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Disabled American Veterans facing statewide shortage of vehicles, drivers to take veterans to VA appointments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Disabled American Veterans facing statewide shortage of vehicles, drivers to take veterans to VA appointments

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Veterans from the distant regions of the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains are met with a challenge in order to receive medical treatment. There are three Veterans Affairs medical centers serving the state, and only one actually in the state. Many veterans take appointments in Cheyenne, Wyo., and others in Albuquerque, N.M. That often means transportation is needed, even to get to an appointment at the Denver location. The solution is Colorado’s Disabled American Veterans’ transportation program, but there exists a shortage of vehicles and drivers. “We just purchased five more vehicles and at least three will need to go to Northeast Colorado,” said Benito Gonzales, adjutant and treasurer for the Colorado DAV. “These new vehicles repl...
What does ‘Do Better Denver’ say about all of us, and the media?
Commentary, Denver Metro, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

What does ‘Do Better Denver’ say about all of us, and the media?

By Cory Gaines | Guest Columnist I was recently introduced to a Twitter account called “Do Better Denver,” after reading about it in a Westword article. If you are like me and don't live in Denver (or on Twitter), you may not be aware of who they are, but it's not hard to describe. It's a social media account that posts unflinching pictures of homeless people around Denver along with sharing some items that would fall more comfortably into the category of news, e.g. sharing the amount Denver has spent on public safety this year. I think that reasonable arguments could be made either way about the value of pictures of homeless people and encampments in bringing to light the issue and/or in trying to fix it. I will leave it to you to come to your own conclusions there. I'm not going...
Gov. Jared Polis seeks 49 ‘actions’ to curb greenhouse emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050
coloradopolitics.com, State

Gov. Jared Polis seeks 49 ‘actions’ to curb greenhouse emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050

By Luige Del Puerto | Colorado Politics The Polis administration on Monday released the latest iteration of its sweeping plan to sharply curb greenhouse gas pollution in Colorado, whose ultimate goal is to reach "net zero" by 2050.  The updated version of the "Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap" outlines short-term "actions" that the administration intends to push over the next three years, notably in the areas of electrifying large buildings and encouraging land use policies to "support strategic growth."  The list of 49 "near-term actions" include legislation to support "climate friendly" strategic growth; policies to reach "100% clean electricity generation" by 2040; and regulations to reduce emissions from oil and gas operations, landfills and coal mines. READ ...
Surprise. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. isn’t on the ballot in Colorado and here’s why.
State, The Colorado Sun

Surprise. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. isn’t on the ballot in Colorado and here’s why.

By Sandra Fish | Colorado Sun Reader question: I am an unaffiliated voter and plan to vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Why isn’t he on the presidential primary ballot? Answer: Kennedy initially announced his run for president as a Democratic candidate, then switched in October to run as an independent.  Colorado holds presidential primary elections only for Democratic and Republican candidates, and only candidates who are approved by their respective parties can appear on the ballot. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
Final votes on gender identity bills delayed as Colorado House members continue debate
coloradopolitics.com, State

Final votes on gender identity bills delayed as Colorado House members continue debate

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Two bills to allow individuals, including minors, to choose their names conforming to their gender identity are on hold after an intense debate in the House on Monday delayed voting on the measures.  Under current law, a person convicted of a felony who wants to change their name must show "good cause." House Bill 1071 would add gender identity to the list of "good causes" a person could cite for a name change. The bill has drawn fierce opposition from House Republicans, which got underway on Monday with an amendment from sponsor Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Adams County, to name the bill after a transgender woman, Tiara Latrice Kelley, a drag queen and performer at Club Q. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Oil, gas industry to fight stricter environmental bills in Colorado legislature
coloradopolitics.com, State

Oil, gas industry to fight stricter environmental bills in Colorado legislature

By Joe Mueller | Colorado Politics Business leaders joined leaders of Colorado’s petroleum and natural gas industries in denouncing a wave of legislation creating higher environmental standards and phasing out drilling. “These concepts range from banning any development for any industry that requires an air permit in up to 50% of the state to tracking and limiting how much you can drive your car,” Kait Schwartz, director of the American Petroleum Institute Colorado, said during a press conference on Thursday. “Ideas like this are harmful to the Colorado economy and many of of them are bad for the environment.” Two Senate bills, 24-165 and 24-166 introduced Thursday, would tighten emission rules along with new enforcement of air quality standards and penalties. If ...
Protect Kids Colorado launches to protect kids, strengthen families through citizens ballot initiatives
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Protect Kids Colorado launches to protect kids, strengthen families through citizens ballot initiatives

By Erin Lee | Guest Columnist Colorado is one of 24 states to have a Citizens Ballot Initiative process. Coloradans, that means “We the People” have a process by which to make law. Article V, Section II, Item 2.0, of the Colorado Constitution clearly lays out the people’s process by stating: “The first power hereby reserved by the people is the initiative…” The FIRST power.  The United States and Colorado Constitutions were founded on the principles of individual rights and “We The People” maintaining those fundamental and inalienable rights. It’s the reason the American experiment has been and can continue to be the most successful Constitutional Republic in the world.   As Coloradans are becoming increasingly aware, our state leadership is off the rails. The laws co...
Concealed carry keeps growing in Colorado; over twenty-five thousand new permits in 2023
completecolorado.com, State

Concealed carry keeps growing in Colorado; over twenty-five thousand new permits in 2023

By Mike Krause | Complete Colorado DENVER– While majority Democrats in the state legislature push for new restrictions on the lawful carrying of concealed handguns, new data shows 25,218 Colorado adults subjected themselves to the scrutiny already required to become new concealed handgun permit (CHP) holders in 2023, while another 36,291 renewed existing permits.  That’s according to a County Sheriffs of Colorado annual report, published earlier this month. While that number trails a permitting surge during Covid lock-downs and rioting related to the police killing of George Floyd (over 37,000 in 2020 and more than 41,000 in 2021), it’s still larger than the 23,250 permits issued in pre-pandemic 2019.  In the five-year period from 2019-2023, just ov...
In Douglas County address, Lt. Col. West urges Republicans to fight for liberty, not amongst selves
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In Douglas County address, Lt. Col. West urges Republicans to fight for liberty, not amongst selves

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice DENVER – The present state of Colorado is a microcosm of happenings in states across the nation, and Republicans must react to preserve liberty, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Allen West (ret.) told those gathered here Sunday at the Douglas County Republican Party’s Lincoln Dinner. “Colorado is very important for the rest of the nation,” he said. “What is happening in Colorado is what you see happening in states across the nation. The left targeted Denver, Boulder and now Colorado Springs. A strong, red state went purple and then blue.” West served a term in Congress from 2011-2013 in Florida’s 22nd District and also as chairman of the Texas Republican Party from 2020-2021, following a decorated 21-year military career including deployments to Kuwait...
Under Prop. 123, Colorado has allocated millions in funds this year to governments and housing organizations
State, The Colorado Sun

Under Prop. 123, Colorado has allocated millions in funds this year to governments and housing organizations

By Tatiana Flowers | Colorado Sun State leaders have already distributed millions of dollars this year to dozens of local governments and housing organizations that have pledged to build affordable units across Colorado in the coming years. The state departments of local affairs and economic development and the Colorado Housing Finance Authority, for example, have awarded nearly $80 million to local governments and housing organizations that plan to build affordable units using funds solely from Proposition 123. Voters approved the ballot measure in November 2022 and it requires participating local governments to plan to build at least 3% more affordable housing every year for the next three years.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN