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Ganahl: Local voices, local values, local control–Home Rule for Douglas County
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Ganahl: Local voices, local values, local control–Home Rule for Douglas County

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice By now, you’ve probably received your ballot—and with it, an opportunity that could redefine how we govern ourselves. This vote will decide who sits on the commission responsible for drafting our Home Rule Charter. That document will set the tone for the future of Douglas County, and I believe it’s time we step up and take control of that future ourselves. If we choose Home Rule, we gain the power to tailor our government to meet our needs—not someone else’s idea of what those needs should be.  Let’s call it like it is—too often, the laws coming out of Denver are written without Douglas County in mind. We’re not just growing—we’re growing with purpose. And let’s be real, Douglas County has its own way of doing things. Home Ru...
DiGirolamo: Undercover as a 13-year-old, an officer finds what parents fear most
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DiGirolamo: Undercover as a 13-year-old, an officer finds what parents fear most

By John DiGirolamo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice You wouldn’t let your middle schooler wander the mall by herself, so why would you let her wander the Internet alone? If your child has online access, then every predator all over the world potentially can contact your kid.  Is this a risk that parents should be worried about? First, it’s important to understand why predators are on the Internet, online games and social media. Predators are after kids for several reasons: First, to obtain explicit material. Second, to extort someone for money and third, to meet for a sexual encounter.  Frequently, the predator may be seeking a combination of the three. Dawn Hawkins, CEO for National Center on Sexual Exploitation noted on X (formerly Twitter), “Child sexual ab...
Justice on hold: Lawmakers race to fix Colorado’s rape kit backlog
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Justice on hold: Lawmakers race to fix Colorado’s rape kit backlog

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A backlog of 1,369 untested sexual assault kits at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation delays justice and drives significant costs, per a June 2025 report from the Common Sense Institute. Authored by former Denver DA Mitch Morrissey and Senior Analyst Erik Gamm, the report estimates clearing this backlog could prevent 1,481 crimes—including 1,030 sexual assaults—and save Colorado $234.7 million.  The Yvonne “Missy” Woods scandal, involving manipulated DNA in over a thousand cases since 2014, worsened this crisis, exposing gaps in CBI’s processes.  Two bills, HB25-1275 and SB25-304, address these issues, as Rep. Matt Soper (R-Delta), co-sponsor of HB25-1275, detailed in a Rocky Mountain Voice interview. The Wo...
Devotional: The belt of truth—where trust finds its anchor
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Devotional: The belt of truth—where trust finds its anchor

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church If there’s one thing that holds relationships, communities, and even entire cultures together, it’s trust. But trust isn’t something that floats around waiting to be found—it’s something built. And like any lasting structure, it’s built on a solid foundation. That foundation, according to Scripture and life experience alike, builds trust through the truth. As someone who gets to wear a few meaningful hats—Pastor at Elevating Life Church, founder of Four-Dimensional Living, and Ambassador for Rocky Mountain Voice—I find myself constantly in conversations where people are searching for one thing: a reality they can trust. And the more I listen, the more I’m convinced: trust can’t grow where truth is absent. It withers under lie...
Hunter: A Father’s Day tribute to the men who carried us
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Hunter: A Father’s Day tribute to the men who carried us

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice What makes a man a great father? Not just in the sentimental sense, but in the enduring, full-bodied, legacy-building kind of way? As we celebrate Father’s Day, we at Rocky Mountain Voice would like to invite you on a journey – a journey through time, reflecting on the enduring impact of fathers. From the respected fathers of our past, to the steady hands of today’s dads, to the hopeful plans we dream of in future fatherhood, there’s a theme – a thread, if you will. It’s not power or perfection. It’s about being genuine, having good character, and delivering a benevolent performance, all of which are interwoven in how a man shows up for his family, his work, and his world. In every generation, there's a breed of me...
D.C. parade marks 250 years of U.S. Army history with crowd, color and chopper thunder
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D.C. parade marks 250 years of U.S. Army history with crowd, color and chopper thunder

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice A man in colonial uniform rode as George Washington on horseback during the Army’s 250th birthday military parade. It was the kickoff to one of the biggest military parades Washington has seen in decades. More than 6,600 service members made their way through the city’s center, with crowds pressed along Constitution Avenue and the National Mall to take it all in. From there, the Army’s long history moved forward in uniform. Regiments appeared in sequence, each dressed for their era — the Revolution, the Civil War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and more recent conflicts. A narrator gave short intros as each group passed, offering just enough detail for onlookers to connect the pieces. On the reviewing stand were President Donald Trump, Vi...
Anderson: On Flag Day, let’s remember what still holds us together
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Anderson: On Flag Day, let’s remember what still holds us together

By Nina Anderson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice With Flag Day approaching, I took a moment to swap out the American flags at our home—a tradition we've kept ever since our son joined the Navy nearly three years ago. That decision changed how we saw everyday things. Since then, that flag hasn’t come down once. It stays up through wind, rain, and snow. We fly it for him, and for what he represents. We were raised to treat that flag with respect, because it stood for something bigger than ourselves. So no, changing it out isn’t just a chore. It’s a way of showing we still care. It's an act of gratitude and principle. Such dignity is shown by never allowing it to touch the ground, ensuring it is properly illuminated if flown at night, and when it becomes too worn, it should ...
Colorado Senate Republicans elect leadership team focused on families, farms and affordability
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Colorado Senate Republicans elect leadership team focused on families, farms and affordability

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice As the Colorado State Senate prepares to welcome new leadership, the upper chamber’s storied traditions—from appointing its first chaplain in 1885 to its streamlined legislative process—set the stage for a fresh chapter in state governance. The Colorado Senate GOP elected new leadership this week, and two lawmakers are stepping into new roles with the weight of the session—and its unfinished business—clearly in view. The shift puts rural concerns and working family issues squarely in focus ahead of the 2026 session. Sen. Cleave Simpson (Alamosa) was named Minority Leader, taking over for Paul Lundeen. Sen. Lisa Frizell (Castle Rock) was elected Assistant Minority Leader.  “I’m honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me to le...
From real estate to crypto to Colorado: Eric Trump to speak at RMV Mountain Majesty Gala
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From real estate to crypto to Colorado: Eric Trump to speak at RMV Mountain Majesty Gala

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice They didn’t want this event to happen. Activists have spent weeks pressuring the venue, trying to intimidate organizers into pulling the plug. But the Rocky Mountain Voice’s first Mountain Majesty Gala is moving forward – and Eric Trump is headlining it. His June 21 appearance comes as conservatives in Colorado work to turn energy into strategy – and frustration into action. While his last name still dominates headlines, Trump arrives not just as a surrogate – but as a strategist, builder and global voice for strength, sovereignty and innovation. With protest threats in the background, and momentum from the base up front, the Gala is already doing what it set out to do: make waves. Trump spent summers in the Czech countryside with his ...
Parker: We need a national, armed citizen militia now
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Parker: We need a national, armed citizen militia now

By Dale Parker | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice I am not surprised at the result of the efforts of people in our state to banish firearms. No one should be surprised at the open contempt for our God given rights, protected in our Bill of Rights, that was demonstrated by requiring Ken DeGraaf to cover part of our Constitution. There is no remedy for this at the state levels.  We have to go on the offense and enact recognition of these God given rights to self protection.  The way our 2nd Amendment was penned has been glossed over for 200 years because there was no need after the American Revolution to flesh out what the Founders intended. It was recognized and taken for granted that the right to possess all arms belonged to the citizens of our country and not j...