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Wolf removal risks ESA 10(j) protections, Director Davis says at special CPW commission meeting
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Wolf removal risks ESA 10(j) protections, Director Davis says at special CPW commission meeting

By Stephanie Butzer , Colette Bordelon | Denver7 Denver7 listened into Monday's special CPW Commission meeting about the wolf pack's recent depredations and future. The Copper Creek Pack in Pitkin County was in the spotlight during a special meeting of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission on Monday afternoon, where the commission solidified its decision not to direct CPW to take any action on the wolf pack for now, saying it is outside the commission's responsibilities. The CPW Commission held the special meeting virtually, which began around 12:30 p.m. and lasted for about two hours. Public comment was not included in the agenda, something producers who spoke with Denver7 felt was lacking from the conversation. New CPW Commission Chair Richard Readin...
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CBI audit report exposes culture of retaliation and compromised cases
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denvergazette.com, Approved, State

CBI audit report exposes culture of retaliation and compromised cases

By Jenny Deam and Luige Del Puerto | Denver Gazette CBI commissioned the assessment in the wake of the DBA scandal that rocked the forensics lab An independent report on the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's forensics lab released Tuesday offered a sobering assessment of the beleaguered department, where past leaders ignored internal allegations of misconduct in handling DNA evidence and new leadership was plunged into a crisis that has rocked the public's trust. The new report by Forward Resolutions, a small Wisconsin consulting firm commissioned in January to review procedures in the wake of the scandal at the state crime lab, concluded past CBI leaders were "ill-equipped to handle crises and critical incidents." The report further stated that, even when told of serious irre...
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CFP editorial team: 3 women with sexual harrassment allegations, Rep. Weinberg referred to workplace investigators
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State, Approved, Colorado Free Press

CFP editorial team: 3 women with sexual harrassment allegations, Rep. Weinberg referred to workplace investigators

Colorado Free Press editorial team Sources told Colorado Free Press on Tuesday that more women are expected to come forward with harassment allegations against the embattled Loveland legislator. Over the Independence Day weekend, at least three women accused the legislator of sexual harassment: https://twitter.com/SarahisCensored/status/1942237350219657332 News of the allegations went Colorado viral, surfacing disturbing information that appears to corroborate the allegations: https://twitter.com/ForestMommy/status/1942315667954491512 Representative Weinberg denied the allegations in an X post on Monday; however, his post appears to confirm that the "nearly four years old" claims against him are, in fact, a matter of record: https://twitter.com/RepWeinberg/status/...
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Gazette editorial board: ‘Sam’s Story’ is a tragic testimony to Colorado’s marijuana crisis
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denvergazette.com, Approved, State

Gazette editorial board: ‘Sam’s Story’ is a tragic testimony to Colorado’s marijuana crisis

The Gazette editorial board | Commentary, Denver Gazette It’s both embarrassing and galling that an elected University of Colorado regent — who also happens to be the state’s most politically connected marijuana dealer — tried to squelch a public health campaign alerting parents to the perils her products pose to our youth. Denver pot shop owner and first-term CU Regent Wanda James at first claimed, preposterously, the campaign was racist. Then, she denounced it as “recycled junk science” even if — oops — its author was no less an authority than the Colorado School of Public Health. Outrageously, she even tried to use her clout to crush the campaign. It all backfired on James last week. The Board of Regents voted to censure her for her misuse of her public office in a shameless bi...
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House GOP elects Rep. Carlos Barron to serve as Minority Whip
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

House GOP elects Rep. Carlos Barron to serve as Minority Whip

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Freshman state Rep. Carlos Barron, R-Fort Lupton, has been selected as the House Minority Whip, the Republican caucus announced Monday.  “I’m honored to serve as Caucus Whip and thankful for the trust of my colleagues,” said Barron. “Together, we’ll work to protect our rights, strengthen our economy, and stand up for Colorado families.” Barron will replace Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, who announced last month that he would be resigning from the legislature in September.  Barron, who also serves on Fort Lupton's City Council, was elected to the General Assembly in 2024. He has worked in the oil and gas industry for over two decades.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Parents Push Back: Colorado’s Gender Policies Trigger Rights Showdown
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State, Approved, Colorado Politics

