Pentagon pursues Guantanamo tribunal for embassy bombing suspect - Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gitmo1apr01,1,2007858.story
The Pentagon charged a Guantanamo detainee with capital murder and terrorism Monday for his alleged role in the 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania and his suspected ties to Al Qaeda. The Defense Department's chief military commissions prosecutor filed nine charges against Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, and is seeking the death penalty if the Tanzanian is convicted of playing a central role in planning and preparing the truck bombing that killed 11 people and injured dozens. A nearly simultaneous bombing of the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Kenya, also blamed on Al Qaeda, killed 213 including 12 Americans on Aug. 7, 1998. The Pentagon's action was sharply criticized by civil rights advocates and some federal law enforcement officials who wondered why the government was pursuing a war crimes tribunal considering that Ghailani was indicted in the bombings along with 10 others nearly a decade ago by a federal grand jury in New York City. Four of them were tried and convicted in 2001 and sentenced to life without parole. The others had not been captured at the time. Said one former FBI official who helped build the criminal case against Ghailani and the 10 other suspected Al Qaeda members in 1998: "I'm shocked and amazed at this. He's already been charged with all of that in federal court. Why the hell do they need to do this? Are they afraid of the court system?" He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he might be called to testify against Ghailani.

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Tricky Votes Loom For 3 Candidates - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/31/AR2008033102674.html
With Congress returning today after a two-week break, leaders from both parties are preparing legislative agendas -- on issues including the economy, Iraq and immigration -- designed to present the three remaining White House candidates with dangerous political choices. The obstacle course begins immediately, with a Democratic-sponsored Senate vote today on legislation to ease the mortgage crisis. Next week, Iraq will dominate, when Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker testify before two committees on which Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) serve. By the week of April 21, sweeping housing legislation could reach the House floor. By the end of the month, an Iraq war funding bill could be moving, with a second economic stimulus package attached. Republicans will counterpunch by pushing for a vote on tough immigration legislation, and by pressuring Democrats to cave in to their demands for legislation on surveillance of terrorism suspects that offers retroactive legal immunity to telephone companies that cooperated with the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping efforts. It is clear that Capitol Hill will be a battleground for one of the longest presidential campaigns in the nation's history. "A lot of what we're thinking about is, A, what you've got to do to do the right thing, and, B, where the president is and where John McCain is," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.).

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Doubts Greet Treasury Plan on Regulation - New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/business/01regulate.html?ref=washington
While the plan promotes a long-term goal of reducing an alphabet soup of regulatory agencies, in the shorter run it may actually do the opposite. One of the blueprint’s few short-term goals is the creation of a mortgage commission that would set new minimum standards for mortgage brokers and otherwise unregulated financial institutions that sell mortgages. The new commission could be formed only by Congress, and some lawmakers predicted it might be adopted this year. Officials said that, as part of the Paulson plan, President Bush was preparing to issue an executive order soon to expand the membership and reach of an interagency committee called the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets. The group was created after the stock market plummeted in 1987. The group is also expected to consider ways to broaden the authority of the Federal Reserve to lend money to nonbanks as needs arise. The Working Group, headed by the Treasury Secretary, consists of the top officials from the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Under the proposal, it would be enlarged to include the heads of the three other agencies, including one, the Office of Thrift Supervision, that the plan proposes eventually to abolish.

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HUD chief’s departure a blow to Bush - USATODAY.com

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-03-31-hud-sec_N.htm
For the first time in President Bush's tenure, one of his Cabinet members is stepping down amid a criminal investigation. Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson, a longtime Bush ally from Texas, said Monday he'll leave his post on April 18. He announced his departure on the fourth anniversary of his Senate confirmation. The FBI has been investigating the ties between Jackson and a friend who was paid $392,000 by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department as a construction manager in New Orleans, according to the Associated Press. Jackson's friend got the job after Jackson allegedly asked a HUD staffer to pass along his name to the Housing Authority of New Orleans. Other Bush Cabinet members, such as former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, have left office under political clouds. But Jackson, 62, is the highest-ranking Bush official to depart in this manner. Last June, former deputy Interior secretary Steven Griles was convicted and sent to prison for lying to a congressional panel about the access and favors he gave to lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

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Colorado Petition Draws Charges of Deception - New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/us/01denver.html?ref=us
Freddie Whitney was walking out of a King Soopers supermarket here this winter when she was approached by three young men. They politely asked if she was against discrimination and, if so, if she would sign a petition that would legally end the practice in the state. After scanning it briefly, Ms. Whitney, a 78-year-old African-American, signed it. A few weeks later, Ms. Whitney says, she was shocked to learn from a local newspaper that she had unwittingly lent her support to a ballot measure called the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative that seeks to eliminate state programs that give preferential treatment to minorities and women. The proposal is part of a larger effort organized by the conservative advocate Ward Connerly, whose group, the American Civil Rights Coalition, is seeking to disassemble affirmative action in five states this year: Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. “My reaction was, ‘Oh, my God, what have I done?’ ” Ms. Whitney said. “I have children and grandchildren who have benefited from affirmative action.” Several dozen Coloradans, some of them members of minorities, say they were deceived into signing the petitions under the guise of ending discrimination, and have complained to Colorado Unity, a coalition of civil rights groups that is fighting Mr. Connerly’s efforts.

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New oil, gas rulemakers aim for ‘balanced’ approach | News | The Tribune

http://greeleytribune.com/article/20080401/NEWS/21832083
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission released its draft rules for future exploration in the state on Monday -- and it's a draft that is drastically different from proposals made in November. David Neslin, the commission's acting director, said the rules are intended to strike a "balanced" approach in dealing with the state's ongoing energy boom. For instance, the proposed rules would lessen the time to process drilling applications and require less consultation with state agencies. Weld County Commissioner Rob Masden, who attended several weekly meetings as the draft was being discussed, said he has not had time to see the final result. "But I talked with several people last week who told me we would be pleasantly surprised, and apparently that has happened," Masden said. "I guess they listened to the buttons we were pushing."

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Colorado lawmakers battle over state budget : State and West : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/apr/01/lawmakers-battle-over-budget/
Senators are considering whether they should take $1.5 million the state planned to spend on road construction to provide more money for renewable energy programs at community colleges. The House voted to move the money to the community colleges in voting to approve the state's proposed $17.6 billion budget last week. Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, said Monday he will fight to keep the money in the budget as the Senate debates the budget this week. The road money had been set aside for a second year of construction and environmental cleanup work on Colorado 119 and Colorado 6 near Interstate 70, roads which lead to the gambling towns of Central City and Black Hawk. Rhonda Bentz, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Community College System, said the money would help schools hire people to teach students the skills they need to work in ethanol plants or to maintain and repair wind turbines used in wind farms.

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Union proposes cost-of-living law : More Business : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/union-proposes-cost-of-living-law/
One of the state's biggest unions has filed five new ballot initiatives, including a measure that would require Colorado employers to give workers cost-of-living increases so that wages can keep up with inflation. The move by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 follows last week's endorsement of a "right-to-work" initiative by the statewide business chamber known as the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry. "These are issues we feel will protect working families in full, especially if the right-to-work initiative were to pass," said Manny Gonzales, spokesman for UFCW Local 7. "It's something that would protect workers in areas that would suffer under the right-to-work effort." A labor-backed coalition already filed a handful of other ballot measures they hope to put to a statewide vote this fall.

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EEOC files lawsuit on worker complaints : More Business : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/eeoc-files-lawsuit-on-worker-complaints/
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Albertsons, alleging the supermarket chain operator retaliated against workers at its Aurora Distribution Center for complaining about racial harassment, including racist slurs, graffiti and discriminatory job assignments. The agency previously filed suit against the Boise, Idaho-based company, alleging racial and ethnic harassment against the Aurora facility's black and Hispanic employees. The latest suit alleges that Albertsons denied workers medical care, failed to pass along emergency telephone calls, rejected promotions and transfers, and "taunted, disciplined, and terminated employees who spoke out," according to the EEOC.

