Author: The Gr

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…

Mesa County commissioners must be relieved that they don’t have to decide the fate of a 120-foot wireless tower in Palisade’s fruit and wine country. No matter how they may have voted, someone was going to be unhappy. Growing opposition to the tower led East Orchard Mesa winemaker Theresa High of Colterris Winery to withdraw…

It’s too bad the Colorado River is looking so low as organizers promote the inaugural Colorado Riverfest to celebrate its importance to our community and support the organizations that protect, rehab and develop the two rivers whose convergence gave Grand Junction both a name and an identity. The flows may be anemic, but the banks…

Criticism of a Trump administration “zero-tolerance” policy that separates immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border appears to be cresting ahead of a Republican effort to push immigration legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives this week. It’s a loathsome policy, with plenty of detractors, both Republican and Democrat. Even the conservative editorial…

Any of the four capable candidates in the Republican primary for governor will offer a stark contrast to whomever emerges from the Democratic primary. Right now, if you believe the pollsters (and who does after the 2016 presidential race?) it’s Walker Stapleton’s race to lose. But our endorsement isn’t based on electability or polling data.…

What if a tough prosecutorial stance led to a life sentence for the juvenile who killed Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Geer, only to become grist for an appeal based on constitutionality questions? The possibility loomed large in discussions about whether Mesa County prosecutors should cut a deal with Austin Holzer, who was a couple…

NFL owners have adopted a new policy requiring players to stand on the field during the national anthem. The league will fine teams whose players take a knee on the field during the pre-game ritual. Players who don’t want to stand can choose to stay in the locker room without penalty. The whole thing seems…

Grand Junction has a new police chief. Doug Shoemaker steps into his new role with the city police department in relatively good shape, thanks to his predecessor, John Camper, who established a new standard of professionalism and accountability among the officers on the force. Interim Chief Mike Nordine has done an admirable job of bridging…

Contempt for government often appears fiercest when partisan wrangling in state legislatures and Congress results in gridlock or ramrodding instead of productive compromise on major policy and spending issues. But occasionally, local governments and state and federal agencies step in it when they’re doing the non-political nuts-and-bolts work of providing services. Sunday’s front-page headlines delivered…

The Grand Junction City Council is prepared to ask voters to authorize a lodging tax hike that will provide a desperately needed tool to improve air service and, in turn, our competitive footing across the spectrum of economic development opportunities. The city has done its part, advancing ballot language to go before voters this fall.…