The Mountain Minute: 9/25/2025

🎧 Mountain Minute – September 25, 2025
This week’s headlines stretch from housing and safety in Colorado to big tech, immigration, and activism on the national stage. Here’s your sharp, unfiltered roundup.

Colorado News:
🔹 Douglas County outrage – A judge gave probation in a violent stalking and assault case, sparking backlash from DA George Brauchler who called the defendant “maximum risk to re-offend”.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/douglas-county-outrage-grows-after-judge-hands-out-probation-in-violent-crime-case/

🔹 Denver budget crunch – City leaders shielded public safety from cuts, keeping core police, fire, and sheriff staffing intact, though cadet hires and facility expansions are on hold.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/public-safety-survives-cuts-as-denver-faces-budget-crunch/

🔹 Housing squeeze – Supply is improving, but costs remain high. Critics warn state-driven density mandates and rent-control pushes could backfire, undermining local control.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/colorados-housing-crunch-shows-signs-of-easing-but-costs-still-bite/

🔹 Sports betting for water – Nearly $34M from sports wagers funded Colorado’s water plan last year, with projections even higher next year.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/colorado-turns-sports-betting-into-major-water-project-funding/

🔹 Marshall Fire settlement – Xcel Energy agreed to a $640M deal to resolve all claims from the 2021 fire that destroyed over 1,000 homes and businesses.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/xcel-reaches-640m-agreement-to-resolve-all-marshall-fire-claims/

🔹 Education critique – A new commentary argues schools are betraying the “growth mindset” by rewarding excuses, lowering expectations, and replacing resilience with ideology.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/growth-mindset-betrayed-how-schools-preach-effort-but-reward-excuses/

🔹 Christians called to act – Pastors and parishioners are urged to step up in local elections, from school boards to special districts, to restore conservative values.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/from-pulpits-to-school-boards-and-special-districts-a-call-for-christians-to-step-up/

🔹 Governor’s mansion soapbox – Colorado’s First Gentleman is under fire for using the governor’s mansion to promote his animal-rights agenda.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/governors-mansion-doubles-as-soapbox-for-first-gentlemans-animal-agenda/

National News:
🔹 Gold Card residency – Supporters say it rewards immigrants who invest in America, while critics warn it risks exploitation.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/gold-card-residency-rewards-those-investing-in-america-not-exploiting-it/

🔹 Google’s free speech reset – YouTube will restore banned accounts after admitting Biden White House pressure to censor. Big names like Steve Bannon and Dan Bongino could return.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/09/24/google-promises-free-speech-after-years-of-political-censorship-on-youtube/

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