Rocky Mountain Voice

Menu

State

Justice Served as Colorado Child Predator Receives 84-Year Federal Prison Sentence
No Comments
The Western Journal, Approved, State

Justice Served as Colorado Child Predator Receives 84-Year Federal Prison Sentence

By Jack Davis | The Western Journal A 31-year-old Colorado man has been sentenced to 84 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of the sexual exploitation of minors. Austin Ryan Lauless, 31, was sentenced on Dec. 17, according to a Department of Justice news release. In addition to prison time, he faces a lifetime of supervised release. Lauless pleaded guilty to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of advertising child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse material, the Justice Department said. The release said the 84 American victims come from almost every state, and that victims from at least five foreign countries have been identified. READ THE FUL...
Read More
Federal Order Delays Closure of Craig Power Plant as Energy Debate Intensifies
No Comments
The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Federal Order Delays Closure of Craig Power Plant as Energy Debate Intensifies

By Scott Weiser | The Denver Gazette The Trump administration’s energy agency has ordered one of three generating units at a Colorado power plant to remain available for operation amid an impending shutdown of the station and its supplying coal mines. The move is one of the latest attempts by the White House to revive coal production in the U.S. following President Donald Trump’s promise to “unleash” American energy. In Colorado, Democrats and their allies have prioritized moving away from fossil-fired energy in favor of solar and wind power in their campaign to get to net “zero” carbon emissions in a few decades, arguing it is good for people’s health and the environment. Republicans and others have argued that the transition is happening too quickly, with little rega...
Read More
New Colorado Emissions Law Expected to Push Furnace Prices Up 40% or More
No Comments
Approved, kdvr.com, State

New Colorado Emissions Law Expected to Push Furnace Prices Up 40% or More

By Ashley Michels | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — HVAC experts are warning about a significant price increase in the cost of new furnaces and water heaters in 2026. On Jan. 1, a new law went into effect in Colorado tightening the emissions standards on gas furnaces and water heaters. Units manufactured beginning Jan. 1, 2026 must meet Ultra Low Nox (ULN) or Energy Star ratings in order to be sold and installed in Colorado. The law does not require Coloradans to immediately replace their existing furnaces and water heaters with upgraded equipment. However, when it comes time to purchase replacements, they must meet the new standards. The change is meant to improve air quality in Colorado, cut down on pollution and help lower utility bills. However, experts expect u...
Read More
Rocky Mountain Voice’s Most Viral Moments of 2025
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Rocky Mountain Voice’s Most Viral Moments of 2025

By RMV Editorial Board 2025 was not a year that allowed anyone to stay on autopilot. It opened with President Donald Trump’s second inauguration and a sweeping federal reset that followed — more than 280 executive orders touching immigration, energy, enforcement, and regulatory authority. It was also a year marked by national tragedy, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, an event that sent shockwaves through Colorado and reshaped the tone of public discourse. Against that backdrop, Rocky Mountain Voice didn’t just keep up with the news cycle — it documented it. And more importantly, readers stayed. What the work added up to Rocky Mountain Voice published more than 800 original articles in 2025, written by 98 independent writers across Color...
Read More
Colorado’s Quiet Shift From Elections to Appointments
No Comments
Complete Colorado, Approved, Commentary, State

Colorado’s Quiet Shift From Elections to Appointments

By Jon Caldara | Commentary, Complete Colorado Remember during COVID, when the people screaming the loudest for government-mandated jabs were the very same people chanting “my body, my choice” when it came to abortion — I mean, “women’s health care”? They’re also the folks who insist a 12-year-old is far too young to get a tattoo, but perfectly mature enough to make irreversible “gender-affirming” medical decisions. The technical term for this is cognitive dissonance. In Colorado, we just call it public policy. Fighting tyranny by ending elections Now, as the new year dawns and another legislative session lurches to life, prepare yourself for the mother of all contradictions: “I will fight Trump’s assault on democracy,” followed immediately by, “and on an...
Read More
Unanimous Arkansas Valley Water Bill Blocked by Presidential Veto
No Comments
kdvr.com, Approved, State

Unanimous Arkansas Valley Water Bill Blocked by Presidential Veto

By Spencer Kristensen | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — President Donald Trump vetoed a bipartisan, unanimously-approved bill sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert and Rep. Jeff Hurd that would have secured funding to bring clean water to communities on the Eastern Plains, according to a statement made to FOX31 by Boebert’s office. The Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act passed unanimously in the House and the Senate. The bill would have secured funding to continue building the Arkansas Valley Conduit, a water pipeline that would bring access to clean water for 39 communities between Pueblo and Lamar, an area that is known to have high concentrations of salt in the groundwater. It is not a new idea that has been recently created, but rather the end of a project that was de...
Read More
Ben Nighthorse Campbell Longtime Colorado Lawmaker Dies at 92
No Comments
CBS News, Approved, State

Ben Nighthorse Campbell Longtime Colorado Lawmaker Dies at 92

By Jesse Sarles | CBS News Former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Northern Cheyenne tribal chief who became a prominent American politician, has died. He was 92. His daughter Shanan Campbell confirmed to CBS News that her father died Tuesday at his home on a ranch in southwestern Colorado surrounded by family members.   Campbell served in Colorado's congressional delegation across three different decades. He started out as a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1980s. In the mid-1990s, three years after his election to the U.S. Senate, he decided to leave the Democrats and switch to the Republican Party. He served two terms as senator and then retired in the 2000s because of what he said were concerns...
Read More
New Colorado Laws Take Effect Jan. 1 With Sweeping Changes for Health Care Housing and Gun Shows
No Comments
Colorado Politics, Approved, State

New Colorado Laws Take Effect Jan. 1 With Sweeping Changes for Health Care Housing and Gun Shows

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A new year means new laws in Colorado, covering everything from health insurance and gun shows to “junk fees” and protections for wild bison. Here’s a list of laws passed during the 2025 legislative session that will go into effect on Jan. 1. House Bill 1002: Medical necessity determination insurance coverage This law codifies and clarifies mental health parity requirements for insurers, ensuring that individuals receive the same coverage for mental health and behavioral services as they do for physical care. House Bill 1030: Accessibility standards in building codes This law requires new local building codes to meet or exceed international accessibility standards. It prohibits them from providing less protection than ...
Read More
Trump Rejects Arkansas Valley Water Pipeline Bill Citing Federal Taxpayer Burden
No Comments
DENVER7, Approved, State

Trump Rejects Arkansas Valley Water Pipeline Bill Citing Federal Taxpayer Burden

By Sophia Villalba | Denver7 DENVER — President Trump has vetoed a bill aimed at providing reliable, clean drinking water to rural communities in southeastern Colorado. It's another setback for the decades old "Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act" that would have completed a 130-mile pipeline bringing drinking water to 39 Colorado communities on the Eastern Plains. This is the president's first veto of his second term in the Oval Office. He rejected the bipartisan bill that passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate unanimously, saying the project would cost federal taxpayers too much money. The Arkansas Valley Conduit was first approved back in 1962, but according to the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, it wasn’t built for deca...
Read More