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Colo. lawmakers bring the heat on CPW leadership regarding wolf release
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Approved, State, thefencepost.com

Colo. lawmakers bring the heat on CPW leadership regarding wolf release

SOURCE: THE FENCE POST Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Gibbs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis, and CPW Assistant Director Reid DeWalt appeared before the joint agriculture committees this week during the agency’s SMART Act hearing. Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Democrat lawmaker who represents Senate District 8, including Jackson, Summit, and Grand Counties, asked why the wolves released came from packs with recent depredation. Davis pointed out, “sometimes people forget these are carnivores,” a comment that drew criticism from Rep. Richard Holtorf, R- Akron, who called the reminder laughable. He also said there is a difference between depredation and chronic depredation. Roberts asked Davis in a letter earlier in the week to either release a proposed rule def...
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More Colorado Springs-area students are homeschooling than before the COVID-19 pandemic
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Approved, gazette.com, State

More Colorado Springs-area students are homeschooling than before the COVID-19 pandemic

By O'Dell Isaac [email protected] COVID-19 turned living rooms into classrooms and parents into de facto teachers across the U.S. for more than a year. But now that the worst days of the pandemic appear to be well in the rearview mirror, a growing number of parents have decided to continue educating their children at home. According to a study by the Washington Post, homeschooling is the fastest-growing form of education in the U.S., with a 51% increase in the number of homeschooled kids over the past six years. Colorado has seen a 17% jump in homeschooled students during that time span. In Colorado, the number of homeschooled students has decreased since the 2020-2021 academic year. But in the Pikes Peak region’s largest school districts, more kids are being homeschooled th...
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Plotting Blodgett: Breaking down plan for beloved, expanded open space in Colorado Springs
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Approved, gazette.com, State

Plotting Blodgett: Breaking down plan for beloved, expanded open space in Colorado Springs

By Seth Boster [email protected] One recent evening, in an auditorium of almost 100 northwest Colorado Springs neighbors worried or excited about the future of Blodgett Open Space, a presentation ended with a woman rising from her seat. She had a question for the audience. “How many would like Blodgett to stay a nature preserve?” She was met by a mix of cheers and jeers. READ FULL ARTICLE ON GAZETTE.COM
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30th anniversary of school choice in Colorado: Here’s how it works
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Approved, gazette.com, State

30th anniversary of school choice in Colorado: Here’s how it works

By Savannah Eller [email protected] This year is the 30th anniversary of school choice, a state law that gives parents the freedom to send their children to any public school in Colorado free of charge. With an abundance of districts to choose from in the Colorado Springs area, the decision can be difficult to make for some. Enrollment is open for the 2024-2025 school year, with applications due in coming weeks (different based on each district). Here’s a guide to navigating school choice this year. READ FULL ARTICLE ON GAZETTE.COM
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Failed Liberalism: A city of 710,000 struggles to cope with 40,000 indigent migrants
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Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Failed Liberalism: A city of 710,000 struggles to cope with 40,000 indigent migrants

By the Lobby Denver, a city with a population of just over 710,000, has found itself at the forefront of the migrant crisis, with nearly 40,000 indigent migrants arriving in the past year. This makes Denver the top destination per capita for newly arrived migrants crossing the U.S. southern border and traveling north in buses from Texas. It is all too apparent that Denver’s "sanctuary city" policies have failed its taxpayers, leaving them to bear the burden. The influx of migrants is taking a toll and has stretched city services to the breaking point. Starting February 5th, the city will be implementing measures to limit the number of days migrants can stay in shelters. Those who exceed their stay will be forced out onto the streets, further exacerbating the already dire situation...
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EDITORIAL: Cracking down on Denver’s car theft
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Approved, denvergazette.com, State

EDITORIAL: Cracking down on Denver’s car theft

By The Gazette editorial board Kudos to Mayor Mike Johnston and Police Chief Ron Thomas for developing what they tout as a new “comprehensive strategy for fighting auto thefts” in the city. The strategy, according to a press statement from the mayor’s office last week, will expand existing efforts and “ensure that Denver’s auto theft response remains coordinated and effective.” Time will tell if the enhanced program proves a success, but it’s already encouraging simply to see the Johnston administration prioritize auto theft. Perhaps that’s no surprise considering the mayor himself has been an auto-theft victim twice in the past several years, most recently last October. “Around 30 cars a day are stolen in our city. This is a huge impact on people’s lives, especially families with...
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PERSPECTIVE: Colorado has fallen behind in economic growth
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Approved, denvergazette.com, State

PERSPECTIVE: Colorado has fallen behind in economic growth

By Loren Furman The 2024 state legislative session is underway, which means that over the coming weeks and months, we’ll hear from our elected lawmakers about the proposals they have to move our state forward. While we have different ideas of what policies are best for the state, we want Colorado to be successful. At the Colorado Chamber, our focus is on improving the state’s economic climate. We want Colorado to be the preferred place where business leaders choose to invest and innovate. We want to be a leading state, setting a national example for job creation and economic growth. Unfortunately, in recent years, we have set an example for other states — but not in a good way. READ FULL ARTICLE ON DENVERGAZETTE.COM
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COLUMN: Jared Polis has been all talk on tax cuts | Jimmy Sengenberger
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Approved, denvergazette.com, State

COLUMN: Jared Polis has been all talk on tax cuts | Jimmy Sengenberger

By Jimmy Sengenberger Gov. Jared Polis has long pledged fealty to lower income taxes, a position he reiterated in his recent State of the State address. “I know some Democrats in the past have been skeptical of reducing our income tax rate,” Polis said, “but cutting the income tax rate is the most effective way to further our economic growth.” While his comments were met with consternation from fellow Democrats, they were nothing new for Polis. In 2021, he garnered headlines for declaring at a conservative conference that Colorado’s income tax “should be zero.” READ FULL ARTICLE ON DENVERGAZETTE.COM
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Griswold wants a law banning certain Republicans from running for office
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Approved, coloradopeakpolitics.com, State

Griswold wants a law banning certain Republicans from running for office

SOURCE: COLORADO PEAK POLITICS When Secretary of State Jena Griswold claims to be all about protecting Democracy and free and fair elections, what she means is, controlling who is even allowed to run for office. For example, the only requirements to be governor in Colorado are U.S. citizenship, state residency for at least two years, and the person must be at least 30 years old. Yet Griswold wants to create more qualifications and has Republicans in her crosshairs. First it was Donald Trump, now it’s his supporters. Griswold announced this week she plans to crack down on so-called fake elector schemes, which may or may not be a real thing. READ FULL ARTICLE ON COLORADOPEAKPOLITICS.COM
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Colorado House Republicans pick Ty Winter as assistant leader
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local, Southern Colorado, State

Colorado House Republicans pick Ty Winter as assistant leader

By Marissa Ventrelli, Colorado Politics House Republicans on Friday picked Rep. Ty Winter of Trinidad as the new assistant minority leader. His election was uncontested. The caucus picked Winter to replace Rep. Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs, who was promoted to serve as the House minority leader earlier this week. Pugliese was elected via secret ballot after days of chaos within the House GOP following the decision by Rep. Mike Lynch to resign from the position. READ FULL ARTICLE ON COLORADOPOLITICS.COM
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