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Colorado public school enrollment continues to decline, lowest since 2013
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Colorado public school enrollment continues to decline, lowest since 2013

NEWS RELEASE: COLORADO DEPT. OF EDUCATION Colorado public school enrollment continues to decline with 1,800 fewer students counted in October than the previous year State's lowest overall PK-12 enrollment since 2013 DENVER – For the second straight year, student enrollment in Colorado’s public schools declined with the 2023-24 school year PK-12 student enrollment reaching the state's lowest mark in a decade, according to the annual count of public school students in October. The state’s October 2023 count of 881,464 students enrolled in public schools was 1,800 fewer than in October 2022, a 0.20% decrease. The last time Colorado’s public school enrollment was this low was 2013 when 876,999 students were counted. Colorado’s school enrollment has experienced a downward trend i...
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Democrat lawmakers take another stab at state-sanctioned drug injection sites
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Approved, completecolorado.com, State

Democrat lawmakers take another stab at state-sanctioned drug injection sites

By Mike Krause | SOURCE: COMPLETE COLORADO PAGE TWO DENVER–A pair of Colorado lawmakers are making another attempt at sanctioning what are sometimes referred to as “safe injection sites” for illegal drug users, despite their own Democrat colleagues killing off a similar effort during last year’s legislative session. House Bill 24-1028, titled Overdose Prevention Centers, allows Colorado municipalities (cities, towns, as well as a city and county) to authorize “A space for individuals to use previously obtained controlled substances in a monitored setting under the supervision of health care professionals or other trained staff for the purpose of providing life-saving treatment on the event of a potential overdose.”  The bill also allows for such things as distribution of clean n...
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EDITORIAL: AG Weiser picks pot over Colorado’s kids
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Approved, denvergazette.com, State

EDITORIAL: AG Weiser picks pot over Colorado’s kids

By The Gazette Editorial Board | SOURCE: THE GAZETTE Big Marijuana is waging a war on Colorado’s children — just as Big Tobacco has done for generations. High-potency concentrates are sold in nifty little packages and pre-loaded into disposable, battery-powered vape pens that can be concealed in a kid’s backpack or pocket. Then, they’re inhaled discreetly on the fly — maybe on the way to school — and tossed in the trash. No dreadlocks; no billowing, acrid smoke; no joints the size of a rolled-up newspaper. This ain’t your grandpa’s Dead concert. This is today’s kids — perhaps even your kids — and the power-packed pot derivatives they’re using are getting them higher than ever. Though technically off limits to minors, retail pot has played a pivotal role in undermining Colorado’...
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Lawmakers march in arctic temps Monday, but skip work Tuesday cause it’s cold
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Approved, coloradopeakpolitics.com, State

Lawmakers march in arctic temps Monday, but skip work Tuesday cause it’s cold

SOURCE: COLORADO PEAK POLITICS We hope state lawmakers are enjoying their bonus four-day weekend, what with it being too cold or something to go to work after Monday’s big chill. All of these people managed to march outdoors all day today but can't make it to work indoors tomorrow.#copolitics https://t.co/Nn3iteaq8y— Pathofmostresistance (@Pathofmostresi1) January 16, 2024 How privileged they are to get paid for not going to work because it’s cold outside. There were a lot of dedicated folks out there marching in the snow Monday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., who wouldn’t miss it for the world. Then there were the politicians. The SMART Act hearings scheduled today are also postponed. #coleg #snowleg pic.twitter.com/QaH0YlQ2Bj— Legislative Council Sta...
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Governor Jared Polis Leaves Colorado Lawmakers Confused with Mixed Messages on His Tax Policy
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Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Governor Jared Polis Leaves Colorado Lawmakers Confused with Mixed Messages on His Tax Policy

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM During his recent State of the State address, Governor Jared Polis presented an ambitious agenda for massive government spending on public transit, education, job training, and crime fighting. However, he surprised many by emphatically calling once again for an income tax cut that would primarily benefit the upper middle class. This unexpected stance challenged the Democratic majority. The Governor’s proposal highlights the confusion and division within the tax and spend Democrat Party. At the core of the debate is Colorado's tax system, which underwent a significant change in 1987 when the state legislature implemented a regressive flat tax, taxing all income at the same rate. This change was further solidified in 1992 with the passage of the Taxpay...
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Colorado’s Cannabis Market Faces Lowest Sales Since 2015, Leaving Some to Wonder If Coloradans Have Moved On
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Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado’s Cannabis Market Faces Lowest Sales Since 2015, Leaving Some to Wonder If Coloradans Have Moved On

