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Federal judge rules, ‘sideshows’ aside, no Colorado voter intimidation by ‘election integrity’ organizers
coloradopolitics.com, State

Federal judge rules, ‘sideshows’ aside, no Colorado voter intimidation by ‘election integrity’ organizers

By Michael Karlik | Colorado Politics A federal judge on Thursday concluded three civic organizations failed to provide evidence that the leaders of an "election integrity" effort illegally intimidated Colorado voters through a door-to-door canvassing project to search for election fraud in the wake of the 2020 presidential race. After three days of testimony, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney granted the motion to end the case after noting both sides seemingly wanted to litigate matters beyond the narrow question she had to decide. "It is not about the Jan. 6 insurrection or the history of voter intimidation in this country. It is not about the defendants' collective belief about election fraud. It's not about the security or lack of security of elections in Colorado...
Paralyzed mountain lion found in Colorado is first case of “staggering disease” in North America
State, The Colorado Sun

Paralyzed mountain lion found in Colorado is first case of “staggering disease” in North America

By Michael Booth | The Colorado Sun In May 2023, a homeowner in Douglas County was astonished to find a partially paralyzed mountain lion taking cover between her basement window well and a spruce tree, dragging itself forward with its front paws. The year-old female couldn’t stand up, a phenomenon clear in the video the owner took while safely inside the house. Wildlife officers tranquilized the debilitated lion, then euthanized her with a gunshot to the chest to protect brain cells for a necropsy.  After a year of studying the animal, researchers are declaring her the first North American case of “staggering disease” in a mountain lion, according to Colorado State University veterinarian and former Colorado Parks and Wildlife pathologist Karen Fox. READ THE FULL STORY AT...
Adversaries turned allies tell RNC Trump is right for job, Biden right for “Weekend at Bernie’s”
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Adversaries turned allies tell RNC Trump is right for job, Biden right for “Weekend at Bernie’s”

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Actions speak louder than words and on the second evening of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisc., a few of former President Donald J. Trump's rivals acted through their words. Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, who offered Mr. Trump the greatest challenge in the primary season, joined with his toughest competition from the 2016 primary, Sen. Ted Cruz, as an expression of the party coalescing around Trump. "Never before has an election mattered so much," Cruz said. Mr. Trump is the Republican Party's nominee for President. On Monday, he announced Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate on the Republican ticket. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Trump's home state of Florida, set a tone. "Joe Biden has fa...
In Day 2 of voting rights trial, plaintiffs struggle to prove intimidation
coloradopolitics.com, State

In Day 2 of voting rights trial, plaintiffs struggle to prove intimidation

By Michael Karlik  | Colorado Politics The plaintiffs who are trying to prove an "election integrity" effort resulted in the illegal intimidation of Colorado voters ran into multiple stumbling blocks in federal court on Tuesday, including the aggressive questioning of the lone voter who claimed she was intimidated and the judge's skepticism about an attempt to introduce new victims at the last minute. Three civic groups — the Colorado Montana Wyoming State Area Conference of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters of Colorado, and Mi Familia Vota — sued the founders of U.S. Election Integrity Plan (USEIP), which was an organized effort following the 2020 election to visit voters at more than 9,400 homes to inquire about their registrations and past voting behavior. The plaintif...
More than 100 poultry workers likely exposed to avian flu, Colorado health officials say
denvergazette.com, State

More than 100 poultry workers likely exposed to avian flu, Colorado health officials say

By Nicole C. Brambila | Denver Gazette State health workers distributed antiviral medication earlier this week to more than 150 workers who were potentially exposed to poultry infected with avian flu at a commercial egg facility in Weld County. Last week, state officials tested more than 50 symptomatic workers, Annemarie Harper, a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment spokesperson, said in an email to The Denver Gazette. At least four poultry workers have tested positive for avian flu. A fifth is case is presumed positive, pending confirmation. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Greg Lopez will serve on U.S. House Budget, Science committees during brief, 6-month term
coloradopolitics.com, State

Greg Lopez will serve on U.S. House Budget, Science committees during brief, 6-month term

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez has been appointed to the House Budget and Science, Space and Technology committees, the Colorado Republican announced Tuesday. The newest member of the state's congressional delegation, Lopez was sworn into office last week after winning a June special election to fill the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Ken Buck's term. Lopez said he will take a conservative approach to federal spending on the budget panel while shining a light on his district's "significant and robust" tech sector as a member of the science panel. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Colorado Republicans praise Trump’s pick of ‘young, dynamic’ J.D. Vance as his running mate
coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Republicans praise Trump’s pick of ‘young, dynamic’ J.D. Vance as his running mate

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Leading Colorado Republicans and delegates to the party's national convention applauded former President Donald Trump's nomination of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate Monday, with some lauding the choice of the 39-year-old author as evidence Trump is empowering a new generation of Republicans. "Sen. J.D. Vance is a fantastic choice, and we are over to moon that President Donald J. Trump along with Sen. Vance are on a clear path to victory come November, especially as Joe Biden and the Democrats implode and fall apart during the final chapter of this race," said Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams, the chairman of the state's 37-member delegation to the Republican National Convention. Williams told Colorado Politics that the state's dele...
Invasive, fast-reproducing zebra mussels found in Colorado River near Grand Junction
State, The Colorado Sun

Invasive, fast-reproducing zebra mussels found in Colorado River near Grand Junction

By Michael Booth | The Colorado Sun Voracious zebra mussels appear to be spreading into the Colorado River near Grand Junction and infesting the Government Highline canal watering Mesa County farms, less than two years after the invasive species first appeared in a Western Slope lake, wildlife officials said Tuesday.  Western Slope officials called the news “devastating,” and are warning downstream water conservation partners beginning with Utah that the fast-reproducing mussels are likely on the way. Colorado Parks and Wildlife had led the charge to combat zebra mussels after finding the first lake infestation at nearby Highline Lake State Park in September 2022.  The zebra mussels strip plankton from the water en masse, depriving native species of vital food. The ...
Platform focuses on ‘forgotten men and women of America’, Sen. Blackburn reports
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Platform focuses on ‘forgotten men and women of America’, Sen. Blackburn reports

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., reported to delegates and attendees Monday evening at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisc., that under her leadership the party has a simple to understand platform. The 20-point plan focuses on sealing the border, ending inflation, restoring America's energy dominance, restoring American jobs, defending the U.S. Constitution and much more. Blackburn chaired the committee creating the platform. "We produced a different kind of platform, one dedicated to the forgotten men and women of America," she said. Examples in the platform include the ending of the weaponization of the American government against its people, addressing migrant crime, demolishing drug cartels, making cities safe, st...
Working Coloradans funded $311M in family leave pay for 62,000 in first six months
The Center Square, State

Working Coloradans funded $311M in family leave pay for 62,000 in first six months

By Joe Mueller  | The Center Square Approximately $311 million was distributed to 62,000 workers who filed claims under Colorado’s new Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program since payments started in January. Colorado became the first state to establish a partial paid-leave program when voters passed Proposition 118 in November 2020. The initiative allows all Colorado workers to obtain up to 12 weeks of paid leave to take care of themselves or their families during circumstances keeping them from working. Those experiencing pregnancy or childbirth complications can receive an additional four weeks. Colorado businesses and workers began paying premiums to fund the insurance program in 2023. The state provides an online premium and benefits estimates calculator. A worker with a ...