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Colorado Democrats lead federal bill to revitalize Colorado public lands
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Approved, State, The Center Square, Top Stories

Colorado Democrats lead federal bill to revitalize Colorado public lands

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Three U.S. congressmen from Colorado have reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, which combines four previously introduced Colorado public land bills into one piece of legislation. Over a decade in the making, supporters of the CORE Act say it will protect public lands, safeguard outdoor recreation and boost the state’s economy. “The CORE Act is a model for how legislation should be done,” said U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado. “Ranchers, hunters, hikers and local officials all came together to protect our most sacred lands and invest in our outdoor recreation.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
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GOP Chair Race: Brita Horn Responds, Others Remain Silent
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

GOP Chair Race: Brita Horn Responds, Others Remain Silent

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff With less than three weeks until the March 29th election for Colorado GOP Chair, Rocky Mountain Voice reached out to all declared candidates with key questions about their vision, fundraising strategy, approach to unaffiliated voters, and stance on Proposition 108. So far, Brita Horn is the only candidate to respond. Darcy Schoening, Lori Saine and Kevin McCarney have yet to reply, and we will be reaching out to Richard Holtorf and Jeremy Goodall this week for their positions. Brita Horn's Answers: Why are you running for Chair? My heart is on fire for Colorado, not to sow discord or pit different factions against each other— I’m here to bring us together with a clear, strategic, and winning plan. Our party has lost its purpose with division ...
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Colorado Democrats want to raise tax obligation, keep TABOR refund to pay for school meals
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Democrats want to raise tax obligation, keep TABOR refund to pay for school meals

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Colorado Democrats want to increase the tax obligation of Coloradans earning at least $300,000 and allow the state to keep dollars due to be refunded to residents under two ballot proposals they say would fix a $50 million deficit in a program meant to provide free meals to all students.      If the ballot measures succeed, taxpayers under this income bracket will pay an average of $385 more in tax obligations for individuals and $570 for joint filers.  The proposals would generate about $107 million a year.    READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Richard Holtorf, retired Army colonel, former state House whip and cattle rancher, will seek Colorado GOP chair
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Richard Holtorf, retired Army colonel, former state House whip and cattle rancher, will seek Colorado GOP chair

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Richard Holtorf, a former state representative and the chairman of the Washington County Republican Party, announced Saturday in an exclusive interview with Rocky Mountain Voice his intention to seek the chairmanship of the Colorado Republican Party. "As a longtime Republican in the state of Colorado, knowing the dire straights the party is in due to a failed strategic plan by previous leadership and the enormous infighting because of that," Holtorf said, "and analyzing the field of candidates, I felt Colorado Republicans deserved the best candidate possible." After attending Akron High School in a small Eastern Colorado town where he still resides, some would argue Holtorf had three successful careers, and this could be his fourth. He ser...
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Liberty-loving Rep. Ken DeGraaf has a ‘calculated’ approach to lawmaking that prioritizes freedom
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Liberty-loving Rep. Ken DeGraaf has a ‘calculated’ approach to lawmaking that prioritizes freedom

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Ken DeGraaf laughed in response. Loud and unapologetic. The question? Whether he considered himself the "apex predator" of liberty in Colorado politics. "I’m not sure about ‘apex predator,’" DeGraaf said, still chuckling. "I’m just voting the way the Constitution tells me to. That’s really all there is to it. If that puts me at the top of the food chain, then I think that says more about the state of our legislature than it does about me." In a Democrat-controlled government, where individual liberty is often an afterthought, the El Paso County Republican's unwavering constitutional approach makes him stand out, even among his own party. The Liberty Scorecard is one source which attempts to measure legislators. In t...
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‘I’m for choice,’ Rep. Crank says, on health services for America’s veterans
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘I’m for choice,’ Rep. Crank says, on health services for America’s veterans

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice When about 90% of the Colorado population wants to see a doctor for an ailment, they call for an appointment and generally within a week or less can be seen on a non-emergency. Other times, a family practice physician is known to "fit them in today" to an already booked schedule in an emergency. That's not so for the other 10%, one Army veteran told U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo. Springs, during a town hall this week. "I don't feel like dying for my country as a peaceful citizen," said the veteran, who had to wait one month to be seen with a stroke. "It is absolute hell getting treatment from the VA. Every time you call them, you spend an hour plus on hold." The veteran's name is being withheld from this story to protect his identity. ...
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Will Colorado Springs’ growth come at cost to Eastern Plains? Farmers say yes.
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State, The Colorado Sun

Will Colorado Springs’ growth come at cost to Eastern Plains? Farmers say yes.

By Shannon Mullane | The Colorado Sun The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District stepped up its fight against a massive Colorado Springs annexation, citing concerns that water from farms in southeastern Colorado would be used to supply 6,500 new homes and businesses to support them. The district, which serves Pueblo, Crowley, Bent, Otero and Prowers counties, passed a resolution outlining the threats its communities face when Colorado Springs expands.  Big cities in Colorado regularly turn to agricultural water to get more water to satisfy their growth. For farmers and ranchers, selling or leasing water to cities can mean drying up farmland, laying off workers or compromising their way of life. A recently approved annexation plan, the Karman Line project n...
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Once eradicated measles could make a Colorado comeback; officials urge vaccination
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Approved, gazette.com, State

Once eradicated measles could make a Colorado comeback; officials urge vaccination

By Debbie Kelley | The Gazette As an infectious disease specialist for nearly 26 years, Dr. Michelle Barron has never physically seen measles, and neither have a lot of other physicians of the 21st century. The virus, most commonly identified by a flat red rash, fever, cough and white spots on the back of the throat, officially was eradicated in the United States in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Colorado Senate committee extends organ and tissue donation fund indefinitely
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Senate committee extends organ and tissue donation fund indefinitely

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved an indefinite extension of the Emily Keyes - John W. Buckner Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Fund, which was set to expire in two years. Buckner's widow, former Sen. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, was on hand for the committee's unanimous decision. It was her first return to the Capitol since retiring in January. Emily Keyes, for whom the fund was first named, was a high school student at Platte Canyon High School and was murdered by a 53-year-old gunman in 2006. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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‘Everyone feels anxiety’ over CPW depredation payments, but commissioners note it’s the law
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Everyone feels anxiety’ over CPW depredation payments, but commissioners note it’s the law

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice “Everyone feels anxiety and fear about all this," Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis told commissioners as they approved a large payment to two Colorado ranchers in Grand County that lost livestock as a direct result of the wolf reintroduction program. The agenda item was on the commission's consent agenda — generally reserved for items so routine as to not require discussion. A motion was made to approve the depredation claims in the amount of $343,000 and some change. "I feel like we’re working with ranchers and livestock operations," Davis said. "It may not feel or look like it to them sometimes, but we are.” Davis continued, “These are large claims. We are the only western state that pays for itemize...
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