The Mountain Minute: 9/16/2025

🎧 Mountain Minute – September 16, 2025
This week has been heavy but revealing — Colorado communities are grappling with tragedy, leadership changes, and cultural battles, while national debates underscore how faith, freedom, and the future are on the line. Here’s your sharp, unfiltered roundup from Team RMV.

Colorado News:
🔹 Evergreen in mourning – Families gather for vigils and memorials after the deadly high school shooting, turning grief into unity.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/evergreen-high-school-remains-closed-as-community-heals-after-shooting/

🔹 Honoring Charlie Kirk – Churches statewide remembered Charlie’s courage and conviction. A Loveland tribute was tragically destroyed by fire, but his legacy continues to inspire.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/colorado-remembers-charlie-kirk-with-memorials-honoring-faith-and-freedom/
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/fire-destroys-loveland-familys-tribute-to-charlie-kirk/

🔹 “Senior Assassins” warning – Deputies urge caution over the student water-gun game, saying it risks dangerous confusion after recent violence.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/deputies-sound-alarm-over-risks-of-senior-assassins-student-game/

🔹 Pugliese resigns – House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese stepped down, citing her faith and God’s call — reshaping GOP leadership in an election year.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/gods-timing-not-mine-rose-pugliese-on-closing-one-chapter-and-trusting-what-comes-next/

🔹 Energy & land use fight – BLM opened 130,000 acres for oil and gas leasing, sparking debate over energy dominance vs. taxpayer losses.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/blm-opens-130000-acres-in-colorado-to-boost-oil-and-gas-production/

🔹 Musk vs. Polis – Elon Musk slammed Colorado’s “soft-on-crime” policies. Polis defended his record, saying Colorado is safer under his leadership.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/elon-musk-slams-soft-on-crime-policies-in-clash-with-governor-polis/

🔹 Parental rights under fire – Parents warn state laws give schools sweeping control on mental health and gender issues, undermining family authority.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/colorados-laws-put-parents-on-the-sidelines-and-kids-at-risk/

🔹 Board of Ed clash – Science standards on climate sparked fierce debate, with critics calling them activism, not education.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/board-of-education-clash-over-science-standards-reveals-how-politics-steers-colorado-classrooms-on-climate-change/

🔹 School trust lands controversy – Millions of acres meant to fund classrooms are being used for environmental agendas, leaving students shortchanged.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/state-school-trust-lands-were-meant-to-fund-education-not-environmental-agendas/

🔹 CCU’s new direction – Colorado Christian University is reshaping the Centennial Institute into a student-focused think tank.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/colorado-christian-charts-new-path-centennial-institute-becomes-student-centered-think-tank/

🔹 Tourist tax hikes – Seven counties may double or triple lodging taxes. Officials say it funds infrastructure; critics warn it could drive visitors away.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/tourists-may-soon-pay-double-or-triple-taxes-in-7-colorado-counties/

National News:
🔹 Media backlash – Outlets face criticism for biased coverage of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, accused of downplaying the loss of a conservative leader.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/media-faces-backlash-for-biased-coverage-of-charlie-kirk-assassination/

🔹 Gen Z call to action – Commentators warn Kirk’s legacy of courage must inspire young conservatives to carry the torch forward.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/15/after-charlie-kirks-death-gen-z-cant-stay-indifferent/

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