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2nd bias suit filed vs. Albertsons - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8762990
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a second lawsuit against the Albertsons LLC grocery chain for racial bias at its Aurora distribution center. In a suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Colorado, the EEOC claims Albertsons intentionally retaliated against employees who opposed discriminatory practices. The EEOC claims Albertsons denied workers medical care; rejected promotions and transfers; and taunted, disciplined and terminated employees who spoke out, among other practices. Twenty-two people are claimants in the class-action suit and more could be added, EEOC trial attorney Andrew Winston said. "We have seen a marked increase in the number of retaliation complaints," he said.

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Banging the drum on Baseline for Cesar Chavez : Lafayette : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/apr/01/banging-the-drum-on-baseline/
Chants of "Si, se puede" mingled with the supportive honk of car horns and the pounding of drums Monday afternoon, as a procession made up of mostly elementary and middle school students from Lafayette marched along Baseline Road to honor civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers and strove to improve conditions for agricultural laborers across the country, would have turned 81 on Monday. He died in 1993. "He represents a man who really cares about the farmers and is dedicated to helping people," said Eli Beornspice, a third-grader at Lafayette Elementary School, as he bundled up against the cold of an early-spring afternoon.

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Comic takes on race, gender head-on in performance at UNC | News | The Tribune

http://greeleytribune.com/article/20080401/NEWS/386428766
Though once a policy advisor for the city of New York, Negin Farsad, who holds master's degrees from the University of Columbia in public policy and race relations, decided to try something different -- make people laugh. "There was a bit of a paradigm shift for me, personally, which was that you can get out a message, and you can effect some kind of social change through the use of comedy as a tool," Farsad said. Taking on the issues of race and gender head on, Farsad gave her insight into the life of an female Iranian comic on Friday night at a show at the University Center on the University of Northern Colorado campus. The comic, who is in the process of directing and producing a show for Comedy Central titled "The Watch List," touched on everything from arranged marriages to toilets in Iran to comparing the country to a 1920s speakeasy.

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Top Stories: Judicial oversight weighed for charging kids as adults | Gazette.com

http://www.gazette.com/articles/adult_34780___article.html/colorado_juveniles.html
Not a single prosecutor in Colorado supports a bill that would require judges' approval before 14- and 15-year-olds accused of violent felonies can be charged as adults. Proponents of HB1208, which passed the House on March 11 and now heads for the Senate, say it will add judicial oversight to a 1993 law that is sometimes abused by prosecutors. But opponents counter that unless someone can show it has been abused by prosecutors, the law has been successful and should be left alone. "This is a power that was given to the executive branch because the juvenile justice system was inadequate to deal with serious adult crimes," 4th Judicial District Attorney John Newsome said last week. "The reason why they want it returned to the judicial branch is because it won't be used. "They must think it's happening too often and on too many juveniles. At some point, someone has to ask proponents to show us where this is not working."

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Ritter signs alternative juvenile justice bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8757890
Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law a measure that gives judges alternatives for juvenile delinquents, allowing them to meet with victims and court officials to perform community service instead of going to detention facilities. It's part of a new trend called restorative justice because it forces juveniles to repay, repair and restore the damage they cause. Ritter says it's a good alternative that doesn't turn them into hardened criminals.

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Nottingham is being viewed from both sides - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8763665
Since Chief U.S. District Judge Edward W. Nottingham Jr. slammed his gavel down at former Qwest chief executive Joe Nacchio in July and lectured him on morality, the focus has turned to the judge's own behavior on and off the bench. The thrice-divorced judge and father of three is an active skier and cyclist with a penchant for impeccable suits and cufflinks. In his courtroom, the 60-year-old Nottingham dons a bright-blue robe — rather than the traditional black — and doesn't have patience for frivolous cases or delays. Regarded as a dedicated workhorse who pays keen attention to detail, Nottingham is also the subject of regular criticism — typically whispered — from lawyers who have been subjected to the judge's bursts of temper or cutting remarks from the bench. "He's just a really imperious fellow," said Richard Kalamaya, a law school classmate of Nottingham's who is now practicing in Longmont. "He's a real holier- than-thou type of guy."

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Mexican judge sought in U.S. case - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8764154
The Mexican judge who ordered the release of a man under arrest in the killing of University of Colorado student David Parrish is being sought by Mexican authorities. Puerto Vallarta prosecutor Guillermo Martin Diaz said the judge, his secretary and two jail employees are suspected of playing an active role in helping Alfonso Ramirez walk out of jail early Friday. Diaz said officials want to know why the judge and his secretary issued a release order and the two jail employees let Ramirez go. The city's public-safety director also has been suspended without pay during the investigation.

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The Longmont Times-Call - 90 years in law enforcement

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=7622
They finish one another’s sentences. They answer questions on one another’s behalf, and they remember dates significant to the others. And they should. Cmdr. Tom Ericson, 56; Cmdr. Tom Fixmer, 58; and Sgt. Gary Schmidt, 57, have spent more than half their lives together. All three started their law enforcement careers more than 30 years ago with the Longmont Police Department, and all are planning to close those careers together with retirements in April and June.

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The Coloradoan - County eyes attorney’s office changes

http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NEWS01/804010322/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
Changes might be afoot in how Larimer County handles its legal services. Officials have revived discussions on the merits of absorbing the private law firm Harden, Hass, Haag & Hallberg, P.C. and making it the county's in-house legal department. The Fort Collins firm has represented the county on a contract basis for more than 50 years.

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Vail Colorado-Breckenridge tries to break ‘Gaper Day’

http://vaildaily.com/article/20080331/NEWS/991636506
In recent years “Gaper Day” celebrations have gotten a bit out of hand, officials said. Throwing snowballs at tourists, yelling obscenities at guests and illegal drinking on the hill are a few examples. So, Tuesday, deputies, officers, Breckenridge Ski Resort officials and additional hired security will be out in force. Anyone involved in abusive behavior, offensive language or dress, or illegal drinking at the resort will have their pass pulled for two years, said Nicky DeFord, senior communications manager for the resort. “We’ve taken a pretty hard stance on this the last three years,” she added. Residents think “it’s fun, it’s tradition,” but it has gotten out of control in the last few years, said DeFord.

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Weld County puzzler: 11 weapons are found in river - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8764950
The Weld County Sheriff's Office has an unusual discovery to figure out: 11 guns in the river that no one has reported missing. A jogger along East 18th Street in Greeley spotted the cache of weapons about 6 Sunday night in the Cache la Poudre River, according to the Sheriff's Office. Union Colony Fire Rescue Authority dive team members in cold-water gear recovered nine guns visible in about 18 inches of water and two more under a nearby bridge. In all, divers retrieve one pistol and 10 rifles. Divers also found a pink-colored pearl necklace that may be connected to the guns.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Allard, Salazar evaluate Paulson’s regulatory fix

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1207029600/2
Less than a month after warning against overreacting to the crippled U.S. housing industry, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson unveiled a far-reaching plan over the weekend to refashion the federal agencies entrusted with regulating the nation's financial market. One of Paulson's most startling recommendations would be to dramatically expand the role of the Federal Reserve Board, making it the financial "sheriff" to oversee markets and institutions that could destabilize the economy. That would be a complete change from its traditional role overseeing the nation's banks. Colorado's two senators both sit on key financial oversight committees, but they were circumspect Monday in commenting on Paulson's far-reaching revisions.

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Double-digit losses common; growth funds ‘slaughtered’ : Money

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/double-digit-losses-common-growth-funds/
A number of Colorado mutual funds are looking at double-digit losses - and that's just for the first three months of the year. Worries about a recession, an ailing real estate market, the downfall of investment bank Bear Stearns and a slew of other ugly headlines made the first quarter a tough time to be a fund manager. Growth-oriented funds, which had been faring relatively well, "just got slaughtered," said Tom Roseen, senior research analyst at Lipper Inc. in Denver. The Janus Venture Fund dropped 21 percent. The Marsico Growth and Focus Funds each fell roughly 14 percent. Westcore Growth also tumbled 14 percent. The first quarter of 2008 was the worst period for stock funds since the third quarter of 2002, Roseen said, but the 9.6 percent loss in the quarter through March 27 (the most recent results Roseen had) wasn't nearly as bad as the 17.2 percent drop in 2002.

