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A Conservative Tide in Montrose County Education, Tempered by a Disturbing Underbelly
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

A Conservative Tide in Montrose County Education, Tempered by a Disturbing Underbelly

By Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB” | Guest Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice As the dust settles on the November 4, 2025, election in Montrose County, Colorado, the unofficial results paint a clear picture of voter priorities: a resounding endorsement of conservative values in the classroom, coupled with a sharp rebuke of personality clashes and certain local measures. With a turnout of 50.50% (16,248 ballots cast out of 32,173 active registered voters), a strong showing for an off-year election, these outcomes signal a community eager for change in education but demanding accountability from its leaders. The Montrose County School Board races delivered a clean sweep for candidates championing traditional principles, while the recall of County Commissioner Scott Mijares highlights the infl...
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Denver City Council Blocks Proposal to Cut Police Budget for Homeless Services
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

Denver City Council Blocks Proposal to Cut Police Budget for Homeless Services

By Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette A push to shift millions of dollars away from the Denver Police Department to pay for homeless families’ shelter failed on Monday night, when councilmembers waded through more than two dozen amendments. The council voted against a pair of amendments, sponsored independently by Councilmember Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and At-large Councilmember Sarah Parady, both of which proposed a one-time budget reallocation of $9 million from the police department to Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) to pay for the needs of approximately 240 homeless families. The two amendments would have taken funding from DPD’s recruiting program, as well as from its service and supply budget line. When asked how HOST might use the additional cash infus...
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Tri-Lakes parents back Ginger Schaaf for D38 School Board—and stronger schools
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Tri-Lakes parents back Ginger Schaaf for D38 School Board—and stronger schools

By Amy Stephens | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Two years ago, Ginger Schaaf and her family moved to Monument after her husband retired from military service. Having lived in Olympia, Washington, they were ready to leave behind “woke” policies that made it untenable to stay. “It was so extreme that at local sports games there wasn’t even an American flag,” Ginger recalled. “You had to put your hand on your chest and look to the sky.” When the Schaafs chose Monument, it was because of the area’s strong sense of community and its reputation for excellent schools—something they wanted for their middle- and high-school-age sons. So when Ginger learned that progressive community organizer Jackie Burhans had entered the D38 school-board race, she knew she had to step forward. ...
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In Aurora, Danielle Jurinsky doesn’t talk change—she works for it
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

In Aurora, Danielle Jurinsky doesn’t talk change—she works for it

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Since taking office in 2021, Danielle Jurinsky has thrown herself into Aurora’s challenges. She’s backed measures to curb crime and pushed to ease the load on small businesses and residents when it comes to local taxes. But Jurinsky’s work hasn’t stopped at city hall — she’s known for showing up at neighborhood cleanups, community events, and talking face-to-face with the people she represents. One of her biggest moments came when she raised the alarm about a violent gang terrorizing residents at local apartment complexes— while others looked the other way. -https://www.danielleforaurora.com/about Taking the risk to tell the truth about Tren de Aragua She made national headlines when she publicly ...
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Denver Takes Trump Administration to Court Over Alleged Funding Restrictions
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kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Denver Takes Trump Administration to Court Over Alleged Funding Restrictions

By: Heather Willard | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — The city and county of Denver has joined Chicago, New York, Boston and more in a lawsuit against the Trump administration for allegedly imposing illegal conditions for grant funding. Denver said that the new lawsuit aims to prevent the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency from requiring compliance with the current administration’s stance on diversity, equity and inclusion to get grant funding. “President Trump is threatening to strip cities of critical funding for everything from fighting fires to protecting concertgoers at Red Rocks from serious threats,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in a release. “These grants have nothing to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion and everything to ...
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Pueblo’s game changer: 2C asks who should run the city—a professional or a politician
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

Pueblo’s game changer: 2C asks who should run the city—a professional or a politician

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Pueblo is about to decide–as Randy Thurston puts it—whether power belongs to a politician or a professional. On Unleashed with Heidi Ganahl: Pueblo pushback: the mayor, the vote & the battle for Colorado’s soul, Thurston, a former city councilman and broker called 2C “one of the most massive game changers” Pueblo has faced in decades. If approved, 2C would eliminate the strong-mayor system adopted seven years ago and return the city to a professional manager model—where council hires an administrator to run daily operations instead of leaving those duties to one elected office. “There are historic moments in every community, and this is one of the most massive game changers that’s on the table here,” Thurston said. “The question really is...
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Record Number of ICE Transfers Reported by El Paso County
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Colorado Politics, Approved, Local

Record Number of ICE Transfers Reported by El Paso County

By Cleo Westin | Colorado Politics Twenty six people with criminal charges were transferred from the custody of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement from July to September, according to a news release by the office Monday. Deputies also detained 14 additional individuals with criminal charges who were released “before ICE authorities could take custody.” Wednesday’s announcement brings the total number of people transferred into ICE custody by the office this year to 45, according to several releases by the office. The sheriff’s office transferred 14 people to ICE custody in September, which is higher than any other month this year. The next highest months were April and July which each had seven transfers. “As we approach the 2026 L...
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Fort Collins to Debut Ranked Choice Voting in November Election
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

Fort Collins to Debut Ranked Choice Voting in November Election

By: Maggie Bryan | Denver7 Denver7 is taking your questions and concerns about ranked choice voting to the Fort Collins city clerk and the Larimer County clerk. FORT COLLINS, Colo. — For the first time, Fort Collins voters will use ranked choice voting to elect a mayor and city council members during November's election. Fort Collins voters approved the switch to the new voting method in 2022 with 58% of the vote. For the past few years, local election officials have been working to educate people on ranked choice voting, which allows people to rank candidates in order of preference instead of voting for one person. Ranked choice voting has faced criticism for being too complicated for voters in a climate where it's already difficult to get people to vote in local elections. ...
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Colorado’s Local Control Eroded by State’s Energy and Housing Overreach
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, Commentary, State

Colorado’s Local Control Eroded by State’s Energy and Housing Overreach

By: The Gazette Editorial Board | Commentary, The Denver Gazette What’s the common thread between Gov. Jared Polis’ roadmap to green energy and his agenda for affordable housing?  That is, aside from the fact each will backfire on the state’s economy in one or more ways.  The answer is that both steamroll local laws that are more in tune with the needs of their communities — in pursuit of pipe dreams.  One aims to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions — when in fact Colorado has virtually no impact on global climate in the first place. The other seeks to create more affordable housing on a wing and a prayer, oblivious to how the housing market really works. A Gazette report last week on Polis’ mad dash to 100% renewable power generation and “net zero” carbon ...
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