The Mountain Minute: 8/12/2025

🎧 Mountain Minute – August 12
Colorado’s priorities are being tested—from unprecedented energy battles to wildfires, labor disputes, and budget shortfalls. Here’s your no-spin breakdown of the stories that matter.

Colorado News:
🔹 Rule 211 showdown – In 2024, Dacono and Frederick used a little-known state rule meant for abandoned wells to force K.P. Kauffman Company to plug active wells, calling them “no longer useful.” Supporters call it accountability; critics call it a dangerous precedent that could weaponize environmental law against property rights, energy production, and due process. This is Part 1 of RMV’s three-part investigation—Part 2 drops tomorrow.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/08/the-rule-211-gamble-how-two-towns-used-colorado-law-to-effectively-shut-down-an-oil-companys-core-assets

🔹 Jobs or unemployment? – Mike O’Donnell says Colorado’s economy is lagging, with labor force participation still below pre-pandemic levels due to high taxes, overregulation, and anti-business policies.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/odonnell-colorado-isnt-creating-jobs-its-creating-unemployment/

🔹 Downtown Denver exodus – Businesses keep leaving as Mayor Johnston touts a drop in homicides, but critics point to rising property crime and empty storefronts.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/as-businesses-flee-downtown-denver-johnston-points-to-falling-homicide-rate/

🔹 Non-citizens as police – C. J. Garbo warns Colorado’s move to allow green card holders and DACA recipients to serve as officers undermines public trust and constitutional principles.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/garbo-the-dangerous-hubris-of-deputizing-non-citizens-to-police-americans/

🔹 $800M budget gap – Lawmakers weigh tax hikes and program cuts with no compromise in sight.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/colorado-faces-800-million-budget-gap-with-no-deal-in-sight/

🔹 Lee Fire destruction – Over 100,000 acres burned, making it one of the largest in state history.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/over-100k-acres-burn-as-lee-fire-ranks-among-states-worst/

🔹 Kaiser policy shift – Gender transition services for minors ending in Colorado.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/kaiser-permanently-ends-gender-transition-services-for-colorado-minors/

🔹 CU labor complaint – Medical residents accuse the university of unfair labor practices.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/university-of-colorado-faces-labor-complaint-from-medical-residents/

National News:
🔹 Abbott slams fleeing Democrats – Texas governor calls them “un-Texan” for leaving to block a voting bill.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/abbott-blasts-fleeing-democrats-as-un-texan-cowards/

🔹 Trump targets D.C. crime – Launches federal push to clean up and restore order in the capital.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/11/trump-launches-federal-push-to-reinstate-order-in-washington-dc/

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