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Start of 2008 cruel to Colo. stocks - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8763161
Colorado stocks and mutual funds didn't escape the drubbing U.S. markets suffered in their worst start since 2001. Although oil and gas producers continued to pump out gains, most Colorado stocks declined, with double-digit losses common among the state's best-known brands. Shares of Frontier Airlines and Crocs lost more than half their value in the first quarter. Qwest Communications fell by more than a third, and Level 3 Communications and Janus Capital Group dropped around 30 percent. "We have had a pretty tough quarter, and we are looking at four to six quarters of slow to no growth due to the credit crunch," said Barbara Walchli, portfolio manager of the Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund, which invests in regional stocks.

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Experts roll out their crystal balls : Money

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/experts-roll-out-their-crystal-balls/
Rocky Mountain News Finance Editor David Milstead queried investment pros about the wreckage of the first quarter and the prospects for the rest of the year.

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Colorado Springs retains grasp on USOC - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8763746
A $53 million incentive package will keep the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs for at least 25 more years and, officials hope, launch an effort to reshape the city's image and invigorate downtown. An agreement reached Monday allows Colorado Springs to use the USA Olympic logo in city marketing materials — including the Olympic rings — considered one of the five most-recognizable symbols in the world. In recent months, at least 10 other cities, including Chicago, had tried to lure away the USOC, which has been in Colorado Springs since 1977. The USOC and national governing bodies account for 4,000 jobs in Colorado Springs and boost the local economy by $341 million annually. The plan was approved in a 7-1 vote of the Colorado Springs City Council.

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Top Stories: USOC is here to stay | aldkfja, dka, story : Gazette.com

http://www.gazette.com/articles/aldkfja_34802___article.html/dka_story.html
The U.S. Olympic Committee this afternoon officially accepted an offer designed to keep its headquarters in Colorado Springs. Earlier today, City Council approved a $53 million package of incentives. The council voted 7-1 in favor of the package at 1:52 p.m. Councilman Darryl Glenn voted against the proposal. Councilman Randy Purvis was absent. Applause broke out when the measure passed. The USOC accepted the offer at a 3 p.m. news conference at its headquarters at Boulder Street and Union Boulevard. The agreement was signed by USOC chairman of the board Peter Ueberroth, Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera and LandCo chairman of the board Ray Marshall. Ueberroth said the USOC board met after the City Council voted to approve the agreement, and unanimously voted to accept it.

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Compensation for brewer’s execs climbs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8763400
Molson Coors chief executive Leo Kiely had total compensation in 2007 of $7.96 million, compared with $6.68 million in 2006, according to a proxy statement filed with regulators. Peter Coors, vice chairman of the board, had 2007 total compensation of $5.2 million, up from $3.71 million in 2006.

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Fortrust breaks turf on large expansion : More Business : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/fortrust-breaks-turf-on-large-expansion/
Fortrust has broken ground on a 14,000-square-foot expansion that will bring its Brighton Boulevard Internet data center to nearly 50,000 square feet of completed space by this summer. In all, the company has invested $30 million in the past year on new technology and expansion, said Steve Knudson, the company's chief executive officer. Customers include companies seeking to back up their data in secure facilities.

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Top Stories: CC will unveil “State of the Rockies” report next week | west, report, percent : Gazett

http://www.gazette.com/articles/west_34808___article.html/report_percent.html
Colorado College will unveil its fifth "State of the Rockies" report Monday, an in-depth look by student researchers at immigration, housing, renewable energy, wilderness and timber and mining industries and river restoration. The report covers eight Western states - Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Nevada. It reports a "looming crisis" for housing affordability in the West, a rapid influx of immigrants and other trends. The annual reports generally receive wide media coverage and attention from Western residents. "I'm constantly hearing from county commissioners and local elected officials that they look forward to seeing the report," program coordinator Chris Jackson said.

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Paper: Harvard needs Hank Brown : CU News : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/apr/01/wall-street-journal-harvard-needs-hank/
Newly retired University of Colorado President Hank Brown has the Wall Street Journal's endorsement, with the newspaper publishing an editorial last week calling him the "best college president you've never heard of" and a light-hearted suggestion that he take over as head of the private Ivy League school. But CU has Brown's loyalty: The former U.S. senator will start a new $150,000-a-year job this week on the Boulder campus running a new leadership center that aims to educate students, as well as bring in high-profile guests to teach and lecture. Brown has said he is "eager to once again be part of the wonderful work that happens at CU-Boulder.""Hank is a big believer in public education, and our university in particular," said Ken McConnellogue, spokesman for the CU president's office. "He's always going to continue to be occupied, and we're fortunate to have him occupied at CU." The editorial credits Brown, who began as president in 2005, for the reforms he brought the embattled university and his commitment to transparency. The final line says: "Send that man to Harvard."

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CU explores building hotel and convention center : CU News : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/apr/01/cu-explores-building-hotel-boulder-puts-plans-on/
The city of Boulder's plans for a hotel and conference center are on hold as the University of Colorado considers whether it should build its own on, or nearby, the campus. CU Chancellor Bud Peterson launched a survey Monday, asking campus and neighboring federal lab employees how often they would schedule meetings, conferences, lectures or other events if a campus conference center were to be built. The questionnaire also attempts to gauge the budget and priorities of the center's potential clientele -- asking participants what the going rate for rooms should be and to rate the importance of features like a full-service restaurant, spa, fitness center, conference rooms and business center.

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Top Stories: SUNRISE: Students must repeat CSAP tests - Really | repeat, zoo, csap : Gazette.com

http://www.gazette.com/articles/repeat_34826___article.html/zoo_csap.html
Giraffes escape from the zoo, last seen running in and out of traffic on Interstate 25. Temperature is expected to hit 99 degrees by noon. Geologists say Pikes Peak is in danger of tipping over. OK, not really. We made it up. Today is April 1 - commonly known as April Fools' Day. Now, the real news: Just when you thought CSAP was over... Academy District 20 high school students will have to retake CSAP exams due to test booklets that were destroyed during transportation. Unfortunately, this is not a prank.

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Colorado Daily News - Spring Break sabbatical

http://www.coloradodaily.com/articles/2008/03/31/news/c_u_and_boulder/news2.txt
Think “spring break” means bikinis, Margaritas and dancing topless on the Girls Gone Wild tour bus? Not for some dedicated University of Colorado at Boulder students, who use Spring Break as an opportunity to focus on schoolwork away from the distractions of classes and part-time jobs. These students - undergraduate and graduate alike - are hitting the books instead of the bong. “This week is such a relief,” said CU senior Brian Mingus, 25, a cognitive science major. “I don't have to worry about classes - I can just focus on my thesis.” Mingus, whose transcript includes 7000-level graduate coursework he aced as a college junior, spent his Spring Break in the laboratory basement of CU's Muenzinger Psychology Building, crafting together an undergraduate honors thesis on developmental robotics.

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The Longmont Times-Call - Growth expected to continue in St. Vrain

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=7639
The St. Vrain Valley School District expects to enroll about 24,500 students in the fall, a 3.9 percent increase over this year’s enrollment. With the opening of three new elementary schools — Black Rock in Erie, Centennial in Firestone and Blue Mountain in southwest Longmont — more schools have room for students who want to enroll from other school districts, Scott Toillion, director of planning, said Wednesday at the Board of Education meeting. In his five-year projection, Toillion said the district could have between 27,129 and 28,575 students in 2012, an increase of 709 to 1,174 students.

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The Longmont Times-Call - New schools could help offset layoffs

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=7638
Opening three new elementary schools in Erie, Firestone and Longmont this fall is not going to save the jobs of all the teachers who could be laid off this spring — but it could help some elementary teachers. The projected enrollment increase of 4.07 percent, or 407 students, in the elementary schools translates to only 15 more teachers under the new staffing ratio that was announced last week. On Wednesday, the St. Vrain Valley School District said it will eliminate 85 full-time positions, mostly teachers, as it adds the equivalent of 1.75 students to each class.

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Ex-teacher charged in beating - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8764151
A Delta High School teacher who allegedly gave his students permission to beat a classmate who was late for class has been charged with child abuse. Brian Havel, 22, was teaching English March 14 when the boy arrived late. "In his class, the disciplinary process was X amount of sit-ups or push-ups in a certain amount of time. He either wouldn't or couldn't complete them," Delta interim Police Chief Roger Christian said of the punished student. The boy's classmates volunteered to administer an alternate punishment. "The class made a suggestion that if he couldn't finish, we ought to be able to punch him, and (Havel) agreed. So 10 to 15 students got to hit him," Christian said.

