Rocky Mountain Voice - Rocky Mountain Voice

“They didn’t think I had it”: Tina Peters on evidence, betrayal and faith behind bars

In a jailhouse visit marked by resilience, revelation and restrained emotion, former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters offered a window into the chapter of her life that has largely unfolded behind bars.

For two-and-a-half hours on May 18, we sat across from each other in a controlled visitation room. No pens or paper were allowed, so what follows is drawn from a memory still sharp with immediacy, and a recorded voice memo I made in my truck just moments after we said goodbye.

Peters wore standard prison-issued clothing and a DOC patch with her name and inmate number sewn on. I bought her a cappuccino from the vending machine and a Butterfinger, which I had to unwrap and place on a paper plate before handing it to her across the table. She smiled and said it was a rare treat – something she doesn’t get to experience very often.

“They didn’t think I had it”: Tina Peters on evidence, betrayal and faith behind bars Read More »

Out on bond, out of control: Decades of Colorado’s soft-on-crime policies under fire

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories / May 20, 2025 / Colorado Bail Reform, Crime Legislation, HB25-1147, Judicial Accountability, Pretrial Release, Public safety, Public Trust, Recidivism, Repeat Offenders, SB19-143, Soft on crime, Victim Rights

A series of violent incidents in Denver between December 2024 and May 2025 has intensified scrutiny of Colorado’s criminal justice reforms, with critics contending that lenient policies on bail and sentencing have compromised public safety.

Six recent cases, documented through court records, booking reports and social media posts from the advocacy account @dobetterdnvr, reveal a troubling trend: offenders with extensive criminal histories, released on low or no-cost bonds or parole, allegedly committed murders, assaults and attempted murders – leaving multiple victims.

Out on bond, out of control: Decades of Colorado’s soft-on-crime policies under fire Read More »

Gaines: Phil Weiser spends your tax dollars suing Trump and backing gun control

Colorado Accountability Project, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State / May 20, 2025 / Assault Weapon Ban, Colorado Accountability Project, Colorado Attorney General, Government spending, gun control, Phil Weiser, Political Lawsuits, Second Amendment, State Budget, Taxpayer Funds, Trump Lawsuits

There but for the grace of God goes Colorado

I was corresponding with someone recently and they mentioned something interesting. This person is a lawyer and said they were in a 10th circuit (Federal) courtroom recently and overheard an appellate case out of New Mexico about gun control.

I am not sure if you remember, but New Mexico’s governor made quite a splash a while back by declaring a public health emergency related to guns, trying essentially to use that to take away the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of that state.

Those orders, and later iterations of same, have been working their way through the courts ever since. The first link below is to that case if you’re curious.

This person asked a neighbor why it was that the solicitor general for New Mexico had an Australian accent. They were told that the lawyer didn’t work for New Mexico, the lawyer worked for Everytown. Everytown the gun control group (see the second link below).

Gaines: Phil Weiser spends your tax dollars suing Trump and backing gun control Read More »

Out of order: Was DNC vice chair David Hogg undone by procedure—or politics?

National, Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories / May 19, 2025 / Bylaw Reform, David Hogg, Democratic National Committee, Gender Parity, Parliamentary Procedure, Political Strategy, Robert’s Rules

When your bylaws mention gender 47 times and Robert’s Rules is 1,135 pages long, what could possibly go wrong?

David Hogg says the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is trying to “fast-track” his removal as vice chair. The party insists it’s just following procedure. But veteran parliamentarian Gregory Carlson says what happened may violate one of the most basic principles of Robert’s Rules of Order – you can’t go back and undo a vote after the meeting is over.

“Usually, you can’t overturn something that’s already happened on procedural grounds,” Carlson said. “You have to challenge it at the time that it’s happening.”

Out of order: Was DNC vice chair David Hogg undone by procedure—or politics? Read More »

The COvid Chronicles May 8–15, 2020: C&C made headlines. Polis made an example. Colorado made up its mind.

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, State, Top Stories / May 18, 2025 / Colorado media, Constitutional rights, Covid-19, Government overreach, Governor Jared Polis, Public Backlash, Public health, The COvid Chronicles

The governor’s enforcers tried to make an example of C&C. Instead, they created a rallying cry.

