State - Rocky Mountain Voice

Colorado Republican Congress members rally behind Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

The Colorado Sun, Approved, National, State / May 21, 2025 / Big beautiful bill, Federal Spending, House Republicans, Medicaid, President Donald J. Trump, SALT cap

President Donald Trump left a meeting with the Republican caucus Tuesday morning predicting a great victory.

His trek to the U.S. Capitol came as GOP leaders try to get his “big, beautiful bill” passed in the House this week.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose party holds a slim majority, has been trying to stitch together a bill that can deliver on Trump’s agenda while threading the needle between his far right faction, his swing seat members, and others in the caucus, as the different factions seek opposing changes to the bill.

Colorado Republican Congress members rally behind Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Read More »

Digital alerts replace sirens for tornado warnings in much of Colorado—are you signed up?

kdvr.com, Approved, State / May 21, 2025 / Colorado Weather, Emergency Preparedness, NOAA Alerts, Opt-in Notifications, Public safety, Storm Warning Systems, Tornado Alerts

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Hundreds of thousands of residents are concerned about fair warning when it comes to tornadoes in Colorado. While some counties have siren systems in place, others rely on alert systems.

Whether out on the plains or in more populated communities, tornadoes can strike within a matter of minutes after high winds are detected. Justin Anderson told FOX31 he remembers the tornado that touched down in Highlands Ranch in June of 2023, damaging homes and the South Metro Fire Rescue Station Number 17 on South University Boulevard.

Digital alerts replace sirens for tornado warnings in much of Colorado—are you signed up? Read More »

10-year gun ban for car thieves: Polis signs HB 1174 into law

Colorado Politics, Approved, State / May 21, 2025 / 75th Colorado Legislature, Car Theft Law, Firearm Restrictions, Governor Jared Polis, Gun rights, HB25-1174, Public safety, Second Amendment

Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed a bill prohibiting anyone convicted of car theft in the first degree from owning a gun during a visit to the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce.

In Colorado, motor vehicle theft in the first degree is a Class 3 felony, carrying a prison sentence of up to 12 years and fines ranging from $3,000 to $750,000.

Under House Bill 1171, individuals who have maintained a clean record can petition for a court order, allowing them to own a gun 10 years after their case has been resolved.

10-year gun ban for car thieves: Polis signs HB 1174 into law Read More »

“They didn’t think I had it”: Tina Peters on evidence, betrayal and faith behind bars

In a jailhouse visit marked by resilience, revelation and restrained emotion, former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters offered a window into the chapter of her life that has largely unfolded behind bars.

For two-and-a-half hours on May 18, we sat across from each other in a controlled visitation room. No pens or paper were allowed, so what follows is drawn from a memory still sharp with immediacy, and a recorded voice memo I made in my truck just moments after we said goodbye.

Peters wore standard prison-issued clothing and a DOC patch with her name and inmate number sewn on. I bought her a cappuccino from the vending machine and a Butterfinger, which I had to unwrap and place on a paper plate before handing it to her across the table. She smiled and said it was a rare treat – something she doesn’t get to experience very often.

“They didn’t think I had it”: Tina Peters on evidence, betrayal and faith behind bars Read More »

Cities sue Polis over housing mandate, cite threat to local control

The Colorado Sun, Approved, Local, State / May 20, 2025 / Affordable Housing Debate, Colorado Lawsuit, Executive order, Executive Overreach, Government overreach, Governor Jared Polis, Home Rule, Housing Mandates, Local Control

Six “home rule” cities in Colorado are suing the state, alleging it has unconstitutionally usurped their local authority over land use and zoning as it pushes communities to allow denser housing development.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of an executive order Gov. Jared Polis signed last week to withhold some state grants from local communities if they fail to implement a slate of recent housing laws. The cities say the order encroaches on the powers of both the General Assembly and the judiciary to say what the law is and is “beyond the governor’s authority.”