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GJSentinel.com: Teacher accused of sanctioning pummeling

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/31/040108_1b_delta_teacher.html
A 22-year-old English teacher at Delta High School has been charged with misdemeanor child abuse for allowing other students to hit a 15-year-old boy who was late for class, according to the Delta Police Department. Delta Police Cmdr. Roger Christian said that when the boy was tardy, teacher Brian Havel at first ordered him to do a certain number of pushups or sit-ups within a certain period of time. “The student either refused or failed to complete them and a classmate suggested they could get up and punch him if they wanted to — and the teacher agreed to it,” Christian said. “It was a group of students, about 10 or 15, that did so.”

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Ex-Brighton teacher starts her 30-day jail term - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8764150
A former teacher at Brighton Collegiate High School described by a prosecutor last year as "one of the prettiest ladies in school" began her jail sentence over the weekend for making out with a 17-year-old student. Carrie McCandless, 32, of Erie, is serving 30 days in the Larimer County Detention Center after pleading guilty a year ago to kissing the boy and groping him through his clothes during a school trip in October 2006. Once freed, she must serve five years of probation and register as a sex offender for 10 years. McCandless, a civics teacher who is married to the charter school's principal, is serving time for felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and tampering with physical evidence, as well as a misdemeanor count of unlawful sexual contact.

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The Coloradoan - Ex-teacher who had sex with student back in jail

http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NEWS01/804010328/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
A Brighton teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student during a class trip to Estes Park is back in jail after admitting she violated her probation by drinking and having unauthorized sexual contact with another parolee. Carrie McCandless is at the Larimer County Detention Center, serving a 30-day sentence after she admitted violating the terms of her probation. She turned herself in Friday. "We would expect compliance with the rules, and we're not getting that," said Paul Cooper, the chief probation officer for Larimer County's 8th Judicial District. After her conviction last summer for a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student from Brighton Charter High School, McCandless was required to register as a sex offender, which included five years of intensive supervision and permission from parole officers before she sought sexual contact with others.

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Battle centers on proposed development in Douglas : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/battle-centers-on-proposed-development-in/
Kirsten Heidel's family moved to the Valley Ridge neighborhood that sits next to the rural and scenic Chatfield Valley basin to get away from city life and urban sprawl and congestion. The 16-year-old was among 124 people, clad in salmon-colored T-shirts on Monday, who urged the Douglas County Planning Board to reject a proposal that would clear the way for future development of 5,150 acres of land south of Chatfield Reservoir. "If you do this, you're going to hurt a lot of people's world. We want to see the open land. We want to see the mountains. We want to see open skies." The planning board tabled a vote on the county's 2030 Master Comprehensive Plan update Monday and continued the public hearing until next week.

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GJSentinel.com: City rehires food supplier involved in controversy

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/31/040108_1a_Two_Rivers.html
The city of Grand Junction will re-employ a Salt Lake City company to supply food to Two Rivers Convention Center, five years after cutting ties with the company because it paid for a city employee to take a trip to Hawaii. The City Council unanimously agreed to a contract Monday night with SYSCO Intermountain Food Services Inc. The contract, which will cost the city an estimated $325,000 a year, is good for one year but can be renewed for three more years at the city’s discretion.

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Douglas growth plan draws a packed house - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8764949
About 350 people packed the Douglas County Planning Commission meeting Monday night to comment on the county's comprehensive master plan that could allow up to 11,000 new homes. The master plan would place urban designation on about 5,100 acres in northeast Douglas County, and allow up to 11,000 homes on the Sterling Ranch property. Those who favor the Sterling Ranch idea say the area south of Chatfield Reservoir needs more infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer lines. Developing that area would bring those improvements, they say.

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Silence at core of anger over fest - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8765016
Residents near City Park on Monday expressed displeasure that they hadn't been consulted until after the city of Denver issued a permit for a one-day concert and festival at the park for later this month.

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The Coloradoan - Wellington sues to get out of library district

http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NEWS01/804010331/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
A territory dispute has the fledgling Fort Collins Regional Library District and the town of Wellington headed for a legal showdown. The town and district are at odds over whether land covered by the district may remain on its tax rolls once the land is annexed into Wellington.

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Group says similar problems bind Greeley residents | News | The Tribune

http://greeleytribune.com/article/20080401/NEWS/969966100
We all have the same problems. That's the message from Greeley's newest resident problem-solving group, The Greeley Group, which meets monthly and works to help solve Greeley's problems through a series of discussions and recommendations in letters to elected officials The group met Monday morning over sandwiches in Greeley's City Hall community room, and talked about crime, mental health services and the Greeley City Council's recent decision to not require reporting from certain election campaign groups. About 30 people attended the meeting.

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GJSentinel.com: Feds: Former schools chief lied on taxes

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/31/040108_1b_Delta_super.html
A former Delta School District superintendent has been charged with filing a false tax return, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado. Laddie Livingston, 67, of Paonia, allegedly filed a false tax return in 2003, according to U.S. Attorney Troy Eid. “There are criminal consequences, including being sent to prison, for lying on income tax returns,” Eid said in the news release. According to the release, Livingston indicated on his tax return for 2002 that his total income was $102,110, “when he knew his income was over $200,000,” according to the news release.

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Polis kicking in more funds to campaign, drawing fire : Elections : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/polis-kicking-in-more-funds-to-campaign-drawing/
Congressional candidate Jared Polis is getting ready to write his campaign a check for more than $36,000, prompting an opponent to accuse him of trying to buy the election. The infusion from the wealthy Boulder entrepreneur will again trigger the "millionaire's amendment," which allows Polis' primary opponents, in some situations, to go back to their donors for more money. In a fundraising e-mail sent March 24, Polis pledged to match "dollar for dollar" online contributions made from then until the end of the month. By Monday afternoon, Polis had collected more than $36,000, according to ActBlue.com, an online clearinghouse for Democratic candidates. Monday marked the last day of the campaign-finance quarter. Candidates must disclose by April 15 how much they raised the first three months of this year.

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Will Shafroth starts quest to be on ballot : Election : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/apr/01/shafroth-starts-quest-to-be-on-ballot/
Will Shafroth didn't waste any time launching his bid to get on the August primary ballot, showing up bright and early Monday at a Boulder breakfast hangout to collect the first signatures for his petition drive. The 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate met with Boulder County Commissioner Ben Pearlman, Boulder City Councilwoman Lisa Morzel and several other notable party supporters at Dot's Diner on 28th Street to start chipping away at the 1,000 signatures he needs by the end of May to get on the Aug. 12 ballot. Monday was the first day he could legally ask voters in the district to sign his petition. “It gives me a reason and purpose to go out walking at this stage in the game,” Shafroth said at Burnt Toast Restaurant in Boulder, as he joined three young women finishing lunch and asked for their signatures. “It allows me to do what I do best, and that is connect with people on a one-on-one basis.” Unlike his opponents Jared Polis and Joan Fitz-Gerald — who went through the caucus process to earn the necessary delegates to make it onto the ballot — Shafroth circumvented the Feb. 5 caucuses and the subsequent county assemblies to go straight to the voters of the district.

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Ritter hasn’t picked ballot item to back : Colorado Government : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/ritter-hasnt-picked-ballot-item-to-back/
Proposed regulations for the oil and gas industry are now on the table, but it's still not clear how a severance tax question will be served up to the voters in November. Industry officials have argued for months that Gov. Bill Ritter's administration should wait until the release of the proposed regulations before talking about a severance tax hike. But Monday, those officials showed no interest in negotiating with Ritter and lawmakers on the tax question, now that the rules are out. "As we've stated in the past, we look at those as two very separate issues," said Meg Collins, president of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. "We've got the rule-making, which is a huge issue to us and we're very concerned about that, and we remain opposed to any increase in severance tax. I'm not looking at them as linked - they're two big issues that are facing the industry."

