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Former Jeffco Clerk and Recorder George Stern mulling run for Colorado secretary of state
coloradopolitics.com, State

Former Jeffco Clerk and Recorder George Stern mulling run for Colorado secretary of state

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Former Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder George Stern is considering a run for Colorado secretary of state in two years, the Democrat told Colorado Politics. Stern, 37, said his experience turning around one of the largest county clerk's offices in the state could help bolster trust in Colorado's elections at a time when the state's voting system has been under heightened scrutiny. "I think it's more important than ever that we have people with election administration experience serving as secretaries of state throughout the country, as we work to continue to defend the integrity of our elections and also to rebuild trust in our elections," Stern said in an interview. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Boddie: What it really looks like to run for office
American Thinker, Commentary, State

Boddie: What it really looks like to run for office

By C.S. Boddie | Guest Commentary, American Thinker They say all politics is local. I say local politics is a lot of work. Also, it is affected by lying national politicos with lots of money, which is not fair, as well as local volunteers who help or won’t help. I learned all this and more when I supported my husband, Peter, in a run for state representative in Colorado during 2024.  I’d like to offer a few observations. Local politics is still important, and we’re glad Peter ran.  We’re not sorry that we both put in time, effort, and money for the project.  Even though Peter lost — no fun — we still think it was worth doing. READ THE FULL SOMMENTARY AT AMERICAN THINKER Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the ...
Tina Peters appeal filed while justice awaits Jena Griswold
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Tina Peters appeal filed while justice awaits Jena Griswold

By Heidi Ganahl | Rocky Mountain Voice The legal journey of Tina Peters, former Clerk and Recorder of Mesa County, Colorado, has become emblematic of the contentious debates surrounding election integrity and judicial fairness.  Peters now seeks bond pending appeal, citing significant procedural and constitutional concerns in her trial. Peters was convicted on charges that stemmed from her decision to hire a cybersecurity expert to create forensic images of Mesa County's election management system (EMS). This action followed a directive from the Colorado Secretary of State to perform a software update, which Peters believed might erase key election records. Her intent, she insists, was to comply with federal laws mandating the preservation of election records for 22 months. The cr...
More than 60 Coloradans to be laid off by Boeing in Colorado, according to WARN notice
KKTV CBS 11, State

More than 60 Coloradans to be laid off by Boeing in Colorado, according to WARN notice

By Tony Keith | KKTV Channel 11 Some Colorado residents are among the more than 400 people who are being laid off by Boeing. The Associated Press (AP) is reporting the layoff impacts members of its professional aerospace labor union, part of thousands of cuts planned as the company struggles to recover from financial and regulatory trouble as well as an eight-week strike by its machinists’ union. READ THE FULL STORY AT KKTV CHANNEL 11
Exchange between clerks and secretary of state’s office after password leak
KOAA News, State

Exchange between clerks and secretary of state’s office after password leak

By James Gavato | KOAA-TV NBC-5 Colorado Springs An exchange between the Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum and Christopher Beall, the Colorado Deputy Secretary of State took place on November 1 after a civil servant from the Secretary of State's office posted partial passwords to voting systems online. It happened during a phone between the Secretary of State's Office and several county clerks. During the call, Beall admits the secretary of state's office did not want to disclose that passwords to Colorado voting systems were mistakenly posted online to avoid a 'media storm.' "It's really hard not answering media questions the way I actually want to," said Zygielbaum. READ THE FULL STORY AT KOAA-TV NBC-5 COLORADO SPRINGS
CPW unanimously adopts new Eastern Colorado mountain lion management plan
kdvr.com, State

CPW unanimously adopts new Eastern Colorado mountain lion management plan

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 News The 10-year plan to manage mountain lions east of the Continental Divide was adopted unanimously by the 10 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission members last week. The plan used months of research and public hearings to inform its measures and echoes the similar successful development of the West Slope mountain lion management plan, which was approved in 2020. CPW recently published results from a study of West Slope mountain lions and found that the big cats’ population density is equal to or greater than the density projections used for making harvest decisions. “Mountain lions in Colorado have historically been managed on smaller, localized scales – similar to the management of Colorado’s deer and elk,” CPW explained in a re...
Daniel: Eventually, you run out of other people’s money
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Daniel: Eventually, you run out of other people’s money

By Bobbie Daniel, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado, long admired for its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant outdoor culture, and once-thriving economy, finds itself at a crossroads. Rising living costs, unaffordable housing, stagnant wages and increasing business closures are eroding the state’s appeal. A state once a beacon of opportunity is now grappling with mounting challenges that jeopardize its economic vitality. Recent data highlights the gravity of the situation. According to the Common Sense Institute (2023), Colorado’s net population growth was a mere 7,236 people, ranking 16th nationally —- a stark contrast to its historic reputation as a magnet for newcomers. The University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business reported a troubling 22% drop in new business fili...
Polis proposes conversion of Pinnacol in controversial measure to balance budget
State, The Sum & Substance

Polis proposes conversion of Pinnacol in controversial measure to balance budget

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Gov. Jared Polis’ pitch to convert Pinnacol Assurance into an independent company is being driven not just by money it could generate for the state budget but by the belief that failing to loosen the company’s operational restrictions could jeopardize its sustainability. The Democratic governor sat for an interrogation before the powerful Joint Budget Committee on Wednesday about his plans to address a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall, including $638 million in expense cuts and revenue additions he has proposed. Among the most prominent and controversial of those suggestions is a proposal to allow the state-chartered workers’ compensation insurer of last resort to act as a private company, which could add $100 million to next year’s budget a...
Western Colorado ranchers bracing for impact of the next release of wolves
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Western Colorado ranchers bracing for impact of the next release of wolves

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Sen. Perry Will told his constituents in a social media post “Brace yourselves, Garfield County,” after Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced that they will begin phase two of their wolf reintroduction program, adding insult to injury to western Colorado ranchers who have already seen the devastating impact on livestock on their northern neighbors. CPW will be trapping and importing the next 10 to 15 grey wolves from Canada and placing them somewhere in Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle County. Rio Blanco County was on the list of potential release sites, but has since been removed from that list due to the limited number of state-owned locations that would meet the criteria in the plan, in addition to the proximity to livestock...
Groups accuse Colorado Bureau of Investigation of skirting oversight in forensic lab investigation
coloradopolitics.com, State

Groups accuse Colorado Bureau of Investigation of skirting oversight in forensic lab investigation

By Jenny Deam | The Gazette, via Colorado Politics Two groups accused the Colorado Bureau of Investigation of skirting a federally required oversight process to investigate misconduct in its forensics lab, adding to mounting allegations of wrongdoing at the embattled agency. In a five-page letter dated Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and the Korey Wise Innocence Project demanded more accountability and transparency in the CBI’s ongoing investigation of its former star forensic scientist, Yvonne Woods, known as Missy, who was found to have mishandled, falsified or deleted DNA findings for years at the lab. Those problems have thrown into question the fate of an unknown but potentially vast number of past criminal convictions in Colorado that reli...