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‘This isn’t a goodbye,’ Rep. Boebert says in parting thoughts to 3rd District
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘This isn’t a goodbye,’ Rep. Boebert says in parting thoughts to 3rd District

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice In a parting message to Colorado's 3rd District Friday, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert discussed relationships, accomplishments and a hopeful future. "I'm going to continue to be a voice for all of Colorado. This isn't a goodbye," the Republican said in a video posted to her Twitter/X account. "I will still be voting for you, even if you can't vote for me." Boebert served two terms representing the 3rd District of the Western Slope and Southern Colorado in Congress, but shifts to the Eastern Plains and Northern Colorado's 4th District in a third term. Her term expired Friday in the 3rd District, as she was sworn in to the 4th District on Friday. https://twitter.com/RepBoebert/status/1875299423716299085 "I gave you a voice in Washington, D.C...
Freshman state Rep. Larry Don Suckla brings grit and vision of rancher to legislature
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Freshman state Rep. Larry Don Suckla brings grit and vision of rancher to legislature

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Meet Larry Don Suckla, the cowboy legislator from Colorado's vast District 58, who's set to shake up the Golden Dome with his down-to-Earth wisdom and dash of rural humor. Suckla has attended three training sessions along with other newly-elected state representatives in preparation for the 75th Legislative Session. One thing he’s already noticed? The capitol’s dress code. “I didn’t know you couldn’t wear a hat in the Supreme Court chambers, or denim in the chambers where we’ll be voting,” he said. “But I like to wear black denim — you can’t even tell it’s denim. To me, representing the eight counties of HD58 includes the way I dress." Suckla has engaged in debates over the capitol’s dress code because he sees his a...
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers reward for information on Colorado wolf’s death
coloradopolitics.com, State

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers reward for information on Colorado wolf’s death

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The US Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward for information regarding the killing of the male of the Copper Creek wolf pack. The male, known as 2309-OR, was captured in Grand County on Aug. 30 and died on Sept. 3. He was found to be in poor condition. USFWS said a necropsy, which has not yet been released because the investigation is ongoing, revealed that a gunshot wound "initiated the poor condition of the wolf and ultimately led to the cause of death." Wolf 2309-OR was one of 10 wolves from Oregon, which came from packs with a history of killing livestock in that state, that were relocated to Colorado a year ago. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Several notable changes highlight new makeup of legislative committees
State, The Sum & Substance

Several notable changes highlight new makeup of legislative committees

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Colorado House and Senate leaders have announced the makeup of committees in preparation for Wednesday’s commencement of the 2025 legislative session, making some key panels more Republican and others more Democratic due in part to election results. Republicans picked up three seats in the House in November to end Democrats’ supermajority in that chamber but remain at a significant disadvantage, as Dems hold a 43-22 margin there. Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats each picked up and lost one seat in the Senate, leaving the Democrats holding a 23-12 in that chamber. In the House, Republicans will hold more committee seats, as House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, grew four committees — Business Affairs & Labor, Education, ...
New Colorado law requires guns in vehicles to be in locked containers
Breitbart, State

New Colorado law requires guns in vehicles to be in locked containers

By AWR Hawkins | Breitbart A Colorado law that went into effect January 1, 2025, requires guns in vehicles to be kept in locked containers. USA Today reported on the law taking effect, noting “any handgun stored inside an unoccupied vehicle in Colorado must be in a locked, hard-sided container that is out of plain view, and the vehicle also must be locked, with some exceptions.” Breitbart News pointed out numerous new gun controls go into effect in California on January 1, 2025, among them a law that requires licensed gun dealers to warn would-be gun purchasers of the alleged dangers of gun ownership. READ THE FULL STORY ON BREITBART
Wolf killed in Grand County was shot; federal officials seeking information
kdvr.com, State

Wolf killed in Grand County was shot; federal officials seeking information

By Jacob Factor | Fox 31 News Federal officials are seeking information in the illegal deadly shooting of one of the reintroduced gray wolves that died in Grand County in 2024. The wolf, one of three that died in 2024, was the adult male wolf of the Copper Creek pack Colorado Parks and Wildlife captured in 2024 that repeatedly attacked livestock, prompting the whole pack’s capture. The male wolf died less than a week after his capture, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said at the time. Parks and Wildlife staff found the wolf already in poor condition, with several injuries to his right hind leg and a body weight nearly 30 percent lower than when he was released. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Enforcement in place for new law to automatically fine express lane violators
CBS Colorado, State

Enforcement in place for new law to automatically fine express lane violators

By Jasmine Arenas | CBS Colorado Effective Jan. 1, drivers who weave in and out of express lanes in Colorado will automatically be ticketed. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is introducing electronic enforcement along US-36, I-70 through Denver, and the I-25 South Gap, using cameras and sensors to monitor toll lanes. This includes areas outside designated zones in Central 70, I-25 South Gap, and the US-36 corridors. During a 30-day grace period, thousands of warnings were issued to drivers who entered and exited express lanes improperly. But as of Jan. 1, violators will be fined. Tim Hoover, a spokesperson for CDOT, says this was created to make the roads safer for drivers. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Ranchers hit CPW with $580k in compensation claims for livestock impacted by wolves
State, The Colorado Sun

Ranchers hit CPW with $580k in compensation claims for livestock impacted by wolves

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun Ranchers in Grand County hit Colorado Parks and Wildlife with a $582,000 bill for wolf kills and related impacts on cattle and sheep in the first year of reintroduction, and they are hoping the sum will convince the parks and wildlife commission to pause the next phase of the program at its meeting in Denver on Jan. 8.  The claims are from three producers and center around attacks on livestock in 2024. A breakdown includes $18,411.71 for confirmed attacks resulting in injury or death of cows, calves and sheep; $173,526.63 for yearling cattle, calves and sheep reported missing from ranches with a confirmed attack or death; $216,772.20 for cattle from said ranches taken to market with a lower-than-normal weight; $172,754.64 for lower conception rat...
Marc Catlin drawing on youth football, rafting and Bigfoot for inspiration as he ‘graduates’ to Senate
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Marc Catlin drawing on youth football, rafting and Bigfoot for inspiration as he ‘graduates’ to Senate

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In preparation of his move to Colorado's upper chamber for the 75th legislative session, Marc Catlin has reflected upon a time in which he coached youth football. “There was a little boy who came up to me and said, 'Coach, I think something is wrong with me'," Catlin recalls. "When I asked him what he meant, he said, ‘It feels funny inside.’ I told him, ‘Well, that’s just butterflies. If you don’t have those, you’re not gonna play well.’ And that little critter played like a tiger that day.” The newly-elected state senator views his new role through a lens of humor, humility and determination. “If you don’t have some anxiety about it, you’re probably not thinking about it," he said. He served as a state representati...
AG Weiser first in the Democratic field for governor: ‘I’m committed to fighting for the people of Colorado’
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

AG Weiser first in the Democratic field for governor: ‘I’m committed to fighting for the people of Colorado’

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Attorney General Phil Weiser didn't waste any time in 2025 making his future intentions known. He was the first to declare a run in the Democratic field for governor. He announced the decision Thursday, Jan. 2, in a Twitter/X post on his personal account. https://twitter.com/pweiser/status/1874827618727657522 Gov. Jared Polis' second term in office expires at the end of 2026. The governor's office has a two-term limit. "Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for governor of Colorado," Weiser's post began on X. "There are many reasons why I’m running to lead this state I love, but the biggest reason is simple: I’m committed to fighting for the people of Colorado." Weiser was elected as attorney general in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Th...