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Polis greenlights nuclear power as Colorado rejects “Green New Deal”
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Polis greenlights nuclear power as Colorado rejects “Green New Deal”

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff After years of progressive opposition to nuclear energy, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed House Bill 25-1040 into law, officially recognizing nuclear power as part of the state’s clean energy portfolio.  The move—driven by bipartisan support and grassroots pressure—marks a turning point for Colorado’s energy future, and a long-overdue recognition that nuclear energy must be on the table to meet rising power demands and stabilize the grid. The new law adds nuclear energy to the list of technologies eligible for clean energy incentives and financing, aligning it with solar, wind, geothermal, and hydrogen. While HB1040 does not mandate nuclear projects, it opens the door for utilities and private companies to begin investing in advanced nucl...
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Cole: Colorado’s gender bills sideline parents and rush kids into harm
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Cole: Colorado’s gender bills sideline parents and rush kids into harm

By Shaina Cole | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice On Friday, March 28, Colorado legislators introduced House Bill 25-1309 and House Bill 25-1312, proposals crafted to safeguard transgender youth. Their aims are well-meaning: one mandates insurance coverage for gender-affirming treatments such as hormone therapy and surgeries, while the other anchors gender identity within custody law to protect vulnerable children.  Yet, beneath these noble intentions lies a troubling prospect—lasting harm to the very youth they seek to shield, coupled with an alarming shift of authority from parents to the state. Consider HB 25-1309, which compels insurance providers to fund gender-affirming care when deemed medically necessary. The goal is clear: ensure access for transgender youth. H...
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Education Department cracks down on schools that keep secrets from parents
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Education Department cracks down on schools that keep secrets from parents

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff The U.S. Department of Education under Secretary Linda McMahon has announced a sweeping effort to enforce existing federal laws that protect parental rights in public schools. The March 28 directive reaffirms parents' authority over their children’s education and mental health records—specifically targeting public school policies that have kept parents in the dark. The action revitalizes enforcement of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), two long-standing federal laws designed to guarantee that parents are the primary decision-makers in a child’s education and well-being. “The Trump Administration understands that the immense responsibility of raising children belongs to parents, n...
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A shepherd in the trenches: Rep. Scott Bottoms answers the call to fight for Colorado
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A shepherd in the trenches: Rep. Scott Bottoms answers the call to fight for Colorado

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice El Paso County Republican Rep. Scott Bottoms walked the quiet State Capitol halls with his wife, prayers filling the empty space. They spent hours there—no fanfare, just a pastor seeking God’s will on a new path after years of preaching in Colorado Springs.  Several lawmakers asked him to run for office. “I’m a pastor,” he told them. One replied, “Pray about it.” That stuck. “I almost said no,” Bottoms said. “I was scared God might say yes.”  “I didn’t choose this,” Bottoms said. “I felt God say, ‘This is your battlefield.’” He said what no one else would Bottoms caught the attention of millions across the country with a speech that went viral on X last fall. “Our state is running rampant with pedophilia,”...
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Bobstock Music Festival brings Coloradans together—one song at a time
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Bobstock Music Festival brings Coloradans together—one song at a time

RMV Staff | RMV NE CO Newsroom Get your lawn chairs and dancing shoes ready, Colorado! The lineup for the annual Bobstock Music Festival, which will be held July 11 and 12th, 2025 (Second full weekend in July), at Glenn Miller Park and downtown Fort Morgan, Colorado, has officially been revealed.  And it's set to celebrate Colorado's rich tradition of unity, community, and live entertainment! In a thrilling announcement by Media Logic Radio last week at McDonald’s Toyota showroom in Fort Morgan, music enthusiasts from across the state gathered to uncover the headliners for this year's performances, setting the stage for another unforgettable experience.  Leading the lineup, Uncle Kracker will fill the summer air with feel-good tunes that are sure to bring everyone tog...
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Bannon lights fire under Colorado GOP at Centennial Gala: “The elites failed this state”
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Bannon lights fire under Colorado GOP at Centennial Gala: “The elites failed this state”

