Approved

Trump’s VA slashes massive Biden-era backlog of veteran claims

The Daily Caller, Approved, National / / , , , , , ,

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is making record-breaking progress in processing a backlog of veteran disability claims that mounted under former President Joe Biden, the agency told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The VA brought unresolved claims down from 264,717 to 198,378 — or by approximately 25% — since President Donald Trump returned to office, the VA told the DCNF. Trump’s VA has also hit the highest daily and monthly processing rates in the agency’s history while reversing a 24% increase in the backlog that occurred under Biden, the VA said in a statement.

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Western Slope pushes $99M deal for historic Shoshone water rights—Front Range says not so fast

The Colorado Sun, Approved, State / / , , , , ,

Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs and Northern Water voiced opposition Wednesday to the Western Slope’s proposal to spend $99 million to buy historic water rights on the Colorado River from Xcel Energy.

The Colorado River Water Conservation District has been working for years to buy the water rights tied to Shoshone Power Plant, a small, easy-to-miss hydropower plant off Interstate 70 east of Glenwood Springs. The highly coveted water rights are some of the largest and oldest on the Colorado River in Colorado.

Western Slope pushes $99M deal for historic Shoshone water rights—Front Range says not so fast Read More »

Polis backs federal halt after his own AI law faces fierce blowback

The Colorado Sun, Approved, State / / , , , , , ,

Nine months: that’s all the time left before companies have to start complying with Colorado’s first-in-the-nation anti-discrimination law for AI systems, unless policymakers act.

Business and industry groups have been begging for a delay. They say the law as it stands is unworkable — they’re urging Colorado’s lawmakers to give all sides more time to try to find a compromise.

But consumer rights advocates say AI’s rapid spread into more and more areas of life makes it critical to put guardrails on how the technology is working. Many advocates for the law also feel some in the tech industry won’t be satisfied with anything other than a full capitulation on the policy’s most meaningful consumer protections.

Polis backs federal halt after his own AI law faces fierce blowback Read More »

Colorado sued over law punishing ‘misgendering’: Doctors, parents cite First Amendment

denvergazette.com, Approved, State / / , , , , , , , , ,

Several organizations and a western Colorado dermatologist have filed a lawsuit seeking to block specific provisions of a recently signed state law that, as originally introduced, would have defined “deadnaming” and “misgendering” as discriminatory acts but whose final version had been heavily modified.  

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit included Defending Education, the Colorado Parent Advocacy Network, Protect Kids Colorado, and Do No Harm. Travis Morrell, a Grand Junction dermatologist and member of Do No Harm, is also a plaintiff.

Colorado sued over law punishing ‘misgendering’: Doctors, parents cite First Amendment Read More »

“I feel trauma”: Former Denver Democrat says migrants brought violence, backs Trump

GB News, Approved, Local / / , , , , , , , , ,

A Denver resident who once advocated for immigrant rights has revealed how her political allegiance shifted from the Democrats to Donald Trump due to concerns over crime and border security.

Speaking to GB News, the woman explained her dramatic change of heart: “I was planning on voting for Kamala Harris but I could not bring myself to do it. If it was not for Donald Trump, we might still be living next to gang members because everything changed after he was elected.”

“I feel trauma”: Former Denver Democrat says migrants brought violence, backs Trump Read More »

Bauer: What IS this new Community “Matanza” Celebration?

Commentary, Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories / / , , , , ,

With all the events in Hotchkiss, Colorado, on Saturday, May 10, chances are you may have heard of a new event—the second annual “Family, Faith, Freedom Fest Matanza Cook Off!”

Hosted at the Fairgrounds by the Delta County Republican Party, this gathering was designed to bring people together to celebrate community, family, faith and freedom as well as Hispanic heritage and of course great food! Thanks to donors, prize money for the cook-off and pork for the contestants were provided.

Bauer: What IS this new Community “Matanza” Celebration? Read More »

Gaines: Polis’ picks for land board proves Colorado’s gone to the wolves

Commentary, Approved, State, Substack / / , , , , , , ,

I wrote about Polis advisor Nicole Rosmarino being the sole finalist for the directorship of the State Land Board recently. That newsletter is linked first below if you want or need context.

On the heels of that newsletter, I got a message from a reader alerting me to the other two appointments that Governor Polis made to the State Land Board–this is the same board mind you that makes decisions on grazing leases, mineral-extraction (oil/gas) leases, and provides revenue to schools–Mark Harvey from Pitkin County and James Pribyl from Louisville. Harvey was appointed to fill the agriculture seat on the board and Pribyl the citizen-at-large seat.

If the name Pribyl sounds familiar, you’re not alone. He was a former member of the CPW Commissioners (see the picture heading this post whose text was taken from Pribyl’s Linked In account), a wolf reintroduction advocate, and one of the three co-authors of the op ed in support of Prop 127, the big cat hunting ban.**

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Gotlieb: You know you’re from Colorado when… 

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Top Stories / / , , , ,

Former legislator and longtime Denver public servant Dorothy Gotlieb has compiled this updated list of Colorado quirks and cultural touchstones. You might laugh, nod in agreement, or want to add your own.

Over the years, there have been several versions of a “You Know You’re from Colorado When…” list. The following is just one of the latest.

Gotlieb: You know you’re from Colorado when…  Read More »

“Time to end retirement”: Fabbricatore joins fight to rescue migrant children as ORR Senior Advisor

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, National, Top Stories / / , , , , , ,

On May 19, 2025, retired ICE official John Fabbricatore stepped into a new role as Senior Advisor at the Office of Refugee Resettlement, just as the agency faces intense scrutiny for failing to track unaccompanied migrant children after release.

Fabbricatore’s #FindTheKids hashtag signals a push to close those gaps, but the road ahead is steep.

Fabbricatore announced his appointment on X, stating, “Time to end retirement. I was sworn in at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on May 19, 2025, as a Senior Advisor for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) at the Immediate Office of the Secretary in the Senior Executive Service.”

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“Aptitude test for your rights?” Mesa County pushes back on SB3 in letter to the DOJ

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, National, State, Top Stories / / , , , , , , , , ,

Would you need a perfect GPA to speak your mind or worship freely? Mesa County officials say Colorado’s new gun law is treating the Second Amendment that way – and they’ve asked the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene.

In a three-page letter sent this month, the Mesa County Board of Commissioners urged federal authorities to investigate Senate Bill 25-003, calling it a “grotesque misuse of government power” that effectively imposes a discriminatory test on anyone wishing to lawfully own or carry a firearm.

The law, which takes effect in August 2026, requires residents to complete state-approved firearms training, score 90% on a written exam and obtain conditional approval from their sheriff’s office every five years in order to receive or renew a permit.

“Aptitude test for your rights?” Mesa County pushes back on SB3 in letter to the DOJ Read More »