Colorado

Editorial: Colorado’s leaked password scandal needs outside investigation

Published

1 year ago

November 6, 2024

Editorial: Colorado’s leaked password scandal needs outside investigation

Between Oct. 23 when Secretary of State Jena Griswold became aware that hundreds of voting machine passwords had been released publicly on a spreadsheet and Nov. 1 when Gov. Jared Polis intervened to demand the passwords be changed, what exactly was Griswold doing to address the security breach?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Because this feels a lot like déjà vu with Jena Griswold.

In 2022 when we endorsed Griswold’s Republican opponent we wrote: “Griswold has left us unimpressed with her unwillingness to address problems and issues as they arise and even a reluctance to admit when mistakes have been made, or things could be improved.”

Here we are two years later in the midst of one of the most closely scrutinized elections of all time and Griswold’s team makes a crucial error and the secretary of state sits on it for at least a week before taking action.

We’re perplexed by the entire ordeal.

Colorado’s elections are very secure – every voter casts a paper ballot that is retained for recounts and risk-limiting audits. Those ballots are public record and can be cross-checked with the public list of participating voters to ensure the numbers add up and to ensure the voters are real, eligible, alive Coloradans.

The passwords leaked were one of two needed to access the voting machines and the machines are stored in secure areas kept under constant surveillance.

All of this means it is unlikely that any harm came from the passwords being publicly released beginning as early as Aug. 8 and ending Oct. 23.

However, it doesn’t take a conspiracy theorist to believe it’s possible the passwords weren’t leaked on accident. Did a rogue secretary of state employee – someone with delusions of grandeur on the scale of former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters – intentionally release the passwords? Was the intent to cast a pall on the election or was he or she conspiring with someone else – Democrat or Republican — to breach election machines?

These unanswered questions are why an external investigation is needed. Griswold has said she will hire an external company to review the incident, but we think the investigation needs to be beyond her control entirely. Gov. Jared Polis has done an excellent job stepping up in Griswold’s absence on this issue and he should do so again by having the investigator spur from his office.

Peters used her role as clerk to give someone access to the voting machines in Mesa County and steal data related to the election. No real harm came from her antics and the data proved what most Coloradans already knew – the elections were secure and valid.

But that didn’t stop Peters from jetting off around the country claiming she had proof that the 2020 election was stolen.

In a similar vein, it was someone involved with discrediting the 2020 election on behalf of former President Donald Trump who first discovered the passwords in a hidden sheet on a database of election equipment that could be downloaded from the secretary of state’s website. Shawn Smith signed an affidavit that was sent to Griswold’s office on Oct. 29 stating he had downloaded the spreadsheets on Aug. 8, Oct. 16 and Oct. 23. The link to the spreadsheets was taken down on Oct. 24 when Griswold’s office noticed the passwords, but no information was released officially about the link until after Smith and the Colorado Republican Party sent out public notices about the passwords they had obtained.

Coloradans deserve to know exactly how and why the passwords were released whether it was a simple mistake, negligence or a nefarious act.

Griswold and Polis have assured Coloradans that no voting machines were compromised — the fear being of course that someone inside a county clerk’s office used the passwords, combined with theirs and their access to the machines to upload malware that could interfere with the integrity of ballot counting.

We need someone to review the security tapes and investigate just as we did following the Peters’ security breach in Mesa County. Tina Peters was sentenced to 9 years behind bars for her data breach, based in large part on the investigation into her actions led by Griswold. This security breach should be investigated just as thoroughly, as should be Griswold’s lack of response.

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Colorado

Weiss keeps focus on job as Colorado AHL assistant, not historic promotion | NHL.com

Published

3 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Weiss keeps focus on job as Colorado AHL assistant, not historic promotion | NHL.com

In NHL.com’s Q&A feature called “Sitting Down with …” we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. This week, we feature Kim Weiss, assistant coach of the Colorado Eagles, the Colorado Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate. Weiss was named assistant for the Eagles on Jan. 16, joining Seattle Kraken assistant Jessica Campbell as the only women in the NHL or AHL to be a full-time assistant coach.

Kim Weiss doesn’t think about the history she’s made that often.

The 36-year-old is too busy with her duties that come with being the Colorado Eagles’ assistant coach, including breaking down 5-on-5 video — she was the team’s video coach prior to her promotion — presenting it to the team, pushing pucks and running practice drills.

“When the title change happened and the promotion happened, I left the office of the general manager (Kevin McDonald), and I got back to work,” Weiss told NHL.com. “In the moment you’re not really thinking about that kind of stuff, but obviously it’s an honor.

“I’m especially grateful just because of my background. I didn’t play on a national team, I didn’t grow up in Minnesota or any kind of a hockey hotbed. So to get at this level and to have this legacy, for lack of a better word, from the place I’m from, a kid from Maryland that played Division III (hockey at Trinity College), it makes me even more proud to show people that you can get somewhere no matter where you start from. Then you add in being a female and all of that, I’m really proud of my journey and I’m proud of all the people who helped me along the way to get here.”

It’s been quite a ride for Weiss with the Eagles, who are second in the AHL Pacific Division. Last week, Weiss talked to NHL.com about her new duties, working with the Avalanche and more women in hockey.

So what was it like the day McDonald called you into the office to give you the news of your promotion?

