Rocky Mountain Voice

O’Reilly and Minary: What Douglas County’s Home Rule vote revealed—and how we move forward

11Jul

By Guest CommentaryNo Comments

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

O’Reilly and Minary: What Douglas County’s Home Rule vote revealed—and how we move forward

By Chuck O'Reilly, Russ Minary | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Voters in Douglas County turned down the proposed Home Rule initiative by a wide margin—71% to 29%. But the result wasn’t simply a rejection of the idea itself. It also reflected deeper concerns about how the process unfolded and how residents were—or weren’t—brought into the conversation. It revealed how important transparency, timing and public trust are in shaping major decisions about the future of our county. As longtime Douglas County residents, we believe in responsive, local government. Home Rule can offer benefits when done right—but how we get there matters just as much as the destination. This election offered a case study in what happens when voters feel left out or rushed. Here are some of the maj...

Garbo: Sheriff Darren Weekly is the exception that proves the GOP’s problem

11Jul

By Guest CommentaryNo Comments

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Garbo: Sheriff Darren Weekly is the exception that proves the GOP’s problem

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In 2022, Darren Weekly wasn’t supposed to win. At least not according to the self-appointed gatekeepers of Republican purity in Douglas County. Branded a “RINO,” derided as “Tony 2.0,” and accused of being soft on Second Amendment rights due to the endorsement of outgoing Sheriff Tony Spurlock, Weekly was the target of aggressive intra-party attacks. The purist wing of the GOP put its full weight behind John Anderson, another outstanding, articulate, and Constitution-minded candidate whose campaign centered on resisting the Red Flag law and defending liberty. I was among Anderson’s vocal supporters - endorsing, donating, campaigning, and even hosting events on his behalf. But Weekly won. By just over one percentag...

Pastor Bob: “Shhhhh Pastor–you can’t say that!”

11Jul

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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, National, Top Stories

Pastor Bob: “Shhhhh Pastor–you can’t say that!”

By Rev. Robert Babcox | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice “Shhhhh, Pastor, you can’t say that!” That’s what they want us to believe. That if we dare speak the truth about what’s going on in our country, we’re risking our church’s tax status. But here’s the thing—truth doesn’t come with a mute button. Let me explain where this all started: The Johnson Amendment—for what good it has done, or should I say what good it has prevented. The Johnson Amendment is a provision in the U.S. tax code, in place since 1954, that prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. These organizations range from charitable foundations to universities and churches. It’s named for then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, who introduced it in a prelim...

DEI at a cost: Colorado schools caught in $70M federal freeze

10Jul

By Shaina ColeNo Comments

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories

DEI at a cost: Colorado schools caught in $70M federal freeze

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado public schools are facing a $70 million funding freeze—part of a broader $6.8 billion nationwide hold triggered by the U.S. Department of Education. At the heart of the conflict are federal objections to DEI and LGBTQIA+ initiatives in schools, which have already led to lawsuits and pushed districts to search for new funding before fall. The freeze and federal justification The funding suspension follows executive orders issued by the Trump administration in early 2025. According to a July 2 notice sent to state education departments, the Department of Education is reviewing already-approved funds to ensure they align with new presidential priorities. Governor Jared Polis responded the same day, calling the act...

Garbo: The Hippocratic Oath demands compassion—even for MAGA voters suffering from Texas floods

10Jul

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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, National, Top Stories

Garbo: The Hippocratic Oath demands compassion—even for MAGA voters suffering from Texas floods

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The moment Dr. Christina B. Propst chose to mock flood-stricken Texans as “getting what they voted for,” she exposed a depth of moral bankruptcy that defies belief. In a now-deleted Facebook post under the name “Chris Tina,” she wished safety only for “children, non-MAGA voters and pets,” while implying that political affiliation should determine who deserves compassion amid a deadly disaster. Her employer, Blue Fish Pediatrics, acted swiftly to dismiss her. But firing her is only the first step in addressing a breach that demands far stronger accountability. Propst’s remarks struck at the heart of medical ethics. Every physician takes an oath to treat patients impartially, regardless of background or belie...

