Rocky Mountain Voice

Local

Denver council weighs $70M pitch for soccer stadium expected to bring $2.2B
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Denver council weighs $70M pitch for soccer stadium expected to bring $2.2B

By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette As Denver's elected officials weigh a push for $70 million in spending along Interstate 25 and Broadway Avenue, economists and business leaders hope the buzz around the city’s new National Women’s Soccer League team rubs off on councilmembers who have pushed back on the project’s price tag. Supporters argued that the proposed stadium would serve as a major economic "jolt" to South Broadway, while councilmembers are worried about shrinking revenues and redirecting interest money originally slated for a slew of projects funded by a bond voters approved a few years ago.    City economists published a 19-page economic impact study last week, projecting that a 14,500-seat stadium and entertainment district could generate $2.2 billion in eco...
Hall: A $250K farewell tour for Grand Junction city council’s ‘feckless foursome’
Approved, Local, The Business Times

Hall: A $250K farewell tour for Grand Junction city council’s ‘feckless foursome’

By Craig Hall, Publisher/Owner | Commentary, The Business Times Oops, they did it again. That’s right, after being rejected outright in the latest, ill-timed, usually-low-voter-turnout-to-benefit-progressives, springtime elections, our city council once again generously served up another slice of cake while completely ignoring the voice of the people who screamed loudly on April 8, “We don’t want your ideas, follies or leadership anymore!” I’d say they have deaf ears, but that would imply they are at least attempting to listen to the people. Instead, in their alternative Grand Junction universe our Feckless Foursome of “Abe the Sausage King of Grand Junction (and if you don’t get the joke, this column won’t hit your reality either) Herman,” “Anna the Stout, confident progressiv...
With calls up and staffing down, Jeffco sheriff’s office tries new tactics to recruit deputies
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

With calls up and staffing down, Jeffco sheriff’s office tries new tactics to recruit deputies

By Alliyah Sims | Fox31 JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) —The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office hopes an extra $5,000 will help with recruitment efforts. It’s a part of a new initiative to address staffing shortages. “All law enforcement agencies, police departments, sheriff’s offices — it doesn’t matter. There’s a challenge right now with staffing. It’s been going on really since 2020. A lot of people left the industry and getting more people to apply has been hard for all of us,” Mark Techmeyer, director of Public Affairs with JCSO. He says the sheriff’s office has just around 800 deputies when the agency is fully staffed. “Right now, we’re about 94% staffing for the department overall. We have about 35 openings in our sworn positions. That’s deputies that work in our detent...
Six Highlands Ranch schools to consolidate by 2026 under unanimous DCSD board vote
Approved, DENVER7, Local

Six Highlands Ranch schools to consolidate by 2026 under unanimous DCSD board vote

By Sydney Isenberg | Denver7 DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — The Douglas County School District Board of Education unanimously voted on Tuesday to consolidate six Highlands Ranch elementary schools. Under the plan, Saddle Ranch Elementary will consolidate into Eldorado Elementary, Heritage Elementary will consolidate into Summit View Elementary, and Acres Green Elementary will consolidate into Fox Creek Elementary. The consolidation will begin with the 2026-27 school year. Prior to the vote, several board members said it was one of the most difficult decisions they've faced during their tenure. "From the superintendent down… I’ve literally spoken to custodians, and they’ve all had opinions, and they’ve all mattered, and they’ve all been considered," said DCSD Board of Education memb...
Cole: Denver’s dangerous dance with low cash bail and ICE detainer policies puts public safety at risk
Approved, Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Cole: Denver’s dangerous dance with low cash bail and ICE detainer policies puts public safety at risk

By Shaina Cole | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Denver prides itself on progressive values and compassion for its diverse communities. But recent events have exposed a troubling reality: the city’s criminal justice policies—specifically low cash bail for serious felony offenses and short notification windows for ICE detainers—are creating a revolving door for dangerous criminals, putting our neighborhoods at risk.  The case of Bayron Turcios-Murillo, a confirmed Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang member, is a stark example of how these policies fail to protect the public while allowing violent offenders to slip through the cracks. On April 17, 2025, Bayron Turcios-Murillo was arrested in Denver for felony drug charges, allegedly possessing nearly 1,000 fentanyl pills and powde...
Concealed carry permits spike in Denver as new rules loom
Approved, Axios Denver, Local

