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Homeless Advocates Protest Denver Mayor’s Veto
Approved, Denver Metro, Downtown Denver, Local, thelobby-co.com

Homeless Advocates Protest Denver Mayor’s Veto

By The Lobby Denver's homeless advocates gathered outside the City and County Building on Saturday morning to express their dissatisfaction with Mayor Mike Johnston's decision to veto a bill that would have prohibited homeless sweeps in freezing temperatures. Despite the frigid conditions, about a dozen members of Housekeys Action Network (HAND) showed up to voice their opposition to the mayor's announcement. The City Council Ordinance 23-1960, introduced in December, aimed to amend the municipal code to prevent various city agencies from clearing homeless encampments when temperatures dropped to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. However, on February 2, Mayor Johnston vetoed the "No Freezing Sweeps" ordinance, which had been passed by the Denver City Council with a narrow 7-6 vote. ...
‘We’re broke with Biden’: S. Carolina voters explain interest in voting for Trump
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

‘We’re broke with Biden’: S. Carolina voters explain interest in voting for Trump

By Asher Notheis | The Gazette South Carolina voters explained in a recent interview the reasons they intend to vote for former President Donald Trump this November instead of President Joe Biden. The voters were discussing the presidential election in an interview that aired on Friday, during which they were asked if they knew of anyone who was planning to vote for Trump or considering the possibility of voting for him. Kinard Givens, one of the voters being interviewed, said yes, noting that he has friends who felt more secure financially with Trump as president than Biden. "They’re like, ‘well, we’re broke with Biden. We weren’t with Trump,’" Givens told MSNBC. "And that’s kind of the only thing that I’m hearing over and over again." READ THE FULL STORY AT THE...
Noem accused of using border crisis to boost her chances of becoming VP
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

Noem accused of using border crisis to boost her chances of becoming VP

By Jenny Goldsberry | Colorado Springs Gazette The Oglala Sioux tribe has banished Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) from its reservation over her comments on the border, claiming she's using the border crisis to "increase her chances" of becoming vice president. The tribe's president, Frank Star Comes Out, sent a letter to the governor Friday following Noem's speech to the legislature on Jan. 31. While he made it clear the Oglala Sioux are neither a Republican tribe nor a Democratic one, he wrote the letter in defense of the "Indian people from such places as El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico" that are seeking a better life. "The truth of the matter is that Governor Noem wants the use of the so-called 'invasion' of the southern border as a Republican 'cr...
‘Amnesty’ or border crackdown? What’s in the Senate’s $20 billion immigration deal?
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

‘Amnesty’ or border crackdown? What’s in the Senate’s $20 billion immigration deal?

By David Sivak | Colorado Springs Gazette Senate leadership released the text of a bipartisan compromise on the border Sunday evening, the product of four months of painstaking negotiations. Elements of the deal, brokered by a bipartisan working group, had been teased in the days leading up to its release; however, the granular details offered by the text itself will determine how much support the bill receives in the Senate. The package, part of a larger national security supplemental, will be considered as soon as Wednesday. The negotiations have been a lightning rod for controversy ever since they began in earnest, with apparent leaks threatening to derail the legislation before it ever came to light.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORA...
Colorado is so behind on processing food assistance benefits that it’s under a federal corrective action plan
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado is so behind on processing food assistance benefits that it’s under a federal corrective action plan

By Jennifer Brown | The Colorado Sun Colorado is so slow at processing applications for food assistance that it ranks in the bottom five states and is now under a corrective action plan with the federal government. While some counties in the state are meeting federal requirements, others are far behind, which means Colorado’s average processing times for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are among the worst in the country.  Arapahoe, Denver and Weld counties are processing more than 90% of new applications within required timeframes, but El Paso and Jefferson counties, for example, are seeing success rates around only 50%, according to data obtained by The Colorado Sun.  When it comes to processing renewals on time, Pueblo and El Paso counties ar...
Biden team worried about next big embarrassment to hit president 
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
Colorado School District Uses Affordable Housing As Recruitment Tactic
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...
Nancy Pelosi’s stock portfolio gains raise more concerns over Congressional trading
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 ...
Colorado Senate Ag Committee introduces ‘Agriculture and Natural Resources Public Engagement Requirement’ bill
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 ...
Speaker: ‘The President has executive authority right now’ to act on border crisis
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...