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Despite credible bomb threats and a last-minute venue change, the Colorado GOP gathered under tight security to kick off what Steve Bannon called “a journey to take this state back.” But the fight, he warned, isn’t just against Democrats—it’s against weak Republicans and elites “who don’t want you in their party.” The Centennial Dinner, held March 28 at Phil Long Music Hall in Colorado Springs, featured a live call-in from former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters from the Larimer County jail, and a headlining speech from Bannon that ignited the room with calls for courage, action and confrontation.  Outside, protesters shouted and blocked the entrance. Inside, hundreds of attendees stood their ground. A call t...
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From the ashes of division: Horn, Phelan and Andrews chart a new course for Colorado GOP
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From the ashes of division: Horn, Phelan and Andrews chart a new course for Colorado GOP

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice "We’re like a great football team," Russ Andrews told delegates at the Colorado Republican Party reorganization meeting on March 29. "But when we take the field, we block and tackle each other. That has to end." It was a sentiment echoed by the party's newly elected leaders Brita Horn (Chair), D. Lee Phelan Sr. (Vice Chair), and Andrews himself, who was elected Secretary. The three swept their respective races after a day of pointed speeches, surprise withdrawals and shifting alliances that ended with a new leadership slate promising to put unity and effectiveness over factional infighting. Contests, concessions and realignment Lori Saine, who came in second to Horn in the chair race, struck a note of resilience. She t...
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Ganahl: Our loyalty is to the truth, not political convenience
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Ganahl: Our loyalty is to the truth, not political convenience

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.  Especially from your own party if you’re a republican in Colorado. Yesterday, March 27, the Rocky Mountain Voice team received a tip that there were over $100,000 in campaign finance violations in two committees run by Darcy Schoening, a candidate for Chair of the GOP, and that another news organization was about to break the story.  With the lack of balance in our Colorado media, we were concerned this would be a one sided “hit piece” so we decided to write our own piece to approach it in a fair way.  I had endorsed my friend Brita Horn for GOP Chair early in the race (personally, not as the President of RMV) before Darcy had jumped in as a candidate.  W...
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Ballooning Medicaid costs, TABOR limits expose flaws in Colorado’s big government spending spree
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Ballooning Medicaid costs, TABOR limits expose flaws in Colorado’s big government spending spree

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board After years of overreach and unchecked government growth, Colorado lawmakers are now scrambling to plug a $1.2 billion hole in the state budget — a crisis largely of their own making.  Colorado budget writers voted Wednesday night to finalize a 2025–26 budget plan that slashes transportation funding, eliminates programs, and kicks key decisions down the road — all while Medicaid spending surges out of control. Despite the so-called “cuts,” the budget still grows to over $16 billion. But massive increases in Medicaid — particularly long-term care for seniors and the disabled — are eating up the budget at an unsustainable pace. Democrat lawmakers admit the problem is only getting worse. “Next year, I see our fiscal challenges compounding,...
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Cole: Colorado lawmakers scrolled while your safety was debated
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Cole: Colorado lawmakers scrolled while your safety was debated

By Shaina Cole | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In a state where crime surges and citizens rely on their Second Amendment rights for protection, you’d hope lawmakers would take their duties seriously. Yet, during debates on Senate Bill 25-003—a measure slashing Coloradans’ ability to defend themselves—several representatives checked out.  Rep. Meghan Lukens (D) played Tetris, Rep. Sheila Stewart (D) and Rep. Javier Mauro (D) scrolled TikTok, Rep. Tisha Mauro (D) browsed Instagram, and Rep. Matthew Clifford (D) surfed Facebook—all while colleagues argued over a bill that could leave Coloradans defenseless.  Their minds seemed made up, uninterested in the arguments put forth by their colleagues.  And on March 24, 2025, with Lukens casting the deciding vote,...
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