Rocky Mountain Voice

Rocky Mountain Voice

U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez to appear today in 4th District Town Hall in Loveland
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez to appear today in 4th District Town Hall in Loveland

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A Town Hall meeting featuring 4th District U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez, R-Parker, will take place from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Message of Life Ministries, 605 18th St. SW in Loveland. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Lopez was selected by voters in June, through a special vacancy election, to complete the unexpired term of U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Windsor, by defeating Democrat Trisha Calvarese by 24% in a landslide victory of 41,082 votes. During his time in office, Lopez has sponsored four pieces of legislation. House Resolution 9761, introduced by Lopez on Sept. 23, would amend the tax code to allow an increased limit for Section 179 property placed in farming service by an individual. HR 9657, introduced by Lopez on Sept. 18 and co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Laur...
Sloan: What are the next steps for Iran?
Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Sloan: What are the next steps for Iran?

By Kelly Sloan | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The headline in last Friday’s Wall Street Journal was more poignant than probably the editors realized at deadline: “U.S. Sway Slips As Israel Looks To Strike Iran.” That rather understated assessment serves as a metaphor, not only for the Biden administration’s policy in the region, but it’s foreign policy in general.  The hulking monster in the background of all the strife in the Middle East is Iran, upon which any discussions of pressing strategic concern land. They land most squarely on the topic of Iran having nuclear weapons. Were Iran to get the bomb, the whole landscape of strategic relationships changes, and not only in the Middle East. Obviously, a nuclear-armed Iran is an existential threat to Israel, and it would also...
If you don’t know Danielle Jurinsky, you might after Donald Trump’s MAGA rally in Aurora
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

If you don’t know Danielle Jurinsky, you might after Donald Trump’s MAGA rally in Aurora

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice When Danielle Jurinsky returned to civilian life after nine years serving in the Air Force, most of it at Buckley Air Base, and after building multiple businesses employing more than 50 residents, adding to her responsibility may not have been a consideration. But, that's just what she did, running for and being elected as a member of City Council in the town where she was raised. It would almost be unfathomable to consider anyone in Colorado hasn't heard of the Aurora city councilwoman in the past few months. She's been at the forefront of discoveries the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Araqua was active in some areas of the town, and leading in the assistance for some of the most affected residents. In a few days, the nation might also kn...
Grand Junction still seeking answers to homeless issue, following drug arrests at resource center
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Grand Junction still seeking answers to homeless issue, following drug arrests at resource center

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice When the Grand Junction City Council was forming their plan in 2023 to find temporary shelters for the approximately 2,300 homeless people who were living in the streets, members of the community had multiple concerns about the potential problems with the proposed housing. One of those concerns was the illegal use of drugs inherent to many in the homeless population.  On Aug. 22, 2024, the Grand Junction City Council approved changes to city zoning and created a process to establish places for temporary housing shelters in non-residential and mixed-use areas of town. At the time, the Council decided not to approve tents or safe parking places, although those options had been considered in earlier discussions. They were not a...
Want to attend the MAGA rally in Aurora? Here’s how to get tickets to the big event
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Want to attend the MAGA rally in Aurora? Here’s how to get tickets to the big event

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States and the Republican nominee to become the 47th President, will visit Aurora on Friday, Oct. 11, for a Make America Great Again rally. The former President has announced he will deliver remarks at 1 p.m. at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd. A number of office-holders and Republican leaders could attend the rally and speak from the stage. As is typically the case with any Trump campaign rally, it will be the hottest ticket in town. So how do you get a ticket? Interested rally attendees are invited to visit the event page and provide a name and basic contact information, along with an option of one or two tickets. The tickets are free, but ...
Donald Trump delivers on promise to visit Mile High state, announces MAGA rally Friday in Aurora
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Donald Trump delivers on promise to visit Mile High state, announces MAGA rally Friday in Aurora

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Donald J. Trump is delivering on another promise for Coloradans. The former President has announced a rally in which he will deliver remarks at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., in Aurora. Trump had repeatedly said he would visit the Front Range community during prior rallies. "Kamala's border bloodbath has made every state a border state, leaving Colorado families at the mercy of criminals," a press release from the Trump-Vance campaign announcing the appearance reads. "The only solution to stop the border crisis is to elect President Trump, who will secure the border, deport dangerous criminals, and Make America Safe Again." Trump served as the 45th President of ...
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert listens to Western Slope leaders on energy, water and land use 
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert listens to Western Slope leaders on energy, water and land use 

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Meet Bryce and Lisa Casto, sixth-generation ranchers on the Western Slope, who are worried that the Dolores Monument designation will close their roads and leave them unable to care for their livestock.  Bryce understands the importance of local communities managing the land around them. “When it's locally controlled, we control it better because we will harvest whatever can be harvested," he said. "It's close to home, so we want to make sure we're taken care of.”  Their livelihood depends on the very issues discussed at Colorado Mesa University on Oct. 5 with U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, during a listening session in which participants were encouraged to bring their concerns — and those of many like them — to the foref...
‘We wanted to stand up for all taxpayers’: State Supreme Court affirms taxpayer victory against water district
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘We wanted to stand up for all taxpayers’: State Supreme Court affirms taxpayer victory against water district

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Even though it’s unlawful to increase taxes in Colorado without a vote of the people, vigilance keeps it enforced. When Northeast Coloradan residents noticed their property taxes double from 2019 to 2020, a few of them filed suit against the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District.  Unanimously, the Colorado Appellate Court ruled in March this was a violation of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).  The Colorado Supreme Court affirmed this ruling and denied the defendant’s appeal on Sept. 30. With help from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation’s (NTUF) Taxpayer Defense Center and Advance Colorado, James Aranci and other property owners cinched this victory reaffirming TABOR: any tax increase needs voter consent, and b...
Support Amendment 80: Constitutional right to school choice
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Support Amendment 80: Constitutional right to school choice

By Editorial Board | Editorial, Rocky Mountain Voice Ballot language: Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution establishing the right to school choice for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, and, in connection therewith, declaring that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, and private schools; home schooling; open enrollment options; and future innovations in education? How it reached the ballot: Citizen signature petition, designated agents Michael Fields and Suzanne Taheri. Background: This measure would enshrine school choice as a "right" in the Colorado Constitution. The measure would add the following language to Section 18: "The people of the state of Colorado hereby find and declare that all children have the right to equal opportunity to ac...
New property tax law could result in fewer tax breaks
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

New property tax law could result in fewer tax breaks

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice House Bill 24B-1001 was the solution in a whirlwind, not-quite four-day special session of the Colorado Legislature, aimed at addressing escalating property taxes. Now local governments are discovering how it may take away one of their tools in providing relief: tax credits. This could mean property owners and businesses will end up paying more in taxes. What the new law does Following the special session he called in late August, Gov. Polis signed this bill into law on Sept. 4. It will limit annual property tax increases. The goal is halting the surge in property taxes caused by factors including increased home prices, inflation, the Gallagher Amendment repeal, TABOR and politically-driven initiatives. When it takes ef...