Rocky Mountain Voice

denvergazette.com

Colorado 2026 progressive ballot push would double income tax on top earners
denvergazette.com, Approved, State

Colorado 2026 progressive ballot push would double income tax on top earners

By Marissa Ventrelli | Denver Gazette Voters could see a proposal to more than double the income tax of Colorado residents who earn at least $1 million, which would raise more than $1 billion each year from this category of taxpayers.  The proposal also seeks to decrease the tax obligation of people who earn $100,000 or less, while maintaining the rate for residents whose income falls in between those two prongs.   Colorado has a flat income tax rate. Assuming the proposal made it to the ballot and voters approved it, Colorado's top marginal rate would rival the highest-taxed states in the western region, rivaling Oregon and approximating California. Several of Colorado's neighbors — its direct economic competitors in the region, notably Nevada and Texas — don'...
Denver judge blocks ICE request over state privacy law, leaves unaccompanied minor safety in limbo
denvergazette.com, Approved, State

Denver judge blocks ICE request over state privacy law, leaves unaccompanied minor safety in limbo

By Marianne Goodland | Denver Gazette A Denver district court judge has issued a preliminary injunction to prevent a division within a state agency from complying with a subpoena issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The injunction is a step that will now lead to a trial on the merits of a lawsuit filed by a state division chief. Notably, the judge's injunction only applies to that state division and the court appears to allow the governor to comply with the ICE subpoena. In his order, Judge A. Bruce Jones said the subpoena would require state employees to violate state laws signed in 2021 and 2025 by disclosing personally identifiable information to federal immigration officials. The ICE subpoena was issued administratively, not by a court or judge, and that w...
Colorado Activist Group Blocks ICE From Arresting Accused Child Rapist
Local, Approved, denvergazette.com

Colorado Activist Group Blocks ICE From Arresting Accused Child Rapist

By Nicole C. Brambila | The Denver Gazette Federal immigration agents on Friday attempting to arrest a Salvadoran fugitive accused of child rape in Italy were thwarted when an anti-ICE group allegedly alerted him of the raid, allowing him to evade capture, federal authorities. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Saturday accused members of the Colorado Rapid Response Network on social media of interfering in the attempted arrest of Jose Reyes Leon-Deras. “Groups like this interfere with ICE’s ability to keep communities safe,” ICE said in an X post Saturday. “Thanks to Colorado Rapid Response members, a fugitive child rapist evaded our arrest. “We target specific aliens for GOOD reasons! Do YOU want a child rapist in your neighborhood?!” It’s unclear...
Bureaucratic Green Energy Mandates to Cost Colorado Ratepayers $45 Billion
State, Approved, denvergazette.com

Bureaucratic Green Energy Mandates to Cost Colorado Ratepayers $45 Billion

By Scott Weiser | The Denver Gazette An energy office report shows six less-costly options, including nuclear power. Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor joined a group of "renewable" energy advocates on a press call recently, arguing that Congress should retain Inflation Reduction Act tax credits for wind, solar, and grid-scale batteries, rather than reallocating the funds to other technologies, including nuclear power, which President Trump has set as a priority. Underpinning that argument is that wind, solar and batteries are the "fastest and most affordable way for utilities to meet this demand.” That's not what a April 2025 report, commissioned by the energy office itself, has found. On the contrary, the report from Ascend Analytics, “Pathways to Deep Dec...
DHS warns Americans to stay alert after Trump-backed strikes hit Iran nuke sites
denvergazette.com, Approved, National

DHS warns Americans to stay alert after Trump-backed strikes hit Iran nuke sites

By Kanishka Singh | Reuters via Denver Gazette WASHINGTON (Reuters) -An advisory from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned on Sunday of a "heightened threat environment in the United States" following overnight U.S. military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. Rights advocates have already noted heightened Islamophobia and antisemitism in the U.S. since the start of U.S. ally Israel's war in Gaza following an October 2023 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas. The DHS issued Sunday's bulletin through its National Terrorism Advisory System and said the ongoing Iran conflict was causing the heightened threat environment. Low-level cyber attacks against U.S. networks by "pro-Iranian hacktivists" are likely, the bulletin said, adding cyber actors affiliated with Iran's...
Arapahoe Sheriff Investigates Massive Theft of Nintendo Game Consoles
Local, denvergazette.com

