act of Colorado's General Assembly in 1921, and presently as the "eLc" Community Complex. It is positioned to served Adams and Weld counties to the west and Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties to the east. The ...
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Kassaw, a political refugee when he arrived 17 years ago, is seeking election to Aurora City Council
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Kassaw, a political refugee when he arrived 17 years ago, is seeking election to Aurora City Council

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Seventeen years ago, Ethiopian-born Amsalu Kassaw was a political refugee when he settled in Aurora. “Aurora is more than a city to me; it’s a symbol of opportunity, diversity, and unity,” Kassaw said. Seventeen years later, Kassaw is asking Aurora to support him once again. Kassaw has announced his candidacy for an at-large seat on City Council. “From my early days of building a new life in America to becoming a proud citizen, this community has shaped who I am today," he said. "Over the years, I have dedicated myself to promoting civic engagement, supporting small businesses and fostering collaboration among diverse communities.” Kassaw was selected last year to fill the unexpired term of Dustin Zvonek. Kassaw is the first Ethiopian i...
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Report: 20% surcharge on Denver restaurant bills could cost economy $718 million
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The Center Square, Approved, Local

Report: 20% surcharge on Denver restaurant bills could cost economy $718 million

By Derek Draplin | The Center Square An idea to implement a 20% service charge on Denver restaurant bills, floated last week by Mayor Mike Johnston, could cost the city’s economy $718 million over the next five years, according to a policy think tank. Johnston made the suggestion during an interview on the "City Cast Denver" podcast Wednesday while discussing struggling restaurants in the city. “One idea we’ve been floating to restaurants is the idea of a service charge,” he said. “If you do a service charge of 20%, you can gather that, and you can spread it equally across all the employees. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
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District 11 school board votes for parental consent in name change policy
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Approved, Fox21, Local

District 11 school board votes for parental consent in name change policy

By Norishka Pachot | Fox 21 News The Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) Board of Education has voted to integrate a new name-change policy that would require parental consent. The new ACA policy directs the superintendent to develop a process for a student to request the use of a chosen name to reflect their gender identity. Therefore, students and parents/guardians must request a change to their legal name or gender on their official student record, and it would only be recognized after parents were notified. The new policy has sparked conversations about discrimination and even ‘sidestepping’ a state law. According to board member Julie Ott, the school board had received many emails about the subject, which the board hadn’t “in a long time on one subject.” READ THE FUL...
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Once eradicated measles could make a Colorado comeback; officials urge vaccination
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Approved, gazette.com, State

Once eradicated measles could make a Colorado comeback; officials urge vaccination

By Debbie Kelley | The Gazette As an infectious disease specialist for nearly 26 years, Dr. Michelle Barron has never physically seen measles, and neither have a lot of other physicians of the 21st century. The virus, most commonly identified by a flat red rash, fever, cough and white spots on the back of the throat, officially was eradicated in the United States in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Colorado Senate committee extends organ and tissue donation fund indefinitely
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Senate committee extends organ and tissue donation fund indefinitely

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved an indefinite extension of the Emily Keyes - John W. Buckner Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Fund, which was set to expire in two years. Buckner's widow, former Sen. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, was on hand for the committee's unanimous decision. It was her first return to the Capitol since retiring in January. Emily Keyes, for whom the fund was first named, was a high school student at Platte Canyon High School and was murdered by a 53-year-old gunman in 2006. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Soper: A year late and a billion dollars short
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Soper: A year late and a billion dollars short

By Rep. Matt Soper | Western Slope Statesman Beyond the usual political theatrics making headlines, Colorado's budget crisis has dominated discussions since last fall. Unlike the federal government, the state cannot increase borrowing or mint additional currency. This leaves budget cuts and reduced spending as the only viable options to prevent Colorado from running an overdrawn budget of almost one billion dollars in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The budgetary climate under the Golden Dome has taken on a slightly more conservative tone this session—something I welcome as a lifelong Republican. It seems the majority parties in both chambers, along with the Governor, are donning their fiscal conservative caps to help balance the checkbook. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE WESTERN SLOPE STAT...
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Trump cuts more than $400 million in grants to Columbia over antisemitism concerns, potentially more to come
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Approved, Fox News, National

Trump cuts more than $400 million in grants to Columbia over antisemitism concerns, potentially more to come

By Alec Schemmel  | Fox News The Trump administration announced on Friday that it will rescind more than $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University, citing concerns over rising antisemitism on campus and the school's failure to address it. Earlier this week, the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (DoED) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the initiation of a "comprehensive review" of more than $5 billion in federal grant money that goes to Columbia, "in light of ongoing investigations for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act" related to antisemitism on campus.  It has only been four days since the Trump administration's announcement of this review, but the agencies have already begun slas...
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