ProgressNow Daily News Digest

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

More stories in National/Education | Colorado/Education

Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

More stories in National/Education | Colorado/Education

Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

More stories in National/Opinion | Colorado/Opinion

Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

More stories in National/Education | Colorado/Education

Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

More stories in National/Education | Colorado/Education

Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

More stories in National/Education | Colorado/Education

Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148916/boehner-vows-another-showdown.html House Speaker John Boehner set the stage Tuesday for another tense, partisan showdown over tax and spending policy later this year, as he vowed to insist on big spending cuts before he’ll agree to a new debt ceiling – much like last summer’s debt showdown debacle – and he also promised a vote before November’s elections on whether to prevent Bush-era tax cuts from expiring at year’s end, as scheduled. Boehner’s address to a Washington budget forum had chilling echoes of the 2011 clash over increasing the debt ceiling, a weeks-long standoff between the Obama White House and Republicans in the House of Representatives that roiled financial markets, led to a downgrade of federal credit and nearly forced much of the government to close.

Boehner threatens another debt ceiling fight - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/boehner-threatens-another-debt-ceiling-fight/2012/05/15/gIQAJuCESU_story.html Washington braced Tuesday for a replay of last summer’s tense battle over the burgeoning national debt as House Speaker John A. Boehner threatened again to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling without significant new cuts in spending. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and other senior Democrats quickly blasted the Ohio Republican, arguing that his ultimatum could put the nation’s credit rating — and the broader economy — at risk early next year, when the debt is expected to hit its $16.4 trillion limit. “This commitment to meet the obligations of the nation, this commitment to protect the creditworthiness of the country, is a fundamental commitment you can never call into question or violate,” Geithner said. “We hope they do it this time without the drama and the pain and the damage they caused the country last July.”

Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply route to Afghanistan, but for a fee | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148936/pakistan-agrees-to-reopen-nato.html The cost of the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan is about to rise by $365 million annually under an agreement that would reopen a key NATO supply route through Pakistan that’s been closed for nearly six months. The accord, which the Pakistani government announced late Tuesday, would revive the transport of vital supplies of food and equipment from Pakistani ports overland to land-locked Afghanistan. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day. The officials requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to reveal details of the agreement.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng’s visa is ready, U.S. says | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148923/chinese-activist-chen-guangchengs.html The State Department said Tuesday that documents to allow Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng to come to the U.S. had been completed, and Chen himself talked to lawmakers on Capitol Hill from his hospital room to describe the brutal treatment of his relatives by Chinese authorities. Chen’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights activists, critics of China’s one-child policy and Republicans who say the Obama administration hasn’t been assertive enough with its principal economic rival. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., led a hearing of a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee, the second this month, to highlight the case and criticize the White House response.

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syrian-rebels-get-influx-of-arms-with-gulf-neighbors-money-us-coordination/2012/05/15/gIQAds2TSU_story.html Syrian rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials. Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal material, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Merkel says she’s open to ‘stimulus’ for Greek economy - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-shes-open-to-stimulus-for-greek-economy/2012/05/16/gIQAUdacTU_story.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that she wants to keep Greece on the common euro currency and would be open to “stimulus” that would help foster growth in the troubled European country. But she held firm to her insistence that Greece had to live up to the commitments it made when it signed on to a $165 billion bailout earlier this year.

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President Obama executive order will give Treasury authority to freeze U.S.-based assets in Yemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-executive-order-will-give-treasury-authority-to-freeze-us-based-assets-in-yemen/2012/05/15/gIQALWPUSU_story.html President Obama plans to issue an executive order Wednesday giving the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the administration-backed political transition in Yemen. The unusual order, which administration officials said also targets U.S. citizens who engage in activity deemed to threaten Yemen’s security or political stability, is the first issued for Yemen that does not directly relate to counterterrorism.

Germany, with its economy booming, has little sympathy for Greece | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148892/germany-with-its-economy-booming.html While the rest of Europe nervously peers at an insecure future, Germans are spending their evenings in long lines, hoping for a chance to buy or rent property before costs rise even more. Since the euro crisis began, a Berlin housing boom has seen rents rise by 70 percent in posh districts, and 23 percent even in dicey areas. And this newly forming housing bubble is just one of many signs that the fortunes of Germany and the eurozone it leads have taken sharply divergent paths. As the euro crisis deepens, and more and more neighbors slip down the path toward economic perdition, it is increasingly obvious that the German economy is growing healthier.

