Rocky Mountain Voice

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Colorado Springs City Council sends sales ban of recreational marijuana to voters
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Colorado Springs City Council sends sales ban of recreational marijuana to voters

By Mary Shinn | Colorado Politics, via Colorado Springs Gazette Colorado Springs residents could see competing recreational marijuana ballot questions in November.  The Colorado Springs City Council voted 8 to 1 to send a question to the ballot that would ban recreational marijuana stores in the city's charter. A charter amendment would trump a city ordinance.  The vote followed extensive public testimony that touched on the potential harms of marijuana, the benefits of expanding sales in town and letting voters decide how to regulate marijuana.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
‘It’s not any of their business’: Aurora Council nullifies new state law banning guns in government buildings
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

‘It’s not any of their business’: Aurora Council nullifies new state law banning guns in government buildings

By Anya Moore | Denver Gazette Aurora councilmembers voted on Monday night to opt out of a state law prohibiting firearms in so-called “sensitive spaces,” which include government buildings. Enacted this year, the Colorado law bans firearms in polling locations, schools, and government buildings, such as council chambers. The legislation contains a provision allowing local governments to opt out of the law. "I don't think it's the purview of the state legislature to decide how we should manage the safety and security of our building, that's up to us," Councilmember Curtis Gardner said in a previous council meeting. "It's not any of their business how we manage our building." READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Video: Has a Venezuelan gang taken over an Aurora apartment complex?
Approved, freestatecolorado.com, Local

Video: Has a Venezuelan gang taken over an Aurora apartment complex?

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Has an apartment management company in Aurora failed to maintain their property, as one media outlet reported, or has the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Argua, taken over the property by force? That's the focus of an interview by Free State Colorado's Brandon Wark with Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky. In the video, Jurinsky shares her perspective on the truth of whether the property is owned by a slum lord, or whether it has been taken over by Tren de Argua, as John Tiegen supports in this post. WATCH THE FULL VIDEO AT FREE STATE COLORADO
Westminster Schools ‘reimagining’ learning with new Ranum Reimagined Campus
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Westminster Schools ‘reimagining’ learning with new Ranum Reimagined Campus

By Gabriela Vidal | CBS Colorado It is inside the walls of a former high school and recently former middle school where leaders with Westminster Public Schools sparked a new idea: to create a campus where high school students can learn the skills needed to be ready for the workforce. "There is nothing worse than somebody who graduates and just feels lost," said Lottie Wilson. Wilson is the Career Tech Education Administrator for Westminster Public Schools and one of the leaders behind the Ranum Reimagined Campus. "I've seen a lot of our graduates that are turning 30 years old, 32 years old and they're still just trying to find their place in the professional world," she said. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
One of the country’s largest rodeos, at Denver’s National Western Stock Show, is run by a woman
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

One of the country’s largest rodeos, at Denver’s National Western Stock Show, is run by a woman

By Jeff Gurney | CBS Colorado Caroline Lukens was born a cowgirl. "I got this cute little quarter horse named Ranger and he was my first horse," Lukens said. Now she's running the one of the nation's premier livestock, rodeo and horse shows at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. As the rodeo operations coordinator, Lukens is responsible for producing one of the largest rodeos in the country. "Sometimes there are advantages to being a woman in a male-dominated industry; and it's becoming less and less male-dominant too," Lukens said. READ THE FUL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Security badge data reveals RTD police chief rarely visited RTD facilities
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Security badge data reveals RTD police chief rarely visited RTD facilities

By Karen Morfitt | CBS Colorado It's been over a month since RTD Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald Sr. was put on leave and the public agency has yet to explain why. According to internal memos obtained by CBS News Colorado, Fitzgerald is under investigation for "alleged policy violations." While it's unclear what policies the chief is accused of violating, current and former staff under Fitzgerald raised concerns with CBS News Colorado about his time at RTD, prompting a public records request for Fitzgerald's security badge data. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Three shot, one arrested Wednesday in 16th Street Mall shooting
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Three shot, one arrested Wednesday in 16th Street Mall shooting

By Marco Cummings | Denver Gazette Three men were taken to a local hospital with injuries following a shooting on the 16th Street Mall Tuesday evening, according to the Denver Police Department.   Denver police initially reported the incident via the Denver Police Department's social media account on X, at 5:55 p.m. According to police, the shooting occurred near the intersection of 16th and Wazee St. Police later identified the victims as three adult males, one of which was critically injured, while two others sustained non life threatening injuries, according to police.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
In bid to claim 8th District, Speaker Mike Johnson to headline fundraiser for Gabe Evans in Loveland
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

In bid to claim 8th District, Speaker Mike Johnson to headline fundraiser for Gabe Evans in Loveland

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana is scheduled to appear at a high-dollar fundraiser for Colorado congressional candidate Gabe Evans on Friday morning in Loveland, according to an invitation obtained by Colorado Politics. Evans, a first-term state lawmaker from Fort Lupton, is the Republican challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the toss-up 8th Congressional District, which stretches from Adams County suburbs north of Denver to Greeley. Caraveo, a former state lawmaker from Thornton, won the newly created seat in the last election by one of the smallest margins of any U.S. House race in the country. Tickets to the fundraising breakfast with Johnson start at $500 and top out at $10,000, which includes two seats...
In Colorado Springs, voters will have chance to weigh whether to renew 0.57% sales tax for roads
Approved, KXRM-TV, Local

In Colorado Springs, voters will have chance to weigh whether to renew 0.57% sales tax for roads

By Ashley Eberhardt | Fox 21 News On Tuesday, Aug. 13, Colorado Springs City Council voted to refer the renewal of the 2C Road Improvement Program to voters in November. 2C is a voter-approved sales tax, serving as the main source for rebuilding and improving the condition of the City’s existing roadway infrastructure. It was first approved by voters in November 2015 and renewed in 2019. The current authorization sunsets in December 2025.  Without raising taxes, the ballot measure would renew a 0.57% sales tax, or 5.7 cents on each $10 purchase, for 10 years starting in 2026. According to the City, since the 2C program started in 2016, the number of roads in “good” condition has nearly doubled and the number of citizen pothole complaints has gone down by more than 3...
Hardin: The relevance of the 2nd Amendment today
Approved, Commentary, National

Hardin: The relevance of the 2nd Amendment today

By Amanda Hardin | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights ratified in 1791, states: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." This short, but potent, sentence has generated extensive debate through the years, reflecting evolving societal values, legal interpretations and practical implications. Let's explore the relevance of the 2nd Amendment in contemporary America. Initially, the 2nd Amendment was framed in the context of an emerging nation wary of standing armies and oppressive governments. The "militia" referred to ordinary citizens ready to defend their communities. The framers of the 2nd Amendment ...