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Opponents to Prop. 127 rally at state capitol, asking voters to deny proposed ban
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Opponents to Prop. 127 rally at state capitol, asking voters to deny proposed ban

By Amanda Hardin | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice This past Friday, a sizable crowd gathered at the Colorado State Capitol to voice their opposition to Proposition 127, which would ban the "trophy hunting" of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx. The event, which attracted several prominent political figures, included passionate speeches addressing concerns about how the proposition could negatively impact rural Colorado and the state’s approach to wildlife management. While the rally had a large presence of those against the proposition, it was grounded in factual concerns about the potential implications of putting complex wildlife management issues into the hands of voters. Prop. 127 would introduce a ballot measure that places the decision-making power for wildlife managemen...
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Williams: Bandimere Speedway leaves behind many fond memories over a 65-year run
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Williams: Bandimere Speedway leaves behind many fond memories over a 65-year run

By Laci Williams, Commentary | Rocky Mountain Voice  For 65 years, Bandimere Speedway provided a safe haven for adrenaline junkies chasing speed over a quarter mile.  Yesterday, we said goodbye. The multi-generational Bandimere family welcomed multi-generational racers and the public to a “Surrender the Mountain” final event, including a final burnout from John Bandimere Jr., a speech from John “Sporty” Bandimere, the removal of the lighting system, and a final public walk down the raceway.  John Bandimere Jr. explained during his farewell that with houses being built around the racetrack and the growing popularity of the sport, it had outgrown the space. He noted that it was time for a new chapter. It is indeed the end of an era of racing for Colorado, as the track is set to c...
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Colorado justices, 4-2, rule tenants have right to a jury trial in eviction cases
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado justices, 4-2, rule tenants have right to a jury trial in eviction cases

By Michael Karlik | Colorado Politics Noting that trial courts across the state are routinely denying tenants the ability to have a jury hear their eviction cases, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that certain types of disputes do qualify for a jury trial after all. By 4-2, the Supreme Court's majority acknowledged the concern that county courts, where evictions largely are heard, could become overwhelmed if even a fraction of tenants demand jury trials. But Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr. explained numerous other states honor the right to a jury trial and several factors work to limit the actual frequency of eviction trials. "And of those cases that do proceed to trial, many are ineligible for a jury trial," Samour wrote in the Oct. 21 opinion, given that a jury would...
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TABOR refund amounts announced for 2025, based on income
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local, State

TABOR refund amounts announced for 2025, based on income

By Heather Willard | FOX31 Just days after announcing there would be TABOR refunds for Colorado residents in 2025, the state has announced how much money each Coloradan household can expect to receive. TABOR, or the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, is an amendment to the state constitution that limits how much revenue Colorado governments can retain and requires that Colorado residents vote to approve any tax increases. The overages are refunded to Colorado taxpayers. In an audit released on Oct. 14, the Colorado Office of the State Auditor said the state has $1.4 billion in excess revenue, which translates into TABOR refunds. This is a fair bit lower than what was collected during the 2023 tax year when the state reported it was returning some $3.28 billion to Colorado t...
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Want to know how to vote? Here’s a collection of ballot guides for 2024 election
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Approved, completecolorado.com, State

Want to know how to vote? Here’s a collection of ballot guides for 2024 election

By Mike Krause | Complete Colorado Don’t be surprised when you open your Colorado general election ballot to find fourteen statewide measures, both constitutional and statutory changes.  Add in as many as a dozen local measures (as is the case with the Denver ballot) and it may feel like you sat down to start a novel. Complete Colorado has compiled a list of ballot guides from a variety of libertarian and right-of-center sources, as well as Colorado Governor Jared Polis, to help you sort through it all. READ THE FULL STORY AT COMPLETE COLORADO
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Study finds homeless sweeps don’t reduce crime, may even increase violence
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Study finds homeless sweeps don’t reduce crime, may even increase violence

By Jenny Deam | Colorado Politics Despite prevailing public and political wisdom that removing homeless encampments is necessary to reduce crime in an area, a new national study looking specifically at Denver’s crime rates after sweeps found the narrative was, in fact, mostly false. “There is no evidence that sweeps make our community safer,” said Pranav Padmanabhan, the Denver-based lead author of the study published Wednesday in the national Journal of Urban Health. Padmanabhan is a graduate student in Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and one of four authors affiliated with the medical school. The fifth is with the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Colorado ranks 8th in violent crime, 4th in property crime and auto theft
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Approved, Common Sense Institute, State

Colorado ranks 8th in violent crime, 4th in property crime and auto theft

By D.J. Summers | Common Sense Institute The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently revised its national crime data to reflect latecomer reports from police agencies. In doing so, it was revealed that the national violent crime rate rose in 2023 rather than fell. CSI is presenting the FBI’s Colorado’s crime data to firmly establish the Centennial State’s trends, which remain largely unchanged as a result of the update. Crucially, crime is not just a social ill but an economic one. Previous CSI findings have highlighted the negative economic consequences of crime. In 2022, the tangible and intangible costs of Colorado’s crime totaled $4,623 per Coloradan. Key Findings Even though Colorado’s violent crime rate came down in 2023 from a peak in 2022, it is still at an elevated r...
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Decision ’24: Judicial retention on Colorado Court of Appeals
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Decision ’24: Judicial retention on Colorado Court of Appeals

By Rocky Mountain Voice | Commentary In addition to 14 amendments and statutory propositions appearing on ballots statewide and local ballot measures, voters are being asked to consider the retention of a number of state judges. The issue, readers have shared with the Rocky Mountain Voice, is finding complete information in order to make an educated decision on these positions. Below, is the second installment of our judicial retention review, the Colorado Court of Appeals. The five judges to review are, as they appear on your ballot: Hon. Stephanie Dunn, Hon. Jerry N. Jones, Hon. W. Eric Kuhn, Hon. Gilbert M. Román and Hon. Timothy J. Schutz. Information on other courts and judges will be presented in future installments of this series. Hon. Stephanie Dunn Background: Judg...
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Ganahl: Dear Jena, let’s get real about remote access
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Ganahl: Dear Jena, let’s get real about remote access

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado’s elections are far from secure. Rather than being a "gold standard" of integrity, they are a gilded mess of lies and half-measures. Ten years ago, I handed off my “baby,” a $100 million pet care franchise built from scratch, so I could fight for the American dream I have been so blessed to live. I had seen how our politicians and government were tearing opportunities away from our children. Government was making it harder and harder to start and grow a business, raise our families, and live freely. So, I went to work. First, I launched a non-profit to fight for justice in our court system: Moms Fight Back. Then, I was the last Republican to win a statewide race in Colorado as regent at the University of Colorado. For six...
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Decision ’24: Judicial retention on Colorado Supreme Court
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Decision ’24: Judicial retention on Colorado Supreme Court

By Rocky Mountain Voice | Commentary In addition to 14 amendments and statutory propositions appearing on ballots statewide and local ballot measures, voters are being asked to consider the retention of a number of state judges. The issue, readers have shared with the Rocky Mountain Voice, is finding complete information in order to make an educated decision on these positions. Below, is the first installment of our judicial retention review, beginning with three members of the Colorado Supreme Court. The three justices to review are, as they appear on your ballot: Hon. Maria E. Berkenkotter, Hon. Brian D. Boatright and Hon. Monica M. Márquez. Information on other judges will be presented in future installments of this series. Hon. Maria E. Berkenkotter Background: Justice ...
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