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Crime ‘hot spots’ in Denver may be result of illegal immigration surge, councilmembers say
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Crime ‘hot spots’ in Denver may be result of illegal immigration surge, councilmembers say

By Alexander Edwards  | Denver Gazette A pair of Denver councilmembers on Wednesday implied that the surge in illegal immigration over the past 18 months is linked to an increase in crime in some neighborhoods they represent. Councilmembers Amanda Sawyer and Stacie Gilmore shared anecdotal stories of crimes occurring in “hot spots” in their respective districts during a committee hearing.  Both law enforcement and city officials, including the Johnston administration, use the phrase "hot spot" to denote an area with a spiking crime rate. The city, for example, earlier designated five areas as "hot spots" — places that, by design, will be getting law enforcement's focus in the administration's campaign to curb gun-related crimes. The specific areas are not necessarily the most...
House passes bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in U.S.
Approved, National, The Washington Times

House passes bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in U.S.

By ALEX MILLER | The Washington Times The House passed legislation Wednesday to make people provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote, a measure aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from voting. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or the SAVE Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act to require people to register in person with documents that prove they are citizens such as a Real ID, passport or other identification that shows place of birth. The NVRA currently does not require proof of citizenship but asks registrants to attest that they are citizens or face penalties.  Rep. Chip Roy, the sponsor of the measure, said his bill was meant to ensure only American citizens vote in U.S. elections. He also accused President Biden and Democrats of pushi...
Political ads on social media rife with misinformation and scams, new research finds
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, National

Political ads on social media rife with misinformation and scams, new research finds

By DAVID KLEPPER | The Associated Press (via Colorado Politics) The online advertisement to Donald Trump supporters was clear enough: Click here, and receive a free Trump 2024 flag and a commemorative coin. All in exchange for taking a quick survey and providing a credit card number for the $5 shipping and handling. “You’ll get two free gifts just by taking this quick poll in support of Trump,” says the ad's narrator. The ad — which has appeared on Facebook, YouTube and other platforms — didn't mention the $80 charge that would later appear on credit card statements. Those that clicked were scammed. Political advertisements on social media are one of the best ways for candidates to reach supporters and raise campaign cash. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS...
Arapahoe County sheriff’s office under review for diverting $380k to sheriff’s non-profit
Approved, Local, The Center Square

Arapahoe County sheriff’s office under review for diverting $380k to sheriff’s non-profit

By Shirleen Guerra  | The Center Square The Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners is taking control of the Sheriff's office finances for overspending nearly $1 million and an alleged unauthorized transfer of $380,000 in taxpayer funds to a non-profit that the county claims was "inconsistent with state statutes." The non-profit was the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office Foundation, the county told The Center Square in an email. The Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office Foundation was given its non-exempt status by the IRS in 2022, according to the website Candid. The form the non-profit filed with the IRS - known as a 990 - didn't list any compensation for its officers and stated that Kenneth McKlem was the secretary and treasurer and worked an average of one hour per week with the ...
Ashbaugh: How a Latino Democrat and a Black Republican opened a white, middle-aged woman’s eyes 
Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Ashbaugh: How a Latino Democrat and a Black Republican opened a white, middle-aged woman’s eyes 

By Erin Ashbaugh | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice  “I’m a Republican.” he said.  “Ohhhh, I never pegged you to be that. I don’t think we can be friends anymore,” I laughed, only half-kidding. I was what one would consider a “Far Left” Democrat living in Boulder, CO when I said this, and Republicans were “the enemy.” The Republican friend of mine who I so quickly judged, as we reconnected after years of not seeing each other, was Lavelle Lewis, a football and basketball player who I’d cheered for during our years at IHS in Rochester, NY. After a couple of cups of coffee, I realized that as liberal as I was, Lavelle and I weren’t so different. Believe it or not, our values, morals, and political perspectives were rooted in similar ideals, just with different app...
House passes fridge, dishwasher bills to hatchet Biden’s regulation regime
Approved, National, The Washington Times

