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Biden team worried about next big embarrassment to hit president 
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Approved, gazette.com, National

Biden team worried about next big embarrassment to hit president 

By Haisten Willis | Colorado Springs Gazette The Biden campaign fears that the results of a classified documents investigation could lead to embarrassing information, and possibly photos, that could damage President Joe Biden's reelection chances. Biden's aides believe special counsel Robert Hur's investigation won't lead to any criminal charges, according to Axios, but unflattering details and photos could still lead to political damage. Former President Donald Trump is facing felony charges related to his handling of classified documents. Soon after his Mar-a-Lago home was raided in August 2022, Biden weighed in by asking aloud how "anyone could be that irresponsible." READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE
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Colorado School District Uses Affordable Housing As Recruitment Tactic
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Approved, El Paso County, Local, thelobby-co.com

Colorado School District Uses Affordable Housing As Recruitment Tactic

By The Lobby Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs has announced plans to construct affordable homes for its employees, according to reports. The district intends to build 20 duplexes, each covering 352 square feet, on a one-acre parcel of land at Mountain Vista Community School. The estimated cost of the project is $6 million, and the homes will be available for rent at $825 per month. This initiative aims to address the affordable housing faced by many teachers in Colorado Springs. The average rent is $1,720 per month, while the average home price is $523,456, as reported by Forbes Advisor. With a starting salary of $47,545 for new teachers in the district, many find it challenging to secure suitable housing without resorting to multiple roommates. The constructi...
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Nancy Pelosi’s stock portfolio gains raise more concerns over Congressional trading
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Approved, National, thelobby-co.com

Nancy Pelosi’s stock portfolio gains raise more concerns over Congressional trading

By The Lobby As Americans continue to grapple with the rising costs of food and gas, Rep. Nancy Pelosi's stock portfolio saw substantial gains in 2023. Despite a rough year in 2022, when increased scrutiny was placed on her trading activities, the former Speaker reportedly enjoyed a remarkable 65% return on her investments. These impressive gains surpass the performance of many major hedge funds, raising eyebrows and prompting questions about Pelosi’s investment strategies. One key factor in Pelosi's success appears to be her "luck" in using stock options, a practice that often raises suspicions of trading on inside information. This is particularly concerning given that members of Congress have access to a wealth of privileged information that could give them an unfair advantage ...
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Colorado Senate Ag Committee introduces ‘Agriculture and Natural Resources Public Engagement Requirement’ bill
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Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado Senate Ag Committee introduces ‘Agriculture and Natural Resources Public Engagement Requirement’ bill

By The Lobby In a recent legislative committee meeting, the Colorado Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee discussed Senate Bill 24-026, a bill that proposes the renewal of the in-person public engagement requirement for members of the Parks and Wildlife Commission in the Department of Natural Resources, as well as the addition of the same requirement for members of the Agriculture Commission and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Democrat from District 8, aims to enhance government transparency and establish trust between these important boards and the constituents they represent. PRIME SPONSORS Sen. Dylan Roberts Sen. Perry Will Rep. Barbara McLachlan Rep. Marc Catlin Sen. Roberts emphasized the ...
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Speaker: ‘The President has executive authority right now’ to act on border crisis
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Approved, gazette.com, National

Speaker: ‘The President has executive authority right now’ to act on border crisis

By Jack Birle | Colorado Springs Gazette House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) placed blame for the border crisis on President Joe Biden, insisting the president should act on solving the crisis as Senate negotiators are slated to release the text of their proposed border security bill on Sunday. Johnson put the ball in Biden's court to act on the border, arguing he has the authority to enact measures the House GOP has pursued through its H.R. 2 bill, which has not been considered by the Senate while speaking on NBC News's Meet the Press on Sunday. "I have been saying what the requirements are to fix the problem. I don't care if they call the legislation HR 2 or not. What we're saying is you have to stem the flow. The President has executive authority right no...
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Keith King, a titan of school choice in Colorado education, dies at 75
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Keith King, a titan of school choice in Colorado education, dies at 75

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Keith King, a businessman, education leader and former legislator who served in the state House and Senate, as well as on the Colorado Springs council, has died after a long illness. He was 75. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Gov. Jared Polis, who, like King, has been an advocate for charter schools, on Saturday ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff until the day of King's memorial. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Unemployment Claims in Colorado Rise, Reflecting National Trend
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Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Unemployment Claims in Colorado Rise, Reflecting National Trend

By The Lobby Unemployment claims in Colorado saw an increase last week, mirroring the national trend, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The data released by the Labor Department on Thursday revealed that initial filings for unemployment benefits in the state rose to 2,396 in the week ending January 27, up from 2,312 the previous week. This rise in new jobless claims serves as a proxy for layoffs and is indicative of the challenges faced by workers in Colorado. This increase in unemployment claims is part of a broader national trend. Across the United States, unemployment claims reached 224,000 last week, an increase of 9,000 claims from the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis. Oregon experienced the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims soa...
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Contentious Reparations Debate Emerges at Colorado State Capitol
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Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Contentious Reparations Debate Emerges at Colorado State Capitol

By The Lobby As discussions surrounding racial equity and historical injustices continue to gain momentum across the country, Colorado's Black lawmakers are putting forward legislation that includes a high-profile study on the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination in the state. While SB24-053 aims to quantify the economic repercussions on Black residents and propose remedies, the contentious topic of reparations is looming in the background. Read the bill HERE. Although no lawmaker has explicitly used the term "reparations" so far, it is clear that the issue is part of the broader conversation. The study seeks to shed light on Colorado's historical role in creating discriminatory policies and examine their impact on Black communities today. PRIME SPONSORS ...
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Trump leading Biden on economy by over 20 points despite positive trends: Poll
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Approved, denvergazette.com, National

Trump leading Biden on economy by over 20 points despite positive trends: Poll

By Kaelan Deese | Colorado Springs Gazette President Joe Biden is trailing former President Donald Trump by more than 20 points on the issue of which candidate would better handle the economy, according to a new poll. The leading Republican front-runner, Trump, holds a 22-point lead over Biden on the question of which candidate would better handle the economy, with 55% picking Trump and 33% selecting Biden, according to an NBC News poll conducted Jan. 26-30. The dismal outlook for Biden comes despite his recent boasting that "jobs are growing," with more than 300,000 created just last month. When the same question was proposed to voters in October 2020, a month before Biden defeated Trump, the then-president held just a seven-point advantage over Bide...
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The fear and reward of ‘Standing in the Gap’
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Approved, Commentary, Local

The fear and reward of ‘Standing in the Gap’

By Bradley Beck | Special Contributor The almost empty Town Hall meeting room was soon to be filled with an angry mob. I was, to say the least, anxious. I arrived early so I could sign up to speak first, and get it over with. Just prior to me addressing the Town Council, a representative from Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED) asked if I would present the 300-plus signed petitions of my neighbors who were opposed to an upcoming fracking moratorium proposal in my town.  This Town of Erie meeting 10 years ago was to consider banning new oil and gas development in our community. I could not sit on the sideline. Too much was at stake. The Town Trustees were under intense pressure from anti-energy development activists. It was an issue I was ready and willing to ...
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