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China expands influence near wealthy Florida enclave as migrants from communist country flood into US
Approved, Fox News, National

China expands influence near wealthy Florida enclave as migrants from communist country flood into US

By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten  | Fox News China's growing presence in America's backyard could grant the communist country access to Florida's coast, coinciding with a dramatic rise in Chinese national border encounters. The Caribbean region, also known as "America's third border" due to its proximity to the U.S., has been financially backed by China in maritime logistics and infrastructure projects in recent years.  "I think the Chinese are trying to gain influence in a region which is very close to the American homeland," Gordon G. Chang, an author and expert on U.S.-China relations told Fox News Digital.  READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX NEWS
New York court considers law that would allow 800,000 non-citizens to vote
Approved, Breitbart, National

New York court considers law that would allow 800,000 non-citizens to vote

By Alana Mastrangelo | Breitbart A staggering 800,000 non-citizens could reportedly be voting soon in New York City elections, as a court is considering legislation this week that would allow them to register to vote ahead of the city’s elections. A top New York court is set to hear arguments regarding the matter on Tuesday, according to a report by Politico. This comes after an appellate court struck down Democrats’ efforts to permit non-citizens to vote last year. If the initiative by Democrats is successful, around 800,000 non-citizens living in New York City will be allowed to vote in city-level elections, such as the upcoming mayoral election this November, the report noted. READ THE FULL STORY AT BREITBART
Motorists are paying the price — $11.4B annually, to be exact — for state’s crumbling roads
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Motorists are paying the price — $11.4B annually, to be exact — for state’s crumbling roads

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado’s deteriorating roads are hitting residents — and their vehicles — hard, in Grand Junction costing drivers an average of $1,704 annually in extra repairs, fuel costs, congestion delays and crash-related expenses.  Statewide, the cost is estimated to be $11.4 billion a year, according to a January 2025 report by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. Meanwhile, inflation and rising construction costs are chipping away at recent funding increases. Rocky Moretti, TRIP’s director of policy and research, highlighted the challenge: “Colorado, in 2021 — both through legislation in Colorado, but also through the federal bipartisan infrastructure legislation — was able to significantly increase investment in ...
Colorado universities are now closer to paying athletes. But the public may never know how much
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado universities are now closer to paying athletes. But the public may never know how much

By Ben Markus | The Colorado Sun The University of Colorado Boulder would be able to pay football players and keep the individual dollar amounts secret under a bill that passed a key committee vote Thursday in the state House of Representatives. A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the House Education Committee advanced House Bill 1041 even as they continued to express concern about a provision of the measure exempting the contracts between players from public disclosure through the Colorado Open Records Act, known as CORA. “CORA is a really important tool, along with public procurement law, to help the public understand how money is being spent from its public institutions,” Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, said before casting a “no” vote on the bill, which passed 9-4 late ...
Senate Republicans unveil constitutional amendment locking SCOTUS at nine justices
Approved, Courthouse News Service, National

Senate Republicans unveil constitutional amendment locking SCOTUS at nine justices

By Benjamin S. Weiss  | Courthouse News Senate Republicans on Friday offered a retort to months of Democrat scrutiny on the Supreme Court, introducing a constitutional amendment that would block lawmakers from adding more justices to the high court’s bench. The proposed amendment is the GOP majority’s first major legislative foray into the yearslong debate over the Supreme Court — and one that proponents say is a check on efforts to “pack” the bench with liberal-minded justices. “Democrats’ radical court-packing scheme would erase the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and destroy historic precedent,” said Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, who joined Texas Senator Ted Cruz in unveiling the measure. READ THE FULL STORY AT COURTHOUSE NEWS
Colorado will continue closing coal-fueled electric plants in 2025, all by 2031
The Center Square, Approved, State

Colorado will continue closing coal-fueled electric plants in 2025, all by 2031

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Colorado is slowly phasing out the last of its coal-fueled electrical power plants, even though they still generated a third of the state’s total in-state energy generation in 2023. The Colorado Department of Labor and Energy reports that 10 coal-fired units remain operational throughout the state. One of those 10 is scheduled to close by the end of this year, with the remaining nine units all set to close by the end of 2031. The department reports that the plants are closing for a “variety of reasons.” “The era of coal in Colorado appears to be ending, and that poses serious challenges to the workers and communities that rely on it,” it states. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
In Wheat Ridge, officials are combating traffic congestion with new continuous flow intersections
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

In Wheat Ridge, officials are combating traffic congestion with new continuous flow intersections

By Shaul Turner | Fox 31 News Denver’s increased traffic is affecting several communities around the metro area. Wheat Ridge will use continuous flow intersections (CFIs) to remedy backups along Wadsworth Boulevard between 38th and 44th streets. “It’s absolutely awful, it’s really impossible to get in here to get groceries,” one resident told FOX31. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Aurora police say teen faked attempted robbery, shot himself
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Aurora police say teen faked attempted robbery, shot himself

By Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado Aurora police provided an update on a shooting in Montview Park, stating the teenager involved shot himself in the hand. Initially, the 15-year-old reported to police that he was inside the park around 11:30 p.m. Saturday when he was approached by two unknown men. He said the men reportedly tried to rob him at gunpoint and shot him in the hand when he tried to fight back. He was driven to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening wounds. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
General Assembly recognizes active-duty military, veterans in 10 resolutions
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

General Assembly recognizes active-duty military, veterans in 10 resolutions

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Active duty military, veterans and those prisoners of war or missing in action who never made it home were all honored Friday with bipartisan measures in the Colorado House and Senate. House Joint Resolution 25-1010, by Republican Rep. Jarvis Caldwell and Sen. Janice Rich and with Democrat Rep. Sean Camacho and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, commemorated Military Appreciation Day. The resolution notes more than 47,000 Coloradans serve in a branch of the armed forces in active or reserved duty, and another 340,000 military veterans call the state home.That is roughly about 8% of the state's population. HJR 25-1011, by Republican Rep. Ryan Armagost and Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and by Democrat Rep. Matthew Martinez and Sen. Matt Ball, recognized Gold ...
In a shifting of chairs, Republican parties have new leadership in many Colorado counties
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In a shifting of chairs, Republican parties have new leadership in many Colorado counties

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The only constant in life is said to be change. That certainly is the way it may feel for those in a number of county Republican parties around Colorado. From El Paso to Weld to Washington counties and other places dotting the map, new party leadership has been put in place during biennial reorganization, and more could be. In Adams County, both U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Gabe Evans spoke before Laura Garcia-Pascoe was elected as the new county Republican chairwoman. "Let’s win big together this cycle," wrote Boebert in a Facebook post and photo with Garcia-Pascoe, after her election. On Monday, during his weekly grassroots call, former Sen. Kevin Lundberg noted Sandra Aste had been named the Larimer County chair. "I am really exc...