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Severance Chief Ken Chavez honored in House for combined 81 years in law enforcement, military
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Severance Chief Ken Chavez honored in House for combined 81 years in law enforcement, military

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A man who has a combined 81 years experience in law enforcement and the military was honored Thursday on the floor of the Colorado House. Ken Chavez, who serves as the Severance police chief, was noted by Republican Reps. Ryan Armagost and Lori Garcia Sander. "Thank you for your many years of dedication to safety in Colorado," Garcia Sander said, noting he had opened a "debt-free new police department" in Severance. For 45 years, Chavez has worked in law enforcement. "In that time, he also served 36 years and retired as a colonel in the National Guard," Armagost said, noting he had served with special forces in Colorado. Chavez also served with Denver and Severence SWAT units. "He's had a very highly decorated career," Armagost said....
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Western Slope officials supporting the nuclear option for energy
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Western Slope officials supporting the nuclear option for energy

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Jump started in the past year by Gov. Jared Polis’ clean energy mandate and the imminent closing of the Craig Station Power Station, local governments have been studying new technologies — such as small modular nuclear generation and technologies that allow spent nuclear fuel to be recycled and repurposed. In consideration of lost jobs and lost revenue to counties that will devastate historical fossil fuel energy counties, and seeing the increase in energy demands in the future related to AI technologies, data centers, semiconductor industries and quantum technology, local governments are working to keep those communities in their jurisdictions employed and electrified. Elected officials that make up the members of the ...
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Black belt, Army career prepared Rep. Hartsook for the fight under the Golden Dome
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Black belt, Army career prepared Rep. Hartsook for the fight under the Golden Dome

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice He holds a black belt in judo and has a knack for spotting nonsense. Douglas County Republican Rep. Anthony Hartsook has the background of an Army veteran and the ability to take on "fees" — what Republicans call taxes — with calm precision, and sometimes a grin. You could say he stands out in the capitol's chaos. A sixth-degree black belt since his teens, he’s built for focus. “I’ve been doing judo since I was a teenager,” he says. That’s years of flipping foes and dodging blows. Now he’s sidestepping political traps.  Sometimes he cracks a smile about it.  “I’ve commented that we should put boxing gloves on down in the well [the speaking podium on the floor]. And just go, ‘Last guy standing, bill passes,’”...
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Sen. Lisa Frizell, announcing she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, pledges to fight for her health and district
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Sen. Lisa Frizell, announcing she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, pledges to fight for her health and district

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Douglas County Republican Sen. Lisa Frizell has joined the ranks of the more than 5,000 Coloradans who annually receive a breast cancer diagnosis, she told members of the Colorado Senate on Wednesday. "I'm a really, really private person, and I don't share this information lightly," Frizell said. Her cancer was caught through a routine screening, she said. "I have a heart of gratitude that my cancer has been caught early," Frizell said, encouraging those in the chamber and others throughout Colorado to "get a mammogram every year. Do it even though it is inconvenient and intrusive. Do it because it can save your life." The decision to publicly announce her diagnosis stemmed from a desire for transparency with her constituents in Colorad...
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In 75th Legislative Session of extreme anti-gun bills, there are a few bills gun owners can get behind
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In 75th Legislative Session of extreme anti-gun bills, there are a few bills gun owners can get behind

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A swing for the fence by Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg to affirm the Second Amendment rights of Coloradans in law was killed this week in committee, but even Mickey Mantle struck out once in every five at-bats. House Bill 25-1164, the constitutional carry bill by Weinberg, was killed by the House's State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee on a party-line, 8-3, vote Monday. It was supported by Republican Reps. Scott Bottoms, Brandi Bradley and Stephanie Luck. There are 29 states with constitutional carry laws. The bill would have simply allowed anyone who can legally possess a firearm to be unrestricted from doing so by the state, or at least as unrestricted as anyone with a concealed-carry permit. The measure would have repealed...
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In plea to free-spending lawmakers, Minority Leader Lundeen advises of ‘clear and present danger’
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In plea to free-spending lawmakers, Minority Leader Lundeen advises of ‘clear and present danger’

