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Ballots began hitting mailstream today, Oct. 11; must be mailed to voters by Oct. 18
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

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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Legislators have a business tax-break plan — and opposition to it
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Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

Legislators have a business tax-break plan — and opposition to it

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance After considering several options to reduce the business-personal-property tax burden, Colorado legislators appear interested in backing a plan that would nix a rarely used tax break and create a new benefit focused on smaller companies. Late last month, the Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy advanced five proposals to Legislative Council, which will meet next week to determine which of those and of other interim-committee suggestions will be introduced as bills in the 2025 session. And while committee members declined to advance either of two BPPT-specific proposals it earlier had discussed, they did agree to incorporate one of those proposals into an omnibus bill that would make myriad changes to state tax law. ...
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Thousands of Coloradans didn’t sleep in to guarantee place in MAGA rally at Gaylord in Aurora
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Thousands of Coloradans didn’t sleep in to guarantee place in MAGA rally at Gaylord in Aurora

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice If you slept in Friday, you may have reason for anxiety. Hundreds, no, thousands of Coloradans made sure they didn't, as early risers got priority in attempts to secure the best seats, or even get a seat, at the soldout Make America Great Again rally of former President Donald J. Trump at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., in Aurora. An estimated crowd of about 13,000 will be admitted to the rally at 10 a.m. There were 29,000 registered, a source told the Rocky Mountain Voice. In MAGA Country Friday in Aurora, many Coloradans didn't burn the daylight in an effort to ensure their place in the Donald J. Trump rally. (Jen Schumann/Rocky Mountain Voice) Trump will deliver the keyno...
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Oil & gas debate unveils tension between industry, environmental protection interests
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Oil & gas debate unveils tension between industry, environmental protection interests

By Scott Weiser | The Gazette via Colorado Politics The wide divide between oil and gas development and environmental protection was on full display as a conservation organization representative debated one from the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. Katherine Merlin, of Wild Earth Guardians, and Dan Haley, COGA, debated how much mineral extraction is enough in Colorado at the Colorado Sun SunFest last month at the University of Denver. Merlin is a climate and energy litigator with the conservation organization. Haley is the president and CEO of COGA, a state industry trade association. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Gov. Polis, leading Democrat lawmakers plan to grandstand Trump’s MAGA rally
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Gov. Polis, leading Democrat lawmakers plan to grandstand Trump’s MAGA rally

By Jesse Sarles | CBS Colorado Friday will be a busy day in Colorado politics as former President Donald Trump is set to visit the state and hold a campaign rally in Aurora in the early afternoon.  In response, Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign announced Wednesday that several Democratic leaders will hold a news conference in Aurora a few hours before the former president's rally, and will "hold Trump accountable for spreading misinformation about the Aurora community." A statement from the Harris campaign said Colorado elected officials including Gov. Jared Polis, Sen. John Hickenlooper and Reps. Jason Crow and Diana DeGuette, who represent the state's 6th and 1st congressional districts, will appear at the event. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COL...
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Reports of school threats, safety concerns surge in Colorado
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Approved, denvergazette.com, State

Reports of school threats, safety concerns surge in Colorado

By Nicole C. Brambila | Denver Gazette Driven by a surge in school threats and safety concerns, Safe2Tell saw an “unprecedented” 74% increase in reports in September compared to last year, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s office. Established by the Colorado Assembly in 2017, Safe2Tell Colorado is a harm and violence prevention program that allows students and the community to anonymously report safety concerns. September’s monthly report shows 4,729 reports, outpacing the previous record set earlier this year. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Colorado districts hope voters support tax measures for new school buildings, scholarships, and more
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Approved, Chalkbeat Colorado, State

Colorado districts hope voters support tax measures for new school buildings, scholarships, and more

By Yesenia Robles | Chalkbeat Colorado More than 30 of Colorado’s 178 school districts are asking voters to approve a local tax measure in this November’s election. The number of requests on the ballot isn’t more than in some past years. But what has gone up is the amount of money districts are requesting — nearly $7 billion. There are two types of tax measures districts are putting to voters this year. Bond and capital measures would mostly go to pay for new school buildings, renovations, new air conditioning in some districts, and safety upgrades. Mill levy overrides would raise operating dollars that would mostly help increase staff pay and add more career education opportunities for students. READ THE FULL STORY AT CHALKBEAT COLORADO
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‘High energy’ Trump to kickoff whirlwind sprint through four states in three days with Aurora
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘High energy’ Trump to kickoff whirlwind sprint through four states in three days with Aurora

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice It might be said former President Donald J. Trump is proving to be "high energy", as he sometimes will describe a go-getter on the campaign trail. The Republican Party's nominee for President will kickoff a sprint through western states, starting with his appearance Friday, Oct. 11, in Aurora. In all, he has announced public events in four states over three days, not including any private fundraising events he may have planned. In Aurora, Trump is expected to discuss Tren de Aragua gang activity, likely a broader discussion of the effect of drugs and illegal aliens on a community when the country's border is insecure. "Tren de Aragua gang members infiltrated multiple apartment complexes in Aurora. Aurora police have linked at least 10 indi...
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In search of new child care money, more Colorado communities look to hotel guests
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Approved, Chalkbeat Colorado, State

In search of new child care money, more Colorado communities look to hotel guests

By Ann Schimke | Chalkbeat Colorado Three western Colorado communities hope to raise new dollars for child care through taxes paid by out-of-town visitors who stay in hotels or short-term rental housing. La Plata and Grand counties and the City of Montrose all have lodging tax measures on the November ballot, with at least some of the proceeds intended to help make child care easier for local residents to find and pay for. The three communities are the latest in a string of mostly mountain resort areas to ask voters for permission to spend lodging tax dollars on housing and child care. The idea is that local workers power the tourism industry, so visitors should contribute to efforts supporting a stable workforce. READ THE FULL STORY AT CHALKBEAT COLORADO
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Spanish language website, multilingual hotline offers voter resources to Coloradans
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Spanish language website, multilingual hotline offers voter resources to Coloradans

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Editor's note: See Spanish translation of this story below English version. All of the voter resources available to English-language speakers and readers are also available to Spanish-language speakers and readers in Colorado through VayaVotarColorado.gov, the office of Secretary of State Jena Griswold has announced. Resources include information in Spanish, such as: Voter registration, and updating voter registration Finding your election clerk Finding your closest drop box or voting center Signing up and tracking for BallotTrax Other election detail Also, starting on Friday, Oct. 11, Colorado voters will be able to call a language assistance hotline provided by the secretary of state's office to translate a ballot. Langu...
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