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correct HEADLINES Philip Armour
Colorado GOP in revolt against Dave Williams
Colorado GOP officials and candidates are pressuring state party chair Dave Williams to resign after Williams sent out anti-LGTBQ emails and social media posts from official state GOP accounts.
According to Colorado Public Radio, Colorado’s GOP has suffered under the tumultuous leadership of Williams. Two GOP candidates have publicly rejected the state party’s endorsement, citing Williams’ comment.
A coalition of local party leaders from Teller County, Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, and Victor, are also demanding he step down. They signed a letter expressing their calls for immediate removal of the GOP chair for QUOTE “continuing to incite hatred and further division in Colorado.”
Williams’ focus on moving the party to the right, paired with his policing of fellow-Republicans’ values, has long divided party members. Former Republican state party chair Dick Wadhams, a longstanding opponent of Williams, called the emails “very damaging.”
Proposed Boulder-Lyons bikeway endorsed
A proposed bikeway connecting Boulder to Lyons is one step closer to becoming a reality.
A plan to build an eleven-mile concrete trail along U.S. 36 has received the unanimous endorsement of Boulder’s Transportation Advisory Board. That route is one of the most popular among Boulder County cyclists, but also one of the most dangerous.
Under the current proposal, the path – called the North Foothills Bikeway – would be at least twenty feet wide, and built mainly on the eastern side of 36, according to Boulder Reporting Lab. It would also be set at least twenty feet from the roadway.
County officials estimate it would cost about $91 million. A final report on its engineering feasibility is due later this month.
Safety advocates have pushed for a bike path between Boulder and Lyons for years. Boulder Reporting Lab says that since 2005, seven cyclists have died along that stretch of U.S. 36.
Polis signs eight new gun laws into law Monday
The new laws impose major changes to the state’s gun sales and monitoring. Among the new regulations, one of the laws imposes stricter requirements for obtaining concealed carry permits, mandating at least eight hours of training, a live-fire test, and a written exam starting July 1, 2025.
It also prohibits the open or concealed carry of firearms in schools, voting sites, the state Capitol, and other specified locations.
People under active domestic violence-related restraining orders in Colorado will not be mandated to surrender their firearms and ammunition.
Another measure requires credit card companies to assign specific merchant codes to gun and ammunition dealers by May 2025 to facilitate tracking purchases.
Firearms dealers must obtain a state permit by July 1, 2025, complete employee background checks, and report attempted illegal purchases – among other new requirements.
The laws reflect Colorado’s ongoing efforts to reduce gun violence through tighter regulations, background checks, and funding for related programs and services.
Xcel’s new energy plan could boost bills 7%
Xcel Energy received approval from state regulators earlier this week for a $440 million plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. But, it could boost natural gas bills.
The so-called “Clean Heat Plan” aims to move more Colorado homes and businesses to electricity from using natural gas. The energy company predicts this will cut greenhouse gas emissions 22% by 2030, and lead to a decline in gas sales over the next few years.
But, the plan will impact customers’ wallets. Natural gas rates will go up 7% over the next four years, and electricity rates will raise 1.1%.
According to The Colorado Sun, some worry the utility could make significant profits through these efforts to seemingly fight the climate crisis
$820 million-dollar plan for statewide internet approved
The Infrastructure Act that Congress passed in 2021 set aside $42.5 billion for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, or BEAD.
According to The Colorado Sun, providing internet to rural areas of Colorado is costly for internet service providers since the houses are often far from towns. This puts those areas at a disadvantage.
The Sun says BEAD should be able to fund internet for 99% of Colorado state households at an affordable rate.
The proposed cost will start at $30 per month, with the opportunity for providers in high-cost areas to increase the figure based on expected cost.
Public comment for the project’s guidelines and maps will open in July. Then, internet providers can start applying for grants to offset the cost of building broadband infrastructure in regions of the state that are lacking internet service.
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The longest flight from DIA ever
Passengers will board the longest flight that’s ever taken off from Denver International Airport today. The flight will connect Denver to Istanbul.
The plane will travel around 6 thousand miles over 13 hours. The second-longest flight to have taken off from Denver comes a few hundred miles short of today’s, connecting Denver to Tokyo.
According to Turkish Airlines, who are chartering the new service four days a week, the flights will bring in about $54 million annually for Colorado’s economy and create around 350 new jobs.
