Rocky Mountain Voice

Menu

State

Bill banning so-called ‘assault weapons’ passed in House, headed to Senate
No Comments
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Bill banning so-called ‘assault weapons’ passed in House, headed to Senate

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The proposal to ban so-called "assault weapons" is now on its way to the Colorado Senate after House legislators passed the measure during a rare legislation session on Sunday. The measure is expected to be assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.  A majority of Democrats approved House Bill 1292 on a 35-27 vote, with nine Democrats voting against. The vote followed a debate of more than three hours. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
‘We must win the special election,’ Lopez tells Kit Carson Republicans, while supporting primary slate
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘We must win the special election,’ Lopez tells Kit Carson Republicans, while supporting primary slate

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice BURLINGTON -- Greg Lopez is embracing the role some have called a placeholder. "You have some great Republican candidates looking to be your Congressman," Lopez told Kit Carson Republicans gathered here Friday. "This special election is just about who will finish [ex-Rep.] Ken Buck's term." Lopez is hoping to be selected to do just that in Colorado's 4th District. He must first defeat Democrat Trisha Calvarese and Libertarian Hannah Goodman. In Colorado's most red-leaning district, it does not figure to be a tall order for a Republican to be awarded the seat, even if just for six months. "Apparently, my [Democratic] opponent is facing a challenge they don't qualify," Lopez said. "Now, this challenge is coming from their own party." ...
Read More
Colorado Wetlands: Lawmakers clash as they seek state protections
No Comments
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Wetlands: Lawmakers clash as they seek state protections

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics How Colorado protects wetlands depends on two perspectives: Is it a water quality issue or a land management issue? Even assuming it's a little of both, either answer leads to different approaches, each to be overseen by a different agency. And either path offers implications for construction, permitting and management of habitats.  This month, lawmakers looked at the dueling approaches contained in two measures seeking to implement a way for the state to manage "dredge and fill discharge" permits tied to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that redefined how a body of water can be protected under the Environmental Protection Agency's "Waters of the United States" rule. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
Sen. Bob Gardner fails to qualify for ballot, he announces in letter to supporters
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Sen. Bob Gardner fails to qualify for ballot, he announces in letter to supporters

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice State Sen. Bob Gardner has not qualified to appear on the Republican Party's 5th District primary ballot for Congress, ending his campaign. He announced in an email Saturday morning that signatures needed for a successful petition onto the ballot were not in excess of the 1,500 threshold needed, after the Secretary of State's review. "Just as we were preparing for an upcoming debate this week, we received the letter from the Secretary of State notifying us that we would not be on the ballot," Gardner wrote to supporters. "As disappointed as I am, I am not discouraged. From the day we announced, we have been gratified and encouraged by the support and contributions of so many good people who believe in our platform and our message of stan...
Read More
Sen. Rod Pelton warns Kit Carson Republicans of extreme gun bills, appointments
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Sen. Rod Pelton warns Kit Carson Republicans of extreme gun bills, appointments

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice BURLINGTON -- State Sen. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne, warned Kit Carson County Republicans gathered here Friday that they might stay on the lookout for a rash of bills coming through the upper chamber before the state's legislative session is complete. "When we started on Monday, we still had 407 bills to go through in the Senate," he said. Specifically, he made mention of House Bill 24-1292, which some have called the state's "assault weapons ban." Taylor Rhodes, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, has pointed out the bill would ban the commonly-owned Glock pistol he carries concealed and has threatened litigation against the state "as soon as the ink is dry on the law." The bill by Democrat Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernan...
Read More
Ballot measure in Colorado would bar ‘placeholders’ from immediately seeking office
No Comments
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Ballot measure in Colorado would bar ‘placeholders’ from immediately seeking office

By Marianne Goodland | The Gazette A state legislator in Colorado is pushing a resolution to go to the ballot  that would bar an individual who is appointed to a legislative seat via the vacancy process from running for that position in the next election.     Assuming the measure gets on the ballot and voters approve it, the effect would be to prohibit somebody who secures the vacancy appointment after a vote of party insiders from seeking that legislative seat for the next term, effectively making that person a "placeholder."      State Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch said his resolution would tackle the perception of a small group of insiders picking policymakers that decide major issues for the entire state.  READ THE FU...
Read More
Ban of so-called ‘assault weapons’ receives initial OK from Colorado Democrats
No Comments
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Ban of so-called ‘assault weapons’ receives initial OK from Colorado Democrats

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics House Democrats on Friday advanced a proposal to ban a long list of "assault" weapons in Colorado following a debate that lasted several hours. The measure still needs the full vote of the House, which could happen Sunday. Its fate in the Senate remains uncertain.     Sponsored by Reps. Tim Hernandez and Elisabeth Epps, House Bill 1292 would prohibit 13 types of "assault" weapons, along with adding a definition of "assault weapons" into state law. Supporters argued that the so-called "assault weapons" have no place in society, and that Colorado cannot wait for Congress to enact a federal ban. Critics countered that the bill would ban most guns in Colorado — and it is, therefore, unconstitutional.  READ THE FUL...
Read More
In open range Colorado, brand inspectors key in cattle shooting case
No Comments
Approved, State, thefencepost.com

In open range Colorado, brand inspectors key in cattle shooting case

By Rachel Gabel  | The Fence Post When brand inspectors Jesse Phillips and Brenna BeGeer arrived to a property in Larimer County, Colorado, seven head of cattle lay dead and another was injured and needed to be destroyed. Baby calves were orphaned, bred cows were killed, and a bull was shot and killed. They worked to identify ownership of the cattle and contact the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. They also assisted in determining the value of the cattle killed. According to law enforcement reports, Michael Hester was taken into custody on April 1, 2024, after they responded to a call in a rural neighborhood west of Fort Collins. Jordan Yarber runs his cowherd on his family ranch right alongside the herd belonging to his grandmother, Dixie Gibbens, who still owns the family ranch....
Read More
Sonnenberg qualifies for Republican Party’s primary ballot in 4th District race
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Sonnenberg qualifies for Republican Party’s primary ballot in 4th District race

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Jerry Sonnenberg, who served 16 years in the Colorado legislature and most recently as a county commissioner, has qualified for the Republican Party primary ballot in the crowded 4th District field for Congress. The Secretary of State’s office on Friday verified the Logan County Republican had enough verified signatures to qualify for the ballot. Sonnenberg submitted 3,155 signatures on his petition, with 1,719 being accepted. The Secretary of State’s office rejected 1,436 of the signatures submitted, or 45.5%. Sonnenberg was required to meet a threshhold of 1,500 accepted signatures. A record of all accepted and rejected signatures, including reasons for each rejection, is on file with the Secretary of State. Sonnenberg, who often ...
Read More
O.J. Simpson was familiar sighting in some Colorado mountain towns
No Comments
Approved, State, Westword

O.J. Simpson was familiar sighting in some Colorado mountain towns

By Chris Perez | Westword It's not often that an accused murderer and convicted felon gets treated like royalty, but that's what happened for years in Summit County and popular mountain towns like Vail and Aspen when O.J. Simpson showed up. “They’re exceptionally nice," Simpson told the Summit Daily News in 2006, noting that Summit County was home to the friendliest people he had ever met. "I don’t want to say Mayberry, but I’d say Stepford," Simpson said. "It's hard to believe you still get a good neighborly feel somewhere. People are happy to just say, ‘Hi, welcome.’ Normally everyone wants something — an autograph, a picture." Simpson, who was found not guilty of the 1994 killing of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend Ron Goldman in one of the world's most in...
Read More