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Cole: Illegal driving, rising costs, and scarce patrols—welcome to Denver’s roads
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Cole: Illegal driving, rising costs, and scarce patrols—welcome to Denver’s roads

By Shaina Cole | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Each afternoon, my three-mile commute home in Denver’s metro area is a nerve-wrecking ordeal. Drivers speed through stop signs, ignore red lights, or stop inexplicably at unmarked intersections. Cars swerve across lanes, straddle the center line, or disrupt four-way stops.  Vehicles without plates, with expired tags, or overdue permits are all too common.  As a single-income earner with only liability insurance, I dread a crash with an uninsured driver.  One accident could destroy my car—my lifeline to work and rent.  Since 2020, Denver’s roads have descended into chaos. I believe the combination of unenforced traffic laws, a 25% rise in undocumented immigration, and soaring cost of living fuels this...
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The COvid Chronicles April 16–30: From tattletales to tyranny in just 14 days
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The COvid Chronicles April 16–30: From tattletales to tyranny in just 14 days

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board This second installment of RMV’s COvid Chronicles runs longer than usual – for good reason. In just two weeks, civic trust collapsed, state control deepened and neighbors turned on each other. The details matter—because memory fades, because memory fades, but the impact endures. If the first two weeks of April 2020 made it clear to Coloradans their state was forever changed and would not be going back to the way it was any time soon, the later part of the month crystalized just how difficult earning back any God-given constitutional rights and freedoms would prove to be. Much of that had to do with the heavy-handedness of Gov. Jared Polis, elected officials and unelected bureaucrats who weren't keen on relinquishing their newfound regal powe...
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O’Donnell: It’s costly to live in Colorado—and now we top the charts in personal debt
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O’Donnell: It’s costly to live in Colorado—and now we top the charts in personal debt

By Mike O’Donnell | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Since 2021, inflation has been higher in Colorado than in any other state, mostly because of the cost of owning or renting a home. But this is also because the state legislature enjoys imposing new fees (you aren’t allowed to call them taxes) on seemingly anything they can think of. Colorado residents may not, however, realize that because it is now so expensive to live in the state, Coloradans owe more money in mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, student loans and other consumer obligations than residents of ANY other state. The latest data from the Consumer Credit Panel at the New York Federal Reserve indicates that during the fourth quarter of 2024, the 4,983,560 households in Colorado EACH owed an average of $90,540 i...
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Cooper: The biggest identity theft in Colorado history? Victims may have no idea
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Cooper: The biggest identity theft in Colorado history? Victims may have no idea

By Bob Cooper | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Thousands of Coloradans may unknowingly appear in federal campaign finance records—raising major questions about identity theft and political money laundering. Up to 4,000 Coloradans may have had their identities stolen – and none of them know it. That’s because the theft may be part of a massive political money laundering scheme involving groups like ActBlue. ActBlue, a political fundraising platform that has facilitated $3.7 billion in contributions to Democrat campaigns, is under federal investigation. Multiple directors have resigned in recent months, according to reporting from the New York Times. Now, thanks to a searchable tool created by The America Project, it’s possible to investigate suspicious political contribu...
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Doctors, parents, pastors say HB25-1312 “crosses line” as Senate advances bill after midnight
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Doctors, parents, pastors say HB25-1312 “crosses line” as Senate advances bill after midnight

By Tori Ganahl | Rocky Mountain Voice HB25-1312, also known as the “Kelly Loving Act,” proposes major changes to how Colorado law handles gender identity. After more than eight hours of emotional testimony that went past 1:00 a.m., the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bill on a 5–2 party-line vote. The bill would expand the state’s anti-discrimination laws to include gender identity and expression in areas like public spaces, schools, and legal proceedings. Bill sponsor Faith Winters described it as a “crash couch for the state,” a metaphor meant to convey safety and refuge for at-risk individuals. https://twitter.com/scottpshamblin/status/1917691858547007671?s=42 Despite several amendments adopted during the hearing, critics argue the bill still threatens parental...
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“Drawing the line”: School boards warn HB25-1312 oversteps on parental rights, brings policy chaos
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“Drawing the line”: School boards warn HB25-1312 oversteps on parental rights, brings policy chaos

