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Three-term Republican state Rep. Rod Bockenfeld has died
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Three-term Republican state Rep. Rod Bockenfeld has died

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Rod Bockenfeld, who served Colorado's House District 56 for three terms, has died, Sen. Rod Pelton announced Thursday to the Colorado Senate. "He was my representative for two years," Pelton said. "We sat next to each other in the House chamber, and we became really close. He was a great man." Bockenfeld moved to Colorado in 1978 and began a career as a financial crimes investigator. He earned a bachelor's in law enforcement administration and a graduate degree in banking. In 2004, Bockenfeld was elected as an Arapahoe County commissioner, a position in which he served for 12 years. In 2018, he was elected to serve in the Colorado House and was sworn into office in 2019. He represented Adams, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, El Paso, Elbert, Kit Carson...
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In shift from ‘system of choice to coercion,’ Senate Republicans outnumbered in fight on SB 5
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In shift from ‘system of choice to coercion,’ Senate Republicans outnumbered in fight on SB 5

'There's no company that doesn't care about worker safety, that doesn't care about productivity.' — Minority Leader Paul Lundeen By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A series of seven amendments were all lost Thursday as Colorado Senate Republicans were powerless to improve upon a partisan Democrat bill they say is in search of a problem. Senate Bill 25-005, by Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez and Democrat Sen. Jessie Danielson, which would undo significant portions of an 81-year-old labor relations law, was adopted by voice vote on second reading by the Democrat-dominated Senate. That 1943 policy set Colorado apart and should continue, Minority Leader Paul Lundeen said. "It represents middle ground between right-to-work states and union states," he said. "The act aimed to...
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Denver school district sues to prevent federal agents from arresting immigrants
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Denver school district sues to prevent federal agents from arresting immigrants

By Nicole C. Brambila | The Denver Gazette Denver Public Schools filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to prevent federal agents from arresting unauthorized immigrants at schools. If approved, the order filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday would pause implementation while the case proceeds through the legal system. Bill Good, a Denver Public Schools spokesperson, said that he believes the lawsuit is the first in the country filed by a school district. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Pedestrian fatalities have surged in Colorado, AAA report finds
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Approved, DENVER7, State

Pedestrian fatalities have surged in Colorado, AAA report finds

By Sam Peña | Denver7 News After reaching a record low number of pedestrian deaths in 2009, a AAA study found that pedestrian deaths increased by over 80% across the United States. Colorado reached a record number of crash deaths in 2022, with 764 reported and 115 involving a pedestrian, according to CDOT. The number of fatal crashes was lower in 2024, with only 684 reported deaths, but 120 of those deadly crashes involved a pedestrian. While cars have become safer than ever — equipped with advanced features like collision avoidance systems — Skyler McKinley, the Regional Director of Public Affairs for AAA, argued that pedestrians are facing more dangers on the road. Pedestrian fatalities in Colorado increased by a staggering 161% over the last decade, prompting AAA to investigate...
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U.S. Senate confirms Brooke Rollins to lead USDA
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Approved, National, THE HILL

U.S. Senate confirms Brooke Rollins to lead USDA

By Al Weaver  | The Hill Democrats agreed to condense floor time for the nomination after she was voted unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Agriculture.  Rollins is expected to work with lawmakers on the farm bill, which has stalled out in recent months, and on priorities related to doling out billions of dollars in assistance for farmers. She also received wide backing from major farm organizations.  Although she does not have a background in agriculture, Rollins headed the Domestic Policy Council under Trump’s first term and was part of the Office of American Innovation, which was shuttered by President Biden’s White House. She also led the America First Policy Institute after Trump’s 2020 loss.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE HILL
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Douglas Co. declares support for bill allowing Colorado law enforcement to work with ICE
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Douglas Co. declares support for bill allowing Colorado law enforcement to work with ICE

By Noah Festenstein | The Denver Gazette Douglas County law enforcement officials on Wednesday declared support for legislation to flip a state law that has barred local officials from working with federal immigration agents. If approved by the Democrat-controlled legislature, it would reinstate a bill allowing local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials with a focus on those who commit crimes. That bill was repealed in 2013. State Sen. Mark Baisley, Rep. Max Brooks and Rep. Chris Richardson are trying to garner support for Senate Bill 25-047 but realize it will be difficult to get it passed. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Aurora police see 80% increase in ‘puffing’ car thefts, an illegal activity in state law
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Aurora police see 80% increase in ‘puffing’ car thefts, an illegal activity in state law

By Rachel Saurer | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News While Colorado continues to see frigid temperatures across the state, police are warning drivers about the dangers of “puffing.” The Aurora Police Department has reported an 80% increase in thefts from puffing compared to the same time in 2024. From January to February 2025, the department has seen 30 cases. The month before that, they saw 15. “That number is probably going to go up in our next reporting period just because of the very cold days that we are experiencing right now,” said Agent Matthew Longshore, a spokesperson for Aurora police. READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS
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Aurora City Council Member: Leaks Interfered with Immigration Raids
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Approved, Breitbart, Local, National

Aurora City Council Member: Leaks Interfered with Immigration Raids

By Hannah Knudsen | Breitbart Leaks have interfered with the work of border czar Tom Homan, Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky said during an appearance on Breitbart News Daily. Jurinsky is the councilwoman who blew the lid off the violent gang activity of Tren de Aragua in her city, despite constant smears against her and denials from officials. But, she was proven to be right, and now, Homan is on the case. While there have been arrests, however, some of the operations have been delayed or thwarted due to leaks, she revealed. “I heard it was over 100 people arrested,” host Mike Slater said. “But then I heard that it was leaked beforehand, and they went, they knocked on some doors, and they were empty.” READ THE FULL STORY AT BREITBART
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‘Top 10’ are now in ICE custody for drug trafficking, other violent crimes
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

‘Top 10’ are now in ICE custody for drug trafficking, other violent crimes

By Tori Mason | CBS Colorado The Drug Enforcement Administration is working with other federal agencies on immigration enforcement in Colorado. In the last 2.5 weeks, the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division has made over 90 arrests. Some of the suspects were involved in trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, while others had committed violent offenses both in the U.S. and in their home countries. The DEA provided a list of "Top Ten" arrested suspects who are now in ICE custody. They're from several countries including Honduras, Cuba, El Salvador and Venezuela. Special Agent Jonathan Pullen with the DEA's Rocky Mountain Field Division provided an update on Operation Return to Sender. He says the collaborative effort with federal agencies has allowed the DEA and other agencies to m...
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HHS splurged more than $22B on grants for migrants — including cash for cars, home loans and startups
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Approved, National, New York Post

HHS splurged more than $22B on grants for migrants — including cash for cars, home loans and startups

By Josh Christenson | New York Post The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ramped up grants for migrants from 2020 to 2024 — which included cash assistance to buy cars, homes and even build credit for startup businesses, according to a shocking watchdog report that found taxpayers were left on the hook for $22.6 billion. HHS’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) — which came under fire last year for having lost track of 32,000 migrant kids in the US — handed out the high sum to a host of nonprofits, effectively acting as a “giant magnet” for those crossing the US border and claiming asylum, auditors from the money monitor OpenTheBooks revealed exclusively to The Post. Tasked with settling migrants, asylum seekers and other refugees in America, ORR d...
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