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Union group backs ballot iniatives - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8763664
Employers in Colorado would be required to give workers annual cost-of-living increases and provide many employees with health insurance under ballot proposals submitted to the state Monday by a labor group. The five ballot initiatives filed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7 include measures that would: • Deny tax breaks and incentives to companies that relocate jobs outside Colorado. • Require businesses to pay more in property taxes. • Allow injured workers to sue employers outside the workers' compensation system. Along with ballot proposals backed by other unions, Monday's filings further set the stage for a fiery showdown between business and labor in November. Union leaders said they were prompted to act because business groups are pushing a ballot question that would ask voters to make Colorado a "right-to-work" state, meaning that joining a union or paying union fees could not be a condition of employment. "We saw that if right to work is something voters approve in November, eventually — inevitably — workers' rights are going to suffer," said Manny Gonzales, a spokesman for the food workers union.

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Feds to begin presenting case : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/feds-to-begin-presenting-case/
Federal prosecutors this morning will begin presenting their case against Cory Voorhis, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of using a confidential crime database to help Republican Bob Beauprez's 2006 campaign for governor. Voorhis is charged with three counts of exceeding authorized access to a government computer, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum punishment of three years in prison and a $300,000 fine. Voorhis allegedly used the database to look up information on illegal immigrants who received plea deals from Democrat Bill Ritter, Beauprez's opponent in the gubernatorial race, when Ritter was Denver district attorney. The Beauprez campaign used the information in attack ads that accused Ritter of being soft on immigration. Prosecutors say Voorhis committed a crime because he was using the database for political reasons. By law, the database may be used only for law enforcement purposes.

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News : Mason advocates small government for Delta (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2008/04/01/news/doc47f1aa5dda329363586365.txt
Republican Mike Mason, 66, announced Monday his candidacy for District II Delta County Commissioner, where he intends to champion small government. “As far as building codes and zoning, I am opposed to them — completely,” Mason said before a group of county residents at Orchard City town hall. Mason said he chose to run against fellow Republican Bruce Hovde because Hovde’s views are less conservative. Incumbent Republican Wayne Wolf has announced he is leaving his seat to run for that of U.S. Congressman John Salazar.

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Colorado Daily News - City ballot issues possible

http://www.coloradodaily.com/articles/2008/03/31/news/c_u_and_boulder/news3.txt
The U.S. Presidential race might be the big-ticket item in the 2008 election - but other jurisdictions, such as the City of Boulder, could also put significant smaller-ticket items on the ballot. The city is currently studying its longer-term revenue projections, relative to the projected costs of city services - and it is also looking at four possible tax measures that could be on the ballot in 2008 or in later years. Two of the measures might simply ask voters to approve extensions of existing sales and use taxes - a 0.38 percent tax that is set to expire in 2011, and a 0.15 percent tax that is set to sunset in 2012. For reference, the city's current sales tax rate is 3.41 percent, and both of the taxes listed here go to the city's General Fund. Another measure could ask voters to remove the remaining Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) revenue growth limitations, also called “de-Brucing,” on the city's property taxes. The fourth could call for increases in city Development Excise Taxes (DET), basically taxes on physical development to pay for city capital construction needs.

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Stanley Hotel measure boosts interest in vote - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8764152
Voter interest in today's municipal election is high in Estes Park, mostly because of a ballot question that, if passed, would put any sale of town-owned land at the Stanley Hotel site to a public vote. Almost 600 absentee ballots have been issued for the vote as opposed to 153 for the last election, said Town Clerk Jackie Williamson. "I think there is just a lot of interest in the ballot (Stanley Hotel) issue," Williamson said. Byron Hall agrees. He and a group of other Estes Park residents gathered the 760 signatures needed in October to put a measure on the ballot saying that the sale of Lot 4 in the Stanley Historic District must be approved by a public vote.

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Feud plays role in Silverthorne council race : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/31/feud-plays-role-silverthorne-council-race/
A car accident four years ago is figuring prominently in the race for Silverthorne Town Council, with one candidate a plaintiff in the case and another the defendant — and neither of them willing to settle. Incumbent Vince Lanuza says council hopeful David Soucie ran into a car on July 4, 2004, in which Lanuza's wife was a passenger. Lanuza says his wife suffered lingering injuries that kept the two from having a sexual relationship. He and his wife sued Soucie for negligence, but also for fraud and conspiracy. The Lanuzas decline to comment on advise of their attorney. Soucie's attorney did not return phone calls.

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Election Day is here : Election : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/apr/01/election-day-is-here/
Voters in Erie, Lyons, Nederland and Superior will be choosing candidates for their respective trustee boards, while voters in Nederland and Erie also have ballot questions to consider. In Erie, voters face the decision of whether to add fluoride to their drinking water, a question that has generated a fair amount of controversy. In Nederland, voters are being asked whether the town should save $10,000 a year by no longer publishing new ordinances in full in the newspaper. Erie and Lyons are holding mail-in votes, while residents in Superior and Nederland go to the polls today.

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Aspen Times News - Basalt voters head to the polls

http://aspentimes.com/article/20080401/NEWS/114251972
Basalt officials hope more residents than usual make the effort to vote in a pivotal town election Tuesday. Three of six Town Council seats are up for election and none of the incumbents are running. The field of candidates is Garret Brandt, Brian Dillard, Pete McBride, Katie Schwoerer, Rick Stevens and Jacque Whitsitt.

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GJSentinel.com: Lodging, sales taxes to be decided today

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/31/040108_1b_Municipal_elex.html
Voters in three Mesa County communities will decide today whether to levy lodging taxes on hotels that are being built, or even just envisioned. Voters in another community will decide whether to boost their sales tax to fund a recreation center. The recreation center envisioned by Fruita is the most ambitious of the proposals on today’s ballot. Fruita residents are being asked to raise the city sales tax from 2 percent to 3 percent. Voters must turn in their completed ballots by 7 p.m. at their respective city halls if they haven’t already mailed them in. The Mesa County Elections Division will tabulate the results in Fruita and Palisade. Collbran and De Beque officials will count the ballots in their municipal elections.

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Glenwood Springs Post Independent - Silt and Carbondale hold municipal elections today

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080401/VALLEYNEWS/136154717
Municipal elections will be held today in Silt and Carbondale. Silt Mayor Dave Moore faces a recall election. Voters must decide by a majority whether Moore will be recalled. A second ballot question decides his replacement, but former town administrator Rick Aluise is the only candidate for mayor. For the town Board of Trustees, newcomers Peggy Tibbetts, Sonny Fernandez and Nicky Leigh compete with incumbents Joe Sos and Bobby Hays for election to four trustee seats. Incumbents Jim Voorheis and Ron Morgan decided not to seek re-election. There are no write-in candidates, according to town clerk Sheila McIntyre.

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Glenwood Springs Post Independent - Merriott, Van Devander outspend Carbondale council field

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080401/VALLEYNEWS/455492615
Campaign contributions and spending varied for the seven candidates who are vying for four open seats on the Carbondale town council in Tuesday’s election, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Town Clerk’s Office by Friday’s filing deadline. Carbondale voters go to the polls today to decide whether to re-elect incumbent Trustee Ed Cortez, and to choose between candidates John Hoffmann, Frosty Merriott, Don Van Devander, Pam Zentmyer, Barry Maggert and Brent Moss.

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The Steamboat Pilot - Oak Creek to hit the polls

http://steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/apr/01/oak_creek_hit_polls/
Oak Creek voters will have plenty of options when they head to the polls today to elect a mayor and four Town Board trustees. Today’s municipal election features three candidates for mayor and 10 candidates for four Town Board seats. The polls open at 7 a.m. and won’t close until the last person in line at 7 p.m. has cast his or her ballot. Oak Creek has 594 registered voters, and if recent history holds true, almost half of them will punch a paper ballot today. In the town’s 2006 election, 44 percent of registered voters turned out. In 2004, 45 percent of registered voters cast ballots.

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Glenwood Springs Post Independent - Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission releases draft

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080401/VALLEYNEWS/563005654
New draft rules for energy development in Colorado call for more environmental and water protections, while also abandoning a proposed permitting process that drew the ire of the oil and gas industry. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) on Monday released a set of proposed regulations that include restricting drilling in critical wildlife areas, primarily in Western Colorado, for specified periods of up to 90 days and prohibiting the construction of oil and gas facilities within 500 feet of “sources of drinking water” for a distance of five miles upstream of a “public water supply intake.” However, the timing restrictions for drilling can be avoided if a company limits the density of its development in an area or consults with the COGCC and Colorado Division of Wildlife to find a “mutually agreeable solution” that would allow drilling to occur “in exchange for alternative mitigation,” according to the COGCC.