Arapahoe Sheriff Investigates Massive Theft of Nintendo Game Consoles

Arapahoe County Sheriff investigating 2,810 consoles stolen from Love’s Truck Stop days after Nintendo Switch 2 launch. By Michael Braithwaite | The Denver Gazette Just like Nintendo gaming villain Wario, these thieves were looking for their gold mine. More than $1.4 million worth of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles were stolen in a heist from a semi-truck parked at a Love's Truck Stop on June 8, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. During a pre-trip inspection of his cargo, the truck driver — parked at the stop in the 1100 block of South 1st Street in Bennett — found several pallets with 2,810 consoles of the newly released Nintendo Switch to have been stolen, according to a news release from the office. The thievery took place just three days after the console was ...
Democrat Rep’s Daughter Arrested in Grisly Assault Investigation
Local, denvergazette.com

Democrat Rep’s Daughter Arrested in Grisly Assault Investigation

By Michael Braithwaite and Marianne Goodland | The Denver Gazette The daughter of a Colorado state representative was arrested in connection with a stabbing incident in Denver last Wednesday. Nefretarie Lockley, 29, was arrested on six felony charges, including second degree attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and felony menacing, after allegedly stabbing a woman in the back with a knife in the 3900 block of North Elati Street, according to a probable cause affidavit provided by the Denver District Attorney's Office. Lockley is the daughter of Rep. Naquetta Ricks, the legislator confirmed in a written statement on Tuesday afternoon.Lockley will have her first court hearing on the charges on Wednesday morning. According to the arrest affidavit from Denver Police, offi...
Barstnar and Milo: Energy mandates are making Colorado unaffordable
denvergazette.com, State

Barstnar and Milo: Energy mandates are making Colorado unaffordable

By Kathie Barstnar and Tony Milo | Commentary, Denver Gazette Progress should not come at the expense of affordability. As Colorado moves toward a lower-carbon future, families and businesses deserve energy options that are reliable, cost-effective, and reflect their needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Choice and balance should guide this transition, not rising bills and reduced options. As organizations working to meet Colorado’s growing housing and economic development needs, we see firsthand how rising construction costs and added building requirements are making it harder to deliver buildings and homes that small businesses and working families can afford. The housing affordability crisis is getting worse, and we must implement policies that support Coloradans working to mak...
Colorado halts TRACER after Minnesota murders so lawmakers can redact personal info
denvergazette.com, State

Colorado halts TRACER after Minnesota murders so lawmakers can redact personal info

By Marianne Goodland | Denver Gazette State lawmakers can remove personal information before TRACER site restored TRACER, the Secretary of State's campaign finance website, was taken down on Saturday in the wake of the shootings of four individuals, including two lawmakers, in Minnesota. Two of the victims, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, were killed in the attack by an individual who posed as a police officer. Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot but are expected to recover. According to NPR, the suspect, Vance Boelter, had a "hit list" of 45 state officials, all Democrats. He was taken into custody Sunday and has been charged with state and federal murder charges. TRACER, aka Transparency in Contribution and Expenditure Report...
‘No Kings’ Rally Turns Violent: 35 Arrested After Attacking Police
denvergazette.com, Local

‘No Kings’ Rally Turns Violent: 35 Arrested After Attacking Police

The Denver Gazette In a series of confrontations, "No Kings" protesters threw rocks and other objects at officers and tried to enter a major thoroughfare in Denver on Saturday night, prompting the police to deploy pepper balls and smoke to disperse the crowd, authorities said. All told authorities arrested 35 people and one juvenile for resisting arrest, obstructing streets, throwing projectiles, and failing to obey orders, the Denver Police Department announced on Sunday morning. The confrontations took place at night — hours after thousands of people converged in downtown Denver to protest actions by the Trump administration, notably his campaign to deport foreign nationals illegally staying in the U.S.The first confrontation occurred around 6:30 p.m., when another march — the s...