Latest news with #RonWeinberg
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Republicans call for immigration reform in Colorado following Boulder attack
DENVER (KDVR) — Reactions are still pouring in from across the world in light of the attack on a group marching in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Politicians responded Monday, too, with some calling on policy reform here in Colorado. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are condemning the attacks, but Republicans here at home in Colorado and in Congress are calling in state leaders to reform immigration laws after Homeland Security announced the alleged perpetrator had overstayed his visit. Total injured in Boulder attack increases to 12 'Complete shock and disbelief that something so terribly inhumane can happen to people in 2025,' said Colorado state Representative Ron Weinberg was disgusted and disheartened when he learned of the attack in Boulder. The Jewish representative immigrated to the U.S. from South Africa as a young man. 'I try to not put identity politics first. I try to make sure I'm a lawmaker for the city of Loveland and the state of Colorado first and kind of federal policy and everything else aside must be dealt with on the federal level. That's where I try to deal with that. But when it comes to my families and my heritage, my whole family was affected by the Nazis,' Weinberg said. Weinberg says he doesn't want to politicize the issue so soon, but he says he does understand the frustration over Colorado's immigration laws. 'There is some truth behind the three branches of government in this state: the executive, the legislative and judicial branches being sort of run by one party. And the checks and balance system in this state, there is no check and balance. Without making this political, Democrats and Republicans need to come and work together to sort these issues out,' said Weinberg. Sentiments echoed by his former colleague, who now serves in Congress, Congressman Gabe Evans. 'An individual like this who was present in the United States and has been planning this attack from upwards of a year, we probably could have stopped this if we didn't have the limitations on the sanctuary state that we have here in Colorado,' said Evans. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Mohamed Soliman, the alleged perpetrator in Sunday's attack, was in the U.S. illegally from Egypt. According to DHS, he came to the U.S. in 2022 under a tourism visa. They say that his B-2 visa expired in February 2023, though he had been trying to seek asylum in the U.S. since September of 2022. Congressman Evans blames Colorado's immigration laws for the attack, despite the state never identifying as a sanctuary state and DHS removing a list that had most Colorado counties identifying as such. Suspect charged with federal hate crime after attacking pro-Israel group in Boulder 'These sanctuary laws handcuff law enforcement in their ability to go out and work with their federal counterparts to get violent criminals like this and outright terrorists like this individual that we saw commit this crime up in Boulder. They can't get them out of the community if they can't work with ICE,' Evans said. 'Federal, state and local law enforcement need to be able to share information with each other. So my advice to the statewide Democrats in Colorado is get with the program and allow state and local law enforcement to work with their federal counterparts. Otherwise, you are helping other antisemitic terrorists commit crimes like what we saw in Boulder.' In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said the incident is 'Another example why we must keep our borders secure.' Congressman Evans is asking state lawmakers to repeal the immigration laws that are currently in statute. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Effort to reduce food waste in schools clears Colorado committee
DENVER (KDVR) — Students in Colorado get free breakfast and lunch thanks to voters but the program has had some complaints, especially when it comes to what to do with food that students do not eat. A measure at the capitol encourages schools to end food waste by creating a program to repurpose that food. Colorado bill raising age to purchase rifle, shotgun ammunition narrowly advances On Student Day at the state capitol, sponsors presented a bill to make sure food students get for lunch isn't being wasted. 'We have a problem where people are not getting fed and we have schools where they are just throwing stuff in the trash can. And we had good-intentioned bills that put into place measures that want us to do good things like feed people, but we have no measure or protection in place for that food that goes in the trash can,' said Representative Ron Weinberg of Loveland. 'I think this is an excellent bill that will push us into a direction of Colorado actually being responsible for not wasting food in our school systems,' he told members of the House Education committee. The new bill encourages public schools to establish a program where students can return whole food or drinks, an idea presented to lawmakers by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council: the group of young people that presents ideas for laws every year. After they choose a program to avoid waste, schools can redistribute the food to other students who need it or to local charities. Schools could also establish compost programs. Some schools are already using share tables and other initiatives but sponsors said schools are not protected from legal retribution if they want to donate the food. 'Under the federal Good Samaritan Act, you get protection from donating food. That doesn't include schools. They can donate to nonprofits but it can't be through individuals so this really helps expand some of that protection,' said Representative Lisa Feret of Arvada. Officials voice support, opposition for proposed Colorado immigration bill 'Because there is no protection if they have to do something like this, what happens if something happens? They get sued and then they are liable, now my school district is on the hook,' Weinberg explained. The proposal did not have much opposition, but some folks did call on the state to re-evaluate how the free food program operates. 'Circulations are necessary and can be great. When it comes to food, waste in schools, however, we need to reduce before we figure how to reuse, redistribute or recycle. While I agree with diverting waste to product avenues, we must address whether the very expensive free school lunch program is something we should be throwing money at moving forward,' said Erin Meschke of Boulder. The bill cleared the House Education Committee unanimously this afternoon. It now advances to the House floor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