Cities sue Polis over housing mandate, cite threat to local control Read More »

Bent County declares Second Amendment Sanctuary, defies SB25-003

denvergazette.com, Local, State / May 20, 2025 / AG Pam Bondi, Bent County, Bent County Sheriff, Constitutional rights, Government overreach, Gun rights, Local Government, SB25-003, Second Amendment, Second Amendment Sanctuary

An eastern Colorado county has passed a resolution declaring itself a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” in opposition to a bill passed by the legislature this year that requires individuals to participate in safety training to be eligible to purchase certain types of firearms.

On May 15, the Bent County Board of Commissioners and Bent County Sheriff unanimously passed a resolution declaring that no county resources will be used to enforce provisions of Senate Bill 003 that have not been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bent County declares Second Amendment Sanctuary, defies SB25-003 Read More »

From guns to gray wolves: 9 new laws reshape CPW’s future

Summit Daily, Approved, State / May 20, 2025 / 75th Colorado Legislature, Bison Protection, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Conservation Programs, Gun Safety Laws, Hunter Rights, Livestock Conflicts, Rural Land Use, Second Amendment, State Wildlife Policy, Tribal Land Access, Wolf reintroduction

Over 120 days, Colorado lawmakers introduced over 650 bills in the 2025 legislative session.

Among those that passed were several that will have implications for Colorado Parks and Wildlife as it tackles illegal wildlife traffic, manages hunting and sport shooting activities, continues the voter-mandated reintroduction of gray wolves and more.

From guns to gray wolves: 9 new laws reshape CPW’s future Read More »

Colorado Christian camp sues state over gender facility access mandate

Fox News, Approved, State / May 20, 2025 / Alliance Defending Freedom, Biblical Values, Christian Camps, Faith And Family, First amendment, Gender Ideology, Parental Rights, Religious freedom, State Overreach

A Christian camp that has been operating since 1948 in Colorado is suing the state after the camp was told that it had to accommodate gender expression in bathrooms and a variety of other spaces.

“They feel like they’re honoring God in what they’re doing, and I feel like they should do that, to operate in a way that’s consistent with that,” camp volunteer and mother Leah Rohwer told CBS News in an interview.

Colorado Christian camp sues state over gender facility access mandate Read More »

Out on bond, out of control: Decades of Colorado’s soft-on-crime policies under fire

Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, State, Top Stories / May 20, 2025 / Colorado Bail Reform, Crime Legislation, HB25-1147, Judicial Accountability, Pretrial Release, Public safety, Public Trust, Recidivism, Repeat Offenders, SB19-143, Soft on crime, Victim Rights

A series of violent incidents in Denver between December 2024 and May 2025 has intensified scrutiny of Colorado’s criminal justice reforms, with critics contending that lenient policies on bail and sentencing have compromised public safety.

Six recent cases, documented through court records, booking reports and social media posts from the advocacy account @dobetterdnvr, reveal a troubling trend: offenders with extensive criminal histories, released on low or no-cost bonds or parole, allegedly committed murders, assaults and attempted murders – leaving multiple victims.

Out on bond, out of control: Decades of Colorado’s soft-on-crime policies under fire Read More »

Gaines: Phil Weiser spends your tax dollars suing Trump and backing gun control

Colorado Accountability Project, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State / May 20, 2025 / Assault Weapon Ban, Colorado Accountability Project, Colorado Attorney General, Government spending, gun control, Phil Weiser, Political Lawsuits, Second Amendment, State Budget, Taxpayer Funds, Trump Lawsuits

There but for the grace of God goes Colorado

I was corresponding with someone recently and they mentioned something interesting. This person is a lawyer and said they were in a 10th circuit (Federal) courtroom recently and overheard an appellate case out of New Mexico about gun control.

I am not sure if you remember, but New Mexico’s governor made quite a splash a while back by declaring a public health emergency related to guns, trying essentially to use that to take away the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of that state.

Those orders, and later iterations of same, have been working their way through the courts ever since. The first link below is to that case if you’re curious.

This person asked a neighbor why it was that the solicitor general for New Mexico had an Australian accent. They were told that the lawyer didn’t work for New Mexico, the lawyer worked for Everytown. Everytown the gun control group (see the second link below).

Gaines: Phil Weiser spends your tax dollars suing Trump and backing gun control Read More »