Rocky Mountain Voice

Rocky Mountain Voice

Devotional: What’s your priority in life, a destination or simply a dream?
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Devotional: What’s your priority in life, a destination or simply a dream?

By Drake Hunter | Guest Commentary Have you stopped to ponder how your worldview shapes life? It's a fascinating concept that provides insight into whether you're on the right path. Your worldview is a blend of your beliefs, influencing how you perceive things, interact with others, and even present yourself to the world. It's a powerful force that determines destination. As a Christian, I firmly believe that our destiny is to live with unwavering faith in the one true God — El Olam, trusting Him always. This eternal faith paves the way to our ultimate destiny (Psalms 33:11). It's a beautiful and inspiring way to live for those who honestly Just Believe. Authentic Christians center their lives around following Jesus Christ, who shows us the way to Truth. Jesus' worldview is sub...
‘Time to pay up’: Calf in Grand County was killed by wolf attack, Parks & Wildlife officials confirm
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, Western Slope

‘Time to pay up’: Calf in Grand County was killed by wolf attack, Parks & Wildlife officials confirm

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice A calf in Grand County has been killed by a wolf reintroduced to the state, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials confirmed Wednesday. Following voter approval and much angst from ranchers across the state, CPW officials reintroduced a pack of wolves in December, a process in itself which drew ire from lawmakers and others. The state agency was contacted April 2 by the rancher related to the calf kill. An investigation confirmed the killing by a wolf, they said, based on "tooth rake" marks left on the hindquarters and neck, and hemorrhaging. Wolf tracks were found nearby the kill. It is unknown how many wolves may have participated in the kill and the identification of the wolf or wolves. Republican House leadership responded to the ne...
District assemblies open Friday at two locations in Pueblo, prior to Saturday’s State Assembly
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

District assemblies open Friday at two locations in Pueblo, prior to Saturday’s State Assembly

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice The candidates which will appear on Republican Party primary ballots will be selected Friday, April 5, through a collection of delegate assemblies at two locations in advance of the state assembly on Saturday, all in Pueblo. Termed the "lower assemblies" by the party, delegates from state and federal districts will meet at one of two locations: Southwest Motors Event Center, 950 S. Prairie Ave. at the State Fairgrounds, and at the Pueblo Convention Center, 320 Central Main St. Credentialing will occur an hour prior to the beginning of assemblies and throughout the day. Two high-profile assemblies for congressional seats will meet at the State Fairgrounds. The day begins with the 4th District convening at 9:30. The 3rd District meets at 2 ...
With or without Kennedy, Trump would defeat Biden in 6 of 7 swing states, poll finds
Approved, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

With or without Kennedy, Trump would defeat Biden in 6 of 7 swing states, poll finds

60% disapprove of Biden's job performance, 74% say inflation, border security has worsened By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Donald Trump would win election in six of seven swing states with or without Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in the field, a Wall Street Journal poll in March of likely voters finds. In a heads-up election between Trump and Joe Biden, the former president has an overall 3% lead over Biden, finds the poll of 600 voters each in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In the heads-up election, Trump would win all states and tie Biden in Wisconsin. If Kennedy were on the ballot, Trump would defeat Biden by 3% overall and win in each of the states except Wisconsin, where Biden wins by 3%. Trump, a Republican, and Biden...
Likely voters hold pessimistic view toward state’s future, government in poll entering election year
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Likely voters hold pessimistic view toward state’s future, government in poll entering election year

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice A large swath of voters may be concerned with the direction of the state and with items ranging from tax burden to cost of living and education, painting a pessimistic picture in an election year, a poll conducted in late 2023 finds. The Colorado Polling Institute survey finds 43.1% of likely voters believe the state to be on the wrong track, with 67% of Republicans and 45% of unaffiliated voters holding that view. Half of those who have resided in the state for at least 20 years believe Colorado is on the wrong track. Only 50.4% of likely voters surveyed believe the state is on the right track. The poll was taken among 621 voters with a margin of error of 3.8%. About one-fourth of those surveyed believe state and local taxes are about...
Mary Bradfield qualifies for ballot in El Paso County’s House District 21 seat
Approved, El Paso County, Rocky Mountain Voice

