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‘No politics’ classical school opened by conservative school board rocks Colorado tests
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Approved, State, The Federalist

‘No politics’ classical school opened by conservative school board rocks Colorado tests

By Joy Pullman | The Federalist A classical charter school that was preserved after Republican-backed candidates took over the local school board just posted the top state test scores in the district. Students at Merit Academy, a 3-year-old K-11 public school that opens its 12th grade in 2025, also posted the best scores among the four districts that families in the Woodland Park exurb of Colorado Springs can choose from under open enrollment. While test scores scratch the surface of student and school academic quality, these do help vindicate Teller County parents dissatisfied with extended school lockdowns, an increase in screen-based schooling, and creeping politicization of taxpayer-provided education. Due to these frustrations, this group of parents started a new public classic...
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New law on accessibility leads to removal of public records from websites
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

New law on accessibility leads to removal of public records from websites

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A 2021 law intended to improve accessibility to government documents for individuals with hearing and vision impairments has had unintended consequences — it prompted some agencies to completely remove public records from websites altogether in order to avoid non-compliance with the legislation. House Bill 21-1110 required all state and local agencies to implement accessibility plans for their IT systems by July 1 of this year or face potential discrimination lawsuits and fines of up to $3,500. Following worries from agencies about their ability to meet the deadline, a 2024 bill extended the cutoff to July 1, 2025. Under the law, to make documents accessible to individuals with vision and hearing impairments, agencies must re...
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Bill signing, initiative withdrawal sets November ballot at 14 measures
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Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

Bill signing, initiative withdrawal sets November ballot at 14 measures

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Colorado’s November ballot took its final 14-initiative shape Wednesday as Gov. Jared Polis signed a tax-cut bill resulting in the withdrawal of two high-profile initiatives that sought to achieve even bigger tax reductions and lead to bigger revenue losses for governments. With the removal of Initiatives 50 and 108 from the ballot, the remaining issues either have no direct impact on businesses or affect only specific business sectors, such as firearms dealers and operators of veterinary practices. But former DaVita CEO Kent Thiry is pushing one voting-reform measure, Initiative 310, in hopes that it can help more moderate and often business-friendlier candidates to survive the primary- and general-election processes more often. The Democr...
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Linnebur: A look at Sackett v EPA’s rechanneling of water governance in America
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Linnebur: A look at Sackett v EPA’s rechanneling of water governance in America

By Tyler Linnebur | Commentary, ConservAmerica A year has passed since the Supreme Court's ruling in Sackett v. EPA and its impact on America's water regulation is unmistakable. For decades, Western states have grappled with the complexities of water rights and regulations, given the resource's immense value and critical importance to the region. This landmark decision, which narrows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's ) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE’s) authority and shifts more responsibility to the states, has triggered significant changes in both the ongoing debate and the ways states protect their water resources. By clarifying the constitutionally limited scope of federal authority, the Sackett ruling aligns with Congress's original intent to reg...
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‘Just chaos’: Survivors of King Soopers shooting take the stand in trial
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

‘Just chaos’: Survivors of King Soopers shooting take the stand in trial

By  Karen Morfitt | CBS Colorado Three years after the shooting at the Boulder King Soopers, those who were inside the store shared how they remember that day in court. Hayden Steele was at a checkout stand when the gunman entered. "Just chaos, people screaming, running, gunshots, people mobbing toward the back exits to get away," he told the court. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Colorado’s police officer shortage linked to higher crime rates
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado’s police officer shortage linked to higher crime rates

By Scott Weiser | Colorado Politics A recently released report issued in support of Colorado Ballot Initiative 157 shows a correlation between police departments that suffer under-staffing issues and higher crime rates.  The Common Sense Institute, a Denver free-enterprise research organization, released a report Tuesday on Ballot Initiative 157 — which asks voters to approve appropriation of $350 million to fund police recruitment, training, and support for police officers and their families. A change in state policy and funding aimed more towards prioritizing civilian roles within police departments and regulating policing strategies has reduced the number of police with arrest powers on the streets, according to the report. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Differences within ranks of Colorado GOP not necessarily weakness, Gabe Evans says
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Differences within ranks of Colorado GOP not necessarily weakness, Gabe Evans says

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice As the two factions of the Colorado Republican Central Committee engage in a power struggle, it should viewed as a point of strength and not weakness, 8th District congressional nominee Gabe Evans said Tuesday in a press conference. "It is one of the things I've always been proud of with the Republican party," Evans said. "We respect individual opinions. We respect individual liberties. That means people won't always agree." It doesn't mean the party is without unity, he says. Members of the party are unified toward policy. "What we agree on across party lines is progressive Democrats have made a mess of Colorado," Evans said. "It's time to fix these issues." Republican solutions to issues he identifies as of primary importance, Evans s...
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Colorado’s 3rd District moved to ‘likely Republican’ by Cook Political
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Colorado’s 3rd District moved to ‘likely Republican’ by Cook Political

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado's 3rd District on the Western Slope is one of eight nationally to have received a ratings change from Cook Political. The seat is presently held by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, but is an open seat in the general election as Boebert vies for election in the 4th District. Democrat Adam Frisch and Republican Jeff Hurd are their parties' nominations for the 3rd District seat. Cook Political moved the seat from lean Republican to likely Republican, improving the chance Republicans will hold the seat in November. “Nothing is going right for Adam Frisch," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bomar. "While Frisch is floundering, momentum is on our side as Republicans are all hands on deck to send Jeff Hurd to ...
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Can one guy run 15,500 businesses from out of state? Attorney general sues on fraudulent filings
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Can one guy run 15,500 businesses from out of state? Attorney general sues on fraudulent filings

By Tamara Chuang | Colorado Sun The number of new companies created in Colorado in the past two years may not have set all-time records after all, after officials discovered more than 15,500 fraudulent business filings last year by a man who used a stranger’s home address. The Colorado Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday filed a consent judgment in Denver District Court to settle allegations against defendant Marcio Garcia Andrade for violating the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. Andrade, who doesn’t live in Colorado, was accused of filing the new business formations between February 2022 and August 2023 that were linked to a Northglenn townhome address “without the knowledge or consent of the homeowner and resident,” according to the AG’s lawsuit. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE ...
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Gov. Polis signs property tax deal into law as measures removed from ballot
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Approved, kdvr.com, State

Gov. Polis signs property tax deal into law as measures removed from ballot

By Gabrielle Franklin | Fox 31 News The governor on Wednesday officially signed into law the property tax agreement designed to keep two initiatives off this year’s Colorado ballot. Now that the deal is done, FOX31 is taking a closer look at the impact it could have on your wallet. Property owners should still expect high property taxes this year, but state leaders say the increase will be lower than if the compromise had not been passed and if ballot initiatives 50 and 108 failed. If 50 and 108 passed without lawmakers reconvening for a special session, there could have been devastating impacts on funding for local services. Lawmakers celebrated the end of what they called property tax wars with groups that often bring property tax measures, but some concerns around the effects s...
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