In just seven days, Colorado witnessed threats, shutdowns, viral videos and a surge of defiance that no press conference could contain. Counties revolted, small towns reopened and sheriffs made it clear: the edicts had lost their teeth.

These are the COvid Chronicles for May 8-15, 2020…

The COvid Chronicles May 8–15, 2020: C&C made headlines. Polis made an example. Colorado made up its mind. Read More »

Devotional: In life’s fast lane, choosing the wrong road to a path of folly happens easily

Devotional, Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories / May 18, 2025 / Armor of God, Biblical Truth, Christian Living, Devotional, Discipleship, Faith, Repentance, Righteousness, Spiritual Growth

We live in a world where countless roads claim to lead to success—express lanes to happiness, toll-free routes to purpose, and flashy detours promising fulfillment in the Eternal Now. And many folks, good-hearted and well-meaning, are sprinting full speed ahead.

But here’s the kicker: what if the road you’re on is the wrong one?

Devotional: In life’s fast lane, choosing the wrong road to a path of folly happens easily Read More »

Silent signature, rising resistance: HB1312 becomes law, but parents vow to fight on

Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 25-1312 into law on Friday, May 16, without a press conference, social media announcement or public ceremony.

While the bill, known as the “Kelly Loving Act,” was hailed by progressive lawmakers as a milestone for transgender rights, many Coloradans who opposed the bill say the governor’s quiet signature is a telling indication of just how controversial the legislation had become.

Silent signature, rising resistance: HB1312 becomes law, but parents vow to fight on Read More »

Notarfrancesco: TRAILS goes beyond SEL—it’s activism wrapped in therapy language

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories / May 15, 2025 / D70 Schools, DEI in Education, Education Oversight, Parental Rights, Social Emotional Learning, Student Data Privacy, TRAILS Program, Unlicensed Therapy

Should teachers in Colorado K-12 classrooms be performing daily assessments on the thoughts and feelings of your children?

At the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, Pueblo D70 School District controversially implemented a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum which Superintendent Ronda Rein described in an email from September 24, 2024 as a “daily assessment of thoughts and feelings.”

SEL is promoted to parents and school administrators as the panacea for kids’ mental health concerns, and SEL advocates believe the concepts benefit students by providing important emotional training which leads to academic success, healthy relationships, and proper civic engagement.

Notarfrancesco: TRAILS goes beyond SEL—it’s activism wrapped in therapy language Read More »

The COvid Chronicles May 1–7, 2020: Seven days that set the stage for open rebellion

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, State, Top Stories / May 15, 2025 / Colorado media, Constitutional rights, Covid-19, Government overreach, Governor Jared Polis, Public health, The COvid Chronicles

May began just like April ended – edicts from above, fear from the press and politicians telling Coloradans to stay home, shut up and stay six feet apart. But by the first week of the month, cracks were showing.

From Castle Rock to Colorado Springs, citizens, sheriffs and small-business owners weren’t waiting for permission. They had bills to pay, kids to raise and a Constitution they weren’t willing to quarantine.

The COvid Chronicles May 1–7, 2020: Seven days that set the stage for open rebellion Read More »

Sencenbaugh: DEI and CRT may sound noble, but they’re driving academic mediocrity in schools

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Top Stories / May 15, 2025 / Academic achievement, Critical Race Theory, Diversity Equity Inclusion, Education policy, Parental Rights, School Reform, Teacher Workload

If you are on the left or the right, Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the average classroom does not look like one tends to believe. Both are far more subtle. Thus, any debate on these issues devolves into both sides yelling at one another with neither actually listening.

During a House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) declared, “We can stop with the nonsense because K-12 was not teaching critical race theory…in our country K-12 is not learning critical race theory. Just for those who are unfamiliar.”

Having taught in both Texas and Colorado, I can tell you that she is not being completely honest. While she is correct that “CRT” is not directly taught in any K-12 school or part of any state standards, it would be dishonest to believe that the ideas behind CRT are not taught in our schools. I have observed classrooms and read over lessons that assume CRT to be accurate.

Sencenbaugh: DEI and CRT may sound noble, but they’re driving academic mediocrity in schools Read More »