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Board members say the bill risks punishing parents, stripping local authority, and forcing schools into the middle of contentious custody battles More than 70 school board members and education leaders have signed a letter urging lawmakers to reject HB25-1312, also known as the Kelly Loving Act. Jason Jorgenson, secretary of the District 11 Board of Education and a lead organizer of the opposition letter, said HB25-1312 “risks encouraging youth to pursue a path of gender transition without appropriate parental involvement.” Andrea Haitz, president of the District 51 Board of Education, warned that the bill “risks placing schools in an even more precarious legal position, especially when parents disagree on matters like gender identity or p...
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Walcher: We built it, and they still won’t come
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Walcher: We built it, and they still won’t come

By Greg Walcher | Commentary, GregWalcher.com Building a new subdivision is complicated. Almost every city and county in America have master plans dictating “conforming uses” of land. Most specify lot and home sizes, rules for vehicle access, water supply, sewage disposal, flood control, affordable housing, and park space. Those are addressed in lengthy application processes and public hearings, all preceding building the infrastructure, and then the homes. The National Association of Home Builders says government regulations account for 24 percent of the final price of new homes. Sixty percent of that comes during planning and development, only 40 percent during actual construction. Those costs are many times higher when building businesses or industries. So, how much cheape...
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Was it the people’s town hall — or a political playbook in action?
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Was it the people’s town hall — or a political playbook in action?

By RMV Staff | RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice As constituents speak out in Greeley, and across Colorado, political operatives sharpen their sights on Colorado’s 8th District. On April 26, more than 100 residents gathered at the Moxi Theater in downtown Greeley for a two-hour town hall organized by progressive groups, including Vote Save America PAC. Billed as “The People's Town Hall: Where is Gabe?” – the event gave attendees from across the political spectrum a chance to speak up about representation, leadership, and what they want to see from elected officials. The Collective Voice: The True Keynote In a unique format, nearly 50 individuals were given three minutes each to share their thoughts, speaking with passion, urgency, and reflection. The event was led by Kar...
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Clock runs out on social media bill: lawmakers shield themselves and Polis from historic override
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Clock runs out on social media bill: lawmakers shield themselves and Polis from historic override

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice The Senate overrode the governor’s veto. The House never even had to say no. In Colorado politics, sometimes the clock matters more than the votes. Without casting a single "no" vote, Colorado lawmakers on April 28 killed a bipartisan attempt to override Governor Jared Polis’ veto of a social media regulation bill. Just days earlier, the Senate had voted 29–6 to override the veto of Senate Bill 25-086, marking the state's first successful chamber override of a policy bill in more than a decade.  But when the bill reached the House, members voted 51–13 to lay over the override until after the legislative session ended. As reported by The Colorado Sun, the maneuver guaranteed the bill’s death without a formal vote, allowing lawmakers to av...
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Tristan: Trump’s first 100 days prove America’s home improvement is not about reality show illusions
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Tristan: Trump’s first 100 days prove America’s home improvement is not about reality show illusions

By George Tristan | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice There are many home improvement reality shows on television today. Every episode, following completion of the project, culminates in the highly anticipated “reveal.”  Eyes will light up, and tears are shed as homeowners overcome with joy, marvel at the new cabinetry that beautifully adorns the kitchen, an ultra-modern range that now offers a double oven, a smart refrigerator that automatically adds dairy products to the grocery list, and the old laminate countertops that were stained and riddled with chips and knife marks, have been replaced with breathtaking pristine granite.  The homeowners beam with pride and are thrilled with the anticipation of cooking in this new culinary paradise. In an immensely larger...
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