Rocky Mountain Voice

Rocky Mountain Voice

Lundberg: Challenging the open primary system in Colorado
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Lundberg: Challenging the open primary system in Colorado

By Kevin Lundberg | Guest Columnist, Rocky Mountain Voice As chairman for the Colorado GOP lawsuit committee, following is an update on the progress of our case challenging the semi-open primary in federal court.  Our contention is that political parties, being a private organization, should not be required to allow non-party members to vote in that party’s elections, selecting their nominee for general elections. This legal standard was actually established by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Jones case in 2000. In 2021, the State Republican Central Committee unanimously approved a resolution calling for a legal challenge of Prop. 108. That ballot initiative was approved by a narrow majority vote in the 2016 general election and was first applied to primary elections in 2018. I...
Unleashed: The Wild West Comeback—How We Take Back Colorado
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Unleashed: The Wild West Comeback—How We Take Back Colorado

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff Heidi Ganahl is back, and she’s on fire. In the latest episode of Unleashed, she dives into the urgent fight to restore freedom in Colorado—breaking down how grassroots activism, coalition-building, and an unapologetic commitment to conservative values will shape the future of our state. One of the biggest takeaways? The battle for Colorado isn’t just about the Republican Party—it’s about a liberty movement that puts principles before party politics. Heidi lays out how conservatives, libertarians, and independent-minded Coloradans can work together to push back against radical policies while bypassing the establishment's dysfunction. Frustrated by mainstream media spin, Heidi created Rocky Mountain Voice as Colorado’s home for independent conservative...
Devotional: Learning to trust God’s Armor in all aspects of your life
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Devotional: Learning to trust God’s Armor in all aspects of your life

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice During my military career, while on a special task force, I needed to qualify in "high ropes" to master rappelling from skyscrapers, steep mountains or any necessary situation. The training was rigorous in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, especially since I feared heights. Upon our arrival for training, we were introduced to the life-saving tools we would rely on. Many skills were taught and refined during this demanding experience. One particular lesson stood out — whenever a student froze or panicked high in the air, the instructor would shout confidently and with authority, “TRUST YOUR EQUIPMENT!” Most Christians are familiar with the Apostle Paul’s description of God’s Armor, referred to as “The Armor of God,” in his Letter to t...
As commissioners are ‘ignoring their own constituents’ public organizing over Sandstone Ranch primitive camping proposal
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

As commissioners are ‘ignoring their own constituents’ public organizing over Sandstone Ranch primitive camping proposal

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A battle is brewing over the future of Sandstone Ranch Open Space. Douglas County’s proposal to introduce primitive camping at the site has sparked overwhelming opposition from residents, firefighters and local organizations. With fire dangers looming, a lack of emergency response infrastructure and no prior public input, critics are calling the plan reckless and dangerous. Residents have mobilized, gathering more than 1,000 signatures on a petition to stop the plan, and two local government bodies have already passed resolutions formally opposing the initiative. A public awareness event is planned for Saturday, and concerned citizens are preparing to speak out at the next board of county commissioners meeting. “We’re ...
Bill alleging landlord collusion in rigging of rental market pricing advances in House
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Bill alleging landlord collusion in rigging of rental market pricing advances in House

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice The average residential property rental in Denver is $2,050, a decrease of $117 in a year from a peak in August 2024, according to Zillow.com. In Colorado Springs the rental market has seen almost no change in a year, while in other cities like Pueblo and Grand Junction rents have increased, Zillow.com says. The rise of rents, or potentially the decline, is all a product of supply of rentals and demand by renters, some industry experts say, but two Colorado Democrat representatives have written a bill to try and prevent landlord price fixing. They say multiple online companies offer algorithms that allow landlords to collude to set rental price points. House Bill 25-1004, by Denver County Reps. Steven Woodrow and Javier Mabrey, aims to cor...
‘We have to fight with everything that we have’: House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost is leading GOP opposition
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘We have to fight with everything that we have’: House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost is leading GOP opposition

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Ryan Armagost has a background of serving as a U.S. Marine, deputy sheriff and firefighter, making him no stranger to challenging situations. Yet, none of those roles, he says, compare to being a state legislator. Armagost is a Republican serving in Colorado House District 64, which lies in Larimer and Weld counties. "This is definitely the most challenging job I've had," Armagost said. "The constant level of negotiation, bargaining and compromising — and everything that we have to do is equivalent to a bad marriage." 'Whip'ing the GOP members With the departure of Rep. Richard Holtorf from the Golden Dome, Armagost became the minority party's whip in the 75th Colorado Legislature. He had previously been the unof...
Lawmakers take aim at food waste, passing HB 1059 out of House and HB 1166 out of committee
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Lawmakers take aim at food waste, passing HB 1059 out of House and HB 1166 out of committee

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice As Rep. Ron Weinberg's bill taking aim at food waste in school cafeterias from Julesburg to Cortez and all points in between was sailing through the Colorado House on final reading this week, his companion piece of legislation was getting similar treatment Thursday in a House committee. House Bill 25-1166, by the Larimer County Republican and Democrat Rep. Lisa Feret, would expand the Department of Public Health and Environment's role to include training and encourage donation of food through a waste reduction initiative. Specifically, the bill would allow retail food establishments to sell or donate food online and to sell chilled or frozen food at a discount to individuals eligible for food assistance, and also to have grocers replace "sell...
Garfield joins eight counties to have opted out of state’s sensitive spaces concealed carry ban
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Garfield joins eight counties to have opted out of state’s sensitive spaces concealed carry ban

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice During a Monday meeting of Garfield County's commissioners, the board of Tom Jankovsky, Mike Sampson and Perry Will exercised an option to exempt Garfield County from the law, created by Senate Bill 24-131, which prohibits lawful concealed carry by permit holders from government buildings. The bill, by Democrat Sens. Sonya Jaquez Lewis — who recently resigned in disgrace — and Chris Kolker, took effect in July 2024. In Garfield County, those who possess a valid concealed carry permit can now take handguns into specific government buildings, in this case the county's administration buildings, in both Glenwood and Rifle, where the county commissioners have offices. The opt out provision does not include courthouses. It...
Laramie Energy gives Mesa County a bleak outlook on future under present regulation
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Laramie Energy gives Mesa County a bleak outlook on future under present regulation

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In an informational work session, Chris Clark of Laramie Energy gave Mesa County Commissioners Cody Davis and JJ Fletcher an update concerning how ever-increasing regulatory policy in Colorado is not only impacting smaller oil and gas companies, but also cutting into the county budget. Energy producing counties have relied on their share of the severance tax, a tax that is extracted from fossil fuel energy developing companies that is designed to cover infrastructure impacts like water development, roads and local entities. In the past, severance tax dollars paid for local libraries, hospital wings, firefighting facilities and equipment, municipal water line replacements, and funded upgrades to local schools, among many...
How Jeffco Kids First exposed a school cover-up that made international headlines
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

How Jeffco Kids First exposed a school cover-up that made international headlines

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A Jefferson County teacher lost her license after an alleged grooming scandal involving a student at Columbine High School. The more disturbing revelation? School officials allegedly not only failed to stop it, but facilitated a fraudulent federal declaration to help the student move in with another teacher — all without notifying her parents. Leann Kearney, a social studies teacher at Columbine, allegedly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old student, according to state investigators. The student’s mother discovered thousands of alleged calls and text messages between the two, including a letter detailing a kiss.  But rather than stepping in to protect the student, Jeffco school staff active...