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Rocky Mountain Voice

Homeless are ‘dumpster diving’ and rural police chief wants trespassing law to stop it
Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Homeless are ‘dumpster diving’ and rural police chief wants trespassing law to stop it

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A new measure could be added to Fort Morgan's criminal code in response to a homeless man who may nearly have been killed as a result of living inside a dumpster on trash pickup day. "Fortunately, the guy was able to get out and jumped out of the truck and ran off the hood," Police Chief Loren Sharp said. "He literally would have been crushed, had he not gotten out of there." Sharp is asking members of City Council to consider a trespassing ordinance which would include the interior of a dumpster, making it illegal to be within the confines of a dumpster. "We don't have any [trespassing law] that talks about dumpsters and receptacles," he said. The concern and frustration of residents toward homeless in Fort Morgan has grown throughout ...
FEC filings contradict Democrat Frisch’s claims that he doesn’t take corporate PAC money
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

FEC filings contradict Democrat Frisch’s claims that he doesn’t take corporate PAC money

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Adam Frisch, the Democratic nominee for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, has told his supporters in person, in debates, on social media and on national television, that he does not take corporate or PAC money.  The claims just don’t track with his own campaign filings to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Neither does the fact that he has more than $13 million dollars in his campaign account. According to FEC records, Frisch has received 528 corporate donations through political-action committees. [See file at bottom of story] Frisch’s PAC donors include ACTBLUE, BLUEHEN, Progressive Turnout Project, Democrats Reshaping America PAC, Progressive Choices PAC, Jeffries For Congress, and Beyond Thoughts And Prayer...
Prop. 127’s ‘unintended consequences’ could be devastating, leaders in Northwest Colorado say
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Prop. 127’s ‘unintended consequences’ could be devastating, leaders in Northwest Colorado say

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Members of the Associated Governments of Northwestern Colorado (AGNC) were joined recently in a discussion of Proposition 127 by Gaspar Perricone, of the Wildlife Conservation Project and formerly a political advisor, legislative director to the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and regional director for Sen. Mark Udall. If supported by voters, Prop. 127 on the Nov. 5 statewide ballot would ban hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and federally-protected lynx. The measure is the result of an animal rights activist group, Cats aren’t Trophies (CATs), a 501(c) (3) organization who gathered enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot. This is the same process that led to the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado, often ter...
Ganahl: Retail rescue outed by a rabies outbreak
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Ganahl: Retail rescue outed by a rabies outbreak

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado’s animal rescue system has long been regarded as a national leader, rescuing tens of thousands of pets from outside the state each year to meet the growing demand for furry companions. However, a disturbing trend is emerging in the rescue world, where non-profit organizations posing as shelters are flipping animals in a scheme that values profits over the welfare of pets. This "retail rescue" phenomenon, coupled with lax quarantine and vaccination enforcement, has come to light in the wake of the Moms and Mutts (MAMCO) rabies outbreak, which has cost public health agencies over $600,000 to clean up. In August, MAMCO, a Colorado rescue organization, found itself at the center of a rabies exposure crisis after importing ani...
Sloan: Do we all – Democrats and Republicans – like nuclear now?
Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Sloan: Do we all – Democrats and Republicans – like nuclear now?

By Kelly Sloan | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice We have not been afforded any authoritative glimpses into the proposed energy policies of either Mr. Trump or Ms. Harris, leaving us with only the conventional jousting positions with which to make comparisons. For Democrats, that generally means concerns over climate change exceeding every other consideration – meaning the minimizing of the use of oil and gas; for Republicans, it generally means strengthening national energy posture – meaning maximizing production of domestic supplies of oil and gas.  Those battle lines seem relatively inelastic and are expected to hold; but an interesting evolution has been quietly taking place on the left side of the aisle, and I’m not talking about Harris’ new-found appreciation of frackin...
Devotional: Don’t be a rebel. Engage in the process and vote.
Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Devotional: Don’t be a rebel. Engage in the process and vote.

By DRAKE HUNTER | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As we look ahead to our country's future, it's important to recognize the significant role that the government plays in shaping it. While there may be differing perspectives on this role, it's undeniable that the government holds substantial influence over our collective destiny. We must envision the future and assess how our personal governance and contributions impact the well-being of our country. In Christianity, there is a profound belief in the ultimate authority resting in the hands or work of God. There's a strong emphasis on the responsibility of followers to uphold the 'Goodness' of God, often referred to as 'Governance.' Governance works in tandem with preserving goodness; when functioning optimally, it's seen as the Pr...
Experts to debate Prop 131 (Ranked Choice Voting) at Oct. 18 event in Grand Junction
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...
Raisch: When certifying election results, more transparency and better processes will reduce anxiety among voters
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Raisch: When certifying election results, more transparency and better processes will reduce anxiety among voters

By Michael L. Raisch, CPA, and Colorado Institute for Fair Elections | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice We have all seen an increase in tension between people of different political beliefs over the last few years.  We believe there are some common-sense solutions to help increase trust and tone down the rhetoric that comes out of the election process.  The good news is that these improvements do not require a change in the statute to do so.  The solutions being proposed here require added transparency and a willingness to follow current law. In Colorado, the elections conducted by each county are initially certified by entities called “canvass boards.” Those county-level certifications are then provided to the Secretary of State who relies on them to certify the elect...
‘This was a takeover’: CBZ Management no longer silent on violent TdA activity in Aurora
Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

‘This was a takeover’: CBZ Management no longer silent on violent TdA activity in Aurora

Jurinsky: 'Police chief leadership and city management lied' By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A property management company, which has been vilified in Aurora as a slumlord, has begun to speak out through a new social media account. They are providing, in the words of Paul Harvey, the rest of the story. In 2019, CBZ Management was hired to manage Aurora apartment properties by the new owners. The properties were in poor condition and CBZ Management was assigned renovation to increase the rent value, the company's first posting on Oct. 11 reads. "We understood this project would take years to yield results and would be both time-consuming and costly, involving comprehensive upgrades to every unit and the overall structure," the Twitter/X post from @CbzManagement reads. ...
Rosinski: Supporting Colorado’s coal communities with nuclear power
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rosinski: Supporting Colorado’s coal communities with nuclear power

By Michelle Rosinski | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As Colorado grapples with increasing energy demands and the urgent need to move away from coal to meet environmental and health goals, the question arises: how can we ensure that this transition provides economic opportunities and stability for coal-dependent communities?  For decades, the American working class has borne the brunt of energy transitions. From coal miners to oil rig workers, shifts in energy policy have often led to job losses and economic instability. As we move toward a cleaner future, it is imperative that we avoid repeating these mistakes.  Nuclear energy, particularly advanced small modular reactors (SMRs), presents a viable solution that can facilitate a just transition away from coal, ensuring...