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Dickenson: From the Rockies to the Beltway, Colorado’s influence in Washington
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Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Dickenson: From the Rockies to the Beltway, Colorado’s influence in Washington

By Tiffany Dickenson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado has long punched above its weight in shaping national policy, and this administration is no different. With the appointment of Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy, our state once again finds itself in a key position of influence in Washington, D.C. Our state has a proud history of representation at the highest levels of government. Through the years, several Coloradans have taken the lead on national issues, leaving a legacy of strong, values-driven leadership: Federico Peña, as Secretary of Transportation (1993–1997), modernized infrastructure, including airport and transportation networks vital to rural areas like Northwest Colorado. Later, as Secretary of Energy (1997–1998), he balanced renewable energy dev...
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Baldauf: Voters ignored biased perspective of broadcast and print news in ’24 election
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Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Baldauf: Voters ignored biased perspective of broadcast and print news in ’24 election

By Michael Baldauf | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Have you ever found yourself in a group where you discovered the leader was corrupt?  Maybe it was a church, where the pastor was not living the message, or a volunteer organization, where the leaders were taking advantage of their positions.  I would guess if you could not do anything to correct the situation you probably got away. People ask me why I don’t watch national newscasts on broadcast television anymore.  The answer is the same.  For about 40 years they have demonstrated that they are not interested in being a source for unbiased reporting.  The latest Gallop Poll found that almost 70 percent of the public said they do not trust the media.  The recent elections are an example of...
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Schumann: Are Colorado Democrats justified in fearing a Trump comeback, or is a reality check needed?
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Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Schumann: Are Colorado Democrats justified in fearing a Trump comeback, or is a reality check needed?

By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice A second Trump presidency has sparked significant concerns among some Colorado Democrats. They cite fears over federal overreach, social policy rollbacks and economic instability. Left-leaning Colorado news media and Democrat politicians are sparing no time and revving up the fear-mongering engine. Last week, Gov. Polis and his co-chair received national attention for launching “Governors Safeguarding Democracy” to fight against President Trump’s policies.  Polis stated, "We want to make sure that the American people can be certain that the elections are safe, that the separation of the courts and powers is safe, and that governors exert the powers that we have as states to make sure that we can protect freedom...
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Lyle: Are veterans being exploited by companies claiming to support them? 
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Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Lyle: Are veterans being exploited by companies claiming to support them? 

By Dean Lyle | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Veterans are pillars of our society, honored for their sacrifices and service. Companies like USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union have built their brands around serving military families, often positioning themselves as trusted allies. However, recent legal actions reveal troubling alleged practices that seem to exploit veterans rather than support them. From overcharging to surprise fees, these institutions have faced serious accusations of prioritizing profits over their commitment to the military community.  USAA: A pattern of failures and violations  USAA, founded to serve military members and their families, has faced mounting scrutiny for failing to uphold its promises. In addition to the $64.2 million sett...
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Tina Peters appeal filed while justice awaits Jena Griswold
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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...
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Daniel: Eventually, you run out of other people’s money
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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...
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Madison: Efficiency in government, an oxymoron!
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Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Madison: Efficiency in government, an oxymoron!

By John Alexander Madison | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice A U.S. senator, Chris Coons (D-DE), said again he is “amused” that it will take two billionaires to oversee President-elect Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency! (D.O.G.E) He is amused that it would take two people to run this new department. But the average American patriot is hardly laughing that it takes $200 billion and 4,400 federal employees to run a useless and inefficient Department of Education. If you ask me, I’d suggest hiring two well-paid people every time we can eliminate 4,400 federal employees from our ever-expanding and bloated federal bureaucracy…one agency or department after another. The fact is these two billionaires won’t be drawing a salary from our federal taxpayer dollars…...
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Gaines: You can make a difference by volunteering for a local board or committee
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Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Gaines: You can make a difference by volunteering for a local board or committee

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project Realigning the main drag through Sterling left a couple parcels of land orphaned.  It wasn't necessarily that they looked worse than they did before -- one of them was a former trailer park where the only vestiges of its former life were bare concrete pads with socketless meter boxes poking up here and there.  The highway realignment didn't make them ugly, it made them uglier:  it left a bit of land whose shape wouldn't be too conducive to anything useful.  Yet another empty patch of dirt on my daily commute. Then, one day, I saw some landscaping happening.  It's since been finished and has really improved the look of what otherwise would've been some awkwardly-shaped frontage.  A city tax paid...
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Ganahl: Say ‘NO’ to political flags in our classrooms!
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Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Ganahl: Say ‘NO’ to political flags in our classrooms!

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The Durango 9-R School Board is poised to take an alarming step that undermines the values of neutrality and inclusivity our schools should uphold. On Tuesday, the school board plans to vote on a resolution that would officially designate certain political symbols — like the Black Lives Matter and Progress Pride flags — as the district’s own speech. This sleight of hand allows them to avoid the protections of the 1st Amendment, shutting the door on diverse perspectives while granting preferential treatment to one viewpoint. Let’s be clear: this is government-sanctioned discrimination. By rebranding these flags as “compatible with educational goals,” the board is imposing a specific political ideology on our classrooms. This is wro...
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Western Colorado ranchers bracing for impact of the next release of wolves
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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...
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