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Mesa County Commissioner advocates for fair share of transportation dollars
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Mesa County Commissioner advocates for fair share of transportation dollars

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice With an ever shrinking budget, and an ever increasing demand for state money for road repairs and construction due to increasing population and use on the Western Slope, Mesa County Commissioner, Bobbie Daniels went to the state legislature to put a spotlight on the needs of western Colorado. Her testimony highlighted the growing disparity between urban and rural infrastructure funding and the critical need for investment in the roads that keep Colorado moving. Rural communities, which already face resource limitations, are disproportionately affected. Large-scale infrastructure projects in these areas rely heavily on state and federal funding. Yet, much of the transportation budget is allocated to specialized urban pro...
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Department Of Education cuts staff by 50 percent
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Approved, National, The Federalist, Top Stories

Department Of Education cuts staff by 50 percent

By Breccan F. Thies | The Federalist The U.S. Department of Education announced on Tuesday evening that it will be cutting its staff by about 50 percent as part of a “reduction-in-force” to start downsizing the department. In a press call, a senior department official said that of the 4,133 employees currently at the Education Department, 1,315 will be subject to the reduction-in-force — a formal governmental process. That number is on top of the 259 employees who utilized the deferred resignation program, 313 who took the voluntary separation incentive payment of $25,000, and another 63 probationary employees who were terminated in February. “Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are...
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Anderson: SB25-003 faces Constitutional hurdles under the Bruen standard
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Anderson: SB25-003 faces Constitutional hurdles under the Bruen standard

By Phillip Anderson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Many conservatives and Second Amendment advocates have raised concerns about the constitutionality of SB25-003, a bill that seeks to make it significantly more difficult for Coloradans to exercise their Second Amendment rights. These advocates argue that if the bill becomes law, it will not withstand a constitutional challenge under the Bruen standard established by the Supreme Court of the United States. If you do not closely follow Supreme Court cases or have never heard of the Bruen standard, you may be unsure what to make of these claims. The Bruen standard of review in Second Amendment cases originates from New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen. In this case, two New York residents challenged a s...
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‘This is our Alamo!’: Gun owners rallying March 11 against SB 3 in Colorado House committee
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‘This is our Alamo!’: Gun owners rallying March 11 against SB 3 in Colorado House committee

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A bill which some gun advocates say would lead to extinction of their rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution is scheduled for a hearing Tuesday, March 11, in the House's Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 25-003, led through the upper chamber by Sens. Julie Gonzales and Tom Sullivan, prohibits the transfer, sale and purchase of semiauto firearms with certain exclusions permitted to allow the bill to clear the Colorado Senate on a 19-15 vote, with all Republicans and three Democrats opposed. At issue is whether, in the interest of stemming mass shootings in the state, if Coloradans should sacrifice constitutionally-provided gun ownership rights. Sullivan says the measure works to enforce the "high-capacity magazine ban" from 2014, but othe...
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10 months after hailstorm closed it, Rep. Boebert is demanding reopening of Yuma post office
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10 months after hailstorm closed it, Rep. Boebert is demanding reopening of Yuma post office

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice On the Eastern Plains of Colorado, tornadic storms delivering high wind, hail and damage can be commonplace. Property can be damaged by multiple storms a year. While Adams and Weld counties are known to be the state's top targets for tornadoes, all of Eastern Colorado sits within "Tornado Alley," so coined by U.S. Air Force meteorologists. One of those storms about 10 months ago delivered large hail to Yuma, Colo., and resulted in the closure of the local post office. Some in Yuma recall hail being larger than a baseball and up to the size of a softball. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Windsor, is pleading to get the post office reopened. "I am writing to address the ongoing closure of the Yuma Post Office, which has remainedinoperable due ...
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Former City Councilman argues for greater transparency in Grand Junction’s election filing process
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Former City Councilman argues for greater transparency in Grand Junction’s election filing process

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Three days. That’s all the time a Grand Junction resident has to challenge a candidate’s petition. But there’s one problem: the public doesn’t even know when the clock starts ticking. The City of Grand Junction claims that residents can challenge election petitions, yet the necessary documents aren’t posted publicly and CORA requests take as long as the objection window itself.  Former Grand Junction City Councilman Kraig Andrews learned this firsthand after reading a Rocky Mountain Voice article that included redacted candidate filing petitions.  With his experience in local government and an eye for detail, Andrews noticed discrepancies that raised concerns about how the city reviews and certifies election ...
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Judge rejects Denver Public Schools’ attempt to block Trump ICE guidance
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Judge rejects Denver Public Schools’ attempt to block Trump ICE guidance

By Melanie Asmar | Chalkbeat Colorado A federal judge on Friday rejected Denver Public Schools’ attempt to reinstate a federal policy that treated schools as “sensitive locations” where immigration enforcement should only take place if there is immediate danger to the public. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico said there is little practical difference between the prior policy, the last iteration of which was issued in 2021 under former President Biden, and a pair of memos issued by the Trump administration in January. “The concern was that there would be no limitations or no protections for schools, necessarily, under the new memo,” Domenico said in a ruling from the bench. “That is an overstatement. And the fact that there have been no actions on school property in the ...
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In Covid-19 hangover, Colorado employers debate whether to require in-person work
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In Covid-19 hangover, Colorado employers debate whether to require in-person work

By Nicole Brady | Denver 7 News Five years since so many of us set up home offices during the COVID-19 pandemic, more employers are reevaluating remote and hybrid work arrangements. In February, Aurora City Council passed a resolution directing council-appointed city leaders to encourage full-time employees to work in person at least three days a week. A city council resolution states that in-person work “fosters collaboration, reduces isolation, and creates healthier boundaries between work and personal life.” The City of Denver and State of Colorado continue to allow hybrid work arrangements, despite downtown businesses owners saying economic activity has suffered. Governor Jared Polis’ office sent a statement to Denver7 saying its flexible work arrangement “helps the state recruit...
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Colorado Democrats lead federal bill to revitalize Colorado public lands
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Colorado Democrats lead federal bill to revitalize Colorado public lands

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Three U.S. congressmen from Colorado have reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, which combines four previously introduced Colorado public land bills into one piece of legislation. Over a decade in the making, supporters of the CORE Act say it will protect public lands, safeguard outdoor recreation and boost the state’s economy. “The CORE Act is a model for how legislation should be done,” said U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado. “Ranchers, hunters, hikers and local officials all came together to protect our most sacred lands and invest in our outdoor recreation.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
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GOP Chair Race: Brita Horn Responds, Others Remain Silent
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GOP Chair Race: Brita Horn Responds, Others Remain Silent

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff With less than three weeks until the March 29th election for Colorado GOP Chair, Rocky Mountain Voice reached out to all declared candidates with key questions about their vision, fundraising strategy, approach to unaffiliated voters, and stance on Proposition 108. So far, Brita Horn is the only candidate to respond. Darcy Schoening, Lori Saine and Kevin McCarney have yet to reply, and we will be reaching out to Richard Holtorf and Jeremy Goodall this week for their positions. Brita Horn's Answers: Why are you running for Chair? My heart is on fire for Colorado, not to sow discord or pit different factions against each other— I’m here to bring us together with a clear, strategic, and winning plan. Our party has lost its purpose with division ...
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