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Colorado's cannabis market experienced a significant decline in November 2023, reaching its lowest sales level since February 2015. This downward trend has continued for several months, according to data from the state's Department of Revenue. In November, both recreational and medical cannabis sales amounted to $110.3 million, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline. The adult-use market, which constitutes approximately 87% of total sales, saw a year-on-year decrease of around 16% to $95.8 million. Additionally, medical cannabis sales fell by 11.5% to $14.5 million. The decline in sales can be attributed to a decrease in the number of growers and manufacturers operating in the state. This reduction in supply has had a direct impact on the overa...
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Congresswoman’s husband paid with tax dollars for campaign to hike taxes
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Approved, coloradopeakpolitics.com, State

Congresswoman’s husband paid with tax dollars for campaign to hike taxes

SOURCE: COLORADO PEAK POLITICS Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen has been in office less than a year but already her family is cashing in on the public’s dime. Joe Biden would be so proud. Pettersen’s husband, Ian Silverii, is the former director of ProgressNow, whose consulting firm landed a $340,000 contract with Jefferson County under a questionable bidding process, reports Page Two over at Complete Colorado. Silverii’s personal consulting fee is $180,000, while JeffCo taxpayers pay Silverii’s firm for political campaign services to raise their taxes. Jefferson County is paying Rep. Brittany Petterson's husband $180K in taxpayer money for a consulting fee to help the county persuade taxpayers to give up their TABOR refunds.Something doesn't smell right here.https:/...
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Armstrong: A modest proposal for school choice in Colorado
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Approved, completecolorado.com, State

Armstrong: A modest proposal for school choice in Colorado

By Ari Armstrong | SOURCE: COMPLETE COLORADO PAGE TWO I’ll begin with my proposal: Parents who do not send their school-age children to public schools do not have to pay taxes to help support those schools. Whatever proportion of property, income, and other taxes go to schools, those parents either do not have to pay in the first place (I propose), or else they get the money back during tax season, up to the average per-pupil expenditure. I mean to include here property taxes paid indirectly through rent. It’s hard to object to that proposal on moral grounds. It says simply that parents should not have to pay for these government services that they do not use. There is no subsidy involved; we are talking only about a family’s own money. Families still would be required to provide ...
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Colorado Democrats Push for Controversial $3,000 Cash Payments to Ex-Cons
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Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado Democrats Push for Controversial $3,000 Cash Payments to Ex-Cons

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Progressive Democrats in the Colorado legislature have proposed a concerning new bill that aims to incentivize crime in the Centennial State. Under this bill, criminals would receive a cash payment of $3,000 upon their release from a Colorado prison. This misguided approach is an attempt to prevent recidivism, but it raises serious questions about the priorities and judgment of the progressive Democrats behind it. Colorado currently faces a significant challenge in addressing recidivism, with about half of the individuals released from state prisons ending up back behind bars within three years. This high recidivism rate is largely driven by drug-related offenses, as drugs are easily accessible in the state. (CREDIT: Colorado Department of Corrections) J...
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Interview: Lori Saine, Weld County Commissioner on Standing up for Liberty
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Approved, freestatecolorado.com, Local, Northern Colorado, State

Interview: Lori Saine, Weld County Commissioner on Standing up for Liberty

SOURCE: FREE STATE COLORADO Lori Saine isn't afraid to stand up for liberty, even if it means she has to stand alone. As a State Legislator, she served for eight years in the House, and now she serves as a Weld County Commissioner. Her voting record in the House earned her an A+ rating from Principles of Liberty, an A from the Colorado Liberty Scorecard, and House Champion from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers. Serving as Commissioner, Lori has been a voice for taxpayers, gun owners and entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, Lori's fellow Weld County Commissioners haven't always supported her principled approach to governance. Even with opposition from her own party, Lori refuses to back down, and remains a staunch defender of Pro-Liberty Principles. In this interview, Lori ...
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