Rocky Mountain Voice

State

‘Billboards are effective’: Wyoming sheriff laughs at “Venezuela Ahead” billboard at Colorado border
Approved, Cowboy State Daily, State

‘Billboards are effective’: Wyoming sheriff laughs at “Venezuela Ahead” billboard at Colorado border

By Leo Wolfson | Cowboy State Daily A large billboard warns drivers along southbound Interstate 25 at the Wyoming-Colorado border: “Venezuela Ahead, Be Prepared!” on a color scheme that mimics the Venezuelan flag. This is in reference to recent reports of a Venezuelan gang named Tren de Aragua taking over an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, a large suburb of Denver. Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak said he burst out laughing when he saw the billboard for the first time. READ THE FULL STORY AT COWBOY STATE DAILY
Department of Homeland Security adds sniffing device to AI tools helping fight wildfires in Colorado
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Department of Homeland Security adds sniffing device to AI tools helping fight wildfires in Colorado

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun New technology allowing firefighters to “smell” points of origin and locate hot spots or new fires even before smoke can be seen is among the next generation of safety measures the Department of Homeland Security says will help communities and first responders facing longer, more destructive fire seasons in Colorado.  Headlining an event this week at the Boulder County Regional Fire Training Center, the sensor can detect fire-born particulates, volatile organic compounds, chemicals and gases and then send the data to a cloud-based system that updates every 18 seconds and issues geographically targeted notifications to disaster management officials and first responders. Although the sweet spot for detection is a half-mile to a mile away, developer...
Coloradans to decide 14 statewide questions on jampacked November ballot
Approved, completecolorado.com, State

Coloradans to decide 14 statewide questions on jampacked November ballot

By Sherrie Peif | Complete Colorado Colorado voters will see a much longer ballot than usual for this November’s election, with questions ranging from embedding abortion rights in the state Constitution to upending the primary elections system. In addition to hundreds of local measures, there are 14 statewide ballot measures his year, with an equal number split between constitutional amendments and propositions that are written into state statute. Some of the measures were put on the ballot via citizens’ initiative while others came referred by the legislature, with several highly controversial matters to be decided. READ THE FULL STORY AT COMPLETE COLORADO
Ballot-box biology is once again before Colorado voters in November with Prop. 127
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Ballot-box biology is once again before Colorado voters in November with Prop. 127

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Although Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) does not take a position on Proposition 127, all it takes is a cursory look at their website to see that Prop. 127 is in direct conflict with science based and biologists’ expertise in mountain lion and bobcat management efforts for a healthy and robust population in Colorado.  Prop. 127 is the result of an animal rights activist group, Cats aren’t Trophies (CATs) , a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, gathering enough signatures to place the issue on the November ballot. This is the same process that led to the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado. Scott Summers, owner of Canyon Rim Outfitters in western Colorado worries about how he is going to make a living for his family if Proposi...
Gov. Polis signs four gun-control bills destined for legal challenges by pro-gun advocates
Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Gov. Polis signs four gun-control bills destined for legal challenges by pro-gun advocates

By CBS 11 News Colorado's governor signed four gun control bills Friday, following the lead of other states struggling to confront a nationwide surge in violent crime and mass shootings, despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded Second Amendment rights. Before the ink was even dry on Gov. Jared Polis' signature, gun rights groups sued to reverse two of the measures: raising the buying age for any gun from 18 to 21, and establishing a three-day waiting period between the purchase and receipt of a gun. The courts are already weighing lawsuits over such restrictions in other states. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS 11 NEWS
Frisch and Hurd, the leading candidates for Colorado’s 3rd District, talk border security
Approved, KKCO-TV Grand Junction, State

Frisch and Hurd, the leading candidates for Colorado’s 3rd District, talk border security

By Ivonne Olivas | CBS 11 News (KKCO) Democrat Adam Frisch and Republican Jeff Hurd agree on one issue. “We need to figure out a way to secure the border”, said Frisch. “We need to secure the border, first and foremost,” echoed Hurd. The candidates are running for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and border security is a pressing topic as the November election nears. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS 11 NEWS (KKCO)
State budget faces $900M shortfall as tax cuts, Medicaid and economic slowdown take toll
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

State budget faces $900M shortfall as tax cuts, Medicaid and economic slowdown take toll

By Brian Eason | The Colorado Sun After Colorado lawmakers passed four rounds of tax cuts in 10 months, the state now faces a $900 million budget hole. The tax cuts are kicking in as inflation, wage growth and consumer spending cool off and unemployment ticks up — all factors that will reduce state tax collections and how much it can spend under the state’s revenue cap even as demands on the state budget are growing. State economists Thursday briefed the Joint Budget Committee on their quarterly revenue forecasts, the first since lawmakers passed a new round of property tax cuts during an August special legislative session. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
Ag, water and wolf bills receiving early support from lawmakers in 75th Colorado Legislature
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Ag, water and wolf bills receiving early support from lawmakers in 75th Colorado Legislature

By Shannon Mullane | Colorado Sun Bills focused on water quality, agricultural exemptions and wolf depredation claims received early legislative support Wednesday while an effort to prevent water speculation was left on the chopping block. The Colorado Legislature’s Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee met Wednesday to decide which bills will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session. The committee supported eight bills, but five drafted policies did not make it out of the meeting — including one proposed by Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Summit County Democrat, whose idea to strengthen transparency in water rights transactions did not have enough support. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado Springs leaders advocating for Back the Blue, Truth in Sentencing propositions
Approved, KKTV CBS 11, State

Colorado Springs leaders advocating for Back the Blue, Truth in Sentencing propositions

By Michelle Wells | CBS 11 News Colorado safety leaders are advocating for two ballot measures in the upcoming election, Proposition 128 and Proposition 130. Proposition 128 is called the Truth in Sentencing proposition and public safety leaders from across the state, including former state attorney general, and Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, believe it will help better keep you and your family safe with the goal of forcing convicted criminals to serve more of their sentence. If you vote yes on Proposition 128 in November it would require people convicted of certain violent crimes to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence before they would be eligible for parole. If they are repeat offenders with at least two prior convictions, they would be required to serve their enti...
Crank earns endorsement of Donald Trump in southern Colorado’s 5th District race
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Crank earns endorsement of Donald Trump in southern Colorado’s 5th District race

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Jeff Crank, the Republican nominee in Colorado's 5th District in the U.S. House, has received the coveted endorsement of former President Donald J. Trump. "Jeff is a Conservative Warrior who has incredible support from his community," Trump began the endorsement on Truth Social. Opposing Crank in the general election is Democrat River Gassen. The winner of the race will follow Rep. Doug Lamborn, who is retiring from office. The Trump endorsement in the 5th District was earned in the Republican primary by GOP Chairman Dave Williams. Crank defeated Williams to earn the Republican nomination. Crank has taken to Twitter/X in support of Trump. "Tonight highlighted the clear distinctions between President Trump and Vice President Harris," ...