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On a dead-end street in north Denver, migrants are surviving winter with the help of an army of volunteers
Approved, Downtown Denver, Local, The Colorado Sun

On a dead-end street in north Denver, migrants are surviving winter with the help of an army of volunteers

By Jennifer Brown | SOURCE: THE COLORADO SUN Footprints in the snow lead from the sidewalk to a path through the weeds, opening to a field that is almost invisible from the road.  North of Interstate 70, in a part of Denver filled mostly with warehouses and gas stations, the tents are flapping relentlessly in the wind. About 10 migrants from South America hunkered down here during four days of subzero temperatures, and the volunteers who brought them heaters and propane, hot meals and fresh water, are prepared to help hundreds more as Denver pushes migrants out of their city-provided hotel rooms in the coming weeks.  The dozen or so brightly colored tents were mostly concealed from view by the field’s dirt mounds, despite that they were just across the South Platte River from...
“I forced Lauren Bobert to Change Districts”: Meet the Libertarian Running for Congress in CD 3, James Wiley
Approved, freestatecolorado.com, Local, State, Western Slope

“I forced Lauren Bobert to Change Districts”: Meet the Libertarian Running for Congress in CD 3, James Wiley

By Brandon Wark | SOURCE: FREE STATE COLORADO James Wiley is marching for peace. Not only is he marching around the State Capitol in Denver, but he will be marching to Washington DC if he wins his Congressional campaign. James, a local pro-liberty activist is running as a Libertarian for Congress in CD 3. James was running against Lauren Boebert before she switched districts because in part, Boebert refused to sign the Libertarian Party of Colorado’s Pledge for Pro-Liberty Republicans. He is still committed to ensuring that the Republican nominee supports pro-liberty positions and is not going to drop out of the race until there is a signer to the Libertarian Party of Colorado’s Pledge. In this interview, James explains how he became a pro-liberty activist, why he decided...
HAMAS Protesters Gather Outside El Paso County Democratic Party Offices for Theatrical Stunt
Approved, El Paso County, Local, thelobby-co.com

HAMAS Protesters Gather Outside El Paso County Democratic Party Offices for Theatrical Stunt

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM A group of Colorado pro HAMAS terrorists gathered outside the El Paso County Democratic Party office on January 19th, staging a theatrical stunt. The ‘protesters’ stacked bundles of cloth made to look like body bags outside the door, claiming that each bag represented 3,000 lives lost in Gaza. This disturbing act was organized by the Colorado Springs People's Coalition (CSPC), a group that is unhappy with President Joe Biden's handling of the situation in Palestine – a war that began with the October 7th early morning sneak attack on the civilian population of Israel. Colorado Springs People's Coalition (CSPC) list of demands posted on Facebook. The CSPC's statement, released on the same day as the protest, revealed their misguided intentions. They a...
Time to stop ballot box wildlife policy before Polis brings in the Grizzlies
Approved, coloradopeakpolitics.com, Local, Western Slope

Time to stop ballot box wildlife policy before Polis brings in the Grizzlies

SOURCE: COLORADO PEAK POLITICS A Western Slope lawmaker is making it his mission to stop city folk from playing with wildlife policy at the ballot box and forcing any more apex predators down the throats of rural areas that don’t want it. Republican State Sen. Perry Will says he’s introducing a bill this session to stop the madness with these dangerous mandates. Will told the Delta County Independent in a recent interview that he’s tired of ballot box policy from people who don’t have any skin the game. “This bill’s going to show the governor and hopefully a whole lot of other people how you reintroduce a species the right way with the professionals doing it. By running this bill, we will avoid an initiative to reintroduce wolverines. It’s going to be a good message ...
Douglas County sues to overturn state board’s decision to block property tax relief plan
Approved, Denver Metro, Local, The Colorado Sun

Douglas County sues to overturn state board’s decision to block property tax relief plan

By Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun Douglas County is suing a state board that last month blocked the county’s creative attempt to offer a $28 million property tax break to homeowners by making an across-the-board reduction in previously determined home values.  The 15-page lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Denver District Court against the State Board of Equalization. It argues that the board didn’t have the authority to block the tax break and that it didn’t follow Colorado’s open meetings laws in doing so.  The county is asking a judge to overturn the board’s unanimous decision to stop the reduction in home values.  The Douglas County Commission voted in September to reduce the county’s valuations, determined in May, of single-family homes, townhomes an...
Denver mayor bemoans potential $180 million impact of immigrant influx
Approved, denvergazette.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Denver mayor bemoans potential $180 million impact of immigrant influx

By Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner | SOURCE: THE GAZETTE Colorado Mayor Mike Johnston warned that without federal intervention, it could cost the sanctuary city of Denver $180 million to care for the recent influx of immigrants. Johnson, who is in Washington attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said his visit also included a meeting with President Joe Biden. The Democratic mayor said over 36,000 immigrants have arrived in his city since December 2022. "There are heartbreaking stories every day, but we also know without federal support and without federal action, the impact on a city like Denver, this would be $180 million impact on our budget in 2024," Johnston told MSNBC's José Díaz-Balart Reports Friday. "That’s more than 10% of our entire city...
GAO: USDA needs to improve tracking of foreign farmland ownership
Approved, Local, Rural Colorado, thefencepost.com

GAO: USDA needs to improve tracking of foreign farmland ownership

Hagstrom Report  | SOURCE: THE FENCE POST The Agriculture Department needs to collect, track, and better share data on foreign farmland ownership, but needs more money from Congress to do that, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Thursday. GAO complained that USDA annually compiles its data from paper forms filed with headquarters or county offices, but Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has said that to make the system more accurate counties across the country would need to develop detailed systems to report to USDA. READ FULL ARTICLE ON THEFENCEPOST.COM
Colorado’s Flawed Vacancy Committee System Raises Concerns Over Representation As Democrats Choose New Representative For HD31 By Just 9 Votes
Approved, Denver Metro, Local, thelobby-co.com

Colorado’s Flawed Vacancy Committee System Raises Concerns Over Representation As Democrats Choose New Representative For HD31 By Just 9 Votes

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Once again showing the flaws in Colorado's vacancy committee system, former Thornton City Council member Julia Marvin has been chosen to represent Colorado House District 31 by just nine votes. This Thursday night tiny election highlights the undemocratic nature of a system that allows just a few political party insiders to handpick a representative for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. Colorado State House Representative-select Julia Marvin Marvin, who currently serves on the Thornton City Council, won with a 9-7 vote over Jacque Phillips. The decision by just nine votes that she will now “represent” such a large district demonstrates the flaws in Colorado’s vacancy committee system. Marvin is the 29th member of the current Legislature initial...
EDITORIAL: Pot stores close as problems mount
Approved, El Paso County, gazette.com, Local

EDITORIAL: Pot stores close as problems mount

By Wayne Laugesen | SOURCE: THE GAZETTE Colorado Springs’ elected leaders and voters have been wise to reject marijuana, an increasingly unpopular “recreation” option. They did not fall for the false buzz of Big Marijuana, which promised reductions in crime, less illicit drug use and tax manna for the common good. Consequently, Colorado Springs appears progressive and alive as so many other large cities go to pot with homelessness, crime and open-air drug use. By rejecting recreational sales, Springs voters put themselves ahead of the curve. Pot is no longer the next big thing. It could become the next bad fad of the past, lingering in the margins with gangsta rap and skinny jeans. Springs voters most recently said “no” to commercial drug sales in November 2022 by a margin of n...
Denver’s presiding juvenile judge suspended, few details on disciplinary investigation
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, Local

Denver’s presiding juvenile judge suspended, few details on disciplinary investigation

By Michael Karlik | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS The Colorado Supreme Court temporarily suspended longtime Denver Juvenile Court Presiding Judge D. Brett Woods last month pending a disciplinary investigation, and few details have emerged about the nature of the inquiry. In a Dec. 21 order, the Supreme Court gave Woods 21 days to explain why he should be allowed to remain on the bench while the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline completes its work. On Thursday, the court issued another order reiterating that Woods remains on paid suspension until further notice. Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright did not participate in issuing either order, while Justice Monica M. Márquez recused herself only from the December order. The clerk of the Supreme Court did not kno...