Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Government overreach

Sixth wolf death of 2025 confirmed—CPW says ‘wolf population will continue to grow’
Approved, DENVER7, State

Sixth wolf death of 2025 confirmed—CPW says ‘wolf population will continue to grow’

By Stephanie Butzer | Denver7 Another gray wolf that was brought to Colorado as part of the state's reintroduction program has died, Colorado and federal officials said on Monday afternoon. In a press release on Monday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said they received a mortality alert for a male wolf in northwest Colorado on May 31. The wolf had been brought to Colorado from Canada as part of the January 2025 reintroduction, CPW confirmed to Denver7. It is the fifth wolf from the original 15 released that month that has died. As with any wolf death in Colorado, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating because gray wolves are a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act. The USFWS will determine its cause of death. That investigation is ongoing. ...
The COvid Chronicles May 16–23, 2020: Deaths dipped—but the definition got slippery
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

The COvid Chronicles May 16–23, 2020: Deaths dipped—but the definition got slippery

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board The fifth installment of RMV’s COvid Chronicles covers the strangest stretch yet—when deaths dipped, testing peaked, and the state quietly admitted not every COVID death was what they claimed. The contradictions were harder to hide, the public wasn’t playing along, and the illusion was cracking. Yes, these installments are longer than our usual coverage. So was the list of lies. We’re not about to shrink the story. More than two months into government-mandated shutdowns, Coloradans had lost patience—and begun reclaiming their fearlessness. After surrendering jobs, shuttering schools, isolating loved ones, and forfeiting springtime rites of faith and family, many started asking the obvious: What was all this really for? Yes, people had gotten...
Home rule vs. housing order: Colorado Springs challenges Polis directive
Approved, KRDO.COM, Local

Home rule vs. housing order: Colorado Springs challenges Polis directive

By Mackenzie Stafford | KRDO COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council decided to roll the dice on roughly $20 million in funding, according to the city's estimates. It comes after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed executive order D 2025 - 005, which includes blanket statewide housing requirements aimed at improving affordability. The city claims that there are a handful of laws in the order that are not right for the Colorado Springs community. The only issue is that, as part of the executive order, not following these laws could put the city under noncompliance, which is a one-way ticket to getting those dollars pulled.At a city hall meeting on Tuesday, councilmembers voted 7 to 2 on a resolution to reaffirm Colorado S...
Hunt: Governor signs laws advancing trans agenda, sparking constitutional challenge
Approved, Commentary, State, TownHall.com

Hunt: Governor signs laws advancing trans agenda, sparking constitutional challenge

By Nicole Hunt | Commentary, Townhall Just as a refreshing wave of reality-based, commonsense policy seems to be sweeping the nation, Colorado lawmakers are doubling down on “trans” policies that can only be described as absurd, unconscionable and unconstitutional. For those of us in Colorado who still believe in parental rights and free speech, the speed at which our state is descending into a dystopian nightmare is terrifying. Here in Colorado, transactivists control the State House, the Senate, and the governor’s seat. Whatever they want to do, however far they want to push the envelope, they can, and they did this legislative cycle. Some of the bills are so radical that even California’s governor refused to sign similar legislation. This session we saw two radical trans bil...
Cities sue Polis over housing mandate, cite threat to local control
Approved, Local, State, The Colorado Sun

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

By Bente Birkeland | Colorado Sun A lawsuit filed Monday argues the state is violating the right of local governments to shape how they grow and develop 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.” The cities are also asking the courts to f...
Bent County declares Second Amendment Sanctuary, defies SB25-003
denvergazette.com, Local, State

Bent County declares Second Amendment Sanctuary, defies SB25-003

By Marissa Ventrelli | Denver Gazette 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. The bill, which was signed into law last month, requires individuals to take a hunting safety course through Colorado Parks and Wildlife to be able to purchase semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines. Sheriffs’ departments ...
Governor’s executive order threatening loss of funding draws fire for overriding local housing control
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local, State

Governor’s executive order threatening loss of funding draws fire for overriding local housing control

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is putting local governments on notice: Either they comply with state housing laws, or they risk losing at least $100 million a year in state funding. The governor signed an executive order that takes the battle over local control to a new level. Over the last two years, he's signed bills regarding residential occupancy limits and accessory dwelling units, transit-oriented communities and manufactured homes, and even limits on staircases and parking spots. But not everyone is on board with the new laws. Some local governments have flat out refused to comply. So the governor is upping the ante. "What we are doing now is making sure we are putting our money where our mouth is," Gov. Polis told CBS Colorado.  Polis signed an ex...
The COvid Chronicles May 8–15, 2020: C&C made headlines. Polis made an example. Colorado made up its mind.
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

The COvid Chronicles May 8–15, 2020: C&C made headlines. Polis made an example. Colorado made up its mind.

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board This fourth installment of RMV’s COvid Chronicles picks up where the last left off – but this time, the spark became a blaze. We split this chapter into two parts to capture the rapid escalation. Part one chronicled the mounting tensions. Part two reveals the eruption. The governor’s enforcers tried to make an example of C&C. Instead, they created a rallying cry. In just seven days, Colorado witnessed threats, shutdowns, viral videos and a surge of defiance that no press conference could contain. Counties revolted, small towns reopened and sheriffs made it clear: the edicts had lost their teeth. These are the COvid Chronicles for May 8-15, 2020… COvid Chronicles catch-up• Introducing The COvid Chronicles: How fear and force reshape...
The COvid Chronicles May 1–7, 2020: Seven days that set the stage for open rebellion
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

The COvid Chronicles May 1–7, 2020: Seven days that set the stage for open rebellion

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board This third installment of RMV’s COvid Chronicles is divided into two parts — for good reason. The first week of May set the stage for something bigger: the breaking point. As pressure mounted and defiance spread, Colorado crossed from quiet frustration into open resistance. Part one captures the fuse. Part two will show the wildfire. May began just like April ended – edicts from above, fear from the press and politicians telling Coloradans to stay home, shut up and stay six feet apart. But by the first week of the month, cracks were showing.  From Castle Rock to Colorado Springs, citizens, sheriffs and small-business owners weren’t waiting for permission. They had bills to pay, kids to raise and a Constitution they weren’t willing to qu...
Caldara: Time to see if Polis will choose his socialist friends or Colorado’s future
Approved, Commentary, denvergazette.com, State

Caldara: Time to see if Polis will choose his socialist friends or Colorado’s future

By Jon Caldara | Commentary, Denver Gazette There are only three jobs worth having in Colorado. The first is fortunately mine. Any person who can make a living by indulging his passion is beyond blessed. I somehow have provided for my family by fighting for personal and economic freedom in Colorado. Running Independence Institute, Colorado’s machine to promote liberty principles over party, politicians and special interests, is a dream come true. The next coolest job in Colorado is quarterback for the Denver Broncos, which, by the way, I would be totally awesome at. The only other job I’d want here would be governor, the most influential and powerful gig for changing policy and shaping the state’s future. And to be Jared Polis, a near billionaire to boot, would be a rip. I m...