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Evans to be joined by Bright, Gonzalez, Navarro, Woog in two town hall meetings this week
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Evans to be joined by Bright, Gonzalez, Navarro, Woog in two town hall meetings this week

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Gabe Evans, the Republican nominee in Colorado's 8th U.S. House District, has announced a pair of town hall breakfast meetings in advance of Election Day. The Army combat veteran and former police lieutenant will be joined at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, by 8th District State Board of Education candidate Yazmin Navarro, Colorado Senate District 13 candidate Scott Bright and Colorado House District 50 candidate Ryan Gonzalez at Aunt Helen’s Café and Wine Bar, 800 8th Avenue, Suite 101, in Greeley. Evans will be joined at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1, by Colorado House District 19 candidate Dan Woog at Pepper’s Fireside Grille, 8274 Colorado Blvd. in Longmont. Evans is seeking to make Democrat Yadira Caraveo a one-term member of Congress. She is r...
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Business owners ask City Council for help with homeless activity, get no action in Grand Junction
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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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Walcher: Climate protocols are the ultimate entangling alliances with foreign governments
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Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Walcher: Climate protocols are the ultimate entangling alliances with foreign governments

By Grag Walcher | GregWalcher.com The “doctrine of unstable alliances” in George Washington’s “Farewell Address” underpinned U.S. foreign policy for decades and is still considered wise, though mostly ignored. “The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible,” Washington wrote. “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” Even the opposing party under President Thomas Jefferson continued to rely on that wisdom. He explained an “essential principle of our government,” in his inaugural address: “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” What a long way we have ...
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Why Western Colorado stands opposed to the Dolores River National Monument
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Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Why Western Colorado stands opposed to the Dolores River National Monument

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice On Saturday in Nucla, Colo., hunters emerged from the wilderness. They paused from their morning hunt and headed to the town park in camouflage, joining with neighbors and locals to meet candidates for election. At the heart of this gathering was a shared concern: the proposal to designate the nearby Dolores River as a national monument. Environmentalists praise its potential for conservation. But, it has sparked a fierce debate in Nucla.  Sean Pond, a Navy veteran and former nuclear engineer, leads the opposition through Halt the Dolores. Pond has criticized news media for ignoring those who would be most impacted by the Dolores Monument designation. He expressed gratitude to Rocky Mountain Voice for responding to the chall...
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In rural school districts, creative solutions to house teachers being created
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In rural school districts, creative solutions to house teachers being created

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice From Deer Creek School District on the far Eastern Plains to Rangely on the western border of Utah, from Telluride and Aspen to Vail and Steamboat Springs, school districts all over rural Colorado are struggling with a need for affordable and available housing for teachers. In an effort to begin finding solutions for what school districts foresee as a long-term problem, Colorado Rural Schools Alliance (CRSA) hosted their first Rural Housing Forum in Beaver Creek on Thursday, Oct. 24. CRSA represents 146 of 178 school districts in Colorado. The remaining 32 are located in urban areas.  Chris Holbert, formerly a Colorado senator and Minority Leader, and current consultant for CRSA, doesn’t think that one-size solutions fit all sc...
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Senate District 16 Showdown: Robyn Carnes vs. Chris Kolker
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Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Senate District 16 Showdown: Robyn Carnes vs. Chris Kolker

By Heidi Ganahl | Rocky Mountain Voice In the race for Colorado’s Senate District 16, which represents Denver’s western suburbs, residents have a choice between incumbent Democratic Sen. Chris Kolker or Republican challenger Robyn Carnes. Each candidate brings a unique perspective, but they differ sharply in approach and priorities. Carnes, a Centennial City Council member and business leader, aims to tackle affordability, housing and public safety with a fresh and service-oriented mindset. Kolker, elected in 2021, seeks to continue his legislative work, but may face scrutiny over his effectiveness on core issues like cost of living, housing and his approach to public safety. Carnes brings a wealth of community-oriented experience, serving as a Centennial City Council member and a...
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Here’s how to use BallotTrax to safeguard your vote in Colorado
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Here’s how to use BallotTrax to safeguard your vote in Colorado

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice In Colorado, voters can ensure transparency and increase self-awareness with BallotTrax, an online ballot tracking tool which provides real-time updates on the status of your ballot. Are you signed up for it yet? If not, following is some detail. Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross emphasizes the system’s importance, especially in light of recent fraudulent ballot-casting concerns. BallotTrax empowered voters to reach out to Gross when discrepancies arose. “The voters were notified, they contacted our office, which is absolutely what they should be doing,” she said.  Because these voters had registered with Ballotrax and were monitoring notifications, they were able to take swift action, helping Mesa County officials to inv...
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Panel at Colorado Mesa debates merits, concerns with Prop. 131, the ranked-choice voting measure
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Panel at Colorado Mesa debates merits, concerns with Prop. 131, the ranked-choice voting measure

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Imagine if your vote could genuinely reflect your voice. Some argue Proposition 131, the ranked-choice voting measure, can do just that. During a Grand Junction event hosted by Restore the Balance and Colorado Mesa University, both proponents and opponents of the measure debated the proposition. Panelists tackled tough questions about ranked-choice voting's potential to enhance democracy, versus the risk of confusion at the polls. Following is some of the key discussion between the panel, from Phil Izon, a prominent figure in Alaska’s efforts to repeal ranked-choice voting, to Kent Thiry, who heads up the support side of the Colorado proposition. From left, Josh Daniels, Sheila Reiner, Dr. Tim Casey, Kent Thiry, and Maeve Suns...
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Coloradans can ride the RTD for free to vote early today and on Election Day
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Coloradans can ride the RTD for free to vote early today and on Election Day

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Some voters along the Front Range can take advantage of fare-free rides with the Regional Transportation District to vote in-person or at a ballot drop-off location. Debra A. Johnson, the general manager and CEO of the RTD, and RTD Board Member Peggy Catlin, along with election officials, announced on Friday two no-fare travel days on RTD. There will be no fare for users on Tuesday, Oct. 29, and also on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Election Day is Nov. 5, and Oct. 29 marks National Vote Early Day. Colorado voters may find their nearest ballot drop box or voting center by visiting GoVoteColorado.gov, and can use RTD’s trip planner to find the best route to get there.
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Leaders in NW Colorado discuss challenges, solutions for energy, seniors, workforce, housing
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Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Leaders in NW Colorado discuss challenges, solutions for energy, seniors, workforce, housing

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice When the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC) held their meeting in Rifle, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, much of the discussion concerned how the region would plan for energy needs, housing shortages, and  workforce development and retention.  The loss of severance tax dollars was also front and center throughout the conversation. AGNC is comprised of elected officials from Garfield, Mesa, Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties, as well as elected officials from municipalities from Craig, Colbran, Battlement Mesa, Debeque, Dinosaur, Rangely, Fruita, Hayden, Meeker, New Castle, Palisade, Rifle, Silt, Parachute and Yampa.  Future of energy in Western Colorado With the imminent closing of Craig Power Station, bec...
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