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Released, rearrested and now accused again: Roybal-Smith case ignites parole reform debate
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Released, rearrested and now accused again: Roybal-Smith case ignites parole reform debate

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Denver Police arrested 38-year-old Ricky Lee Roybal-Smith early Monday morning, July 1, following the death of his cellmate at the Downtown Denver Detention Center. The alleged homicide came just hours after Roybal-Smith was jailed on unrelated charges—less than a day after two Aurora stabbings. Roybal-Smith’s criminal history spans nearly two decades and includes convictions for assault, felony menacing, DUI-related vehicular assault, and obtaining controlled substances by fraud. He’s also faced repeated parole violations and multiple arrests involving weapons. Despite this record, he was granted early release in 2023. Denver Police said deputies found an unresponsive man in a shared jail cell around 2:15 a.m. Monday. Off...
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Garbo: The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is an all-or-nothing bet on reshaping America
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Garbo: The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is an all-or-nothing bet on reshaping America

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Political Analysis, Rocky Mountain Voice The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” introduced in the House as HR 1, represents one of the most sweeping legislative proposals in recent political history. Spanning hundreds of pages and touching nearly every corner of federal governance, it combines tax reform, healthcare restructuring, social policy shifts, and regulatory rollback into a single omnibus package. This article provides a nonpartisan, objective analysis of the bill's major provisions and potential consequences. The intent is not to promote or condemn HR 1, but to inform readers - citizens, policymakers, and professionals - about its complex and far-reaching components. CORE THEMES OF THE BILL HR 1 aims to reshape the federal government's fiscal, regula...
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“A deadline without a plan”: how rural Colorado is building the energy future the state won’t
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“A deadline without a plan”: how rural Colorado is building the energy future the state won’t

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice In May 2023, Gov. Jared Polis signed HB 23‑1247, directing the Colorado Energy Office to study advanced energy solutions — from nuclear and geothermal to long-duration storage — in regions facing coal-plant closures like Craig Station. The law included $50,000 from the Just Transition Fund and federal support to study firm energy options in northwest Colorado. Within months, coal facilities began closing across the state—including Craig Station, now set to shutter by 2028. While studies are underway, comprehensive transition plans are still being reviewed. Facing job losses and shrinking tax bases, rural communities are taking charge. “There’s a closing schedule—but no roadmap,” said Matt Solomon, project manager for the Northwest Colorado En...
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Pastor Bob: Careful, Major—you serve at the pleasure of the President
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Pastor Bob: Careful, Major—you serve at the pleasure of the President

By Rev. Robert Babcox | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In a recent op-ed in the New York Times, a U.S. Army Major vehemently disagreed with President Trump’s order to remove transgender individuals from military service. He noted that as an evangelical conservative Christian, most wouldn’t expect him to disagree with the order. He’s right—evangelical conservative Christians would never support something so far left. The Major added that he loves people and wants them treated with respect.  To that point, I agree.  But if you truly love someone and they are suffering from an obvious mental illness, you get them the help they need. You don’t put them in high-stress, traumatic jobs where their condition may worsen. Before anyone asks where I get the experience...
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Armagost to Step Down: What His Departure Means for House District 64
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Armagost to Step Down: What His Departure Means for House District 64

By RMV Staff | Rocky Mountain Voice In a move that marks the end of an era for one of the most outspoken conservatives in the Colorado legislature, House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost announced Monday that he will officially resign his seat in House District 64, effective September 1. A former sheriff’s deputy, gun rights advocate, and steady voice against progressive overreach, Armagost cited personal and professional reasons for his departure. “As difficult as this decision is, it comes at a time when I must prioritize my life, health, and happiness,” he said in a written statement. The lawmaker has accepted a job opportunity in Arizona, where he also plans to relocate his firearms training business and join the board of a national Second Amendment advocacy group. But for those wa...
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Union demands vs. rural realities: Safeway strike spreads to Fort Morgan
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Union demands vs. rural realities: Safeway strike spreads to Fort Morgan

Harvey Baker, Citizen Journalist | RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice Safeway employees in Fort Morgan join push for healthcare security and accountability in corporate dealings Safeway employees in Fort Morgan are now part of an expanding labor walkout unfolding across Colorado, as union members demand greater transparency, long-term healthcare funding, and accountability from one of the nation’s largest grocery chains. The ongoing strike, led by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7, began June 15 and now spans at least ten locations statewide. Cities impacted include Estes Park, Fountain, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Brighton, Grand Junction, Littleton, Lone Tree, a major distribution center in Denver, and most recently, Fort Morgan. The Fort Morgan store was force...
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Devotional: When your worldview wears on you like sagging pants
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Devotional: When your worldview wears on you like sagging pants

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice We are now into our series, The Belt of Truth. In the introduction, we learned that trust is the foundation needed to build it, and that only comes through truth. Additionally, we covered the various aspects we will explore throughout this series: subjective, objective, normative, absolute, and applied truth. Let’s dive into subjective truth to keep the series moving. Shall we?    I used to think sagging pants were just a phase… until I became a youth pastor. It started at home with my oldest son, Joshua, who is now 36, but was 15 at the time. I’ll never forget the day he shuffled into the room with his pants hanging on for dear life, no belt in sight—just a whole lot of confidence and a look ...
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Hunter: ‘Real people doing real things’—NoCo Legislative Wrap-Up rallies the grassroots
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Hunter: ‘Real people doing real things’—NoCo Legislative Wrap-Up rallies the grassroots

Drake Hunter | Commentary, RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice Last night’s Northeast Colorado Legislative Wrap-Up at Rez Church in Loveland wasn’t just a review of bills and budgets—it was, for many of us, a clear-eyed call to civic action. Several hundred attendees gathered to hear from elected officials representing Colorado’s northeastern counties, including a few rising voices in the state’s Republican ranks. Among them were Reps. Ryan Gonzalez and Carlos Barron, two principled young leaders quickly gaining traction with voters across Colorado. The event was thoughtfully organized by NoCo Wrap-Up, marking its inaugural year. Well-coordinated and engaging, it was also refreshingly focused on substance over spectacle. It set a high bar and laid the foundation for what many...
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[UPDATED]: The $13 billion cost of fentanyl to Colorado’s families, budgets and communities
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[UPDATED]: The $13 billion cost of fentanyl to Colorado’s families, budgets and communities

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice [UPDATED – July 3, 2025]: This story has been updated to include comments from Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly on Colorado’s fentanyl laws and enforcement challenges. Each Colorado taxpayer carries the burden of the fentanyl crisis, and in 2024, that amounted to about $2,220 per resident. A June report from the Common Sense Institute estimated the total cost for Colorado at $13.1 billion. This financial burden becomes reality in emergency healthcare services, preventative programs and lost productivity. But there’s also the deep emotional toll on families shattered by addiction and loss. Despite rising pressure to prevent overdose deaths and target traffickers, a 2024 bill to increase penalties for fentanyl posses...
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DiGirolamo: This is how a predator grooms your son in under an hour
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DiGirolamo: This is how a predator grooms your son in under an hour

By John DiGirolamo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Perhaps you have a son and think you don’t need to worry about online predators. Think again. Typically, girls are targeted on social media accounts for either explicit content or coerced to meet in person for a sexual encounter. It’s different for boys, who are usually targeted for money. These blackmail situations are criminal offenses, commonly termed “sextortion.” This is What a Predator’s Playbook Looks Like: A criminal will set up a profile with a picture of an attractive college age female. The picture will be provocative and eye-catching, so a teenage boy won’t think twice about accepting the social connection. They’ll make contact online through social media accounts such as Snapchat, Instagram and especially...
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