Rocky Mountain Voice

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New federal judge takes the bench, state Supreme Court returns for arguments
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

New federal judge takes the bench, state Supreme Court returns for arguments

By Michael Karlik | SOURCE: Colorado Politics Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics' roundup of news from the third branch of government. The U.S. Senate confirmed the president's nominee to the only existing vacancy on Colorado's federal trial court, plus the state Supreme Court will return this week to hear oral arguments in six cases. From Judge Crews to Judge Crews •  Eleven months after the White House nominated him to fill a vacancy on Colorado's U.S. District Court, U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews won confirmation to a district judgeship last week by a vote of 51-48. On Friday, he was sworn in (although he'll remain in his same courtroom). READ FULL ARTICLE ON COLORADOPOLITICS.COM
Colo GOP breaks bylaw to sway primary election. Many party members not pleased
Approved, coloradopeakpolitics.com, State

Colo GOP breaks bylaw to sway primary election. Many party members not pleased

SOURCE: COLORADO PEAK POLITICS Nothing triggers a Republican quicker than the suggestion of cheating, an unfair playing field, or being told what to do by The Man. Or at least it used to. Under the new regime of Colorado GOP chairman Dave Williams, party bosses have now decided for us who we must vote for in the Republican presidential primary. The Central Committee on Sunday abandoned the party’s revered history of remaining neutral in primary races and decided for us that Donald Trump should win and we should just do what they say and vote for him. Screw our own free will. It’s not clear how many of the 400 central committee members tuned in to an online Zoom meeting to cast their ballots, but the measure to endorse Trump passed with 65% of the vote, reports Colorado ...
Eastern Plains was ignored by disaster declaration, legislator says
Approved, Eastern Plains, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Eastern Plains was ignored by disaster declaration, legislator says

When a disaster declaration was issued by Gov. Jared Polis, related to extreme winter weather conditions, it failed to recognize the impacts on communities and residents of the Eastern Plains, a letter authored by Southeast Colorado Republican Rep. Ty Winter reads. The same storm system which impacted residents in other areas of the state dumped heavy snow on the sparsely populated Eastern Plains and stretched resources to their extent, the letter indicates. “Over the last 10 days, the Eastern Plains in Colorado have endured severe weather and blizzard conditions. Colorado’s farmers, livestock producers and rural families were faced with single-digit, below-zero temperatures, and other life-threatening conditions,” a letter from four legislators begins. The letter, dated Jan. 12, ...
Air Force Academy graduate and Miss Colorado wins Miss America
Approved, denvergazette.com, State

Air Force Academy graduate and Miss Colorado wins Miss America

By Mary Shinn | SOURCE: Denver Gazette Air Force Academy graduate and Miss Colorado Madison Marsh won Miss America Sunday night, making her the first active-duty Air Force officer to hold the title.  Marsh said in a previous interview with The Gazette that while some might see a conflict between military service and pageantry, the values of education, leadership and service are clear in both. "I think for a lot of little young girls, maybe the way that pageantry is portrayed in the media, they wouldn't expect someone also puts on the uniform at the same time," she said. READ FULL ARTICLE ON GAZETTE.COM
Rand Paul claims Fauci ‘should be in prison’ over COVID ‘dishonesty’
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

Rand Paul claims Fauci ‘should be in prison’ over COVID ‘dishonesty’

