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Long after ‘the call’ there’s work being done in election offices across Colorado
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Long after ‘the call’ there’s work being done in election offices across Colorado

By BRIAN PORTER and JEN SCHUMANN | Rocky Mountain Voice When the polls close and enough ballots are counted on Election Night, voters are familiar with news agencies "calling" a winner in a race. "The call" is generally an estimation based on many factors, such as the percentage of votes counted against the anticipated total ballots cast, whether the margin is moving with each data release, if outstanding votes in a certain area might be a significant anomaly from the returned votes, and possibly a mathematical formula of what it may take to flip the race with the remaining outstanding votes. In other words, would a candidate with 35% of ballots remaining and only 20% of the vote need 90% of remaining ballots to favor him, a statistical improbability? Once all of those considerati...
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Two arrested Mesa County women, including a postal worker, allegedly conspired in ballot theft case to test election
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Two arrested Mesa County women, including a postal worker, allegedly conspired in ballot theft case to test election

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Two women have been arrested in connection with the theft of multiple ballots in Mesa County, District Attorney Dan Rubinstein announced Wednesday. Sally Jane Smith, known by aliases Sally Maxedon and Sally Cline, age 60, from Grand Junction, and Vicki Lyn Stuart, age 64, also from Grand Junction, were arrested on Nov. 6, 2024. Election crimes fall under the authority and jurisdiction of the local district attorney, although the investigation also included state and local law enforcement. On Oct. 21, election officials at the Mesa County clerk and recorder's office reported to the district attorney’s office that they had received what appeared to be fraudulent ballots in the mail. When the elections officials were running...
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Business owners ask City Council for help with homeless activity, get no action in Grand Junction
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Business owners ask City Council for help with homeless activity, get no action in Grand Junction

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Grand Junction businesses and residents in the downtown area have become fed up with the nefarious and criminal activity stemming from the Homeward Bound Day Center for the homeless, and they are directing their ire at elected officials on City Council. Ben Van Dyke, who owns the car wash next door to the center, says that although he understands, and has compassion for, the people who are homeless, the criminal and nuisance activities that are not being managed are unsafe and are driving away his business. “My revenue is down 30 percent because my customers tell me they feel unsafe," he said. "I used to go down and do maintenance on my building at night so I didn’t have to shut down operations during the day. I can’t do that a...
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How three fraudulent ballots got through the mail-in voting process in Mesa County
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Approved, Local, The Business Times

How three fraudulent ballots got through the mail-in voting process in Mesa County

By Craig Hall and Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times Even with several tiers of signature auditing in place, the sheer volume of votes in process leaves Colorado’s system open to fraud and mistakes while putting the onus on individuals. According to Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross, the 12 fraudulent ballots under current investigation were all set aside for the envelope signatures not matching by the automated equipment used by the county. “And while that’s all part of the process, the factis our equipment sets aside about 50% of early ballot envelopes due to signatures not matching. Unless it’s an exact, or almost exact, match, the equipment kicks the envelope out,” said Gross, “And not all counties in Colorado even have the automated equipmentneeded for the first step in the autho...
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Mesa County to Secretary Griswold: ‘This is our community and our investigation’
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Mesa County to Secretary Griswold: ‘This is our community and our investigation’

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The Mesa County elections office is investigating a potential case of election fraud, Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross announced Thursday, just moments after a press release vividly detailing the case was sent to the media from Secretary of State Jena Griswold's office. "While we understand the secretary of state’s desire to make public statements, this is our community and our investigation," Gross said. Thirteen minutes earlier, Griswold had released specific information pertaining to the investigation and a statement to the media. "It is critical that we follow proper procedures to ensure a thorough and effective investigation without tipping off those involved," Gross said. "The people of Mesa County deserve transparency and accountabili...
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Deputies seize 60 pounds of meth, arrest two in traffic stop on Colorado’s Western Slope
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Local, Mesa County

Deputies seize 60 pounds of meth, arrest two in traffic stop on Colorado’s Western Slope

By Jennifer McRae | CBS Colorado Two people have been arrested following a traffic stop on Colorado's Western Slope in which authorities seized 60 pounds of methamphetamine. According to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, an investigator with the Western Colorado Drug Task Force conducted the traffic stop on Tuesday. The investigator approached the vehicle after it pulled into a gas station in Fruita following a traffic violation. The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 60 pounds of methamphetamine. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Experts to debate Prop 131 (Ranked Choice Voting) at Oct. 18 event in Grand Junction
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Experts to debate Prop 131 (Ranked Choice Voting) at Oct. 18 event in Grand Junction

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice With many Colorado voters already having ballots in hand, soon decisions will need to be made on a variety of ballot initiatives, not the least of which is Proposition 131. The measure is an attempt to adopt Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) in Colorado. It would overhaul the existing election processes, with some having expressed concern over little evidence of making elections more efficient, trustworthy, voter-friendly or transparent. A panel discussion on Prop. 131 will take place Oct. 18 in the Robinson Theatre at Colorado Mesa University (CMU). The event is hosted by Restore the Balance (RTB), the CMU Civic Forum and the Young Forwardists. This panel discussion is free to the public. CMU Political Science Professor Tim Casey wi...
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On Western Slope, opioid crisis continues and sheriffs say it is leading to mental health, crime
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

On Western Slope, opioid crisis continues and sheriffs say it is leading to mental health, crime

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell and Delta County Sheriff Mark Taylor have had  a constant battle fighting the opioid crisis in their counties since 2017, when it first started impacting western Colorado. MESA COUNTY When opioids first appeared as fentanyl on the Western Slope in 2017-18, each pill cost $18. Now, because of increases in the supply, they are $2 a pill.  "Fentanyl is a 45-minute high, and we see people taking up to 40 pills a day. It makes zombies out of people in our community,” Rowell said. In Mesa County, according to Rowell, law enforcement and first responders have had to administer Narcan - a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose - 114 times in the last year. “That’s one person every t...
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A view from both sides of the 29 Road Interchange ballot measure in Mesa County
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Approved, Mesa County, Rocky Mountain Voice

A view from both sides of the 29 Road Interchange ballot measure in Mesa County

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice For decades, Mesa County folks have been dreaming of a common sense road fix to link 29 Road straight to Interstate 70. That connection is almost a reality. The Mesa County Board of County Commissioners gave the green light to a ballot measure, inching the area closer to smoother drives and less gridlock. As traffic congestion worsens, proponents argue for the interchange. They say it is vital for regional connectivity and to manage future traffic. The population is set to grow by 20-25% in 20 years, and acting now will prevent traffic jams. Grand Junction City Councilman Cody Kennedy and Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis have been leaders in pushing for the project. At a recent Mesa County Republican Women's luncheon, both ...
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Mesa County focused on stopping the spread of zebra mussels threatening water supply
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Mesa County focused on stopping the spread of zebra mussels threatening water supply

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice A small intruder endangers Mesa County's water infrastructure, agriculture, local economy and aquatic habitats, and Mesa County isn't alone facing the threat. Zebra mussels invade ecosystems unchecked. Their staggering reproductive rate fuels the crisis. A single female can unleash one million eggs. What's worse is that they reach maturity in about four months. These small mussels clog pipes and drip water tubing as they multiply.  They can invade canals and rivers, and cripple irrigation systems.  This July, zebra mussel DNA was detected in the Government Highline Canal and the Colorado River. Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel and Tina Bergonzini, general manager of the Grand Valley Water Users Association, have ...
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