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Grand Junction says no to climate strings: City declines Urban Trails grant
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The Business Times, Approved, Local

Grand Junction says no to climate strings: City declines Urban Trails grant

By Brandon Leuallen | The Business Times Despite support from the Urban Trails Committee, the City of Grand Junction confirmed it is not pursuing a state-run climate grant that could have required new local policies, including a potential “vehicle climate fee.” At its July 9 meeting, the Urban Trails Committee, chaired by City of Grand Junction Mobility Coordinator Henry Brown, listed “support for Local IMPACT Accelerators grant” as its No. 1 action item. The grant is funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program and administered by the Colorado Energy Office. The grant encourages local governments to adopt “transformative” policies that go beyond current state standards in areas such as transportation, building codes, l...
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Daniel: The state’s mandates, your money—and why counties are saying “Enough”
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Top Stories, Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Daniel: The state’s mandates, your money—and why counties are saying “Enough”

By Bobbie Daniel | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Imagine walking into a restaurant, and before you even look at the menu, someone else orders for the whole table. They choose the most expensive items, add dessert, and go for top-shelf drinks—and when the check comes, they quietly slide it over to you.  That, in a nutshell, is what the State of Colorado is doing to counties.  Every year, new laws and regulations roll out of the Capitol with noble names and lofty goals. But when it comes time to pay for them, the state shrugs and walks away—leaving counties, and local taxpayers, to foot the bill. It’s called an unfunded mandate, and it’s become one of the biggest threats to responsible government in Colorado.  In Mesa County, we’ve always believed in balan...
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Boebert Delivers Big for Small Colorado Towns with ZIP Code Bill
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State, Approved, CBS News

Boebert Delivers Big for Small Colorado Towns with ZIP Code Bill

By Austen Erblat | CBS News A bill that aims to help smaller cities and towns collect more local revenue has passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives and could soon go to the president's desk to be signed into law. The legislation, sponsored by U.S. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, whose district includes a large swath of Northern Colorado and the Eastern Plains, would create unique ZIP codes for 15 communities across the state, as well as dozens more in other states. All eight members of Colorado's Congressional delegation -- four Democrats and four Republicans -- all voted in favor of the bill. Colorado's Democrats joined 71 others in Congress to bring the final vote on the bill to 278-121, with 31 members of Congress not voting on the bill. One town that could benefit ...
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Bailey: Violent crime up 30% in Colorado, 28% in the Springs—why?
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denvergazette.com, Approved, State

Bailey: Violent crime up 30% in Colorado, 28% in the Springs—why?

By Tatiana Bailey | Commentary, Denver Gazette There’s been a lot of attention in the media regarding rising crime within Colorado Springs. As someone who works closely with public data, I always try to avoid sensationalism and instead ask: What’s driving this, and how do we compare to the U.S. and other cities? When you look at U.S. trends overall and specific comparison cities, there are, indeed, some alarming trends. Crime rates in the U.S. between 2018 and 2024 are virtually identical. However, the state of Colorado and the city of Colorado Springs have both seen double-digit increases in the rate of violent crimes per 100,000 population. Both our state and region’s violent crime rate have increased by roughly 30% while the U.S. rate is relatively steady increasing 2...
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‘No Kings’ protest defies Parker officials, will proceed despite security concerns
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

‘No Kings’ protest defies Parker officials, will proceed despite security concerns

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — After the town of Parker tried to cancel a “No Kings” protest due to the Parker Days Festival on Saturday, the event is taking place anyway. On Saturday, June 14, a group known as “No Kings” is planning a “nationwide day of defiance” against the Trump administration on President Donald Trump’s birthday. The group said during Trump’s birthday festivities, they’re planning on showing up around the country to say “no thrones, no crowns, no kings.” Protests will be held in Colorado and all over the country, including Parker, even after the town of Parker said it had to be canceled due to a scheduling conflict. The town said the Parker Days Festival, which is hosted by the Parker Chamber of Commerce, is a permitted event that takes place...
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‘It’s not safe’: Lakewood residents push back on Denver’s growing homeless spillover
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

‘It’s not safe’: Lakewood residents push back on Denver’s growing homeless spillover

By Sage Kelley | Denver Gazette Rising homelessness in Lakewood sparks concern over lack of resources and public safety risks. Timothy Harris stood a block away from West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood, his items methodically packed in a cart, a tent propped up beside him.  Harris, who is homeless but originally from Mesa County, has lived in Lakewood after being in Denver for years. To him, Lakewood offers more safety and accessible open space. "Downtown Denver is kind of scary. It's a little intimidating," Harris said. "There are shootings and crime. But, back home, people freeze or get attacked by animals. There's a difference in death, but it weighs out the same." Chanel Lewis, a homeless woman who has been in the Denver metro area since 2002 and now lives in Lakewood, a...
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“Write your own rules?” Douglas County voters to decide if it’s time for Home Rule
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

“Write your own rules?” Douglas County voters to decide if it’s time for Home Rule

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Supporters call it a chance to protect local values and reclaim decision-making power. Opponents warn the benefits are overstated – and the risks misunderstood. On June 24, Douglas County voters will weigh in on whether to create a Home Rule Charter Commission – and decide who should serve on it. The commission would be made up of 21 members, including six from each commissioner district and three at-large. If the measure passes, the elected commission will draft a charter that could reshape county governance. Ballots were mailed starting June 2. Drop boxes and in-person voting will remain open through 7 p.m. on Election Day. Before voters decide, it’s worth understanding what’s at stake: Home Rule would give Douglas County the chance t...
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Montrose Commissioner Pond: Why I’m Drawing the Line and Standing Against Federal Land Grabs
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Approved, Commentary, Local, National, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Montrose Commissioner Pond: Why I’m Drawing the Line and Standing Against Federal Land Grabs

By Sean Pond | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The views expressed here are my own and do not represent an official action or position of the Montrose Board of County Commissioners. I was appointed to represent the people of District 3 in Montrose County, and I took an oath to uphold the Constitution. That includes defending our land, our rights, and our way of life here in Western Colorado. In recent months, there’s been a coordinated push to place more of Colorado under federal control. We already fought back against the proposed Dolores National Monument, a 500,000-acre land grab, and we won.  Then came a 68,000 acre National Conservation Area proposal in Mesa and Montrose Counties. We stood our ground again and stopped it.  But now we’re facing two more ...
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Home rule vs. housing order: Colorado Springs challenges Polis directive
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Approved, KRDO.COM, Local

Home rule vs. housing order: Colorado Springs challenges Polis directive

By Mackenzie Stafford | KRDO COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council decided to roll the dice on roughly $20 million in funding, according to the city's estimates. It comes after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed executive order D 2025 - 005, which includes blanket statewide housing requirements aimed at improving affordability. The city claims that there are a handful of laws in the order that are not right for the Colorado Springs community. The only issue is that, as part of the executive order, not following these laws could put the city under noncompliance, which is a one-way ticket to getting those dollars pulled.At a city hall meeting on Tuesday, councilmembers voted 7 to 2 on a resolution to reaffirm Colorado S...
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