Rocky Mountain Voice

State

Thousands of Colorado teachers, parents and kids protest education cuts
Approved, State, Westword

Thousands of Colorado teachers, parents and kids protest education cuts

By Bennito L. Kelty | Westword Thousands of Colorado teachers, parents and kids gathered at the Colorado State Capitol on Thursday, March 20, to demand more funding for public schools and protest possible cuts as the state deals with a $1 billion budget shortfall. "Kids need a chance to do their best," said Siobhan Holland, a teacher for twenty years in the Adams 12 Five Star School District who came out to protest against cuts. "They need the funds and resources that will help them be successful."  Donning red shirts and sweaters printed with words "Red for Ed," an estimated 4,000 protesters amassed at the Capitol's west lawn to support public education funding on Thursday, according to the Colorado State Patrol, with signs reading "fully fund public education" and...
Federal agency kills Colorado wolf connected to sheep deaths in Wyoming 
Approved, State, The Post Independent

Federal agency kills Colorado wolf connected to sheep deaths in Wyoming 

By Ali Longwell | The Post Independent One of the male wolves that Colorado Parks and Wildlife relocated from British Columbia to Colorado in January has died.  The state wildlife agency confirmed on Thursday that it received a mortality alert for the wolf (2505-BC) on Sunday, March 16. The wolf was in north-central Wyoming at the time.  The wolf was killed following the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s investigation and response to a sheep predation event on private land in north-central Wyoming, according to Tanya Espinosa, a spokesperson for the federal agency.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE POST INDEPENDENT
Bills restricting gun shows, ammo sales head to Senate floor
Approved, completecolorado.com, State

Bills restricting gun shows, ammo sales head to Senate floor

By Sherrie Peif | Complete Colorado DENVER — Two bills that would slap new restrictions on the sale of firearms and ammunition have Senate committee approval and are headed to the floor for full and final debate. House Bill 25-1238, titled Gun Show Requirements, includes onerous new barriers that would drastically change the way vendors do business at Colorado gun shows, as well as who can access the events. House Bill 25-1133, titled Requirements for Sales of Firearms Ammunition, mandates retailers lock up all ammunition, meaning customers cannot serve themselves off the shelves, as well as prohibits the retail sale of ammunition to a person who is younger than 21 years of age. Both bills passed the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee on Tuesday on strict ...
Colorado housing ‘crisis’ grows, advocates push for more money
Approved, State, The Center Square

Colorado housing ‘crisis’ grows, advocates push for more money

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Housing costs make Colorado one of the nation's most expensive states. This is according to a recent report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which listed Colorado as the sixth least affordable state in the country. The report focused on low-income housing and affordable homes, finding that 79% of extremely low-income renters in Colorado have a “severe cost burden” when it comes to finding housing. Extremely low-income renter households are defined as those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median income, whichever is greater. In Denver, that is approximately $27,400 per year. “While Coloradans of nearly all income levels are experiencing difficulties with access to affordable housing, the cir...
CU Board of Regents investigates funding threats over cannabis research campaign
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

CU Board of Regents investigates funding threats over cannabis research campaign

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff The University of Colorado Board of Regents has initiated an independent review into Regent Wanda James' actions regarding state funding for the Colorado School of Public Health. The move comes after James reportedly suggested pulling funding from the school due to concerns over its public awareness campaign on high-potency cannabis. In a joint statement released on March 18 Regents Chair Callie Rennison and Vice Chair Ken Montera confirmed that the board has requested a third-party investigation to determine whether James violated regent laws or policies. The Colorado School of Public Health, a joint effort of CU Anschutz, CSU and UNC, was tasked by the Colorado Legislature in 2021 with researching the public health impacts of high-potency THC, parti...
Bernie Sanders and AOC bring progressive agenda to Colorado on Friday
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Bernie Sanders and AOC bring progressive agenda to Colorado on Friday

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) are set to hold rallies in Denver and Greeley on March 21, 2025, as part of Sanders’ national “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” tour. The events will focus on opposition to President Donald Trump’s second-term policies while promoting a far-left economic agenda that has drawn criticism from conservatives across Colorado. The rallies will take place at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley at 1 p.m., followed by a second event at Civic Center Park in Denver at 5 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP through the Bernie Sanders website. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have used their nationwide tour to rally support for socialist-style economic policies, including expanded governmen...
Mayor Mobolade asks White House to work with Colorado Springs during D.C. trip
coloradopolitics.com, Local, State

Mayor Mobolade asks White House to work with Colorado Springs during D.C. trip

By Brennen Kauffman  | Colorado Politics Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade met with White House staff earlier this month to make the case for Colorado Springs' strategic value to the administration. Mobolade was in Washington March 8-12 for the National League of Cities' annual Congressional City Conference, an event where thousands of city officials meet with federal staff and members of Congress. During the trip, Mobolade met with the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the liaisons between President Donald Trump's White House staff and local governments nationwide. Mobolade had talked to the office in February and, while there last week, said he offered to have Colorado Springs serve as a sounding board and testing ground for national policies. READ THE FULL STORY A...
New law eases rules for immigrants to get driver’s licenses, IDs in Colorado
Approved, kdvr.com, State

New law eases rules for immigrants to get driver’s licenses, IDs in Colorado

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox31 News DENVER (KDVR) — A new law goes into effect at the end of March that reduces the wait times and other requirements for immigrants to get United States driver’s licenses and identification cards in Colorado. Senate Bill 24-182, “Immigrant Identification Document Issuance,” made its way through the Senate in 2024 and was backed by democratic senators Julie Gonzalez, Jeff Bridges, Tim Hernández and Elizabeth Velasco. The bill, approved by Gov. Jared Polis in June 2024, will allow the “Colorado Road and Community Safety Act” to authorize driver’s licenses or identification cards to people who aren’t “lawfully present” in the country if they meet certain requirements. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX31 NEWS
Meet the dogs of the Colorado Capitol. Like, literal dogs.
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Meet the dogs of the Colorado Capitol. Like, literal dogs.

ByJesse Paul, Andrea Kramar and Carly Rose | The Colorado Sun The state Capitol often feels like a dog-eat-dog pressure cooker. But it can also be a dog-meet-dog paradise. In true Colorado fashion, some lawmakers and even Gov. Jared Polis frequently bring their dogs to work at the seat of power in Denver. While the state Capitol isn’t officially a pet-friendly workplace, there’s an unspoken allowance for the dogs belonging to lawmakers and staff — so long as the four-legged friends don’t disrupt daily proceedings and keep to private offices. The pups provide much-needed relief in times of tension in the legislature. Despite their occasional potty accidents and nipping, they’ve also inspired several bills. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
Rep. Gabe Evans says sanctuary cities protect criminal gangs and drug traffickers
Approved, Just The News, State

Rep. Gabe Evans says sanctuary cities protect criminal gangs and drug traffickers

By Just The News Representative Gabe Evans (R-CO) says Colorado’s sanctuary laws embolden illegal immigrant gangs while endangering the lives of local law enforcement. “These sanctuary policies really provide sanctuary only for criminals and violent gangs and cartels that are committing crimes and dealing poison like fentanyl in our communities,” he says. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE