Rocky Mountain Voice

Local

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...
Rep. Brooks makes case for Douglas County Home Rule as ‘the path forward for liberty’
Free State Colorado, Local

Rep. Brooks makes case for Douglas County Home Rule as ‘the path forward for liberty’

By Brandon Wark | Free State Colorado Voters in Douglas County will decide on June 24th, 2025 whether to create a Home Rule Charter Commission, and who to place on the Commission. If approved, this Commission will craft a new Home Rule Charter that voters will decide on during this November’s Election. If approved, this Home Rule Charter will make Douglas County the third Colorado County to become Home Rule. The Colorado Constitution allows Counties and Municipalities to adopt Home Rule status, which allows for more local control and greater flexibility to solve local issues. As you most likely know, the Colorado State Legislature has gone off the rails these past few years, passing legislation to restrict our rights, including our gun rights and parental rights. The Stat...
The Mile High price tag: Denver now among worst in U.S. for inflation
Approved, Local, Westword

The Mile High price tag: Denver now among worst in U.S. for inflation

By Catie Cheshire | Westword One study found prices in Denver have spiked significantly in the last two months, outpacing Los Angeles, New York and even Honolulu. Denver has a highly ranked park system and was recently named one of the coolest cities in the country, but living around the Mile High City isn't cheap. According to a new study by WalletHub, the Denver metro has the fifth-worst inflation problem in the United States, with costs rising on a monthly and yearly basis. WalletHub analyzed inflation impacts in 23 major metropolitan areas for the study, lumping together Denver, Aurora and Lakewood. In metro Denver, the change in Consumer Price Index compared to two months ago is 1 percent and the change over the last year is 2.2 percent, WalletHub research s...
D-11 school board votes to adopt policy requiring sports participation based on biological sex
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

D-11 school board votes to adopt policy requiring sports participation based on biological sex

By Grace Brajkovich | Denver Gazette During a special meeting on Wednesday, Colorado Springs' District 11 became the second El Paso County school district to approve a new policy requiring students to participate in school sports based on their biological sex. The D-11 Board of Education voted 6-1 to approve policy JBA-Preserving Fairness and Safety in Sports, which will classify sports teams as either “male, men or boys,” “female, women or girls” or “coed, mixed or open.” This will ensure that students aren’t allowed to participate in sports, be present in locker rooms, or lodge in hotels with the opposite biological sex.    Board Director Julie Ott cast the only dissenting vote.  "This policy is illegal. It goes against Colorado law. This poli...
Boebert steps in where Colorado failed: Black sludge in Morgan County drinking water
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Boebert steps in where Colorado failed: Black sludge in Morgan County drinking water

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado The plight of a tiny community in eastern Colorado will soon be the subject of a congressional hearing.  Colorado U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is coming to the aid of a small water district in Morgan County, where toxic black sludge passes for drinking water.  The Prairie View Ranch Water District is 50 miles northeast of the Denver metro area, and it has been a colossal disaster 20 years in the making. Residents say without drinkable water, their homes are worthless.  Boebert -- who represents the residents in Washington D.C. -- is asking the House Appropriations Committee for a $5 million grant to help overhaul the water system.  Boebert is the first elected official willing to meet with the residents, se...
Summit County Sheriff sues over denied funding, says commission broke staffing deal
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Summit County Sheriff sues over denied funding, says commission broke staffing deal

By Heather Willard | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons is suing the Summit County Board of County Commissioners after it filed a resolution that the sheriff says retroactively denies funding for staffing expenses. The sheriff said that the board had denied a supplemental budget and appropriation of $1.26 million for the sheriff’s office’s 2024 staffing expenses. The wages had been earned by staff, approved by the county manager and finance director, and paid through standard payroll, according to FitzSimons. “This legal action is necessary to protect my ability to fulfill the statutory responsibilities entrusted to me by the people of Summit County,” said Sheriff FitzSimons. “I remain hopeful these issues can be resolved amicably. As a three-te...
‘No Kings’ protest defies Parker officials, will proceed despite security concerns
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

‘No Kings’ protest defies Parker officials, will proceed despite security concerns

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — After the town of Parker tried to cancel a “No Kings” protest due to the Parker Days Festival on Saturday, the event is taking place anyway. On Saturday, June 14, a group known as “No Kings” is planning a “nationwide day of defiance” against the Trump administration on President Donald Trump’s birthday. The group said during Trump’s birthday festivities, they’re planning on showing up around the country to say “no thrones, no crowns, no kings.” Protests will be held in Colorado and all over the country, including Parker, even after the town of Parker said it had to be canceled due to a scheduling conflict. The town said the Parker Days Festival, which is hosted by the Parker Chamber of Commerce, is a permitted event that takes place...
Webb: A ‘yes’ vote for Home Rule is a vote for Douglas County’s future
Approved, Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Webb: A ‘yes’ vote for Home Rule is a vote for Douglas County’s future

By Robin Webb | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice On June 24, 2025, Douglas County residents will have the opportunity to vote in a Special Election to decide whether to form a Home Rule Charter Commission and elect 21 commission members to draft a potential Home Rule Charter. As the leader of the Douglas County Republican Party, I believe this historic vote could pave the way for greater local control, flexibility, and self-governance, positioning Douglas County to address its unique needs more effectively. Here’s why voting “Yes” for Home Rule is the best choice for our county. What is Home Rule? Home Rule is a form of local governance that allows counties to create their own charter, essentially a local constitution, to define how the county is structured and governed....
Graffiti, assaults and street blockades: Denver ‘ICE Out’ protest leads to 17 arrests
Approved, DENVER7, Local

Graffiti, assaults and street blockades: Denver ‘ICE Out’ protest leads to 17 arrests

By Allie Jennerjahn | Denver7 DENVER — 17 people were arrested during protests in Denver Tuesday. "I want to be present and stand up to what I think is really wrong," Bonnie Lloyd from Broomfield said. Crowds gathered to protest against federal immigration enforcement and ICE raids, joining protests across the country — namely Los Angeles — to call for an end to detentions and deportations. "I'm doing my part as an American citizen and someone who loves our country to do what I can," Ellen Keckler from Conifer said. Denver police released the number of arrests and what they were for: Graffiti (3) Interference with Police Authority (1) Unlawful Throwing of Projectiles, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order (1) Obstruction of Streets, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order (7) ...
Released and reloaded: Montrose bond records show cracks feeding Colorado’s criminal underworld
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Released and reloaded: Montrose bond records show cracks feeding Colorado’s criminal underworld

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice When a Montrose County woman was released on a $0 personal recognizance bond after skipping court in late 2023, it wasn’t her first time facing charges. It wouldn’t be her last either. Within nine months, she was arrested again – this time for second degree assault, harassment and criminal attempt. Her story is not an outlier. It is a warning. “There’s a revolving door with criminals or serious crime,” said Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard in a recent interview with RMV. “Last month we picked up one person five times – they were released on PR bond. There’s no consequences.” To illustrate how Colorado laws are contributing to rising crime and lawlessness, Sheriff Lillard prepared and shared a document showing just one small snapshot in ti...

FD863768-0ACF-495E-9D21-2EF784DFFA6B[1]

Join us at RMV's Freedom Festival

Click Here for Tickets!

This will close in 0 seconds