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Rocky Mountain Voice

Rep. Scott Bottoms declares to church, ‘I am going to run for governor’
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Scott Bottoms declares to church, ‘I am going to run for governor’

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Rep. Scott Bottoms, rated as the second-most conservative member of the Colorado General Assembly, has indicated he will seek the Republican Party's nomination for governor. "I am going to run for governor," Bottoms told members of the Church at Briargate before beginning his weekly Sunday morning sermon. Bottoms, in addition to serving El Paso County in District 15 in the Colorado House, is lead pastor at the Church at Briargate in Colorado Springs, and indicated a desire for the church to hear his announcement first. "If I don't get elected, nothing changes, except probably 4-5 bitter sermons for the next few weeks after that," Bottoms said. He is rated by Colorado Liberty Scorecard as one of three legislators among 100 in 2024 to hav...
In clandestine operation, 20 wolves have been released in Pitkin and Eagle County
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In clandestine operation, 20 wolves have been released in Pitkin and Eagle County

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Residents in Pitkin and Eagle counties have some new international neighbors, a press release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife reads. Fifteen wolves from British Columbia — eight females and seven males — were rounded up by helicopter and darted from the air, then placed in pens while veterinarians examined and treated the wolves for parasites, and vaccinated them against rabies, canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus, canine parainfluenza virus and canine parvovirus. Along with the 15 wolves from British Columbia, the remaining members of the livestock-killing Copper Creek pack — a female and four pups — were released after being caught and penned at a wildlife sanctuary since last August.   “In British Columbia,...
Horn: Empowering Republican candidates in order to win elections
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Horn: Empowering Republican candidates in order to win elections

By Brita Horn | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The main facet of the Colorado Republican Party is to help elect Republican candidates across the entire state. As the next leader of that party, my commitment to help elect Republican candidates is not an empty promise and I wanted to outline our plan, our commitment to candidates, with you. First, we will support our incumbents in vulnerable seats by sending a $20,475 check to our CU regents, district attorneys, state board of education members, and state representatives or $28,375 for state senators, the maximum contributions allowed by law. We will send these checks from closest in the prior election to least vulnerable for any incumbent whose election was within five percentage points in the prior election. We are committ...
Garbo: Do Colorado conservatives truly understand unity?
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Garbo: Do Colorado conservatives truly understand unity?

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The word "unity" is often invoked in political discourse, but I fear it is profoundly misunderstood — particularly among conservatives in Colorado. Unity is not merely a buzzword; it is a virtue and an essential principle with deep roots in the Republican Party's history. To unite does not mean to surrender one’s principles, nor does it mean blind allegiance to one faction or individual. Unity means striving for a shared purpose, leveraging our differences to achieve greater goals, and coming together to address the challenges we cannot overcome alone. Sadly, too many Colorado conservatives have misinterpreted unity as uniformity, creating divisions that weaken the very foundation of our movement. The GOP’s Legacy of Unity...
Rep. Dusty Johnson aims to tackle rural issues through her mantra: ‘cows, cops and coffee’
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Dusty Johnson aims to tackle rural issues through her mantra: ‘cows, cops and coffee’

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice State Rep. Dusty Johnson, who represents seven mostly sparsely populated counties on the Northeastern Plains of Colorado in House District 63, entered the 75th General Assembly ready to champion rural communities, agriculture and water rights. Representing the state's leading agricultural area, she understands constituents’ challenges firsthand and brings practical insights to the table. House District 63 spans Phillips, Sedgwick and Yuma counties at the eastern edge of the state, across Logan and Washington counties, to Morgan and into a rural portion of Weld County, making it the second-largest landmass district in the state. As Johnson puts it, “My district is the top ag-producing house district in the state.” Th...
Letters from readers: Exorbitant fees, a moose on the buffet, and raise a flag for Trump
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Letters from readers: Exorbitant fees, a moose on the buffet, and raise a flag for Trump

Today, I'm having moose bone pudding with curried squash sauce, probably one of only a few hundred thousand humans partaking of such a pleasure on this fine winter afternoon.  If you think about it, there were 7,000 moose killed in Alaska, 21,000 in Canada and 32,000 in Russia, and with a decent body size of 700 pound it's enough poundage for family and friendly experimenting.  Colorado has a total moose population of around 3,000, with a few hundred being taken by hunters each year. With a total human population of about six million, not everyone gets a chance to try my particular piece de resistance.  The Centennial State has more than one head of cattle for every two people, so the hamburgers do make the rounds. Not everyone craves rattlesnake beans or pan-broiled r...
Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado leading on plan for Colorado energy transition
Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado leading on plan for Colorado energy transition

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice As local governments on the Western Slope face the reality of the Craig Power Station closure and in preparation of Gov. Jared Polis’ mandated clean energy plan, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado are announcing that Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative (NCEI), a program under AGNC and managed by Matt Solomon, have received a $75,000 Energy Communities Alliance Grant. The grant will enable NCEI to launch its next phase of work, focusing on creating a regional coalition and fostering collaboration across multiple states. This phase includes the development of a multi-state stakeholder map, guided by the Department of Energy’s Energy Transition Playbook. The stakeholder map will connect local governments, privat...
Horn announces key endorsements in Colorado Republican Party leadership race
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Horn announces key endorsements in Colorado Republican Party leadership race

By Rocky Mountain Voice staff More than two dozen Republican leaders in Colorado have lent their endorsements to Brita Horn, as the race for the Republican Party's leadership begins to heat up. The election of a chair, vice chair and secretary to head up the party is expected to take place sometime in mid to late March, a party insider told the Rocky Mountain Voice. Thus far, Horn is one of two announced candidates for party chair, decided by about 500 members of the party's central committee. A press release announcing the endorsements includes former and present state officials and candidates, current and present party leadership in the General Assembly, candidates for congress and many county party leaders, among others. “I am humbled and honored by the outcrying of support ...
New wolfpack released into high society near Aspen in Pitkin County
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

New wolfpack released into high society near Aspen in Pitkin County

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Wolves arrived from British Columbia on Sunday, Jan. 12, and were released in Pitkin County; a county that actually voted to have them.  They have become residents of the affluent communities near Aspen and Snowmass. Since CPW can only release the wolves on state or private lands, as long as they have the landowners' permission, according to law, and since CPW has told audiences repeatedly in meetings this fall that Pitkin County does not have a large enough state-owned property to release, it is now clear that a private landowner has offered his privately owned large ranch to the wolf restoration effort.  Although CPW has not confirmed the wolves were released on private land about 6 miles south of Basalt, it became...
‘Colorado has told California to hold our beer’: Rep. Bradley warning it’s time for new direction
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Colorado has told California to hold our beer’: Rep. Bradley warning it’s time for new direction

Douglas Co. representative calls for Coloradans of all walks to get involved with legislation By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice State Rep. Brandi Bradley, a Republican from House District 39 in Douglas County, won't back down in the fight against government overreach. With the 75th General Assembly now in full swing, Bradley is focused on key bills she will pursue. They aim to protect children and parental rights, enhance public safety and combat the high cost of living. Bradley is calling on grassroots Coloradans to join her. “The line in the sand has been drawn,” Bradley said. “Conservatives can't just sit back and watch our rights be taken away. It's time to stand up.” She is rated fifth out of 100 legislators on the Colorado Liberty Scorecard, a...