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GJSentinel.com: Rules could spell relief for residents near drill rigs

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/31/040108_1a_OG_response.html
For years, Dee Hoffmeister has endured the stench surrounding natural gas development near her home south of Silt. The fumes sometimes got so bad she got sick and couldn’t even live there. “There are days ... you absolutely cannot go outside, the odors are so horrible,” Hoffmeister said. Proposed regulatory reforms unveiled Monday could provide some relief to people such as Hoffmeister. Within a half mile of homes and schools, the rules would limit construction of drilling pits and require odor controls on gas production equipment. The provision also had been part of a “pre-draft” proposal by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. However, the latest provision applies only to the Piceance Basin in northwest Colorado and the San Juan Basin in southwest Colorado, where odor concerns are most prevalent.

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GJSentinel.com: Energy rules aim to protect water supplies

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/31/040108_1a_OG_rules.html
Oil and gas drilling in and around municipal watersheds and other public water supplies would be prohibited under a series of highly anticipated energy regulations unveiled Monday. Under the proposed rules, released by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, drilling within 500 feet or five miles upstream of public water supplies, including municipal watersheds, would be prohibited. David Neslin, acting director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, said the watershed protections were included in the draft rules after Western Slope residents raised the issue at public forums. Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, said he was pleased to see the watershed protections included in the rules. “There was a lot of anguish and concern, but clearly the commission listened,” Buescher said, “and these rules quite obviously took into consideration the concerns the industry expressed.”

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - New proposed gas, oil drilling rules released

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1207029600/4
The agency that oversees the state's oil and gas industry proposed new, more environmentally friendly rules Monday that have people on both sides of the issue treading cautiously. While environmental groups generally praised the 165 pages of proposed new regulations as going in the right direction, they still criticized them for not going far enough.

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Drilling rules forged anew - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8763743
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission staff Monday unveiled proposed rules designed to protect the environment, public health and wildlife — and blunt industry criticism. The effort failed to quiet industry critics, however, and raised some concerns among environmentalists that the rules don't go far enough. The oil and gas industry has opposed the new rules, contending they would jeopardize energy development — which has been booming with a record 6,368 drilling permits approved in 2007. "We've tried to answer a lot of the issues we've heard," said Dave Neslin, the commission's acting director. The rules, he said, "are a blueprint for responsible regulation of the industry."

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Energy industry cool to proposed new rules : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/31/oil-gas-rules-unveiled/
Colorado's oil and gas trade association said it remains "extremely concerned" about proposed environmental rules, even as state regulators and some industry allies said the draft regulations addressed many of industry's key criticisms. The long-awaited release Monday of the draft regulations, the first major rewrite of oil and gas rules in more than a decade, was heralded by state officials as "striking a balance" between maintaining a flourishing industry and protecting the state's landscapes, air, water, wildlife and public health.

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Q&A: Oil and gas draft rules | News | The Tribune

http://greeleytribune.com/article/20080401/NEWS/675811313
Frequently asked questions on draft rules for oil and gas development in Colorado: Q. Will the draft rules provide a timely and efficient process for drilling permit approvals? A. Yes. In most cases, the director will decide on a permit application within 50 days, which is more than two weeks shorter than under current rules, provided the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission staffing is increased as proposed. Where consultation occurs, the director will make a decision in 60 days. If a decision is not issued within 75 days, the operator may request an expedited hearing before the commission.

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Craig Daily Press / BLM OKs 30-day oil shale comment extension

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2008/apr/01/blm_oks_30day_oil_shale_comment_extension/
It’s not what was petitioned for, but it’s a compromise. The Bureau of Land Man­agement approved a 30-day extension to the public comment period for its Program­matic Environmental Impact Statement for oil shale development March 20. That day marked the original date the comment period was scheduled to end. The comment period now will go until April 21. A combination of environmental, government and resident groups petitioned the BLM to extend the comment period 45 days.

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Roll call, April 1 : Colorado Government : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/roll-call-april-1/
The buzz about renewable energy is generally positive, but windmills emit a buzz some people find irritating. So, senators made changes to House Bill 1270 that would give HOAs the power to reject plans to build windmills if they think they would be too noisy. Wind-energy advocates say windmills make sense only on lots that are at least a quarter- acre, making it unlikely that neighbors would hear it. But senators were concerned because the bill didn't say windmills couldn't be built on smaller lots.

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Craig Daily Press / Colowyo plans to move digging to Rio Blanco County

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2008/apr/01/colowyo_plans_move_digging_rio_blanco_county/
Mine representatives are draf­ting a proposed plan between Colowyo Coal and Moffat and Rio Blanco county authorities that would split tax revenues in the future, Brinks said, adding officials hope a plan will be signed by the end of the year. The mine’s move is not related to any political concerns, said Jeff Comstock, Moffat County Natural Resources Department director. The coal seam that Colowyo digs runs south, across the county divide, and the company is following the resources. The mine isn’t moving away, Comstock added. “It’s just moving down the road,” he said. He and Brinks said the move likely will not force Colowyo employees to relocate or prompt the mine to cut staff.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Lake County commissioners want dye-testing

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1207029600/10
Lake County Commissioners are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to consider dye-testing possible water sources to determine the location from which the water that is building pressure in the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel is coming. The EPA, meanwhile, says its resources already are stretched. “Specific dye-testing would be a great idea to me,” Commissioner Mike Hickman said in a progress update conference call Monday. “We’re basing decisions on fairly old information.” Commissioners talked last week with EPA scientist Mike Wireman about his 2006 study that shows water in the Leadville Tunnel, which is partially collapsed, takes years to accumulate and builds up each fall.

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Old-fashioned water fight brews in Colorado - Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-poudre1apr01,1,2773535.story
When it starts at 10,000 feet and slices through the mountains in the canyon that bears its name, the Cache la Poudre River is a shock of water in this dry land. But by the time it winds its way out to this laid-back college city of 120,000 people, most of its water has been grabbed by farmers and other cities that control the maze of canals and diversion dams that turn the river into a trickle. Now a new dam and reservoir project could pull even more water out of the river before it reaches Fort Collins. A key juncture in the process comes this month, when the Army Corps of Engineers releases an environmental impact statement that will determine if and how the $400-million project can proceed. Both sides expect the Corps to sign off on the proposal and are bracing for an old-fashioned showdown over that most precious of resources -- water. "Mark Twain said of the West that whiskey's for drinking and water's for fighting, and that applies here," said Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Open houses on pipeline begin tonight

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1207029600/1
The Bureau of Reclamation will kick off a two-week series of open houses tonight at Buena Vista to gather public input on the Southern Delivery System. The meeting will be 6-9 p.m. at the Buena Vista Community Center, 715 E. Main St. The bureau has issued a draft environmental impact statement on the project, which is designed to meet the water needs of Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security and Pueblo West with a 66-inch-diameter, 43-mile-long pipeline from Pueblo Dam. Seven alternatives are examined in the draft EIS, but the bureau tentatively has identified the proposed action as its preferred action.

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Aspen Times News - Aspen Environment Forum a success

http://aspentimes.com/article/20080401/NEWS/145464125
The word of the day, for many participants at the end of the first Aspen Environment Forum, was “overload.” But, by all reports, it was a pleasant kind of overload and one that likely will to become an annual event in Aspen’s busy calendar. As the last day of the forum passed from morning into afternoon, more than one participant described feeling the kind of satiation one gets after a multicourse meal — with dessert and plenty of wine. “My brain is mush,” one participant was overheard saying in the lunch line Saturday, the final day of the forum.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - State high court backs Rio Grande well rules

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1207029600/7
The Colorado Supreme Court upheld the state engineer’s groundwater rules last week, denying challenges by opponents who appealed the case. The rules initially were upheld by Division 3 Water Court Judge O. John Kuenhold in November 2006 following a 26-day trial earlier that year. The rules connect the confined and unconfined aquifers in the Rio Grande basin with surface water. Kuenhold ruled all waters in the basin are over- appropriated.

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Bison charges possible by mid-week - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8758187
The decision whether to present prosecutors a case for filing in the shooting and killing of 32 bison south of Hartsel will likely be made by mid-week, Park County officials said today. "I think we should probably have a decision made this Wednesday," said Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore. Gore said a comprehensive aerial survey of the area in which the bison were gunned down was completed Friday and no additional dead animals were found.

