By JAMES ANDERSON
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) _ The Democrat-controlled Legislature approved a bill Thursday calling for Colorado to join other states in casting presidential electoral votes for the winner of the national popular vote. Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, has said he will sign the measure. Currently, the state’s electoral votes are cast for whoever wins in Colorado. Under the bill , Colorado would join 11 other states and the District of Columbia in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would take effect after states with a collective 270 electoral votes _ the number needed to win the presidency _ agree to join.
The campaign was launched after Democrat Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the 2000 election to Republican George W. Bush when electoral votes were tallied. Colorado Democrats introduced the bill after Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won 3 million more votes nationally than Trump. The state House voted 34-29 Thursday to approve the bill that previously cleared the Senate. Opponents say the initiative subverts an electoral college that was designed to ensure, in part, that smaller states aren’t trampled when it comes to choosing a president. They also insisted the matter should be go to voters. Two Colorado Republicans, Monument Mayor Don Wilson and Mesa County Commissioner Rose Pugliese, said Thursday they’re seeking a 2020 state ballot measure on the issue. “Our founders feared the tyranny of the majority. In our electoral college our smaller states still have a say,” GOP Rep. Lori Saine warned before Thursday’s vote. “This is an exercise of the tyranny of the majority.”
“I hear time and again that my vote doesn’t count,” Democratic Rep. Emily Sirota, a bill co-sponsor, said of her constituents. “That’s the intention of this bill _ to help people believe their vote matters.”
Currently, voters choose presidential electors from the political parties. The Electoral College has 538 electors, corresponding to the number of seats held by states in the U.S. Senate and House, plus three votes for the District of Columbia. Electors from states that have joined the compact would pool their votes for the national popular vote winner _ whether or not that candidate won in those states. Compact members, including California (55 electoral votes) and New York (29), currently have 172 electors. Colorado, with nine, would give it 181. Republican state lawmakers argued the compact would induce candidates to bypass smaller, rural, often Republican-leaning states during their campaigns. They say Colorado, which voted overwhelmingly Democratic in the 2018 midterm elections, would be added to that “flyover” territory. Advocates said it would force the candidates to fight for votes in more states, including solidly red states like Texas and solidly blue states like California. Ray Haynes, a former California Republican state lawmaker and ex-national chair of the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, which represents state lawmakers, lobbied on behalf of the Colorado bill, noting it had bipartisan support well before the Trump election. But he said he got a relatively cold response from Colorado Republicans. “Conservative legislators around the country understand the basic concept of the bill, and as legislators they think that every vote in every state in every election matters,” Haynes said. “The visceral response is, `Oh my god, this would have given us Clinton as president.’ And that’s not true,” he said. Other compact members are Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. New Mexico lawmakers are considering similar legislation.
by Steven Vetter, Managing Editor
SHERIDAN — The Bennett Lady Tigers outlasted KIPP Denver Collegiate 29-23 in the Frontier League Tournament consolation semifinals Feb.20 and will tip off Saturday’s conference championship round of games at Sheridan High School at 11 a.m. in the fifth-place girls game against either DSST: Stapleton or Sheridan.
Win or lose, the orange-and-black’s season-long resume won’t be strong enough to qualify them for a spot in the 3A 32-team state bracket.
Sheridan High School is located at 3201 W. Oxford Ave., Denver.
by Steven Vetter, Managing Editor
DENVER — When the first session of the Colorado State Wrestling Championships commences at 2 p.m. Thursday at Pepsi Center in Denver, five Bennett Tigers and one Strasburg Indian will start their trek for weight titles.
The 3A preliminaries will include the following Tigers: junior Joe Jordan (28-12 overall) against Jake Hamilton (33-8) of Colorado Springs Christian at 145 pounds; sophomore Mac Copeland (38-6) against Diego Madrigal (18-7) of Sheridan at 160; sophomore Cody DuBois (32-8) against Dylan Kloss of Middle Park at 170; senior Mason Wakeham (29-10) against Benny Gonzales (17-12) from La Junta; and junior Casey Harvey (11-8) against Daniel Westbrook from Bayfield.
Strasburg junior Chad Sutherland is scheduled to take on Sierra’s Atsamaz Pliev.
