Rocky Mountain Voice

Menu

Local

Douglas Co. Commissioner Lora Thomas says she was ‘evicted from my office’ amid political conflict
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Douglas Co. Commissioner Lora Thomas says she was ‘evicted from my office’ amid political conflict

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Lora Thomas has resigned from her position as Douglas County commissioner, a term which was to end in five weeks. According to a Denver 7 report, Thomas cites years of harassment by fellow commissioners George Teal and Abe Layden as the reason for her decision. In a press release and conference, Thomas reflected on her public service and the personal toll of the ongoing conflict. Thomas' resignation ends a career in public service which lasted decades. Before serving as a county commissioner, she broke barriers. She was the first woman captain and major in the Colorado State Patrol. She also served as Douglas County coroner, reducing office costs by 33% and rooting out internal corruption. Thomas noted her commitmen...
Read More
Morrison Police Department to disband, response to be covered by Jefferson County
No Comments
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Morrison Police Department to disband, response to be covered by Jefferson County

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 News The Morrison Police Department is disbanding, a spokesperson confirmed with FOX31 on Wednesday. The decision was made Monday during a town board meeting. The town said in a press release that the board of trustees was in the process of adopting its 2025 budget. “Due to various financial concerns, the adopted budget results in a reduction in the Town’s Police Department. The Town anticipates that police services in the Town will be provided by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office beginning in January 2025,” the release stated. “The Town is working expeditiously to ensure a smooth transition.” READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Read More
Developer meeting on proposed Palmer Lake Buc-ee’s turns heated
No Comments
Approved, gazette.com, Local

Developer meeting on proposed Palmer Lake Buc-ee’s turns heated

By Savannah Eller | The Gazette A public meeting hosted to discuss a proposed Buc-ee's location along Interstate 25 packed the Palmer Lake Elementary School cafeteria Tuesday night, frequently turning hostile and argumentative between company representatives and community members. "We don't desire your beaver nuggets," said audience member Alexandra Olivier, who joined an overwhelmingly negative wave of comments at the informational meeting. Residents raised a myriad of concerns over the travel center, which has been proposed on a piece of current El Paso County land west of I-25 and directly south of County Line Road. Developers have submitted an annexation plan to the county that would bring the site into the town of Palmer Lake under a "flagpole" annexation, connecting the roug...
Read More
Proposed ‘blanket ban’ on flavored tobacco could cost the city of Denver millions
No Comments
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Proposed ‘blanket ban’ on flavored tobacco could cost the city of Denver millions

By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette via Colorado Politics A bill prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products within the City and County of Denver got the nod of approval from the city’s Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee on Wednesday. The vote was 6 - 1, with Councilmember Kevin Flynn casting the lone dissenting vote. The next stop will be City Council for a final vote as early as Dec. 16, to pass the ordinance by the end of the year, according to District 9 Councilmember Darrell Watson, one of the bill’s sponsors. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
In Western Slope café, Coloradans react to pardon of Hunter Biden by his father, President Biden
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

In Western Slope café, Coloradans react to pardon of Hunter Biden by his father, President Biden

By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The announcement of Hunter Biden’s pardon from his father, President Joe Biden, raised eyebrows nationwide. And, in Mesa County, it has launched endless questions about the integrity of the justice system. In a Grand Junction café, the coffee comes with political conversations that reflect the deep skepticism of federal leadership. Residents here are watching closely and their reactions highlight a range of concerns, from distrust in government promises to broader questions about fairness in the justice system. For Gerald Gustin, a U.S. Navy veteran, the pardon marked a clear departure from assurances made by the White House: “Karine Jean-Pierre said multiple times it wouldn’t happen. And yet, here we are,” he said, referencing...
Read More
Douglas County School District to close three schools in 2026 through consolidation plan
No Comments
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Douglas County School District to close three schools in 2026 through consolidation plan

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette Amid a statewide decline in student enrollment and other Colorado school closures, the Douglas County School District plans to close up to three of its elementary schools in the near future, according to the district. The school district is considering "pairing" and "consolidating" six elementary schools within Highlands Ranch — a municipality with more than enough schools but not enough students, according to district officials. DCSD officials said a decision on what elementary school will close is to be made in April following community feedback and public meetings. Closures are slated to occur in August 2026. READ THE FIULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Read More
Denver rejects private pool, so the developer may try affordable housing instead
No Comments
Approved, Denverite, Local

Denver rejects private pool, so the developer may try affordable housing instead

By Paolo Zialcita | Denverite Ilan Salzberg’s decades-long dream of building a private swim club in his neighborhood came to an abrupt end Monday after Denver City Council voted down a rezoning proposal for the project. Salzberg, a developer and West Highland resident, bought 3719 Wolff Street in the West Highland in November 2023 for about $2 million. The 33,000-square-foot parcel of land currently sits vacant, nestled between homes and across the street from a Sprouts grocery store. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
Read More
What’s the starting pay for Pueblo police officers, firefighters and teachers?
No Comments
Approved, Local, The Pueblo Chieftain

What’s the starting pay for Pueblo police officers, firefighters and teachers?

By Justin Reutter | Pueblo Chieftain With a median rental price of $1,275 a month in Pueblo, starting salaries can be a major factor in recruiting and retaining vital positions in the Pueblo community. Here is a look at the starting salaries for police, firefighters, and teachers in Pueblo as of late 2024. The starting pay for a full-time Pueblo police patrol officer ranges from $71,470 to $87,185 annually with benefits, according to governmentjobs.com. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Read More
Aurora councilmembers press 3 candidates for council seat about economy, health, public safety
No Comments
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Aurora councilmembers press 3 candidates for council seat about economy, health, public safety

By Kyla Pearce | Denver Gazette Aurora councilmembers interviewed three top candidates for a council vacancy Monday night, pressing them about health, policing and public safety. The three candidates are Danielle Lammon, a business owner and chair of the Citizens Advisory Budget Committee; Jonathan McMillan, director of Firearm-Related Harm and Violence Prevention Program Office at the Trailhead Institute; and, Amsalu Kassaw, a lieutenant at Aurora's Immigration and Customs Enforcement  processing center.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Read More
Denver auditor: City’s college scholarship program failed to implement almost all recommendations
No Comments
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Denver auditor: City’s college scholarship program failed to implement almost all recommendations

By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette via Colorado Politics More than a year after Denver auditors raised concerns about oversight, data management, and quality assurance with the city’s tax-funded college affordability program, a follow-up audit found that the Office of Children’s Affairs has failed to implement the bulk of recommended changes made in the original report. Of the original eight recommendations, auditors noted that Children's Affairs, which oversees the Prosperity Denver Fund program, had only partially implemented two but had not taken steps to address the risks the other six sought to resolve. Back in 2018, Denver voters approved a ballot measure known as Prosperity Denver, which called for a 0.08% sales tax — less than one cent on $10 — and would be distributed in...
Read More