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On Western Slope, opioid crisis continues and sheriffs say it is leading to mental health, crime
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On Western Slope, opioid crisis continues and sheriffs say it is leading to mental health, crime

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell and Delta County Sheriff Mark Taylor have had  a constant battle fighting the opioid crisis in their counties since 2017, when it first started impacting western Colorado. MESA COUNTY When opioids first appeared as fentanyl on the Western Slope in 2017-18, each pill cost $18. Now, because of increases in the supply, they are $2 a pill.  "Fentanyl is a 45-minute high, and we see people taking up to 40 pills a day. It makes zombies out of people in our community,” Rowell said. In Mesa County, according to Rowell, law enforcement and first responders have had to administer Narcan - a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose - 114 times in the last year. “That’s one person every t...
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Daniel: Leave wildlife management to CPW, vote no on Prop. 127
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Daniel: Leave wildlife management to CPW, vote no on Prop. 127

By Bobbie Daniel | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Proposition 127, currently under debate in Colorado, aims to impose a blanket ban on hunting mountain lions, bobcats and lynx. However, it is important to clarify some of the misleading claims surrounding this measure. First, lynx are federally-protected and are not at risk of being hunted in Colorado. Additionally, “trophy” hunting is already illegal in the state. Although the proposition may appear to promote wildlife preservation, it disregards the critical role that Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) plays in maintaining balanced ecosystems and safeguarding rural communities. This isn’t just a hunting ban—it restricts CPW’s ability to manage these species effectively under the guise of wildlife protection. If passed, the ...
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5th District debate between Crank, Gassen is Tuesday, hosted by Gazette, KOAA
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5th District debate between Crank, Gassen is Tuesday, hosted by Gazette, KOAA

By The Rocky Mountain Voice Republican Jeff Crank and Democrat River Gassen will meet Tuesday in a 5th District debate hosted by the Colorado Springs Gazette and KOAA-TV NBC 5 in coordination with the El Pomar Foundation. The winner of the race will replace U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn in the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of his term. The debate will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Penrose House Garden Pavilion, 1661 Mesa Ave. in Colorado Springs. More detail on the debate is available at The Gazette or KOAA-TV NBC 5.
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Devotional: Finding God’s design in the wonderment of Buc-ee’s
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Devotional: Finding God’s design in the wonderment of Buc-ee’s

By DRAKE HUNTER | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In the early 1990s, I was introduced to a fresh and exciting concept within the military: Total Quality Management (TQM). This wasn't just a new way to lead, but a completely different approach to organizing and managing life in the service. The principles of TQM, such as quality, care and vision, were not just applicable in the corporate world, but also had a profound spiritual significance. They helped me understand Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Fast forward to my retirement in 2005. Living in a small town brought simpler pleasures, but I hadn’t encountered that same buzz of excellence in a long time — until last week when I vis...
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In MAGA rally, Trump pledges national ‘Operation Aurora’ to address illegal aliens
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In MAGA rally, Trump pledges national ‘Operation Aurora’ to address illegal aliens

'We need to make a change in November,' Trump says after making case against Kamala Harris on border, economy By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A population of more than 13 million illegal immigrants who surged across the border during the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris Administration were put on notice Friday by former President Donald Trump: leave or be removed from America upon his election. Trump announced to a MAGA rally crowd gathered at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, if elected, he would reinstitute a version of the Alien and Sedition Act of 1798, which allowed for aliens dangerous to the peace and safety of America or engaged in treasonous acts to be removed by the President, with penalty of incarceration for returning. "We will have an 'Ope...
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Chandler: Vote ‘no’ on Arapahoe County ballot issue 1A
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Chandler: Vote ‘no’ on Arapahoe County ballot issue 1A

By Kathleen Chandler | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Our Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) is under perpetual attack by a government that seeks to grow without the consent of the governed. A major tenant of TABOR is asking our permission to raise our taxes. That is all we ask. Government, make your case. Why do you need more tax revenue? Arapahoe County is deceitful in its de-TABORing measure. According to the law, the measure, when placed into legal publication, must be in ALL CAPS if the government asks to raise your taxes. That is true here. However, the first line states, “WITHOUT INCREASING THE TAX RATE AND WITHOUT ADOPTING ANY NEW TAX,” which is technically true and deceptive in its consequences.  This measure will raise your taxes. The county government is asking t...
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A view from both sides of the 29 Road Interchange ballot measure in Mesa County
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A view from both sides of the 29 Road Interchange ballot measure in Mesa County

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice For decades, Mesa County folks have been dreaming of a common sense road fix to link 29 Road straight to Interstate 70. That connection is almost a reality. The Mesa County Board of County Commissioners gave the green light to a ballot measure, inching the area closer to smoother drives and less gridlock. As traffic congestion worsens, proponents argue for the interchange. They say it is vital for regional connectivity and to manage future traffic. The population is set to grow by 20-25% in 20 years, and acting now will prevent traffic jams. Grand Junction City Councilman Cody Kennedy and Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis have been leaders in pushing for the project. At a recent Mesa County Republican Women's luncheon, both ...
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At MAGA rally in Aurora, Coloradans will hear Trump policies to ‘make America safe again’
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At MAGA rally in Aurora, Coloradans will hear Trump policies to ‘make America safe again’

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Those who waited hours Friday morning to be admitted into the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora should expect to hear former President Donald J. Trump relate open border policies to the reason the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua was able to populate in Aurora. Mr. Trump is expected to address the Make America Great Again rally audience at 1 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 11. He will discuss deportation of criminal illegal immigrants and "make America safe again," his campaign reported Friday on DonaldJTrump.com. A surge in Venezuelans crossing the southern border into America exploded from 50,000 just two years earlier to 335,000 in fiscal year 2023, the campaign reports. The campaign further noted a Daily Mail repor...
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Ganahl: Remembering our friend, inspiration and Rocky Mountain Voice champion Buz Koelbel
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Ganahl: Remembering our friend, inspiration and Rocky Mountain Voice champion Buz Koelbel

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Buz Koelbel was a force of nature — a builder of legacies, a man of unwavering principles and a guiding light for all who had the privilege of knowing him. As one of the founders of Rocky Mountain Voice, Buz's vision extended beyond brick-and-mortar buildings. He understood that the heart of any community is not just in its physical structures, but in the stories it tells, the voices it elevates and the principles it upholds. To many of us at Rocky Mountain Voice, Buz wasn’t just one of our founders — he was a mentor, a cheerleader and a friend. Buz, along with his amazing wife Sherri, and I met when I joined the University of Colorado-Boulder business school board more than a decade ago. He LOVED his Buffs!  His involve...
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Ballots began hitting mailstream today, Oct. 11; must be mailed to voters by Oct. 18
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Ballots began hitting mailstream today, Oct. 11; must be mailed to voters by Oct. 18

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Ballots addressed to registered voters began hitting the mailstream today in the 64 counties across Colorado. Election Day is Nov. 5. Ballots must be returned before the close of polls at 7 p.m. on Election Night. “Today is the first day that ballots can be mailed to all active voters,” Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement. “I encourage every Coloradan to register to vote or update their registration to make their voice heard in our state and country’s future.” Ballots must be mailed by Friday, Oct. 18, to all active voters. Residents may review their registration or register to vote at GoVoteColorado.gov through Oct. 28 in order to receive a ballot by mail. After Oct. 28, registration must be completed in-person at a vo...
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