The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: Mesa County should join PILT lawsuit
Mesa County received the most money from the federal government’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes program of any government in the state this year – nearly $3.6 million involving 1.5 million acres of land.
It’s a significant source of revenue for counties that have vast tracts of non-taxed federal land. PILT money makes a compelling case for why transferring management or ownership of federal public lands to the states could hurt places like Mesa County. What happens to PILT money with a state takeover? But that’s a question for another editorial.
Today’s point is that the federal government made good on its obligation this year. It hasn’t always, leaving Mesa County, Garfield County and others eligible to recover underpayments made between 2015 and 2017.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia says she is resigning from Congress
Michelle L. Price
michelle.l..price@associatedpress.com
Updated 8 hours ago
WASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a supporter of President Donald Trump who has become a critic, said Friday she is resigning from Congress in January. Greene, in a more than 10-minute video posted online, explained her decision,...
Colorado legislator accused of misconduct, misuse of funds seeks reelection
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 10 hours ago
A Republican lawmaker who made headlines over the summer after he was accused of sexual harassment and misuse of campaign funds officially launched his reelection campaign for the state House. Rep. Ron Weinberg, who represents District 51, has denied the...
Gov. Jared Polis urged to deny request for Tina Peters’ transfer to federal prison
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Attorney General Phil Weiser and Mesa County District Attorney Daniel Rubinstein are urging Gov. Jared Polis not to grant the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ request to transfer Tina Peters to federal custody. On Thursday, Weiser and Rubinstein sent a letter...
Colorado awards first round of grants to promote construction of ‘granny flats’
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 10 hours ago
The state has awarded its first round of grants to seven recipients as part of Colorado’s broader campaign to increase the supply of affordable housing options, notably what’s called accessory dwelling units or ADUs. The grants from Colorado Department of...
Treeline Pass names new executive director | NONPROFIT REGISTER
Joanne Davidson
joanne-davidson@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
TREELINE PASS Englewood News: Jason Gold is the new executive director of Treeline Pass, succeeding Mike Insalata, who had served in that role since the nonprofit day program serving adults with autism and developmental disabilities opened in January 2020. Gold earned a...
Space Force chief calls for ‘radical shift’ in acquisitions
Mary Shinn
mary-shinn@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 16 hours ago
The Space Force wants to build an iterative model to acquire new technology and accept more risks to keep up with threats. “A capability that is good enough and ready now will always be better than a perfect solution that...
Poll: Most Colorado voters fear ICE may unlawfully detain people in expanded deportation campaign
Nico Brambila
nico.brambila@denvergazette.com
Updated 16 hours ago
Roughly two-thirds of Colorado voters said they are worried federal immigration agents may unlawfully detain people who should not be caught up in the Trump administration’s expanded deportation effort, a new survey has found. The worry among Latino voters is...
Colorado ballot measure for tougher fentanyl penalties moves forward
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 18 hours ago
A proposed measure that would increase penalties for fentanyl manufacturing, distribution and possession has collected enough signatures to qualify for the 2026 ballot, following several failed attempts by the state legislature to pass similar legislation. Backed by Advance Colorado, the...
Colorado justices sympathetic to defendant’s claim of speedy trial violation
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared sympathetic on Wednesday to the argument that an El Paso County prosecutor made an unjustified decision to file a mid-case appeal, pushing the trial beyond the legal deadline and requiring dismissal of the...
Committee on Legal Services approves legal defense for 15 Colorado Democrats accused of accepting illegal gifts
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
The state legislature’s Committee on Legal Services has approved a request from a group of Democratic lawmakers for legal representation to defend an ethics complaint that accuses them of accepting illegal contributions to fund a retreat in Vail last month....