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Democrats work to erase the biggest school choice option in Colorado
State, The Federalist

Democrats work to erase the biggest school choice option in Colorado

By ROB MOULTON AND TIM HANNAN | The Federalist Public charter schools are an integral part of Colorado’s educational ecosystem. The Centennial State is now home to more than 260 charter schools that serve north of 130,000 students — more than 15 percent of the state’s total public school enrollment. Now some state lawmakers want to see these innovative, autonomous schools disappear. Introduced in early March following months of rumors and threats, Colorado House Bill 24-1363 takes aim at nearly every aspect of the state’s 30-year-old Charter Schools Act. The bill’s sponsors — Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Adams/Jefferson, Rep. Tammy Story, D-Jefferson, and Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson — introduced the bill despite widespread pushback and concern with early drafts from both sides of the p...
The Last Gasp of the Liberal Colorado Press
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

The Last Gasp of the Liberal Colorado Press

By Heidi Ganahl | Rocky Mountain Voice Gov. Jared Polis and his cronies are very mad that a real newsman is doing the job they refuse to do.  We started Rocky Mountain Voice to report factual, real news, to allow Coloradans to have the knowledge to make better decisions -- in government and culture, all in one place.  We thought they’d eventually be scared of us, but we didn’t realize the establishment media would be quaking in their boots within the first two months! We are building trust through truth, inspiring the next generation of Colorado, always pro-citizen, pro-liberty, and pro-Colorado, and always honoring our heritage of rugged individualism. The Rocky Mountain Voice will share news from other reliable conservative voices in Colorado, as well as our own original ...
$1 million Mega Millions ticket bought in Colorado
CBS 11 KKTV, State

$1 million Mega Millions ticket bought in Colorado

By Tony Keith | CBS 11 Colorado Springs A jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket was purchased in New Jersey, but a ticket worth $1 million was sold in Colorado for the most recent drawing! According to the Colorado lottery, the ticket worth $1 million was sold at 12442 W. Ken Caryl Avenue in Littleton, a Safeway. The Colorado lottery adds a ticket worth $20,000 was sold at Player’s Cafe in Edgewater and another one was sold at Circle K on Ute Highway in Longmont worth $10,000. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS 11 COLORADO SPRINGS
George Brauchler qualifies for ballot in 23rd Judicial District
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

George Brauchler qualifies for ballot in 23rd Judicial District

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice George Brauchler has qualified for a place on the Republican Party's primary ballot for district attorney in the 23rd Judicial District, the Secretary of State's office announced Wednesday, March 27, in an email. "The groundswell of support for our less than two-month-old campaign to make this brand new DA's office the best in Colorado has been humbling and inspiring," Brauchler said. He is the lone candidate to have petitioned for a place on the ballot in the new 23rd Judicial District. Candidates for district attorney are required to secure 1,000 verified signatures from their district. Brauchler submitted 1,830 signatures, with 1,241 accepted by the Secretary of State. "From Lincoln to Elbert to Douglas counties, the demand from ...
Colorado lawmakers adopt cuts, hard choices as state faces $170 million budget shortfall
coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado lawmakers adopt cuts, hard choices as state faces $170 million budget shortfall

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Between March 15 and March 21, the six members of the Joint Budget Committee — the group of lawmakers in charge of drafting Colorado's spending plan — found themselves with a problem. With just over a week before the introduction of the state's 2024-25 budget, new revenue forecasts showed they had a hole to plug, with estimates ranging from $160 million to $225 million, depending on which forecast was used. Unlike the federal government, Colorado's budget drafters must come up with a balanced budget. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
List of orphan oil and gas wells swells to more than 1,000 in Colorado as small operators abandon the state
State, The Colorado Sun

List of orphan oil and gas wells swells to more than 1,000 in Colorado as small operators abandon the state

By Mark Jaffe | The Colorado Sun The number of orphan wells in Colorado has topped 1,000 — a four-fold increase in four years — as the state takes over 358 wells from two defunct oil and gas companies this spring. The Energy and Carbon Management Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry and operates the state’s orphan well program, is adding the 339 wells of Dallas-based Omimex Petroleum and 19 wells from Centennial-based Chemco Exploration. The ECMC is also seizing $205,000 in bonds from Omimex — about $604 per well — and $60,000 in bonds from Chemco, equal to $3,158 for each well. The commission estimates that on average it takes $10,000 to $40,000 to plug and abandon a well and $100,000 for site remediation. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN...
Rep. Boebert discusses Congress, campaign during CD4 grassroots call
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Boebert discusses Congress, campaign during CD4 grassroots call

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert shared her criticism over a $1.2 trillion spending bill in Congress, offered her positions on a variety of issues, discussed the observance of Easter and detailed her campaign in Colorado's 4th District during a grassroots call Tuesday evening. "I am angry and very frustrated, but do not believe vacating [on Speaker Mike Johnston] is a thing to do," Boebert said, of the $1.2 trillion bill delivered to members with little time to consume. "We have a one-seat majority. We are stuck with him or we end up with [Democrat] Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker." Securing the border should be the top priority of Congress, she said. "A lot of us have ideas on what to do. What sets me apart from my opponents is I'm actually drafti...
Deborah Flora qualifies for Colorado’s 4th District primary ballot
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Deborah Flora qualifies for Colorado’s 4th District primary ballot

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Deborah Flora has become the second candidate to be ruled qualified for the U.S. House 4th District primary ballot, following a review of her petition signatures by the Colorado Secretary of State's office. The Secretary of State's office also previously ruled Lauren Boebert to be qualified. There are six other Republicans and one Democrat to have submitted petitions which have not as of yet been ruled to be qualified for the ballot in the 4th District. "I'm thrilled with the response we had from voters signing our petition in all 21 counties," Flora said. "I so appreciate our team of volunteers and all who worked to make sure we are on the ballot." In order to qualify for a place on the ballot by petition, candidates must gather 1,500...
Commentary: Williams can’t drain the swamp while he’s stuck in the mud
coloradopeakpolitics.com, Commentary, State

Commentary: Williams can’t drain the swamp while he’s stuck in the mud

By Colorado Peak Politics Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams won the support of his party delegates during a district assembly to qualify for the ballot in the 5th congressional district election to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn. It’s no surprise that delegates who also voted for Williams last year to serve as chairman would also back his congressional race. That’s why other top contenders for the seat took the alternate route to get on the ballot through the petition process with voters, which requires a minimum of 1,500 valid signatures. rEAD THE FULL COMMENTARY AT COLORADO PEAK POLITICS
Colorado lawmakers reject request to hire state lawyers to prosecute gun crimes in federal court
State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado lawmakers reject request to hire state lawyers to prosecute gun crimes in federal court

By Jesse Paul | The Colorado Sun The Colorado lawmakers who write the state’s budget rejected a request from the governor and attorney general to hire a group of lawyers to be loaned out to the federal government to prosecute gun crimes in federal court. The Joint Budget Committee voted twice earlier this month to reject the proposal, which would have set aside hundreds of thousands of dollars to hire as many as four attorneys, as it finalized the budget for debate before the full legislature in the coming weeks.  The latest vote to sideline the request was 3-3, with Democratic Rep. Emily Sirota of Denver joining the two Republicans on the JBC last week to block the spending. (Tie votes on the JBC result in proposals being rejected.) READ THE FULL STORY AT T...