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Analyzing a super-minority in Colorado’s legislature and what it means for governance
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Analyzing a super-minority in Colorado’s legislature and what it means for governance

By Amanda Hardin | Rocky Mountain Voice In state politics, the term "super-minority" might not be as familiar as "super-majority," but it plays a crucial role in shaping the legislative landscape. In Colorado, the House of Representatives has already placed Republicans in a super-minority status, and the Senate is just a few seats away from potentially following suit. To understand the significance of this shift, let's explore what a super-minority is, how it impacts governance, and what it means for the balance of power in Colorado. What is a super-minority? A super-minority occurs when one political party holds significantly fewer seats than the other, making it nearly impossible for them to influence or block legislation without some support from the majority party. In the C...
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Polis grandstands at DNC on Project 2025 agenda from which Trump has repeatedly distanced
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Approved, kdvr.com, State

Polis grandstands at DNC on Project 2025 agenda from which Trump has repeatedly distanced

By The Associated Press, via Fox 31 News Colorado Gov. Jared Polis addressed the crowd Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a slate of speakers focused on the Project 2025 agenda and the “freedoms” they argued Republicans want to take away. Vice presidential nominee Tim Walz was set to accept his nomination on the third night of the convention, which was also to feature former President Bill Clinton. Speaker after speaker argued that their party wants to defend freedoms — especially abortion access and voting rights — while Republicans want to take them away. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
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In look ahead to 75th session, legislators may renew emission-reduction tactic discussion
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Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

In look ahead to 75th session, legislators may renew emission-reduction tactic discussion

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Colorado legislators once again are discussing how to move office workers and other commuters out of single-occupancy vehicles, setting up another potential confrontation on the subject during the 2025 legislative session. Democrats on the Transportation Legislation Review Committee, which examines issues each year in between legislative sessions, voted Friday to draft a bill that would require state officials to make air-quality improvements related to transportation. Although Sen. Kevin Priola, the Henderson Democrat who asked for the bill draft, did not specify the contents of the proposal, he said it could incorporate numerous suggestions that environmental advocates presented to the TLRC. Those suggestions included two ideas that have ...
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Study: In Colorado public schools, 1 in 4 students misses at least 10% of school days
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Study: In Colorado public schools, 1 in 4 students misses at least 10% of school days

By Erica Breunlin | The Colorado Sun More Colorado students regularly showed up to class last school year following record rates of absences during the pandemic, but attendance rates were still higher before COVID, data released Thursday morning by the Colorado Department of Education shows. The latest numbers signal schools are headed in the right direction following efforts among the state education department and districts to double down on getting kids to come to class every day. The majority of Colorado school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services — groups of districts that pool resources — saw improvements in their attendance rates last year, but the progress doesn’t necessarily translate to a giant turnaround. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Gaines: I wish the Colorado 2nd Amendment Caucus well
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Approved, Commentary, State

Gaines: I wish the Colorado 2nd Amendment Caucus well

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project I wish the Colorado 2nd Amendment Caucus well.  I support the idea. I just don't think it's going to matter. The article HERE and HERE details the formation of a new caucus among Colorado State House Republicans.  It's not quite clear who all is in it (Bottoms and Armagost are mentioned, but that's it). The purpose, according to a quote by Rep. Bottoms is "...to ensure that all Coloradoans are knowledgeable and safe when it comes to firearm ownership. The Colorado 2nd Amendment Caucus will serve as a platform for collaboration and understanding, transcending party lines to achieve this." This is a worthy goal and I'm in support of it.  To the extent that it gets media attention, I'm a fan.  ...
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Emails from Readers: Say ‘Nuts’ to Polis and Dems, keep property tax on the ballot
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Emails from Readers: Say ‘Nuts’ to Polis and Dems, keep property tax on the ballot

Editor's note: Want to express your opinion? Email [email protected]. Give us your succinct thoughts on current events, be sure to include your name and hometown, and we might feature your letter. Dear Mr. Editor, I cannot believe the arrogance of the Democrat-led legislators and the posturing of Gov. Polis over the property tax issue. The Democrats seem to think that law-abiding, tax-paying, freedom-loving Colorado citizens are too stupid to really comprehend the importance of their socialist agenda. So much so, that when Prop. HH failed by a 59% to 41% margin, Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg stated in a TV news interview that Coloradans were swayed by extreme right-wing propaganda. Really! We're that gullible? Wow. It seems Colorado voters aren't as ignora...
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Drug traffickers, with ties to Colorado, sentenced to prison in Oregon
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The Center Square, Approved, State

Drug traffickers, with ties to Colorado, sentenced to prison in Oregon

By Tom Joyce | The Center Square An Oregon-based drug trafficking cell leader with ties to a large Mexico-based drug trafficking organization received a federal prison sentence this week after an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Horacio Luna-Perez, 42, of Hillsboro, Oregon, got a 97-month federal prison sentence and five years’ supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. DEA special agents started investigating a drug trafficking organization that operated in several states, including Oregon; the organization had ties to Mexico. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
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Fall colors will arrive soon in Colorado. Plan your trip to mountains in early September.
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Approved, Out There Colorado, State

Fall colors will arrive soon in Colorado. Plan your trip to mountains in early September.

By Spencer McKee | Out There Colorado The arrival of fall colors is just weeks away in Colorado, sure to put on a show worth planning a trip into the mountains for. As far as timing goes, expect the first fall colors to show up around September 10 this year, according to Explore Fall. Peak fall colors, however, will come much later – and you'll want to wait to plan your trip for then. Two big questions related to when fall colors will appear and how long they'll stick around tend to be temperature and precipitation. The arrival of lower nighttime temps tends to be what triggers the appearance of brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds among Colorado's foliage, with drier conditions – which have been present in Colorado this year – often meaning an earlier transition in the trees...
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House Democrat wants to block any further ballot measures on property tax, but it could blow up special session deal
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

House Democrat wants to block any further ballot measures on property tax, but it could blow up special session deal

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A proposal for the three-day special session that starts on Aug. 26 would ask voters for a constitutional change to block any further statewide ballot measures that would limit property tax revenue. The bill, in its draft form, isn't going over well in some circles, with several sources warning that it could blow up the deal crafted among lawmakers, Gov. Jared Polis, and proponents of two ballot measures that would cut property taxes further than what lawmakers approved earlier this year.  The concurrent resolution is being shopped around by Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, who is running to succeed Democratic Sen. Rhonda Fields in November. Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, would be its prime sponsor in the Senate. READ THE FULL STORY AT C...
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America is at ‘critical crossroad’ U.S. Rep. Jason Crow says from DNC
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

America is at ‘critical crossroad’ U.S. Rep. Jason Crow says from DNC

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice As his party convenes in Chicago to officially select the presidential ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, Rep. Jason Crow told Fox 31 News he sees the country at a "critical crossroad". "This is a conversation about where we want to go," the Colorado congressman said of the Democratic National Convention in the interview with Fox 31 News. He also discussed his role as the Democratic ranking member on the U.S. House task force related to the assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump. "There is no place for political violence in the United States," he said. "We can disagree, but you do not get to attempt to assassinate a President in the United States of America." Crow is being opposed in the general election by former ...
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