Post Independent

City of Rifle blasts state for misusing severance tax dollars

Local, Approved, Post Independent / / , , ,

A letter to state Sen. Marc Catlin and state Rep. Elizabeth Velasco has been prepared by the city staff of Rifle regarding the diversion of Local Government Severance Tax Funds to address budget shortfalls at the state government level. 

The Local Government Severance Tax Fund was originally created to help support communities  impacted by resource extraction activities, like oil and gas, which sometimes leads to a “boom and bust” economy of those communities. The “bust” of that equation was to be offset by the Local Government Severance Tax Fund.

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Campaign spending nears $4M on Prop. 127, Colorado’s ban on hunting cougars, bobcats, and lynx

Approved, Post Independent, State / /

The two issue committees fighting over the initiative, which seeks to ban the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx in Colorado, have collectively spent around $3.8 million in the campaign so far. This is based on information filed with the Colorado Secretary of State as of Thursday, Oct. 24. There have been no additional expenditures reported by either group since Oct. 14, with the next filing deadline on Oct. 28. 

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‘Lost Innocence’ tells story of accidental drug overdose by Sophia Larson, age 5

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The life of 5-year-old Sophia Larson was tragically cut short on a winter night in 2019, leaving a father shattered and a community grieving. Five years later, father Alec Larson is hoping that a documentary chronicling the death of his daughter and the aftermath will help prevent other children from facing similar tragedy.

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Garfield County sheriff’s deputies recovered 60 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills valued at $2.6M

Local, Approved, Post Independent / / ,

A Phoenix woman and two accomplices were arrested following a drug seizure on Interstate 70 near Parachute on Wednesday according to a Garfield County Sheriff’s Office news release. Garfield County Sheriff’s deputies and members of the Special Problem Enforcement and Response (SPEAR) Task Force stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation.

Garfield County sheriff’s deputies recovered 60 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills valued at $2.6M Read More »

Tony May faces Garfield School Board recall; accused of bullying, other claims

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Former Garfield Re-2 School Board President Tony May is facing a recall election on Aug. 27. Last year, May led efforts to implement American Birthright Standards, which ultimately failed to gain approval from the board after facing significant resistance from community members and district personnel​. Organizers of the recall petition that followed accused May of bullying community members and Re-2 staff members, misusing his position and more.

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Garfield County commissioners deny Carbondale’s funding request to assist in migrant response

Approved, Local, Post Independent, Western Slope / / ,

In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, Garfield County Commissioners denied the town of Carbondale’s request for $50,000 in aid to support groups of recently arrived immigrants who have been relying on the town for temporary shelter since November. 

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