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Two more elementaries to close in Western Slope district, school board unanimously decides
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Two more elementaries to close in Western Slope district, school board unanimously decides

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice A special board meeting for Mesa County Valley School District 51 on Friday evening led to a 5-0 vote to close Clifton and Scenic Elementary Schools. The vote came after a presentation by demographer Shannon Bingham, and a discussion on the declining enrollment, demographic shifts and the district's finances. Shannon Bingham, the district's demographer, presented data detailing a decline in birth rates and a shift in housing. Both factors are causing reduced enrollment. “We are not getting student growth from the neighborhood. The numbers say that [enrollment] is going to continue to go down into the upper 20s,” Bingham explained. He pointed to projections of a 15-20% drop in kindergarten enrollment over the next five years. ...
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Graham: White liberal women are ‘The Mean Girls’
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Graham: White liberal women are ‘The Mean Girls’

By Ellen M. Graham | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Why do other women keep telling me they’ve been unfriended for voting for Trump? Why is this a thing? Having been through it myself, my pulse quickens and suddenly I’m in junior high and there they are.  The mean girls.  Today they are white, liberal, women, living in self-reflecting vacuums and their entitlement runs deep.  They are virtuous and experts on everything. Ruthless, alone, predatory in groups, these mean girls stalk the hallways of their modern neighborhoods, children’s schools and Whole Foods looking for those who aren’t worthy.  In the world of mean girls, wearing T-shirts that say BE KIND, your kindess will be taken as a weakness.  Weakness like the maturity of being a friend who l...
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Boebert’s ZIP code bill boosting rural towns passes House Oversight Committee with unanimous support
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Boebert’s ZIP code bill boosting rural towns passes House Oversight Committee with unanimous support

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Rural America is home to nearly 60 million individuals. That's one out of every five Americans. Many argue that policymakers overlook rural America. Yet a simple bill led by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Silt) will have a big impact on small towns.  “I am thrilled to see my bipartisan Zip Code bill pass through the House Oversight Committee with unanimous bipartisan support," Boebert said this week in a statement. The introduction of ZIP codes in the 60s transformed mail delivery. They also became vital to economic growth, public safety and community identity. But many communities still face challenges without unique ZIP Codes, leading to misdirected tax revenue and delayed emergency responses. Congresswoman Boebert took action ...
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Mesa County commissioners updated on pretrial and corrections services programs
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Mesa County commissioners updated on pretrial and corrections services programs

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Matt Lewis, a former Mesa County sheriff and current Justice Services Director for the county, updated Mesa County commissioners on the status of their Pretrial Services (PTS) program and the County Community Corrections Services program on Tuesday, Nov. 19. PTS is a program for people who have been arrested to receive pretrial services in the jail, in addition to services while they are incarcerated. A pretrial assessment is completed for anyone who is booked in the Mesa County jail. This assessment is provided to the court, district attorney's office and public defender’s office to be used as a tool to inform the court as they are considering bond decisions. Setting the appropriate bond assists with maximizing releases from c...
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Western Colorado school board votes to close one elementary school, two more could shutter
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Western Colorado school board votes to close one elementary school, two more could shutter

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice It was an emotional night at the Mesa County Valley District 51 school board meeting on Nov. 19, as more than 50 public commenters packed a seven-hour session that stretched past midnight. Parents, students, teachers and community members voiced their concerns about the proposed closure of Scenic, Nisley and Clifton Elementary Schools. "No one wants to be in a situation where they are having to close schools," Superintendent Dr. Brian Hill said. "It will never feel good, but it is the situation we find ourselves in."  Hill detailed the data-driven approach used to identify schools for closure. He highlighted the Elementary Declining Enrollment Committee’s criteria, which included building adequacy, enrollment and transportatio...
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Dickenson: From the Rockies to the Beltway, Colorado’s influence in Washington
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Dickenson: From the Rockies to the Beltway, Colorado’s influence in Washington

By Tiffany Dickenson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado has long punched above its weight in shaping national policy, and this administration is no different. With the appointment of Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy, our state once again finds itself in a key position of influence in Washington, D.C. Our state has a proud history of representation at the highest levels of government. Through the years, several Coloradans have taken the lead on national issues, leaving a legacy of strong, values-driven leadership: Federico Peña, as Secretary of Transportation (1993–1997), modernized infrastructure, including airport and transportation networks vital to rural areas like Northwest Colorado. Later, as Secretary of Energy (1997–1998), he balanced renewable energy dev...
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Baldauf: Voters ignored biased perspective of broadcast and print news in ’24 election
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Baldauf: Voters ignored biased perspective of broadcast and print news in ’24 election

By Michael Baldauf | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Have you ever found yourself in a group where you discovered the leader was corrupt?  Maybe it was a church, where the pastor was not living the message, or a volunteer organization, where the leaders were taking advantage of their positions.  I would guess if you could not do anything to correct the situation you probably got away. People ask me why I don’t watch national newscasts on broadcast television anymore.  The answer is the same.  For about 40 years they have demonstrated that they are not interested in being a source for unbiased reporting.  The latest Gallop Poll found that almost 70 percent of the public said they do not trust the media.  The recent elections are an example of...
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Schumann: Are Colorado Democrats justified in fearing a Trump comeback, or is a reality check needed?
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Schumann: Are Colorado Democrats justified in fearing a Trump comeback, or is a reality check needed?

By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice A second Trump presidency has sparked significant concerns among some Colorado Democrats. They cite fears over federal overreach, social policy rollbacks and economic instability. Left-leaning Colorado news media and Democrat politicians are sparing no time and revving up the fear-mongering engine. Last week, Gov. Polis and his co-chair received national attention for launching “Governors Safeguarding Democracy” to fight against President Trump’s policies.  Polis stated, "We want to make sure that the American people can be certain that the elections are safe, that the separation of the courts and powers is safe, and that governors exert the powers that we have as states to make sure that we can protect freedom...
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Lyle: Are veterans being exploited by companies claiming to support them? 
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Lyle: Are veterans being exploited by companies claiming to support them? 

By Dean Lyle | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Veterans are pillars of our society, honored for their sacrifices and service. Companies like USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union have built their brands around serving military families, often positioning themselves as trusted allies. However, recent legal actions reveal troubling alleged practices that seem to exploit veterans rather than support them. From overcharging to surprise fees, these institutions have faced serious accusations of prioritizing profits over their commitment to the military community.  USAA: A pattern of failures and violations  USAA, founded to serve military members and their families, has faced mounting scrutiny for failing to uphold its promises. In addition to the $64.2 million sett...
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Tina Peters appeal filed while justice awaits Jena Griswold
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Tina Peters appeal filed while justice awaits Jena Griswold

By Heidi Ganahl | Rocky Mountain Voice The legal journey of Tina Peters, former Clerk and Recorder of Mesa County, Colorado, has become emblematic of the contentious debates surrounding election integrity and judicial fairness.  Peters now seeks bond pending appeal, citing significant procedural and constitutional concerns in her trial. Peters was convicted on charges that stemmed from her decision to hire a cybersecurity expert to create forensic images of Mesa County's election management system (EMS). This action followed a directive from the Colorado Secretary of State to perform a software update, which Peters believed might erase key election records. Her intent, she insists, was to comply with federal laws mandating the preservation of election records for 22 months. The cr...
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