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GJSentinel.com: Western Slopers among governor’s appointments

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/31/040108_14b_gov_appointments.html
Gov. Bill Ritter on Monday announced a number of appointees to statewide boards and commissions, and at least three people with ties to the Western Slope were named. John Hopkins, CEO of Grand Junction-based health insurer Rocky Mountain Health Plans, was reappointed to the board of directors of Cover Colorado, a program that provides health insurance for individuals who can’t get coverage otherwise. Also appointed to a state group addressing health care issues Monday was dental hygienist Mark Patterson of Rangely. Patterson was named to the state’s Collaborative Scopes of Care Advisory Committee, the advisory group charged with identifying ways that health providers other than doctors or dentists could be serving the underserved.

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The Coloradoan - City to get medical pot store

http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NEWS01/804010330/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
The city's first medical marijuana "store" plans to open Monday as part of a holistic healing center. James and Pam Fleming of Fort Collins are opening the EnerChi Healing Center, 1502 S. College Ave., above Repeat Boutique. The center will offer healing therapies ranging from kundalini yoga to ayurvedic medicine, hypnosis, nutrition, meditation, acupuncture and organic medical marijuana. Owner James Fleming said being able to provide medical marijuana to people with chronic pain, illness or other conditions is "incredibly important." "We're not out to be legal drug dealers," Fleming said. "Our whole emphasis is in holistically treating the individual, and medical marijuana is an integral part of how we do that." Fleming began using medical marijuana himself more than a year ago to deal with chronic asthma.

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Alamosa water still iffy : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/31/back-school-alamosa/
They can take short showers and wash their hands, and students were finally able to return to school, but as of Monday residents of Alamosa were still prohibited from drinking tap water that had been contaminated with salmonella bacteria. The city went to a Stage 2 - or yellow - advisory as the town showed signs of emerging from its weeklong water-supply crisis. Officials with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, meanwhile, began extensive testing for salmonella. Alamosa Mayor Farris Bervig, who announced the Stage 2 upgrade by wearing a yellow shirt, said he was glad to see the worst disaster he's seen in 24 years of leadership begin to take a turn for the better.

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Toll rises as Alamosa gains in water cleanup - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8765015
The toll in this city's bout with salmonella poisoning — which spread through the municipal water system — is now at least $469,000 and 326 sick people. The total price tag includes federal, state and local money spent in flushing the water system, providing free water and hunting for the source of the bacterial contamination, officials said. As of Monday, city officials reported a total of 326 cases, with 90 confirmed and 13 people hospitalized. Monday, yellow water notices replaced last week's red warnings on doors across the city.

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Grim record tied with 16 dead on slopes - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8763745
The state's ski resorts tied a record this past weekend when a Kansas man became the 16th skier or snowboarder to die in a crash on the slopes. The death of skier Michael Howe, 43, of Andover, Kan., on Sunday at Keystone Ski Resort pushed the state to the record for fatalities set in the 2001-02 season. It was the fourth death at Keystone this season. Industry officials say skiing remains statistically safer than many other outdoor activities, including bike riding and swimming, and every resort runs safety programs. "Not to sound cliche, but safety is the No. 1 priority at our resorts," said Nick Bohnenkamp, spokesman for the trade group Colorado Ski Country USA.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Alamosa schools resume classes

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1207029600/5
The roughly 2,000 students in the city’s public schools returned to class Monday after a four-day hiatus during the disinfection of the municipal water system. Superintendent Henry Herrera said attendance through morning classes was between 97 percent and 98 percent. Herrera cautioned any parents of children who were exhibiting symptoms to keep their children at home. Statistics released by the state show that children between the ages of 5 and 18 have accounted for 96 salmonella cases, or roughly 29 percent of all reported cases during the outbreak.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Alamosa recovery slowly continues

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1207029600/3
The big stink may be over for some, but just how long residents will have to wait to pour a glass of water from their taps remains to be seen, according to state and local officials. "We don't know how to answer that just yet because there's so many things that have to happen with the testing that's being done," Mayor Farris Bervig said. The chlorination treatment intended to rid the city's pipes of salmonella moved into its second stage over the weekend. And with it came lower levels of chlorine that allowed most adults the chance to take brief showers.

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Fire district pact due public review : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/31/major-se-metro-fire-merger/
A merger of the South Metro and Parker fire districts could save $60 million over 10 years, according to a study commissioned by the agencies. Area residents will get a chance to review the plan at public meetings Thursday and April 9. In addition to saving money, the merger would give the two agencies a financial cushion to weather economic downturns, said Daniel Qualman, who is serving as fire chief of both agencies. The study by ESCi Consulting says costs could be trimmed by sharing resources, eliminating duplication and locating future fire stations more efficiently, said Jack Snook, president of ESCi Consulting.

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GJSentinel.com: Colorado West HealthCare names new CEO; he’ll move from Kansas

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/31/040108_1b_community_ceo.html
Community Hospital turned to America’s heartland to find its newest chief executive officer. Chris Thomas, former president and CEO of the Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend, Kan., has been named the president and CEO of Colorado West HealthCare System, the umbrella organization for Community Hospital and its for-profit ventures. Community is a nonprofit hospital. Thomas, who is married with three daughters, said he is excited about moving to Grand Junction and working for an organization with a community focus. He starts April 21.

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Glass fragments prompt recall : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/glass-fragments-prompt-recall/
Stonyfield Farm is issuing a recall of its organic nonfat blueberry yogurt after glass fragments were found in the product. No injuries have been reported, but the company said it is taking the action to ensure the safety of consumers. Being recalled are 6-ounce cartons of fat-free blueberry yogurt with the following dates at the bottom of the cup: April 14 08, April 15 08, April 25 08 and April 26 08. Consumers are advised to return opened and unopened containers to retailers for a refund.

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State acts against two mortgage brokers : Real Estate : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/31/state-acts-against-two-mortgage-brokers/
The Division of Real Estate has taken enforcement actions against two Colorado mortgage brokers involved in an alleged mortgage fraud scheme in Denver, the Department of Regulatory Agencies said today. The division is seeking license revocation for Laura Ann Stearnes and Stephen Angelo Benaske. The division alleges that Stearnes, while working with an out-of-state client she apparently met through an online dating service, fraudulently redirected the client’s refinancing proceeds of $80,890.38. Stearnes instructed the title company, First Integrity Title Agency, to wire the funds into an account owned by Benaske, who was Stearnes’ boyfriend. Benaske owns Broadway Mortgage Corp. in Denver.

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2 mortgage brokers face license revocation - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8763403
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies on Monday said the Division of Real Estate is seeking license revocation for mortgage brokers Laura Ann Stearnes and Stephen Angelo Benaske. The division alleges that Stearnes, while working with an out-of-state client, fraudulently redirected the consumer's refinance proceeds of $80,890.38 into an account owned by Benaske, owner of Broadway Mortgage Corp. in Denver. According to the division, Stearnes admitted during the investigation to using $24,000 of the borrower's funds to pay off an auto loan, and Benaske admitted to using $12,500 of the funds to pay for the development of his mortgage company's website.

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Summit Daily News - Silverthorne commits to affordable housing development

http://summitdaily.com/article/20080331/NEWS/26314314
Development of a substantial affordable housing neighborhood in Silverthorne moved one step closer to reality when the Town Council approved an agreement with the new owner of the Smith Ranch property — a 51-acre parcel located outside the town limits near the Kum and Go convenience store on Highway 9. The agreement gives Silverthorne and the property owner a set of deadlines by which to negotiate a development plan and annexation of the land by the Town. The new owner — Tim Crane of Compass Homes Development — and the Town must agree to a general plan by the end of June, and annexation and zoning of the parcel must be completed by Oct. 31, 2008. If the deadlines aren’t met, Silverthorne is obligated to buy the property from Crane for no more than $3.7 million.