If Sutherland and Harvey both win or both lose their opening matches, they will face off with each other in the second round.
The championship quarterfinal round and first round of consolations take place at 9 a.m. on Friday. Championship semifinals are scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. Friday with the championship round at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. For the full state tournament schedule, visit www.chsaanow.com.
Feb. 18, 2019 (DENVER, Colo.) —Attorney General Phil Weiser and Governor Jared Polis together issued the following statement regarding Colorado joining the multistate lawsuit challenging President Trump’s emergency declaration:
“Colorado will join at least 12 other states in a multistate lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unconstitutional emergency declaration to build a border wall. After reviewing the specifics of this action over the weekend, we concluded that Colorado could lose tens of millions in military construction dollars that would be diverted to build the wall. Our military bases play a critical role in our nation’s readiness and are economic drivers in several communities.
“In this action, we are fighting for Colorado’s interests and defending the rule of law.”
DENVER, Thursday, January 31, 2019 – Technical issues caused by a Division of Motor Vehicles computer system outage have been resolved. Online and in-office services have returned to normal.
Vehicle registration late fees will be waived for those affected by today’s outage
We thank Colorado residents for their patience and apologize for the inconvenience.
(Lakewood, Colo. – Jan. 31, 2019) The Colorado School Safety Resource Center will host a one-day threat assessment symposium for schools on Feb. 5 in Thornton. The symposium will take a deep-dive look at two critical threats facing schools today: school shooters and digital threats.
The four-hour morning workshop will feature Dr. Peter Langman, author of the books School Shooters: Understanding High School, College and Adult Perpetrators and Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters. Dr. Langman will delve into the psychology of school shooters, as well as how school personnel can assess and proactively address potential threats.
The afternoon will consist of a three-hour presentation by Sam Jingfors, Vice President of Safer Schools Together and lead developer and trainer of the Digital Threat Assessment. Digital Threat Assessment was developed in response to the need to keep pace with the ever-evolving technology challenges that face today’s students. These challenges have entered the education domain with force and have overwhelmed school districts and staff throughout the world. Jingfors’ presentation will help attendees build a better understanding of the current social media world, discuss tools to proactively identify student safety concerns, and provide strategies for dealing with online situations as they arise.
More than 250 people have already registered for the symposium.
WHAT: 2019 School Threat Symposium
WHEN: 7:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019
WHERE: The Conference Center at Adams 12 Five Star School District, 1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton
HOSTED BY: Colorado School Safety Resource Center (Colorado Department of Public Safety)
COST: $50 per person. Register online or by visiting Colorado.gov/cssrc.
MORE INFO: Please contact the Colorado School Safety Resource Center at (303) 239-4435.
MEDIA: Media interested in attending and covering the event should contact Patricia Billinger at or 303-239-4415.
DENVER (Jan. 16, 2019) – Due to the continuing partial federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State of Colorado have released February SNAP benefits early to most recipients.
The Department urges clients who received an additional SNAP payment on their EBT cards from Jan.16-20th to keep in mind that it is an advance SNAP payment for February. The additional funds are intended to help clients with their February food purchases. No additional SNAP benefits will be allotted in February.
All SNAP participants will be able to use their EBT cards to purchase food as long as there are benefits on their card. Participants should plan food purchases carefully throughout January and February so their food needs are met through the partial government shutdown.
If more food resources are needed during the partial government shutdown, we encourage clients to reach out to a local food bank or community agency in their area. To find those resources, please contact:
Colorado 2-1-1: 844-493-8255
Hunger Free Colorado: 855-855-4626
Colorado Benefits Center: 855-871-2696
SNAP benefits will not be issued again until March, and only if the funds are available from the federal government. As additional information becomes available, we will share it.
THORNTON, Colo.–Jan. 10, 2019–Anythink libraries and administrative offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All branches will reopen at their regularly scheduled times on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
About Anythink™
Anythink is a new style of library – a place of unlimited imagination, where play inspires creativity and lifelong learning. Anythink serves the residents of Adams County, Colo., with seven libraries and a bookmobile. With a focus on innovation, Anythink’s award-winning approach to library service is recognized by industry leaders and organizations across the globe. For more information, visit anythinklibraries.org.