“Honestly, it’s an affirmation of the work you put in. That’s what the GM said to me. Last season I had a different head coach (Aaron Schneekloth) and we had a different assistant (Dan Hinote) that both moved onto the NHL, and they both spoke highly of me to our GM in the summer and to our new head coach (Mark Letestu). Getting to know Mark this year and working for him, everything that he had heard of me got confirmed through the first few months of the year.

“I don’t exactly know how the process went about to change the title, but I think he went to Kevin, and I know Kevin said this to me, this line of, ‘You’re doing all the work that the assistant does, so why aren’t we calling you one?’ I’m already on the ice with the team and I run skill skates and scratch skates and present (video). I’m doing everything the assistant coach does; I just had a different title. So I really appreciate them just giving me the opportunity to kind of advance my career and keep doing what I love to do, which is coach hockey.”

Letestu also had you run one of the practices earlier in the season. How did that come about?

“Every assistant got (that chance). The big thing coming in was, he had been an assistant coach before and he wanted to make sure we all had a voice and a say, and we weren’t just coming onto the ice for practice like, ‘Oh, here we go. Push some pucks. Put my track suit on for 20 minutes, push some pucks and jump off.’ He wanted to make sure we had the platform in front of the players.

“It started with our longest-tenured assistant coach, Tim Branham. It was nothing new or scary for any of us, but just a different dynamic. Not every staff allows their assistants to take full responsibility of a full practice. Then Derek (Army) took it and then the next week I took one.”

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Colorado

How the Colorado Rockies Are Actually Building Its Opening Day Roster

Published

15 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

How the Colorado Rockies Are Actually Building Its Opening Day Roster

The Colorado Rockies are seeking the right balance and experimenting under their first full-year manager, Warren Schaeffer.

It’s a different Rockies roster compared to last season. There are new faces on the active roster for the start of the 2026 season. Having a team with youth and a mix of veterans can be a successful formula for the Rockies.

Knowing how the elevation affects things in Colorado, the Rockies will see which pitcher can thrive playing in Coors Field. Anything can happen this season.

The Rockies Must Have A Roster That Can Stay Durable

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

A Rotation of Veterans

Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta added several arms over 34, including Michael Lorenzen, Jose Quintana, and Tomoyuki Sugano.

The fifth starter will be a competitive battle. The Rockies have options in who will win that fifth and final spot. Here is the prediction of the Rockies’ starting rotation:

Kyle Freeland
Michael Lorenzen
Ryan Feltner
Jose Quintana
Chase Dollander

Ryan Feltner has battled injuries. The 29-year-old suffered back spasms and shoulder injuries, preventing him from performing in 2025. He’s determined to have a breakout season.

He had a lot of momentum in his final 15 starts of the 2024 season. Feltner posted a 2.75 ERA and finished with a career-high 162 1/3 innings. Feltner has been building his weight-room capacity and getting himself ready for the new season. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and produce.

Flexibility on the Infield

The Rockies’ acquisition of Willi Castro was a smart move. We know the Rockies’ future at shortstop is Ezequel Tovar. However, the Rockies organization is being cautious. They want to make sure they have an extra body on hand in case something goes south. Castro is a former All-Star and a versatile defender.

Eduoard Julien is known for playing second base, but he can also play first base if the Rockies need him there. It all depends on many situations and circumstances. Julien is one of the players on the Rockies roster who must prove his worth.

In terms of first base, TJ Rumfield is a front-office option to serve that position. He has the size, length, and youth to play the position. Rumfield is having an impressive start to the spring so far.

Current Roster and Opening Day Prediction Lineup

Ezequiel Tovar, SS
Tyler Freeman, 2B
Mickey Moniak, DH
Hunter Goodman, C
Kyle Karros, 3B
Jordan Beck, RF
Brenton Doyle, CF
Jake McCarthy, LF
TJ Rumfield, 1B

The lineup can change overnight, and especially in the next few weeks. If, for some reason, Freeman can’t okay second base to start the season, then Castro is the leading man to take the spot.

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Colorado

Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder dies in single-car crash at age 23, police say

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder dies in single-car crash at age 23, police say

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) – Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash, police said. He was 23.

Ponder was driving a 2023 Tesla when he lost control on a curve and hit a guardrail, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The car struck an electrical line pole and rolled down an embankment.

Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene in Boulder County. Police said a preliminary investigation “shows that speed is suspected as a factor.”

FILE – Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder (22) warms up before an NCAA college football game Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo.(Source: AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Ponder played in two games for the Buffaloes last season, going 0-for-1 passing and carrying the ball twice for a loss of 4 yards. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Opa Locka, Florida, began his collegiate career at Bethune-Cookman before transferring.

The Buffs were slated to begin spring practice on Monday.

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders posted on X. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1.”

Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion reposted Sanders’ statement and called Ponder a joy to be around and coach.

“Getting that call from his dad today didn’t feel real,” Marion posted. “Love you Dom! God cover his family & our team, especially our qb room!”

Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo said Ponder “epitomized the values of passion, enthusiasm, leadership, toughness, and intelligence that were revered by his teammates and coaches alike.” The athletic department said it would make counseling resources available to players and staff.

Fellow Colorado quarterback Colton Allen also paid tribute to Ponder on Instagram.

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”

The Big 12 Conference extended its condolences in a post on X.

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