Every day is seeking to rise to the challenge, 'neath the shadow of the mighty Rockies.
Spotlight on Arrupe Jesuit: Innovative Denver School
A great story in today's Denver Post about the innovative program at the city's Arrupe Jesuit High School. It is a private parochial institution that predominantly serves poor and Hispanic students, with significantly higher attendance and graduation rates than surrounding public schools. The success of Arrupe Jesuit (also highlighted today at the Head First blog) is tied to its innovative Corporate Work Study Program, that requires every student to spend time working entry-level, corporate jobs to provide valuable experience and to offset tuition. Per-student costs are $7,500, compared to $10,000 or more for Denver Public Schools. The report "Rethinking High School" by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation highlights Arrupe Jesuit's … [Read more...]
Schaffer Website Up
It sure seems early, but the campaign for the most competitive 2008 U.S. Senate race in the country is underway. Republican Bob Schaffer has started rallying the party faithful and commonsense independents and Democrats to his cause with his new campaign website. Check it out, donate, sign up to volunteer, whatever you're able to do: and be sure to spread the word! The race against Boulder liberal Mark Udall is on. Cross posted at Schaffer v Udall … [Read more...]
Four Weeks Since Ritter Hiked Your Property Taxes
Four weeks have passed since Governor Ritter signed into law a bill that raises property taxes. As one dissenting elected official pointed out in yesterday's Denver Post: Gardner called Ritter's "defining bill" the mill-levy tax freeze that will let school districts keep an extra $64 million per year by freezing property-tax rates. "It sets the tone for his first four years as governor," Gardner said. "What do the people have to look forward to? Probably more tax increases." Since I agree that it's definitely the Governor's defining bill, I will continue reminding readers about it at regular intervals. Today seemed a fine opportunity to do so. To learn more, if you missed any of my observations and analysis the first time around: - … [Read more...]
Welcome Back, Clay
My friend Clay Calhoun of the Rocky Mountain Alliance has returned to the blogosphere after an extended sabbatical that clearly included some time for reflection. It looks as though he brings a fresh perspective. I look forward to many engaging analyses and challenging insights. His prologue stirs a bit of my own ongoing reflections: There is a certain love-hate relationship with the political process that many believers in conservative values and limited government, myself included, possess. We need to build alliances while balancing principles with pragmatic compromises, yet we're often left jilted by representatives and officials we've supported who seemingly have lost their way. We understand that the allure of government power plays a … [Read more...]
Midway Remembered at 65
Exactly 65 years ago today raged one of the most significant battles of modern times - a critical victory by the United States Navy. The Battle of Midway (June 4 - 7, 1942) saved a key Pacific outpost and inflicted irredeemable losses on the Imperial Japanese Navy, including four aircraft carriers. After Midway, the Japanese were forced into the strategic defensive, and three years of bloody island-hopping followed that led to ultimate Allied victory. The battle is also the subject matter for one of the best war movies ever made, starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, James Coburn, and more. Key historical moments like this one deserve to be remembered on these important anniversaries. And God bless the U.S. Navy! … [Read more...]
GOP Senators Tell Boulder School Officials to Straighten Up
Update (6/5): Open blogging keyboard, insert foot. I clearly glossed over the problems with O'Reilly's reporting of the situation. Upon closer examination and analysis, he clearly has distorted the goings-on in Boulder (to be sensational? to fit the thesis of his book? I don't know). Boulder school officials aren't to be completely exculpated, but they have handled the matter more responsibly than the Fox News commentator has given them credit for doing. So, regretful apologies for my earlier misstatement, and hope this adds a little clarity. Republicans in the Colorado legislature have taken their turn now putting the heat on leaders of Boulder Valley School District for putting on a mandatory pro-sex, pro-drugs seminar for high school … [Read more...]
The Spelling Bee is Back
Spelling geeks of the world, re-unite: The finals of the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee appears on network television tonight for the 2nd consecutive year. The 2006 edition must have been enough of a ratings success to bring back an event once confined to the popular shadows. Returning for his fifth and final year of bee eligibility, 13-year-old Samir Patel of Fort Worth, Texas, occupies most of the spotlight with the expectations that this might finally be his year. By the same token, there are several top-notch spellers from the United States and Canada with a legitimate chance to win the 80th annual Scripps Howard event. For its part, the Rocky Mountain News focuses our attention on 14-year-old Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan, the … [Read more...]
“You touch my grandchildren, and I get really angry”
Yesterday at an Independence Institute women's luncheon, State Sen. Nancy Spence told the crowd (including my wife and several other Institute colleagues) the latest on the investigation re the threatening email she received in April: A state lawmaker who received an e-mail containing a threat to her grandchildren said Tuesday it was sent from a computer at a metro-area hotel. Agents from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation reviewed the hotel's security tape but couldn't determine the e-mail's author, said Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial. The security tape had been improperly inserted, Spence said Tuesday at a political luncheon. She has vowed to press charges if authorities catch the culprit, who was upset over an education … [Read more...]
My Brother the Hero
My big brother the police officer has been recognized for his heroism above and beyond the call of duty (please read the whole article): A Jefferson County police officer is being hailed as a hero for going beyond the call of duty and saving the life of a woman trapped inside a sinking car. Brad Degrow become a police officer for the excitement, but never expected a March call that brought an experience he never imagined. "One of the things that drew me to this job," Degrow said, "you never know what's going to happen today or tomorrow." My brother is mostly embarrassed at all the attention, which is why it's my job to shine a little more light on his heroic deed. The Colorado branch of the DeGrow clan are all proud of you, … [Read more...]
Big Government Health Care Looming for Colorado
Colorado, get ready for Hillarycare, Bill Ritter-style. The Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Healthcare Reform has narrowed its proposals for changing the state's healthcare system down to four. As the Rocky Mountain News reports, all would bring increased taxes and government control: "We're disappointed," Lin Zen-ser, of Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine, said at a news conference announcing the four plans. "They take away the freedoms of individuals and doctors." The presence of a lone dissenting voice on the commission was not enough to bring forward any proposals that would have promoted freedom: Commissioner Linda Gorman, from the free-market Independence Institute in Golden, disagreed with the four selected plans, and … [Read more...]
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