Rocky Mountain Voice

Commentary

Grieving Dad Tells Congress Why America Must Stop Releasing Repeat Offenders
The Daily Signal, Approved, Commentary, National

Grieving Dad Tells Congress Why America Must Stop Releasing Repeat Offenders

By Jarrett Stepman | Commentary, The Daily Signal “I will fight until my last breath for my daughter. You need to fight for the rest of our children, the rest of the innocents, and stop protecting the people that keep taking them from us, please.” Those were the words of Stephen Federico, the father of a 22-year-old woman who was allegedly killed by a man who had faced 40 criminal charges in the years before her murder. He gave his impassioned testimony about the need for keeping more criminals behind bars at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday. Federico’s heartbreaking testimony vividly highlighted one of the clearest reasons America’s Democrat-run cities face a serious crime problem: repeat offenders end up back out on the streets after being given countless chances by...
When did the Upper and Lower Basin of the Colorado River become a thing?
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

When did the Upper and Lower Basin of the Colorado River become a thing?

By Steve Harris | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice And other insights from the 1922 Colorado River Compact negotiations Though I was not in attendance in 1922 (don’t laugh), the minutes of the negotiations are very thorough. At the first Commission meeting starting on January 30, 1922, the negotiations were centered on separating the Colorado River flow by the potential for irrigated lands in each state. Reclamation—only about 20 years old at the time—had made surveys of the potential irrigated lands in each state. The acreages are listed in the minutes of the first meeting. Miss the first piece? Read: “Harris Water Time” and the Colorado River Compact’s century of lessons Colorado River Commission delegates meet in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1922. Secretary of Commerce...
Beyond the rhetoric: Schools, unions, and the battle for objective truth in education
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Beyond the rhetoric: Schools, unions, and the battle for objective truth in education

By Laureen Boll | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In Part One, Laureen Boll examined how literacy challenges, COVID-era policies, and parental authority define Colorado’s education debate. In this second installment, she shifts focus to the role of schools, the influence of teachers’ unions, and the clash over objective truth — issues she argues will shape the outcome of this November’s school board elections. The Role of Schools DCSD recently voted in favor of requiring parental consent, or “opt-in,” for students to participate in the upcoming Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, also known as HKCS. HKCS is an anonymous survey that is offered to all school districts in the state every-other-year, and much of the information that’s collected from middle and high school students is...
Secretary of War Vows to Restore Strength and Standards to U.S. Forces
The Daily Signal, Approved, Commentary, National

Secretary of War Vows to Restore Strength and Standards to U.S. Forces

By Tyler O’Neil | Commentary, The Daily Signal I’ve witnessed many moments of “America is back” catharsis this year, but few have been quite as inspiring as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s declaration that he will strive to make every unit the efficient killing machine that he’d be proud to see his own son enlist to join. Speaking at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, Tuesday, Hegseth didn’t just discard what he rightly described as the “debris” of wokeness at the War Department—he also laid out a clear litmus test as he looks to whip the military into tip-top shape: what he called the new War Department golden rule. “Would I want my eldest son, who is 15 years old, eventually joining the types of formations that we are currently building?” the secretary asked. ...
Situational Outrage: How Democrats Normalize Political Violence
American Thinker, Approved, Commentary, National

Situational Outrage: How Democrats Normalize Political Violence

By Brian C. Joondeph | Commentary, American Thinker Two recent House votes reveal a troubling trend about the current stance of one of America’s major political parties. In June, following the assassination of Minnesota legislator Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, the House acted swiftly and unanimously to condemn political violence. The vote was clear and bipartisan, with every member present indicating that killing a public official is beyond partisan bounds. Weeks later, after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a resolution to condemn his murder and reject political violence split the House. Leadership urged support, but many Democrats voted no, abstained, or stayed away. Progressive leaders used the moment to disparage Kirk’s life and work. The split was so sharp that House cons...
When will the health-related employment bubble burst?
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

When will the health-related employment bubble burst?

By Mike O’Donnell | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice A few weeks ago, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that it had inadvertently overstated—by more than 100%—the number of new jobs created across the United States during the last full year of the Biden/Harris Administration. The BLS also noted that corrected industry and state-specific numbers won’t be available until early next year, although no changes are expected to previously published numbers for new jobs created in the “Health Care & Social Assistance” and “Government” industry categories. The overstatement means that the number of new jobs reportedly created in Colorado since the start of the current post-COVID economy (January 2023) will likely end up lower than the published 78,900, although ...
When Justice Becomes Partisan, Freedom Dies
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, National, Top Stories

When Justice Becomes Partisan, Freedom Dies

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Picture, for a moment, a reversal of roles. Suppose a radical on the right assassinated one of the most visible voices on the left in front of live cameras. Imagine if, after that horror, crowds of conservatives cheered, called for more, and excused the violence as justified. Picture further attacks - one shouting slogans, another storming a newsroom, a sniper targeting a Planned Parenthood clinic - and all of them part of an ongoing pattern.  Would there be any question how the left would react? Their calls for action would be immediate, sweeping, and relentless. This thought experiment matters because it exposes a double standard. Violence should not be judged by the ideology of the perpetrator. Violence is viole...
Freedom, Our Forgotten Birthright: Dogged Vaccine Rejection Should Stimulate Curiosity
Substack, Approved, Commentary, National

Freedom, Our Forgotten Birthright: Dogged Vaccine Rejection Should Stimulate Curiosity

By Brianna Ladapo | Commentary, Embracing the Light Substack Wednesday marked a momentous event that will undoubtedly change the course of history. When Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s courageous and brilliant Surgeon General (and yes, my wonderful husband) announced Florida’s intention to end all vaccine mandates, it was a pivotal and long-awaited victory for health freedom. At the moment of announcement, the crowd erupted with a liberated jubilance that only manifests when souls have finally broken free of their bondage after years of desperation, determination, and defiance. The wild cheering and applause was deafening, matched only by the sobs of relief and gratitude. It was a truly beautiful moment of divinity, and a welcome harbinger of things to come. However, not everyone is hap...