Mary Bradfield qualifies for ballot in El Paso County’s House District 21 seat

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Mary Bradfield, a Republican seeking re-election to House District 21 in El Paso County, has qualified for the primary ballot, the Colorado Secretary of State's office announced Wednesday. Bradfield serves as the minority party's caucus chair in the Colorado House. She submitted 1,758 signatures on a petition to be placed on the primary ballot, and 1,126 signatures were accepted by the Secretary of State's office. She was required to meet a 1,000=signature threshhold. A record of all accepted and rejected signatures, including reasons for each rejection, is on file with the Secretary of State.
Rep. Anthony Hartsook’s massage trafficking bill advances in House committee hearing
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Anthony Hartsook’s massage trafficking bill advances in House committee hearing

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff A bill by Rep. Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, which would add certain mandatory criminal background investigation requirements of massage facilities in an effort to curb human trafficking, advanced Tuesday in the Colorado House. Colorado has seen numerous arrests in the past few years related to human trafficking at massage parlors, including in Denver in 2022 and in Jefferson County in 2023, Hartsook wrote in a press release. House Bill 24-1371 would advance discretionary local regulatory authority of massage establishments to a requirement. “This bill will establish a mandatory national fingerprint background check of all employees and owners for these types of facilities,” Hartsook said. “It will deter bad actors from trying to move to Colorado and...
El Paso County Republicans Caldwell and VanderWerf qualify for ballot
Approved, El Paso County, Rocky Mountain Voice

El Paso County Republicans Caldwell and VanderWerf qualify for ballot

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice The petitions of two more Republican candidates have been verified by the Colorado Secretary of State's office, qualifying them for a place on the primary ballot. Stan VanderWerf, a candidate for Colorado Senate District 12 in western El Paso County, and Jarvis Caldwell, a candidate for Colorado House District 20 in northern El Paso County, both have qualified for the ballot. VanderWerf submitted 1,983 signatures, with 1,144 accepted by the Secretary of State. Caldwell submitted 2,166 signatures, with 1,297 accepted by the Secretary of State. The threshold to qualify for both offices is 1,000 signatures. A record of all accepted and rejected signatures, including reasons for each rejection, is on file with the Secretary of State.
Mesa County to partner through $300K grant to improve mental health care access
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, Western Slope

Mesa County to partner through $300K grant to improve mental health care access

By The Rocky Mountain Voice Appropriated by Senate Bill 22-196, a $300,000 grant from the State of Colorado has allowed Mesa County Behavioral Health to collaborate with Mind Springs Health to enhance access to mental health care in Western Colorado. The grant focuses on early intervention and prevention in the criminal justice system, a Mesa County press release reads. It targets at-risk adults, aiming to stabilize and support them through improved intervention strategies. “We are grateful for the support of the 196 Grant, which enables us to expand our reach and deepen our impact, providing critical behavioral health services to those in need,” said Lisa Mills, Mesa County's behavioral health director. “Our contract with Mind Springs represents our ongoing commitment to enhancin...
Sloan: Biden’s betrayal of Israel in war with Hamas
Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Sloan: Biden’s betrayal of Israel in war with Hamas

By Kelly Sloan | Special Contributor, The Rocky Mountain Voice Back in October, in the stunned aftermath of the worst collective massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, Presideent Joe Biden told the Israelis and the world that the U.S. would stand by them. He pledged American support, including armaments. It was a good moment, one civilized nation pledging its solidarity with another in the face of barbarity. Five months later, Biden informed the Israelis that they were essentially alone. On March 25, the UN Security Council voted on yet another morally bankrupt resolution calling for a unilateral and unconditional cease fire in the war in Gaza, and this time the United States abstained. In all previous iterations of this and other UN resolutions like it, which stop just short of...