Rocky Mountain Voice

Menu

State

Pueblo Takes Center Stage in Battle for Colorado Senate Control
No Comments
The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Pueblo Takes Center Stage in Battle for Colorado Senate Control

By Marianne Goodland | The Denver Gazette Of the roughly two dozen state Senate seats up for election this year, one race in Southern Colorado is drawing particular attention. The outcome of this race could decide the contours of power at the state Capitol, with ramifications for what major policies get adopted next year. Just as importantly, this area called the “last purple” district in Colorado offers an interesting inflection point for a state that has become considerably bluer in each election cycle. Indeed, Pueblo presents a kind of political enigma — a union town that has voted for Pesident Donald Trump at the same time it had sent Democrats to the state Capitol. Mix in a fire that has devastated parts of the district, the debate over energ...
Read More
Phil Weiser should account for the custody evaluations no one reviewed
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Phil Weiser should account for the custody evaluations no one reviewed

By Judi Atwood | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Phil Weiser's ability to take a powerful company to court should not settle the question of his ability to govern Colorado. Families also deserve to know whether he will confront failures within the institutions his office advises and defends. The controversy involving psychologist Dr. Mark Kilmer makes that question especially urgent. Weiser deserves credit for helping secure the multistate settlement with Meta announced Aug. 26, which included financial relief and commitments to strengthen protections for children. The announcement described the agreement as subject to court approval. Holding technology companies accountable matters. So does protecting parents' ability to guide and support their children. Familie...
Read More
Trump’s election orders aren’t a constitutional crisis yet — 5 things that would trigger one
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Trump’s election orders aren’t a constitutional crisis yet — 5 things that would trigger one

By Bob Cooper, COIFFE Director | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice President Donald Trump has issued two sweeping executive orders on federal elections — covering citizenship verification, voter-registration records, and mail-in ballots. Dozens of states have pushed back. Federal courts have blocked some parts and allowed others. So the question everyone is asking: Is this a constitutional crisis? The honest answer — the one that will hold up when the left tries to knock it down — is this: Not yet. But we are one or two bad decisions away from one. Here's what's really happening, and the five scenarios that would push us over the edge. What Trump actually ordered Two executive orders reshaped the fight: Executive Order 14248 (March 25, 2025) — "Preserving and Protec...
Read More
Colorado Supreme Court Pauses Mandatory Courtroom Livestreams Over Harassment and Jury Concerns
No Comments
The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Colorado Supreme Court Pauses Mandatory Courtroom Livestreams Over Harassment and Jury Concerns

By Justin George | The Colorado Sun Chief Justice Monica Márquez’s 90-day directive lets judges opt out of livestreaming by default, reversing a 2023 law amid rising social-media harassment and jury-tainting fears. For the next three months, it will be up to Colorado judges to decide whether to livestream proceedings in their courtrooms. A directive by Colorado’s Supreme Court chief justice Tuesday said the pause on livestreaming by default is necessary to ensure the integrity and fairness of the judicial system.  The order is in direct contrast to a Colorado law passed in 2023 that requires all criminal proceedings to be livestreamed, and judges to make certain findings if they are to limit or discontinue the stream.  Virtual proceedings, like joini...
Read More
Justice Department warns Boulder can’t set global energy policy in Colorado climate case
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Justice Department warns Boulder can’t set global energy policy in Colorado climate case

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A lawsuit that started with three Colorado local governments and a stack of state tort claims will open the U.S. Supreme Court's new term. On Monday, Oct. 5, the justices hear argument in Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, the first case of October Term 2026. It is the first time the Court will decide on the merits whether federal law bars state-law climate-damages claims of this kind against fossil-fuel companies. The city of Boulder, Boulder County and San Miguel County sued Suncor and ExxonMobil in 2018. San Miguel County's claims were later transferred to a separate case, leaving the city and Boulder County as the plaintiffs before the Supreme Court. They want the companies to...
Read More
When Conditions Change, Should Wildlife Management Change Too?
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

When Conditions Change, Should Wildlife Management Change Too?

By Naomi Riess | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice We have all heard the saying: A fed bear is a dead bear. This year, Colorado is seeing what happens when nature runs short of food. In Southwest Colorado, drought and a late-spring freeze have severely reduced natural bear foods. Statewide, CPW has reported 8,672 bear-related sightings and incidents through August, 3.6 times the five-year average. Relocations are running 3.5 times the average and euthanizations 2.7 times the average. A Durango bear was recently euthanized after being found in poor condition. A necropsy found its stomach and upper intestine completely blocked with trash. The bear was essentially starving to death. We need to keep people from attracting bears. CPW worked with our local representative and...
Read More
Marx Contests $51,427 Campaign Finance Penalty After Acknowledging Reporting Mistakes
No Comments
The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Marx Contests $51,427 Campaign Finance Penalty After Acknowledging Reporting Mistakes

By Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx hates that his campaign finance troubles have become a “distraction.” The outspoken Republican took to X on Tuesday with a cinematic explainer regarding the potential $51,000 in fines he faces from the Secretary of State for excessive contributions. “We’ve made honest mistakes, and we’ve never tried to hide them,” Marx said. “We’ve also been very transparent about the difficulties we’ve encountered correcting the campaign finance reporting through the Secretary of State system.” The state alleges Marx’s campaign accepted at least 204 contributions over Colorado’s $1,450 per-person contribution limit, totaling $83,560 from 111 different contributors. Marx, in a recent ...
Read More
Colorado Voter Registration Is Underway Ahead of Nov. 3 Election
No Comments
The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Colorado Voter Registration Is Underway Ahead of Nov. 3 Election

By Justin George | The Colorado Sun Coloradans have until Oct. 26 to register for a mail ballot ahead of the Nov. 3 election, but same-day registration is available through Election Day. It’s National Voter Registration Day, and Colorado voters have multiple ways to register before Election Day on Nov. 3. How to register To register to vote in Colorado, people must provide their Colorado driver’s license number, the last four digits of their Social Security number or present another valid form of identification to their county clerk and recorder’s office or the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. If the form of ID doesn’t confirm someone’s citizenship, a person must affirm under penalty of perjury that they are a U.S. citizen. To receive a ballot in t...
Read More
‘Wolves in White Coats’: HHS official warns of harms, profit behind gender medicine for minors
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

‘Wolves in White Coats’: HHS official warns of harms, profit behind gender medicine for minors

By RMV Staff | Rocky Mountain Voice Assistant Secretary for Health Brian Christine joins Heidi Ganahl on ‘Unleashed’ to discuss a new federal report, detransitioner stories and what the findings could mean for Colorado families A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is putting renewed scrutiny on medical interventions for minors experiencing gender dysphoria — and one of the nation's top public health officials says accountability may be coming. Admiral Brian Christine, the 18th Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS, joined Heidi Ganahl on the latest episode of Unleashed to discuss the department's new report, Wolves in White Coats, which examines medical treatments for minors, financial incentives within gender clinics and potentially improper medi...
Read More