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Aspen Times News - Dual property owner to put deed-restricted Aspen unit on market

http://aspentimes.com/article/20080401/NEWS/955618101
An Aspen resident who is being sued by the local housing authority has agreed to put his deed-restricted condominium on Midland Avenue up for sale. The Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority in January sought a court order in Pitkin County District Court against Joseph E. Wells. The suit alleges that Wells is breaking the rules that prohibit an owner of an affordable housing unit from renting it out while living full-time somewhere else. But it’s unknown when the unit will be listed because the housing office is trying to figure out how much the sale price will be. That’s because Wells is asking for about $200,000 in reimbursements for capital improvements made to the condo, according to Julie Kieffer, qualifications specialist for the housing office. The three-bedroom unit was purchased by Wells in 1978 for $77,000. Under the unit’s deed restriction, the condo has appreciated at the rate of the Consumer Price Index and not at the 3 percent rate at which current deed-restricted units are capped.

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Report into child fatalities delayed | News | The Tribune

http://greeleytribune.com/article/20080401/NEWS/892916930
An investigation by the Colorado Department of Human Services regarding child fatalities in Weld County will take longer than initially expected. Liz McDonough, a spokeswoman with the Colorado Department of Human Services, said the 2007 child fatality report, initially to be completed in March, will be released by mid April. The investigation, which encompasses all child fatalities in 2007 in Colorado, took longer than expected because of prolonged communication with social services agencies, McDonough said. Weld County's social services agency is included in the investigation because of the deaths of 7-year-olds LoReyna Barea and Zoe Garcia.

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Liberty lost face, little else in IAC decision - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8763160
Douglas County-based Liberty Media Group may have lost its recent court battle with IAC/Interactive Corp., but it's not down for the count, analysts said Monday. A Delaware Chancery Court on Friday ruled that New York-based IAC did not violate an agreement with Liberty when it announced plans to split into five separate companies in 2007. "I'm surprised they lost, but they haven't really lost yet," Janco Partners equity-research analyst April Horace said. "The biggest issue of the whole case is how IAC spins out the whole company ... with either one class or two classes of stock." IAC has a dual-class voting structure in which Liberty Media Corp. owns all of the Class B common stock, resulting in a majority of the voting power of IAC. But Liberty has granted IAC chairman and chief executive Barry Diller the proxy to vote all of the IAC shares owned by Liberty.

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Fighting to get in: 20-year-old fights for his dream of serving in the Army | News | The Tribune

http://greeleytribune.com/article/20080331/NEWS/369434793
Growing up, all three Behrens boys played Army. It wasn't unusual for their mom to look outside and shout, "What are you doing on the roof?" But she knew: They were playing Army again. And now, all three brothers, Brian, Matthew and Brandon Behrens, have joined up. Brian, 24, is in the Army and still in training in New York; Matthew, 20, will leave for the Marines next month; his twin, Brandon, has joined the Army National Guard and will leave for basic training in August.

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GJSentinel.com: State clearly listened to industry concerns

http://www.gjsentinel.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2008/03/31/040108_rules_edit.html
In coming days, expect to hear complaints from gas-industry people about the draft state regulations released Monday. The rules will change the way the industry does business in this state, and many won’t like that. But no one should believe these rules are designed to drive the industry out of Colorado. In fact, on 17 of 21 issues, the draft rules released Monday have been modified from what was originally proposed, specifically to address concerns from the energy industry.

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Clinton right to hang on in race - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_8760870
The days of picking a party's presidential candidate in a smoke-filled backroom are over. Now the party bosses go straight to the television cameras to try to publicly muscle candidates out of the race. Another unabashed attempt to shove Sen. Hillary Clinton out of the race for the White House emerged this past weekend as a few more prominent Democrats called for her exit. Clinton, who has proven herself to be remarkably resilient in this campaign, dutifully brushed off the shameful strong-arm tactics, saying people have a right to vote. Indeed they do. We think Clinton should stay in the race for now and allow the remaining states to have a voice in this important contest. She also owes it to voters in Florida and Michigan, two large states where Democratic voters have been completely disenfranchised. Neither Clinton nor Sen. Barack Obama will have the needed pledged delegates to clinch the nomination outright before the convention anyway. It makes little sense to push Clinton out of a race she trails by less than 200 pledged delegates with so many states still to go. Plus, a decision over what to do with the delegates from Michigan and Florida may not be made until the convention here in Denver.

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GJSentinel.com: The Clinton Machine has run out of fuel

http://www.gjsentinel.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2008/03/31/040108_4A_Clinton_edit.html
The inevitable rise of “President” Hillary Clinton has, for a long time, seemed like a forgone conclusion. Step by step, we have all watched her emerge — with a storied past — from the hills of Arkansas to the halls of Washington D.C. She was a fiercely aggressive and opinionated first lady. She, then swept to an easy victory as junior senator from New York, from where almost everyone assumed she would — one day — stage a run for president. The biggest problem with her inevitable candidacy is, well, the inevitability of it. No one likes being told something’s going to happen whether they like it or not. Now, it appears her reach has extended her grasp. She has almost no hope of securing the nomination. She’s out of money, she’s out-competed and she’s delaying what will ultimately be an interesting race between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama. She should step aside.

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Hold off on revamping the Fed : Editorials : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/hold-off-on-revamping-the-fed/
Treasury secretary Henry Paulson was right about one thing when he introduced his sweeping 218-page overhaul of our financial regulatory system: The midst of a financial crisis is no time to do it. Paulson and the White House seem resigned to the prospect that if broad reforms are to be enacted, it will be the next president and the next Congress who will do so. A long, cool, skeptical look at the overhaul is in order if only because it not only greatly expands the authority of the Federal Reserve but also over time might fundamentally change the character of the central bank. And, we might keep in mind, the Fed by design is not the most transparent of institutions. That serves it well as steward of the nation's currency, not so well as overseer of the financial markets.

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Those energy regs : Editorials : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/01/those-energy-regs/
Much improved. That's our first reaction to Colorado's draft rules for energy development that regulators released Monday. Six weeks ago we dubbed the proposed rules, as then written, "the red-tape initiative." They appeared so onerous in some specifics that cynics could be forgiven for wondering about their true purpose. Were they designed, as advertised, to strike a fairer balance between energy production and environmental protection? Or were they actually meant to roll back oil and gas production by imposing a thicket of regulations that would be costly and time-consuming to meet? Fortunately, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and other agencies involved in writing the rules have listened to critics - up to a point. And while Monday's draft still goes further than it should in spots, the overall compliance burden should be less than originally envisioned.

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Evans: No mas? : Editorials : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/apr/01/no-mas/
Ah, Mexico. Warm, sandy beaches. Margaritas and piña coladas. Mariachi bands and sunsets painted with the warmest colors in nature's palette. A vacation paradise. And, increasingly for American travelers, a dangerous place where assaults, rape, kidnapping, corrupt cops and even murder are an unexpected part of the itinerary. That disturbing trend was made tragically evident on Wednesday after University of Colorado student and Boulder High School graduate David Parrish, 21, was shot and killed when he tried to stop two men from robbing his mother in sunny Puerto Vallarta. And Saturday, a newspaper in Puerto Vallarta -- a favorite American vacation spot for decades -- reported that one of the two men arrested in connection with the murder had escaped from jail. This heinous crime is more evidence of a growing problem for tourists to our neighbor to the south

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MASSARO: Trucker strike might lack traction : Columns

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/31/massaro-trucker-strike-might-lack-traction/
If you're making book on the proposed long-haul truckers' strike, here's some inside information. Some will strike. Most won't. That's the lowdown from talking Monday to truckers at the Sapp Brothers truck stop. For one thing, truckers are as organized as a herd of cats. They're like farmers. They can't agree on anything. As one good ol' boy plow-puller once told me: "Farmers'd rather go to hell separately than to heaven together." "You can't get two of us to agree on the color of the sky," said Brian Knott, 36, of Omaha. Knott had just unloaded pipes from his flatbed and was hoping for another load to take on. Knott won't be striking. He's either going to haul home an empty trailer or pick up a load and work. "I've got to haul," he said. "I've got bills to pay. A strike sounds great. But you don't get paid for it."

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Tribune opinion: Give value to your opinion by voting | Opinion Page | The Tribune

http://greeleytribune.com/article/20080401/TRIBEDIT/98850729/-1/TRIBEDIT
Many towns throughout Weld County will conduct elections today to select leaders and decide important issues in those towns. We hope that many Weld voters will go to the polls today.

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David Harsanyi - Where does Lieberman meet McCain? (Answer: Iraq) - The Denver Post

http://www.denv