Concealed carry permits spike in Denver as new rules loom

By Esteban L. Hernandez | Axios Denver Obtaining a concealed carry permit in Denver, already home to some of the state's strictest gun laws, will soon require additional steps. The big picture: A state law taking effect July 1 will add new requirements for obtaining concealed carry licenses, including mandating eight hours of in-person instruction and passing a live-fire test, where a person must shoot a minimum of 50 rounds. Why it matters: The new law will add barriers for responsible gun owners, including costlier training for a permit type that's grown in popularity over the past five years, as Colorado's gun laws grow increasingly restrictive. Yes, but: The city's chief compliance officer, Mary Dulacki, tells us she doesn't presume the new req...
El Paso Commissioner Applegate: America’s space advantage depends on keeping command in Colorado
Approved, Commentary, Local, National, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

El Paso Commissioner Applegate: America’s space advantage depends on keeping command in Colorado

By El Paso Commissioner Cory Applegate | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As El Paso County’s Commissioner for District 4, I am committed to advancing our community’s interests, security, and prosperity. Among our top priorities is ensuring that U.S. Space Command remains headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. This is not just a local issue—it’s a matter of national security and global leadership in space. Peterson Space Force Base, located right here in our district, has long been at the forefront of military space operations. Its proximity to critical defense assets like Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and the Air Force Academy creates an unparalleled synergy. The integrated infrastructure and expertise in th...
Graphic email threat triggers closure of three Pueblo schools on Monday, sheriff investigating
Approved, KOAA News, Local

Graphic email threat triggers closure of three Pueblo schools on Monday, sheriff investigating

By Ashleigh Quintana | KOAA News5 PUEBLO WEST — Parents, families, and staff in Pueblo School District 70 received an email from the school district that three separate schools will be closed due to threats. The following schools will be closed while the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office investigates the threats: Liberty Point International School District 70 Online Learning Academy, Pueblo West Campus Swallows Charter Academy On Monday, the sheriff's office "will be providing additional resources and will conduct checks at all District 70 campuses to help ensure student and staff safety," according to a representative from D70. According to the school district, there have been "reports of potential threats via multiple channels," but we have learned that the threats we...
Treta: Denver’s broken permitting system is driving up housing costs—and it’s time to fix it
Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Treta: Denver’s broken permitting system is driving up housing costs—and it’s time to fix it

By Robert Treta | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice I’ve been designing and building homes in Denver for 28 years. I pulled my first permit in 1997—for a small room addition on a house. It took one day. One. That kind of efficiency used to be the norm. Permitting was straightforward, business-friendly, and a basic example of how local government should work. But over the past two decades, I’ve watched the city’s permit approval process become increasingly bloated, inefficient, and damaging—not just to builders like me, but to every Denverite who rents or buys a home. This problem isn’t new. Denver’s permit delays became a real issue as far back as 2007, when the wait time for a standard permit grew to four months. Now, in 2024, the average wait time is 385 days. That’s more t...
Operation Take Back America: Illegal immigrants charged after hauling 180K rounds of ammo into Colorado
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local, National

Operation Take Back America: Illegal immigrants charged after hauling 180K rounds of ammo into Colorado

By Logan Smith | CBS News Colorado Two residents of Mexico were recently arrested in Colorado while transporting 180,000 rounds of large-caliber ammunition. They were pulled over after driving toward deputies and failing to dim their van's headlights.  Two Fremont County detectives were driving on State Highway 50 in Cañon City on March 26, according to a federal arrest affidavit. The van was coming in the opposite direction and left its headlights on the highest setting as it passed the deputies' vehicle. It is against Colorado state law for a driver to fail to dim his or her vehicle's headlights when there is oncoming traffic within 500 feet of it. The detectives followed the white GMC passenger van to a gas station and pulled in behind it.  Both men inside the van ...

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

Join us at RMV's Freedom Festival

Click Here for Tickets!

This will close in 0 seconds