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John Fabbricatore Considering Run for CD-4 Special Election
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

John Fabbricatore Considering Run for CD-4 Special Election

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff AURORA, CO – In a statement released today, John Fabbricatore, a seasoned professional with decades of service in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including during the Trump administration, announced that he's considering a run for the upcoming special election in Colorado's 4th Congressional District. Expressing deep concern over what he perceives as a breakdown in immigration enforcement and disregard for the rule of law under the current administration, Fabbricatore emphasized the urgency of addressing the border crisis and its impact on national security and community safety. "After the sudden opening in the 4th District, I've been humbled by the overwhelming support and encouragement from fellow Coloradans," Fabbricatore stated. "M...
The wine and brownies are gone: 50 women trapped on ski bus for 16 hours — and counting — after major Colorado snowstorm
Approved, The Colorado Sun, Western Slope

The wine and brownies are gone: 50 women trapped on ski bus for 16 hours — and counting — after major Colorado snowstorm

By Jennifer Brown | Colorado Sun Amassive snowstorm that buried Colorado and shut down Interstate 70 stranded travelers overnight, including a ski bus filled with 50 women who were out of water and food after being stuck 16 hours and counting.  “We’re in good spirits,” Mary Wagner, one of the skiers on the bus, told The Colorado Sun on Thursday morning. “But we’re done now.”  For years, the women, many retired or moms with kids in school, have taken the ski bus on Wednesdays. This week, they spent the day at Vail, then got back on the bus at 3:30 p.m. for the ride home. Within 10 minutes, as the snow started to fall, they were stopped on Vail Pass because of a stalled car. When they were able to move again, the uphill climb overheated the transmission on the bus, so they...
Residents want Weld County to declare it is non-sanctuary for illegal immigrants
Approved, Northern Colorado, Rocky Mountain Voice

Residents want Weld County to declare it is non-sanctuary for illegal immigrants

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice GREELEY – There was a time, Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams recalls, when local law enforcement in Colorado had the capacity to better work with federal immigration officers. It all ended when Gov. Jared Polis signed Democrat-supported House Bill 1124 into law in 2019. “What this law said was I cannot work with ICE,” Reams told those gathered Wednesday for a town hall meeting here at the Weld County administration offices. A summary of HB 19-1124 indicates it prohibits “a law enforcement officer from arresting or detaining an individual solely on the basis of a civil immigration detainer.” At issue for many in Weld County is whether or not the county is a sanctuary to illegal immigrants, regardless of whether the state has become on...
Lauren Boebert won’t pursue special election nomination to replace Ken Buck after his abrupt resignation
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Lauren Boebert won’t pursue special election nomination to replace Ken Buck after his abrupt resignation

Boebert is still running, however, in the Republican primary to be the GOP nominee for the November election in the 4th Congressional District By Jesse Paul | Colorado Sun U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert said Wednesday that she will not pursue the Republican special election nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Ken Buck in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District after he departs Congress at the end of next week.  Boebert is still running, however, in the Republican primary to be the GOP nominee for the November election in the 4th District. In a written statement, Boebert called Buck’s resignation “a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election” for her opponents. “Forcing an unnecessary special election on the same day as the primary election will confuse voters, result in a lame duck ...
How Republican Senate leadership candidates stack up on earmarks
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

How Republican Senate leadership candidates stack up on earmarks

By Samantha-Jo Roth | Washington Examiner The resurgence of earmarks has divided Republicans as Congress grapples with a looming partial government shutdown and the choice for new Senate leadership in the fall. As a second chunk of spending bills are expected to be revealed in the coming days to fund the departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, State, and Homeland Security, Senate Republicans remain at odds over more earmarks, or community project funding, which direct federal dollars to specific “pet projects” in members’ home states and districts. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) have declared their candidacy for GOP leader after Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will step down after the 2024 electio...
Report: Bill to end Colorado oil, gas permitting could be $2B tax revenue road to ruin
Approved, State, The Center Square

Report: Bill to end Colorado oil, gas permitting could be $2B tax revenue road to ruin

By Joe Mueller | The Center Square  A bill to substantially restrict oil and gas permitting in Colorado would result in widespread financial and environmental impacts, according to a new report by a research group. The report, published by the Common Sense Institute, a free-enterprise think tank, says Senate Bill 24-159 would negatively impact the state’s economy as well as tax revenue at the state and local levels. The legislation also would result in increased emissions, according to the report, which referenced the recently published Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap 2.0 Report to support its point. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
Saying no to veto, Gov. Jared Polis signs bill exempting lawmakers from open meetings law
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Saying no to veto, Gov. Jared Polis signs bill exempting lawmakers from open meetings law

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Just hours after the bill reached his desk, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a measure that would exempt lawmakers from the state's open meetings law, ultimately saying the matter deals with separations of powers between his office and the Colorado General Assembly.    The law is effective immediately.  In a signing statement, the governor said he accepted Senate Bill 24-157 to "provide clarity to the Legislature as it seeks to resolve ambiguities around their own conduct under the Colorado Open Meetings Law." Polis noted the bill applies only to the legislature, not the executive or judicial branches. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Colorado rental car fee hike would raise money for Front Range and mountain passenger rail systems
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado rental car fee hike would raise money for Front Range and mountain passenger rail systems

By Jesse Paul | Colorado Sun Colorado’s state-imposed rental car fee would increase by as much as $3 per day under a soon-to-be-introduced bill in the legislature aimed at attracting federal investment in proposed Front Range and mountain passenger train systems. The fee increase would generate an estimated $50 million in revenue annually, money that would be used as a match to secure federal grants. Lawmakers are specifically hoping for a share of the $66 billion Congress set aside in 2021 for rail development in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  “We have a short window to pull down this federal infrastructure money,” said Senate President Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat and the lead sponsor of the forthcoming bill. “I really want to make sure Colorado...
21st Judicial District slates open house for Juvenile Diversion, Lighthouse programs
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, Western Slope

21st Judicial District slates open house for Juvenile Diversion, Lighthouse programs

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff An open house has been announced for 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, during which time the public will be invited by the 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office to tour new space of the Juvenile Diversion and Lighthouse Program at Colorado Mesa University, 1060 Orchard Ave. The open house will feature all elements of the program , the recent expansion and to meet the team. The two programs of the Juvenile Diversion and Lighthouse are aimed at preventing youth from entering the criminal justice system. “We invite everyone in our community to join us at the open house on March 20 to learn more about our initiatives and find ways to get involved with supporting our youth,” said 21st Judicial District Attorney Dan Rubinstein. “I also want to extend a huge ...
Family Dollar had net sales loss of -1.2% in 4th quarter, leading to 970 stores set for closure
Approved, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Family Dollar had net sales loss of -1.2% in 4th quarter, leading to 970 stores set for closure

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Dollar Tree, Inc., [DLTR] dropped 15% in early trading Wednesday following news it would close nearly 1,000 stores, mostly within the lowest-performing Family Dollar franchise. The company’s fourth quarter earnings report, released Wednesday, indicates that while Dollar Tree had net sales of plus-6.3% the Family Dollar brand had losses of minus-1.2%.  “We finished the year strong, with fourth quarter results reflecting positive traffic trends, market share gains and adjusted margin improvement across both segments,” said Chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling in a statement. “While we are still in the early stages of our transformation[al] journey, I am proud of what our team accomplished in 2023 and see a long runway of growth ahead of us.”...