Jeffco Kids First report reveals 33 staff misconduct cases in Jefferson County Schools

9Jul

By Shaina ColeNo Comments

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

Jeffco Kids First report reveals 33 staff misconduct cases in Jefferson County Schools

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice An alarming report released by Jeffco Kids First, a grassroots advocacy group led by teacher turned activist Lindsay Datko, has exposed 33 cases of sexual abuse and misconduct by staff in Jefferson County Public Schools since 2022. The article “33 Documented Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Cases in Jeffco Schools” presents a disturbing image of a district with systemic failures. The data reveals a pattern of misconduct going unreported to the Colorado Department of Education. The scope of abuse: 33 cases and counting Superintendent Tracy Dorland has received pushback regarding the handling of these incidents, with critics citing inadequate communication and insufficient safety protocols. The report documents six ar...

O’Donnell: The Strategic Plan that turned patriots into suspects remains unresolved

9Jul

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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, National, Top Stories

O’Donnell: The Strategic Plan that turned patriots into suspects remains unresolved

By Mike O’Donnell | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In April of this year, the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, declassified a June 2021 plan by the previous Biden administration to counter domestic terrorism. During his four-year term, President Biden repeatedly stated that “Domestic terrorism from white supremacists is the most lethal terrorist threat in the homeland.” Variations on this catchphrase were parroted by other senior politicians in the Biden circle—although never with any corroborating evidence. The declassified 15-page document, titled the Strategic Implementation Plan for Countering Domestic Terrorism, was intended to confront this supposedly lethal threat. This came even as the administration simultaneously opened the gates at the southern ...

“They called us hateful”: Colorado parents see their story reflected in Supreme Court ruling

9Jul

By Jen SchumannNo Comments

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

“They called us hateful”: Colorado parents see their story reflected in Supreme Court ruling

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public schools must allow parents to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs, BJ and Brecken Jones sat quietly in their living room—stunned, relieved and vindicated. “For years, we were treated like extremists for simply protecting our kids,” BJ said. “Now the Supreme Court says we were right all along.” For this Boulder County family, Mahmoud v. Taylor wasn’t just a legal case—it was a mirror. Reading the Court’s opinion, BJ and Brecken saw their own experience reflected almost line for line. What they didn’t expect was that their quiet effort to opt out—rejected by school officials, scorned by activists and ultimately buried in district archi...

DiGirolamo: The new Terminator is disguised as your teen’s ‘AI boyfriend’

9Jul

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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, National, Top Stories

DiGirolamo: The new Terminator is disguised as your teen’s ‘AI boyfriend’

By John DiGirolamo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Make The Terminator fiction again. Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that the movie was released in 1984. The Hollywood hit focused on the sinister power of artificial intelligence in the form of a killer cyborg robot who looked human. With billions of online images, AI can use that data to easily generate realistic-looking people. It’s difficult to tell the difference between an AI created image vs. a real person. Unfortunately, people are using this powerful technology to exploit children, all while sitting in the comfort of their own chair. Artificial intelligence has already wreaked havoc on today’s children. Digitally generated or altered images are commonly known as “deepfakes.” Here’s some examples of how ...

Boll: A day camp in Paonia shows how far the agenda to sexualize kids has gone

8Jul

By Guest CommentaryNo Comments

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Boll: A day camp in Paonia shows how far the agenda to sexualize kids has gone

By Laureen Boll | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In the small, conservative town of Paonia, Colorado, with a population of just 1,500, a local organization is stirring debate with a new initiative aimed at children. The Learning Council, a tax-exempt nonprofit based in downtown Paonia, is hosting a "Sex Health Education Day Camp" for 10- to 13-year-olds on July 14–16. Led by Alicia Michelsen, the organization’s executive director, the camp has raised eyebrows among some residents who question its motives and appropriateness, particularly given Michelsen’s history of pushing for controversial changes to local school curricula and a broader societal trend where adults seem increasingly focused on the sexuality of other people’s children. A Rejected Vision Fuels a New I...

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O’Reilly and Minary: What Douglas County’s Home Rule vote revealed—and how we move forward

Garbo: Sheriff Darren Weekly is the exception that proves the GOP’s problem

Pastor Bob: “Shhhhh Pastor–you can’t say that!”

DEI at a cost: Colorado schools caught in $70M federal freeze

Garbo: The Hippocratic Oath demands compassion—even for MAGA voters suffering from Texas floods

Jeffco Kids First report reveals 33 staff misconduct cases in Jefferson County Schools

O’Donnell: The Strategic Plan that turned patriots into suspects remains unresolved

“They called us hateful”: Colorado parents see their story reflected in Supreme Court ruling

DiGirolamo: The new Terminator is disguised as your teen’s ‘AI boyfriend’

Boll: A day camp in Paonia shows how far the agenda to sexualize kids has gone

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