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Payback? Democrats gut, then reject party mate’s proposal on county commissioners
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Payback? Democrats gut, then reject party mate’s proposal on county commissioners

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A Democrat on Friday saw his proposal dealing with the number of county commissioners first effectively gutted by an amendment and then killed by his party mates, a rare sight that might have its genesis in the legislator's lawsuit over the caucuses' practice of meeting away from the public view. That lawsuit outlined a secretive process by which Republicans and Democrats met to discuss legislation or discussed policies via messaging apps effectively outside of the purview of the state's Open Meetings Law. The lawsuit ultimately led to a settlement.    READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Former CBI scientist intentionally manipulated data, casting doubt on 652 cases, investigation reveals
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Former CBI scientist intentionally manipulated data, casting doubt on 652 cases, investigation reveals

By Olivia Prentzel | Colorado Sun Aformer forensic scientist intentionally manipulated DNA evidence during her 29-year career at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, casting doubt on at least 652 criminal cases she handled, including some of the most high-profile trials, according to investigation findings released by the agency Friday. That number could grow as outside investigators continue to review DNA testing done by Yvonne “Missy” Woods, after a probe revealed she manipulated data in the testing process and in some cases, posted incomplete test results, in the cases she handled between 2008 and 2023. The discovery is putting all of Woods’ work into question and CBI is also looking at her work dating to 1994, when she started working for CBI. The agency launched the investig...
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Republicans decry arrest of Gold Star father for heckling Biden at State of the Union
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Approved, National, Washington Examiner

Republicans decry arrest of Gold Star father for heckling Biden at State of the Union

By Emily Jacobs | Washington Examiner GOP lawmakers are defending the Gold Star father arrested by U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday for heckling President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address.  Police say that Steve Nikoui, 51, was arrested for violating the D.C. Code after continuing to yell at the president despite officers warning him to stop. His son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, was one of the 13 U.S. service members killed in an ISIS-K bombing during the American withdrawal from Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 26, 2021. “This is a routine charge on Capitol Hill. People who illegally demonstrate/disrupt Congress typically are released after they pay a $50 fine, so the misdemeanor charge is resolved without going to court,” a Cap...
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Biden ‘turned a secured border into a disaster’ sheriffs complain after being snubbed
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Approved, denvergazette.com, National

Biden ‘turned a secured border into a disaster’ sheriffs complain after being snubbed

By Paul Bedard | Colorado Springs Gazette The nation’s sheriffs on Friday expressed anger that President Joe Biden did not recognize law enforcement in his State of the Union address, blasting the White House for turning a calm border into a calamity. While he gave his speech just two weeks after visiting the Texas border, where he met with agents, Biden failed to acknowledge their efforts to keep the nation safe despite broadening violence. The National Sheriffs’ Association, expressing frustration both at being ignored by Biden and by Biden’s dismantling of the Trump-era border protections officers played a critical part in enforcing, called on the president to take action today to stop the flow of illegal immigrants flooding in. READ THE FULL STORY A...
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Colorado Supreme Court committee votes to explore role of AI in practice of law
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Approved, gazette.com, State

Colorado Supreme Court committee votes to explore role of AI in practice of law

By Michael Karlik | Colorado Politics An advisory committee to the Colorado Supreme Court recently created a subcommittee that will evaluate existing rules barring the unauthorized practice of law to determine if changes are necessary to accommodate emerging artificial intelligence-powered legal tools. The March 1 vote of the Advisory Committee on the Practice of Law came at the request of the Colorado Access to Justice Commission. The commission advocates for expanded legal aid and better tools for self-represented litigants in civil cases. The commission's director, Elisa Overall, noted AI tools can foster access to justice and efficiency in the legal profession. "In collaboration with Colorado Legal Services, the ATJC is in the process of developing a robust online legal inform...
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Trump-backed leaders take helm at RNC, following McDaniel exit
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Approved, National, The Epoch Times

Trump-backed leaders take helm at RNC, following McDaniel exit

By Lawrence Wilson | Epoch Times The Republican National Committee (RNC) has elected new leadership endorsed by former President Donald Trump after Ronna McDaniel, the group’s longest-serving chair, stepped down on March 8. Michael Whatley, chair of the North Carolina Republican Party whom President Trump endorsed last month to lead the RNC, was elected by a voice vote to succeed Ms. McDaniel at the committee’s spring meeting in Houston, Texas. He ran unopposed. Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law who also ran unopposed, was elected co-chair by a voice vote. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE EPOCH TIMES
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Colorado lawmakers battle over legalization of supervised drug injection sites
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado lawmakers battle over legalization of supervised drug injection sites

BY Marissa Ventrelli | COLORADO POLITICS The Colorado legislature is diving anew into the debate over "safe injection sites" — places where a person can consume illicit drugs under the supervision of medical personnel— with opponents saying it encourages illegal drug use, while supporters arguing it will yield positive results in the ongoing public health crisis. Drug overdoses have killed thousands of Colorado residents in the last few years. Last year, 522 people died from drug overdoses in Denver alone, the most since tracking began in 1923, according to city records. And though final numbers for overdose deaths statewide won't be available until this summer, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment recorded 1,454 total drug overdose deaths among Colorado residents from 2...
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Colorado House Democrats kill proposal pushing for tougher approach to fentanyl crisis
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado House Democrats kill proposal pushing for tougher approach to fentanyl crisis

By Thelma Grimes | Colorado Politics Michael Fiore, the outreach coordinator for Voices for Awareness and Project Facing Fentanyl, remembered selling drugs to support his addiction and skating through the system before getting clean — after serving a prison term in New York. Fiori said when people figure out they only need to carry less than 4 grams and all they will face, if caught, is a simple misdemeanor, they will do that. Addicts, he said, do not learn until they are held accountable. “Sympathy causes a disconnect in recovery,” the once 20-year addict told members of the House Judiciary Committee during a late-night hearing on Wednesday. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Proposed sweeping changes to Colorado charter schools could divide Democrats
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Proposed sweeping changes to Colorado charter schools could divide Democrats

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics A trio of state Democratic lawmakers is pushing a sweeping proposal to boost what they describe as accountability but which critics say flies in the face of local control and unfairly targets charter schools. Notably, the biggest pushback is likely to come from members of their own caucuses and Gov. Jared Polis.  Reps. Tammy Story of Evergreen and Lorena Garcia of Adams County, along with Sen. Lisa Cutter of Littleton, introduced House Bill 1363, a 55-page bill that seeks major changes in how charter schools operate. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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WATCH LIVE: State of the Union address and responses from Sen. Britt, Donald Trump
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Approved, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

WATCH LIVE: State of the Union address and responses from Sen. Britt, Donald Trump

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice President Joe Biden is preparing to deliver his final State of the Union address of his first term to Congress. While the guest list for those sitting with First Lady Jill Biden during the speech gives some indiction toward the themes, it won’t be delivered until 7 p.m. Mountain Time – that’s 9 p.m. Eastern Time if you happen to be in Washington, D.C. The broadcast at WhiteHouse.gov will allow viewers to post emojis to give a reaction as the State of the Union happens, but don’t expect a chance to offer a negative reaction. The three emojis being offered are thumbs up, love and celebrate, although Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre continues to claim the President is ready to handle any opposition to his positions on the economy and the c...
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