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Letters from readers: Exorbitant fees, a moose on the buffet, and raise a flag for Trump
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Letters from readers: Exorbitant fees, a moose on the buffet, and raise a flag for Trump

Today, I'm having moose bone pudding with curried squash sauce, probably one of only a few hundred thousand humans partaking of such a pleasure on this fine winter afternoon.  If you think about it, there were 7,000 moose killed in Alaska, 21,000 in Canada and 32,000 in Russia, and with a decent body size of 700 pound it's enough poundage for family and friendly experimenting.  Colorado has a total moose population of around 3,000, with a few hundred being taken by hunters each year. With a total human population of about six million, not everyone gets a chance to try my particular piece de resistance.  The Centennial State has more than one head of cattle for every two people, so the hamburgers do make the rounds. Not everyone craves rattlesnake beans or pan-broiled r...
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Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado leading on plan for Colorado energy transition
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Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado leading on plan for Colorado energy transition

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice As local governments on the Western Slope face the reality of the Craig Power Station closure and in preparation of Gov. Jared Polis’ mandated clean energy plan, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado are announcing that Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative (NCEI), a program under AGNC and managed by Matt Solomon, have received a $75,000 Energy Communities Alliance Grant. The grant will enable NCEI to launch its next phase of work, focusing on creating a regional coalition and fostering collaboration across multiple states. This phase includes the development of a multi-state stakeholder map, guided by the Department of Energy’s Energy Transition Playbook. The stakeholder map will connect local governments, privat...
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Horn announces key endorsements in Colorado Republican Party leadership race
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Horn announces key endorsements in Colorado Republican Party leadership race

By Rocky Mountain Voice staff More than two dozen Republican leaders in Colorado have lent their endorsements to Brita Horn, as the race for the Republican Party's leadership begins to heat up. The election of a chair, vice chair and secretary to head up the party is expected to take place sometime in mid to late March, a party insider told the Rocky Mountain Voice. Thus far, Horn is one of two announced candidates for party chair, decided by about 500 members of the party's central committee. A press release announcing the endorsements includes former and present state officials and candidates, current and present party leadership in the General Assembly, candidates for congress and many county party leaders, among others. “I am humbled and honored by the outcrying of support ...
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New wolfpack released into high society near Aspen in Pitkin County
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New wolfpack released into high society near Aspen in Pitkin County

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Wolves arrived from British Columbia on Sunday, Jan. 12, and were released in Pitkin County; a county that actually voted to have them.  They have become residents of the affluent communities near Aspen and Snowmass. Since CPW can only release the wolves on state or private lands, as long as they have the landowners' permission, according to law, and since CPW has told audiences repeatedly in meetings this fall that Pitkin County does not have a large enough state-owned property to release, it is now clear that a private landowner has offered his privately owned large ranch to the wolf restoration effort.  Although CPW has not confirmed the wolves were released on private land about 6 miles south of Basalt, it became...
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‘Colorado has told California to hold our beer’: Rep. Bradley warning it’s time for new direction
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‘Colorado has told California to hold our beer’: Rep. Bradley warning it’s time for new direction

Douglas Co. representative calls for Coloradans of all walks to get involved with legislation By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice State Rep. Brandi Bradley, a Republican from House District 39 in Douglas County, won't back down in the fight against government overreach. With the 75th General Assembly now in full swing, Bradley is focused on key bills she will pursue. They aim to protect children and parental rights, enhance public safety and combat the high cost of living. Bradley is calling on grassroots Coloradans to join her. “The line in the sand has been drawn,” Bradley said. “Conservatives can't just sit back and watch our rights be taken away. It's time to stand up.” She is rated fifth out of 100 legislators on the Colorado Liberty Scorecard, a...
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Ben Van Dyke wants to be voice of reason and of the people on Grand Junction City Council
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Ben Van Dyke wants to be voice of reason and of the people on Grand Junction City Council

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Independent-minded, solution-oriented, and practical pragmatism is what Ben Van Dyke says is missing on the current Grand Junction City Council. He intends to change all that, for the residents and businesspeople in Grand Junction, if he is elected to City Council in April. “I never thought that I would run for any political office, it was never something I had thought about until the disastrous way the Council handled the unhoused in our community, and then watched as they created another disaster with 4th and 5th Streets,” Van Dyke said. Van Dyke is a fourth-generation resident of Grand Junction, and his roots run deep in the Grand Valley. He is a father, husband and business owner. Since the late 1960s, his fam...
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Rep. Winter asks Coloradans to ‘get out to the stock show’ and see the state’s $47 billion industry
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Rep. Winter asks Coloradans to ‘get out to the stock show’ and see the state’s $47 billion industry

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A leading voice of agriculture in the Colorado House, Rep. Ty Winter reminded urban and rural legislators alike Tuesday of the National Western Stock Show in Denver. "Its stock show week here in Denver," said Winter, the assistant minority leader and representative for nine Southeastern Colorado counties. The 119th edition of the National Western Stock Show runs through Jan. 26 with a variety of livestock exhibitions, rodeos and more. "Please get out and see your ag producers," said Winter, in an announcement from the floor of the House. "See what they do to make sure you have food on the table and clothes on your back." Among Winter's district in Southern Colorado is Prowers County, which boasts $430 million in annual agricultural prod...
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McMahon: Mayor Johnston, the ‘reality’ of downtown Denver is it is not safe
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McMahon: Mayor Johnston, the ‘reality’ of downtown Denver is it is not safe

By Patricia McMahon | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice I don’t typically speak out about issues like this, because I’ve always believed that complaints without solutions don’t accomplish much. But after watching Mayor Mike Johnston’s press conference on Monday, I felt compelled to respond. His comment about the recent stabbings on the 16th Street Mall struck a nerve. He said, “I think there is a question of the difference between perception and reality, and that is part of what we have to address. I have folks who say, ‘I don’t like to come downtown. I don’t feel safe.’ And I say, ‘Really, when did you come downtown last?’ And they say 2021. I say, ‘Okay, well, it is a very different downtown than what you saw three years ago.’” Mayor Johnston, I work downtown at 17th and...
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New wolf pack arrival in Western Colorado is just in time for calving season
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New wolf pack arrival in Western Colorado is just in time for calving season

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice On Saturday, Jan. 11, Colorado Parks and Wildlife put out a press release that they were going to begin trapping and transporting operations to bring up to 15 Canadian Grey Wolves from British Columbia, Canada, to Western Colorado. One day later, wolves were on the ground in Garfield County.  A plane, operated by Lighthawk Conservation Flying, is the same plane that CPW leased in December 2023 to bring wolves from Oregon to the state. The aircraft left Prince St. George, British Columbia, early in the morning of Jan. 12, and landed at Eagle County Airport at about 4 p.m., where witnesses on the ground saw CPW vehicles equipped with a trailer and animal crates leave the airport and head west on Interstate 70. Eagle Ai...
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Lundberg: Should we expect more of the same in 75th legislative session?
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Lundberg: Should we expect more of the same in 75th legislative session?

By Kevin Lundberg | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As Colorado’s 2025 legislative session began, the governor and leaders in both houses laid out their agendas. The legislators’ remarks were somewhat predictable, talking about unity and cooperation — a good place to start, but more lip service than reality.  The Republican minority leaders, to their credit, also spoke up for the people of Colorado. They emphasized the government policies that have driven up the cost of living to impossible levels for far too many families. Under Polis and one party rule in the legislature, intrusive and far too expensive fees and regulations have ratcheted up costs and made it harder to run a business, buy a home or even drive a car. Every year, more laws compound the complexities of lif...
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