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“A deadline without a plan”: how rural Colorado is building the energy future the state won’t
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

“A deadline without a plan”: how rural Colorado is building the energy future the state won’t

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice In May 2023, Gov. Jared Polis signed HB 23‑1247, directing the Colorado Energy Office to study advanced energy solutions — from nuclear and geothermal to long-duration storage — in regions facing coal-plant closures like Craig Station. The law included $50,000 from the Just Transition Fund and federal support to study firm energy options in northwest Colorado. Within months, coal facilities began closing across the state—including Craig Station, now set to shutter by 2028. While studies are underway, comprehensive transition plans are still being reviewed. Facing job losses and shrinking tax bases, rural communities are taking charge. “There’s a closing schedule—but no roadmap,” said Matt Solomon, project manager for the Northwest Colorado En...
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Pastor Bob: Careful, Major—you serve at the pleasure of the President
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, National, Top Stories

Pastor Bob: Careful, Major—you serve at the pleasure of the President

By Rev. Robert Babcox | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In a recent op-ed in the New York Times, a U.S. Army Major vehemently disagreed with President Trump’s order to remove transgender individuals from military service. He noted that as an evangelical conservative Christian, most wouldn’t expect him to disagree with the order. He’s right—evangelical conservative Christians would never support something so far left. The Major added that he loves people and wants them treated with respect.  To that point, I agree.  But if you truly love someone and they are suffering from an obvious mental illness, you get them the help they need. You don’t put them in high-stress, traumatic jobs where their condition may worsen. Before anyone asks where I get the experience...
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Armagost to Step Down: What His Departure Means for House District 64
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Armagost to Step Down: What His Departure Means for House District 64

By RMV Staff | Rocky Mountain Voice In a move that marks the end of an era for one of the most outspoken conservatives in the Colorado legislature, House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost announced Monday that he will officially resign his seat in House District 64, effective September 1. A former sheriff’s deputy, gun rights advocate, and steady voice against progressive overreach, Armagost cited personal and professional reasons for his departure. “As difficult as this decision is, it comes at a time when I must prioritize my life, health, and happiness,” he said in a written statement. The lawmaker has accepted a job opportunity in Arizona, where he also plans to relocate his firearms training business and join the board of a national Second Amendment advocacy group. But for those wa...
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Union demands vs. rural realities: Safeway strike spreads to Fort Morgan
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Union demands vs. rural realities: Safeway strike spreads to Fort Morgan

Harvey Baker, Citizen Journalist | RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice Safeway employees in Fort Morgan join push for healthcare security and accountability in corporate dealings Safeway employees in Fort Morgan are now part of an expanding labor walkout unfolding across Colorado, as union members demand greater transparency, long-term healthcare funding, and accountability from one of the nation’s largest grocery chains. The ongoing strike, led by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7, began June 15 and now spans at least ten locations statewide. Cities impacted include Estes Park, Fountain, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Brighton, Grand Junction, Littleton, Lone Tree, a major distribution center in Denver, and most recently, Fort Morgan. The Fort Morgan store was force...
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Devotional: When your worldview wears on you like sagging pants
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Devotional: When your worldview wears on you like sagging pants

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice We are now into our series, The Belt of Truth. In the introduction, we learned that trust is the foundation needed to build it, and that only comes through truth. Additionally, we covered the various aspects we will explore throughout this series: subjective, objective, normative, absolute, and applied truth. Let’s dive into subjective truth to keep the series moving. Shall we?    I used to think sagging pants were just a phase… until I became a youth pastor. It started at home with my oldest son, Joshua, who is now 36, but was 15 at the time. I’ll never forget the day he shuffled into the room with his pants hanging on for dear life, no belt in sight—just a whole lot of confidence and a look ...
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Hunter: ‘Real people doing real things’—NoCo Legislative Wrap-Up rallies the grassroots
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Hunter: ‘Real people doing real things’—NoCo Legislative Wrap-Up rallies the grassroots

Drake Hunter | Commentary, RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice Last night’s Northeast Colorado Legislative Wrap-Up at Rez Church in Loveland wasn’t just a review of bills and budgets—it was, for many of us, a clear-eyed call to civic action. Several hundred attendees gathered to hear from elected officials representing Colorado’s northeastern counties, including a few rising voices in the state’s Republican ranks. Among them were Reps. Ryan Gonzalez and Carlos Barron, two principled young leaders quickly gaining traction with voters across Colorado. The event was thoughtfully organized by NoCo Wrap-Up, marking its inaugural year. Well-coordinated and engaging, it was also refreshingly focused on substance over spectacle. It set a high bar and laid the foundation for what many...
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The $13 billion cost of fentanyl to Colorado’s families, budgets and communities
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The $13 billion cost of fentanyl to Colorado’s families, budgets and communities

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Each Colorado taxpayer carries the burden of the fentanyl crisis, and in 2024, that amounted to about $2,220 per resident. A June report from the Common Sense Institute estimated the total cost for Colorado at $13.1 billion. This financial burden becomes reality in emergency healthcare services, preventative programs and lost productivity. But there’s also the deep emotional toll on families shattered by addiction and loss. Despite rising pressure to prevent overdose deaths and target traffickers, a 2024 bill to increase penalties for fentanyl possession and distribution stalled at the Capitol. The synthetic opioid is often cut into cocaine or fake pills, catching users off guard—many don’t know they’ve taken it until ...
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DiGirolamo: This is how a predator grooms your son in under an hour
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DiGirolamo: This is how a predator grooms your son in under an hour

By John DiGirolamo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Perhaps you have a son and think you don’t need to worry about online predators. Think again. Typically, girls are targeted on social media accounts for either explicit content or coerced to meet in person for a sexual encounter. It’s different for boys, who are usually targeted for money. These blackmail situations are criminal offenses, commonly termed “sextortion.” This is What a Predator’s Playbook Looks Like: A criminal will set up a profile with a picture of an attractive college age female. The picture will be provocative and eye-catching, so a teenage boy won’t think twice about accepting the social connection. They’ll make contact online through social media accounts such as Snapchat, Instagram and especially...
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Hunter: Rural leadership shines through in Fort Morgan Chamber’s future
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Hunter: Rural leadership shines through in Fort Morgan Chamber’s future

Drake Hunter | Commentary, RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice When rural Colorado shows up for each other, the whole state gets stronger. That belief echoed throughout the Off-the-Clock Networking Hour on June 25, where Leticia Morales was welcomed as Executive Director of the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce.  Held in the spirit of connection and collaboration, the event brought together local leaders, media partners, and civic voices who share a common goal: strengthening the bonds that make Morgan County, and all of Colorado, thrive. As a lifelong resident of Morgan County, Morales’ appointment represents both a homegrown success story and a bold step forward for the Chamber’s vision. “This is more than just a new chapter for me, it’s a new opportunity for all...
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Waltz: What our nation’s founders didn’t foresee—and the Left is exploiting
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Waltz: What our nation’s founders didn’t foresee—and the Left is exploiting

By Jim Waltz | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice This summer’s news reported in the media is focused on the fierce opposition to the deportation of illegal immigrants. The persistent rioting drains federal and state resources from their duty to uphold the law, including the removal of illegal immigrants present in our country. Removing residents from any locale undermines the left’s effort to alter future elections by tampering with the upcoming census. The real purpose of the left's open border advocacy is not rooted in humanitarianism (for example, Martha's Vineyard relocated about 50 immigrants, declaring their lack of resources—yet they can still accommodate some 150,000 paying tourists annually). It is an attempt to affect our Constitutional right to a census, the next t...
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