By Emily Jacobs, Washington Examiner | SOURCE: The Gazette Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said on Sunday that Dr. Anthony Fauci “should go to prison” for his “dishonesty” regarding how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic as the nation’s chief medical adviser.  Paul, a former ophthalmologist, made the comments in an appearance on WABC 770 AM’s The Cats Roundtable while rehashing his differences with Fauci on the pandemic’s origins and the latter’s transparency with Congress.  “For his dishonesty, frankly, he should go to prison. Do you think the scientific knowledge that was gained from this research was worth the deaths of 20 million people?” Paul told host John Catsimatidis of Fauci. “If you lie to Congress, and you’re dishonest, and you won’t accept  ...
Colorado Celebrating 40 Years Of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado Celebrating 40 Years Of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Denver's celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday stands out as a unique and significant event in the country. With approximately 60,000 attendees, it is the largest celebration of King's life outside of his hometown of Atlanta. This annual parade and march, known as the "marade," has become a powerful symbol of unity and remembrance. The term "marade" was coined by former state lawmaker Wilma Webb, who combined the words parade and march to capture the essence of this event. Webb played a crucial role in ensuring that King received recognition in Colorado on his birthday. Initially, her efforts to pass a bill in the state legislature to recognize King's birthday were unsuccessful. It was only after President Ronald Reagan declared it a nati...
Denver City Council to consider banning homeless camp sweeps in frigid weather
Approved, denvergazette.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Denver City Council to consider banning homeless camp sweeps in frigid weather

By Noah Festenstein | SOURCE: The Denver Gazette Denver buying the $88.5 million Denver Post building and a ban on sweeps of homeless encampments while temperatures are below 32 degrees top the agenda for the Denver City Council meeting on Tuesday. City offices are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, delaying the council’s weekly Monday meeting.  Two of the items likely to be most talked about were tabled at the past two meetings. Council members two weeks ago voted to postpone the purchase of the Denver Post building, citing a need for more information about the purchase plan. The city is considering buying the building for $88.5 million. Denver needs more courtroom space by 2030, according to a 2020 courts master plan. READ FULL ARTICLE ON DENVERGAZETTE.COM
Colorado’s Minimum Wage Hike Leads to Massive Layoffs
Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado’s Minimum Wage Hike Leads to Massive Layoffs

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Colorado’s decision to raise its minimum wage from $12.32 to $14.77 per hour has ignited a fierce debate over the effects on businesses and workers alike. While proponents argue that the increase will stimulate the economy and alleviate poverty, critics contend that it will have detrimental consequences for small businesses, potentially resulting in job losses and operational changes. According to a recent report by the Colorado Restaurant Association, over 40% of the state's restaurants have already reduced staff or hours in response to the wage increase. Major fast-food chains like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's have also announced plans to automate their operations, replacing human workers with machines. Among the casualties of this wage hike is...
How States May Respond to Illegal Immigration
Approved, i2i.org, National

How States May Respond to Illegal Immigration

By Rob Natelson, SOURCE: Independence Institute This essay was first published in the Jan. 8, 2024 Epoch Times. As unauthorized foreigners continue to flood across the Southern border, state officials continue to cast about for solutions. In normal times, the federal government would remedy the problem. But these are not normal times: The administration of President Joe Biden actually seems to be aiding the influx. State officials are hampered by a Supreme Court doctrine called “implied federal preemption.” The courts use this doctrine to void some state laws as contradicting federal statutes, even when the federal statutes do not explicitly override them. For example, the Arizona legislature adopted four measures to address illegal immigration. They were consist...
Husband of Rep. Brittany Pettersen lands hefty Jefferson County consulting gig; questions swirl around bid process
Approved, completecolorado.com, Denver Metro, Local

Husband of Rep. Brittany Pettersen lands hefty Jefferson County consulting gig; questions swirl around bid process

By Sherrie Peif | SOURCE: Complete Colorado Page Two LAKEWOOD — Despite voters in Jefferson County (Jeffco) overwhelmingly rejecting higher taxes twice in the last three years, the Democrat-controlled county commission is back at it again. Only this time, they are willing to pay big money to a political consulting company co-owned by Ian Silverii, the activist husband of US Representative Brittany Pettersen, whose congressional district includes Jeffco. Silverii is hoping he can help secure what looks to be another ballot initiative to de-TABOR county revenues and/or raise taxes in some form. However, multiple problems with the process around how and to whom Jeffco awarded the hefty contract, appear to signal inside connections influencing the decision. On Nov. 2, 2023, Jeffco’...