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice In his William B. Travis moment Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen symbolically drew a line in the sand and asked members of both legislative chambers to join him in a cessation of out-of-control spending. "We have a clear and present danger," Lundeen said. The state faces a budget deficit of more than $1 billion, but bills continue to flow through both chambers with tens and hundreds of thousands in spending requests, and more. One of those is Senate Bill 25-024, which he identified as a worthwhile cause, but one he could not support. The bill asks for an estimated $3.9 million in first-year spending and the addition of 24.9 full-time equivalent employees in the state's judiciary and public defender offices. In the second year...
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SB 33 is protectionist measure favoring liquor stores over grocers, Sen. Liston says
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

SB 33 is protectionist measure favoring liquor stores over grocers, Sen. Liston says

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A measure to restrict state-issued licensing of liquor-licensed drugstores to the 36 which already have one has been passed out of the Colorado Senate and is on its way to the House. Senate Bill 25-033, by Democrat Sens. Judy Amabile and Dylan Roberts, is essentially a protectionist bill, El Paso Republican Sen. Larry Liston said, preventing the future sale of a locally-owned store to large grocers. "Should this bill pass, there will be no more buyouts," he predicts. "Their ability to have a King Soopers or a Safeway come in and say, 'here's a million for your business,' that will no longer happen." Liston was joined by three Republicans and a Democrat in opposition to the bill, which was also run with some differences last session. It pas...
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Fuller: The U.S. government’s war on fraud, waste and abuse
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Fuller: The U.S. government’s war on fraud, waste and abuse

By Edward Fuller | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The exploitation of U.S. tax dollars is an ever-present threat, imperiling the financial integrity and stability of the nation. On Feb. 12, 2025, four subject matter experts testified under oath before the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Congressional Subcommittee. Their testimonies shed light on the gravity and scale of fraud, waste and abuse perpetrated against American taxpayers. Mr. Haywood Talcove, a subject matter expert on fraud, waste and abuse, serves as the chief executive for government at LexisNexis. During his testimony, Mr. Talcove highlighted the alarming impact of outdated government systems and technology. He revealed that during the last pandemic, criminals exploited these vulnerabilities to ste...
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In switcheroo called out by RMGO, Rep. Mauro cast anti-2A vote to get HB 1133 to floor before she voted against it
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In switcheroo called out by RMGO, Rep. Mauro cast anti-2A vote to get HB 1133 to floor before she voted against it

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice In a matter of 12 days, Pueblo County Democrat Rep. Tisha Mauro cast a vote to place an ammunition ban on the Colorado House floor, and then voted against it on the floor in a switcheroo being criticized by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. House Bill 1133, by Democrat Reps. Monica Duran and Lindsay Gilchrist, prohibits the sale of ammunition to anyone under the age of 21. It passed out of the House on final reading, 38-27, with five Democrats joining Republicans in opposition. https://twitter.com/RyanGonzalezCO/status/1894454630165463276 The bill would have died in the House's Business Affairs & Labor Committee if Mauro had been a pro-Second Amendment vote on Feb. 13, but by Feb. 25 she had supposedly become one. https://twitter.com/ia...
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Camping at Sandstone Ranch a ‘disaster waiting to happen,’ firefighters, residents warn
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Camping at Sandstone Ranch a ‘disaster waiting to happen,’ firefighters, residents warn

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Douglas County calls it a ‘pilot program.’ Opponents call it a ‘firestarter kit.’ Despite fire safety warnings, financial concerns and widespread public opposition, county officials are moving forward with the pilot project to allow primitive camping at Sandstone Ranch. Commissioners haven’t budged despite 500-plus public comments, a CORA request revealing near-zero support, community-led petitions and two local government resolutions against the project. At a recent meeting, Commissioner George Teal suggested the project could still be abandoned, signaling cracks in the county’s insistence on moving forward. "Perhaps it’s something that we will abandon after taking a look at it," Teal said. For now, however, the co...
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