Parents Push Back: Colorado’s Gender Policies Trigger Rights Showdown

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Amid the staccato of legislation that Democrats at the Colorado Capitol adopted to expand what sponsors described as transgender "rights," a growing number of parents are pushing back, arguing that the state government has overreached, impeding their ability to raise their children the way they see fit. In the last few years, parents — and their allies in the Colorado General Assembly — have become more vocal in their opposition to proposals championed by progressive groups. "I think everyone is concerned," said Colleen Enos, director of government relations for Christian Home Educators of Colorado. "It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat, Republican or independent, everyone is concerned about what's happening and how the state is trying to...
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Garbo: Let the purists prune—a thought exercise in Republican renewal
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Garbo: Let the purists prune—a thought exercise in Republican renewal

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The below op-ed is a thought exercise - a structured hypothetical meant to test assumptions, reveal contradictions, and sharpen our understanding by playing out ideas to their logical end. It is not a forecast or a policy proposal. It’s a lens designed to examine the mindset, strategy, and consequences of a particular ideological posture within the Republican Party. Specifically, I explore what happens when purist Republicans are given full authority to define and reshape the party without reasonable question or resistance. No opposition, no internal debate, no moderating voices - just a blank check to purge, label, and remake the GOP according to their uncompromising standards.  Rather than argue with them, I follow the...
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Push to Enshrine the Public’s Right to Know in Colorado Constitution Gains Steam
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State, Approved, Colorado Freedom of Information

Push to Enshrine the Public’s Right to Know in Colorado Constitution Gains Steam

By Jeffrey A. Roberts | Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Colorado’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press, broadly stating that “every person shall be free to speak, write or publish whatever he will on any subject.” Should it also guarantee freedom of information? An ad hoc group that includes the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition is exploring that idea this summer for a possible ballot initiative in 2026. The impetus is what seems to be a backsliding in the General Assembly on government transparency matters: The legislature exempted itself from major portions of the Colorado Open Meetings Law in 2024 and lawmakers next year will likely try for a third straight session to weaken the Colorado Open Records Act. Also involved in the ...
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Colorado Child Care Crisis: Nearly Half of a Single Parent’s Pay Goes to Care
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State, Approved, kdvr.com

Colorado Child Care Crisis: Nearly Half of a Single Parent’s Pay Goes to Care

By Brooke Williams | KDVR Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — Amid a rising cost of living, caring for a child is expensive anywhere in the U.S., but especially in Colorado, according to a new report. Personal finance website WalletHub conducted a study on all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Researchers analyzed the prices of family-based and center-based child care and made adjustments based on median income to rank the states with the highest and lowest costs of child care for both couples and single parents. The study found that in some parts of the country, couples could spend up to 13% of their income on child care, and a single parent could spend 51%. The report notes that both parents are employed in more than two-thirds of families with children, according to the Bureau of Labor Statisti...
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Ranchers Beg for Relief as Colorado Wolf Attacks Mount
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State, Approved, The Colorado Sun

Ranchers Beg for Relief as Colorado Wolf Attacks Mount

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun Only a few ranchers were expected to come to the meeting held in Chris Collins’ shop on the McCabe Ranch in Old Snowmass, which smelled of the smoked venison sausages cooking on the grill, horses on jeans, and a mixture of sweat and anxiety. They’d come on the evening of June 11, after the first day of the monthly Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in Glenwood Springs, where wolves were not on the agenda. The omission shocked everyone, because of what had recently happened. Over on the Lost Marbles Ranch, which borders the McCabe Ranch in a wide valley where the price of sprawling, remote ranches reflects their proximity to Aspen, the first wolf pack to form following the start of Colorado’s reintroduction program in December 2023 had e...
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