House passes fridge, dishwasher bills to hatchet Biden’s regulation regime

By Alex Miller  | The Washington Times The House passed a pair of bills that would block stricter energy standards for dishwashers and refrigerators as part of the GOP’s battle against President Biden’s push for more regulations of home appliances. The Refrigerator Freedom Act and Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act would prevent the Department of Energy from finalizing or enforcing efficiency standards on dishwashers and fridges that “are not cost-effective or technologically feasible.” The measures would also prevent the Energy Department from applying regulations unless they result in “significant conservation of energy,” and if the agency finds that the standards will not increase costs on consumers. All Republicans and a handful of Democrats passed both the dishwash...
Dueling meetings planned to decide future of party’s leadership
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Dueling meetings planned to decide future of party’s leadership

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Rival factions of the Colorado Republican Party have scheduled separate meetings a week apart in different corners of the state later this month to consider whether to remove Dave Williams as the state party's chairman, though the meeting set by Williams' allies is only planned to last long enough to gavel in and then immediately recess. Leaders of both groups accuse the others of staging "illegal" and "fraudulent" meetings in what they characterize as attempts to hijack the state Republican Party for their own gain, even as GOP candidates are left scrambling to prepare for a crucial election just months away. Organizers of a long-simmering move to oust Williams from the party position said Monday that they'll convene on July 27 at a church in ...
Could your Safeway be sold soon? See 89 Colorado stores on planned sale list
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Could your Safeway be sold soon? See 89 Colorado stores on planned sale list

By Samantha Jarpe | Fox 31 News Albertsons Companies, which owns 103 Safeway stores in the state of Colorado, released a list of 91 stores across the state it plans to sell if a planned merger between the company and Kroger is approved. Of these, two are Albertsons-branded stores and 89 are Safeway-branded stores. With 103 Safeway stores in the state, that means that all but 14 Safeway stores in the state would be sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based company. This includes all locations within Denver, Aurora and Boulder, among many more. According to a divestiture plan released by the two companies in April, C&S Wholesale would license the Safeway brand in Colorado, meaning the stores would likely not have to rebrand if the deal goes through. READ THE...
The future is here: AI-powered cameras dispatched firefighters to wildfire
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

The future is here: AI-powered cameras dispatched firefighters to wildfire

By Spencer Wilson | CBS Colorado After a wildfire broke out at an unattended campsite just east of a popular Breckenridge neighborhood, local firefighters are praising a new tool for their quick reaction to get the flames put out before they became too much to handle.  Aside from growing in a place where wildfire mitigation had taken place only a year and a half ago, the Wellington wildfire was spotted by a Pano AI camera, financially supported by Xcel Energy. The camera sits on a cell tower with a 360-degree view and submits an alert to emergency crews if it notices smoke. While that has resulted in a few false alarms in Summit County, this was the first instance where a wildfire was caught early, and kept to only one-eighth of an acre, firefighters said, thanks to...
Harsanyi: If you were duped on Biden’s cognitive decline, you’re too dumb to be a journalist
Approved, Commentary, The Federalist

Harsanyi: If you were duped on Biden’s cognitive decline, you’re too dumb to be a journalist

By DAVID HARSANYI | Commentary, The Federalist By the time we saw Joe Biden’s debate debacle, the media had spent four years covering up his mental and physical decline to help Democrats. After Biden’s fragile mental state was exposed, the media instantaneously began pushing Biden out of the presidential race to help Democrats. The goal remains the same. The Wall Street Journal reports this week that Biden’s senior advisers “aggressively stage-managed” the president’s “schedule, movements and personal interactions, as they sought to minimize signs of how age has taken a toll on the oldest president in U.S. history.” Basically, everyone in the White House — as well as big-money donors — conspired to hide that the president of the United States was unable to perf...