5 days ago

🎧 Mountain Minute – October 17 My last Mountain Minute before the wedding and mini-moon! 💍 I’ll be out October 20–29, but don’t worry — the Rocky Mountain Voice newsletter and socials will keep rolling as usual. Plus, Heidi just dropped her first Douglas County Dirty Dozen video series — follow along for daily updates there!

Now, onto today’s headlines — from budget battles and political shake-ups to a major cultural shift across America.

Colorado News:
🔹 Aurora vs. Polis: City leaders are pushing back on Governor Polis’ new housing plan, calling it “a dangerous overreach” that would strip local zoning control and hand authority to the state.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/aurora-pushes-back-on-polis-power-play-over-local-housing/

🔹 Denver’s Money Trail: A new exposé questions why Denver officials are funneling funds into rural school board races — with locals calling it an attempt to “blue-wash” conservative districts on the Western Slope.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/why-is-denver-trying-to-buy-western-slope-school-boards/

🔹 “Budget Crisis” or Misplaced Priorities? Critics say the state’s fiscal woes ring hollow as lawmakers pour millions into electric vehicle giveaways. “It’s not a shortage of money — it’s a shortage of priorities,” one analyst said.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/colorados-budget-crisis-rings-hollow-amid-ev-giveaway-surge/

🔹 Vote Smart, Colorado: With ballots on the way, a new op-ed warns voters that TABOR refunds and school funding are on the line — reminding Coloradans that “free” programs aren’t free.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/vote-smart-colorado-your-refund-and-your-schools-depend-on-it/

🔹 School Safety: Ralston Valley High was placed on alert after a student threat surfaced following the Evergreen tragedy. Police acted fast, arresting the suspect and preventing further harm.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/police-arrest-student-after-threat-against-ralston-valley-high-school-following-evergreen-tragedy/

🔹 Crime and Justice: A Venezuelan gang member accused of kidnapping and torturing two migrants in Aurora was finally caught — in sanctuary-city Chicago — after months on the run.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/colorado-kidnapping-suspect-arrested-in-chicago-after-months-on-the-run/

🔹 Water Wisdom: A feature on the La Plata River traces how one small stream shaped western water law — proving that even the smallest flows can move mountains.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/a-small-river-with-big-influence-how-the-la-plata-shaped-western-water-law/

🔹 AI Backlash: Governor Polis is walking back his proposed AI regulations after heavy criticism from Colorado business leaders who say the red tape could kill innovation.
Read more: http://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/gov-polis-reassesses-ai-regulations-after-business-backlash/

National News:
🔹 Gen Z’s Cultural Shift: A new study finds young Americans are dropping trans and queer labels in record numbers — nearly half the 2023 peak — signaling what researchers call a “massive cultural correction.”
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/10/16/young-americans-are-dropping-trans-and-queer-labels-study-finds-sharp-cultural-shift/

📲 Stay in the loop — subscribe to the Mountain Minute newsletter at rockymountainvoice.com and follow along for updates while I’m away!
And as always — stay sharp, stay bold, and stay in the fight. 💪

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