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Rebekah Brooks, former Murdoch editor, charged in phone-hacking scandal - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rebekah-brooks-former-murdoch-editor-charged-in-phone-hacking-scandal/2012/05/15/gIQAzL4BSU_story.html Rebekah Brooks, a confidante of Rupert Murdoch, was charged Tuesday with interfering with a police investigation into a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked the media tycoon’s empire and sent shock waves through the British political establishment. Brooks, 43, was charged with conspiring to remove boxes of archive records from Murdoch’s London headquarters, concealing material from detectives, and hiding documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police. If found guilty, she could face a prison sentence.

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-endorses-mitt-romney/2012/05/15/gIQAZXLMSU_story.html As presidential endorsements go, this one could hardly have been more low-key. ABC News caught up with former president George W. Bush in an elevator in downtown Washington on Tuesday and asked the question that elicited the sound bite. “I’m for Mitt Romney,” Bush said, just as the doors slid shut. The 43rd president of the United States was on his way to give a speech on human freedom, in which he made no mention of politics, save one sidelong reference: “I actually found my freedom by leaving Washington.”

Is Obama responsible for a $5 trillion increase in the debt? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/is-obama-responsible-for-a-5-trillion-increase-in-the-debt/2012/05/15/gIQACA0QSU_blog.html Who’s to blame for the national debt? In a speech in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor on Tuesday pointed the finger at President Obama’s policies, naming in particular the 2009 stimulus (worth about $800 billion) and the health care law, which has mostly not yet kicked in (and according to the Congressional Budget Office will not add to the deficit in its first 10 years). The national debt is simply a matter of numbers, but the blame game is much more complicated. Let’s take a look.

Quietly, the Republican Party is embracing gays | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148885/quietly-the-republican-party-is.html A quiet transformation is taking place in the Republican Party, which has begun to embrace openly gay candidates – and among gay Republicans, who now feel more comfortable speaking out in a party that may have accepted them but didn’t always show it. While differences still exist, the party is on the cusp of a generational shift in which the longtime foes of gay rights are replaced by younger party leaders who are more accepting. “It’s an exponential change from a few years ago,” said former Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe. “It’s happening, and it’s going to continue to happen.”

Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP Senate primary

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNQ11OIJ3N.DTL An insurgent Republican lawmaker in Nebraska will square off against former Sen. Bob Kerrey this fall in the state's U.S. Senate race, as Democrats look to hold onto the Senate seat and control of one part of Capitol Hill. In Tuesday's Republican primary, state Sen. Deb Fischer rode a wave of discontent with the GOP establishment to best Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, the preferred candidate of Washington, D.C.-based Republicans, and Treasurer Don Stenberg in a race that drew national attention from outside groups in its final, unpredictable weeks.

Ron Paul still aims for delegates at state conventions to push GOP | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/15/148927/ron-paul-still-aims-for-delegates.html Rep. Ron Paul may have dropped off the presidential campaign trail, but he insisted Tuesday that he’s not entirely out of the race. A day after Paul announced that he would no longer formally campaign or spend money in primary states, his camp released a memo laying out the Texas Republican’s strategy for the remainder of the primary season. The memo, penned by Paul campaign strategist Jesse Benton, said the libertarian-leaning Paul still would be going after delegates and alternates at the state GOP convention level, where Paul’s fiercely loyal followers could take over, in hopes of gathering enough delegates to wield influence in August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and beyond.

Centrist group having trouble finding a presidential candidate - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/centrist-group-having-trouble-finding-a-presidential-candidate/2012/05/15/gIQAabdGSU_story.html The United States is still not ready for a third party. Americans Elect, a group that has spent the past two years securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named centrist presidential candidate, has a significant problem: It can’t find a candidate. The group said Tuesday that no candidate has attained the level of support needed to be considered at its online convention next month, and that the deadline to qualify has passed. That leaves the group with ballot access in more than half the states — including many swing states — but no name to put on the ballot.

Honduran news director found dead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/16/international/i060717D48.DTL The news director for one of Honduras' most important radio stations has been found dead, nearly a week after he was kidnapped. Security Ministry spokesman Hector Ivan Mejilla says that Alfredo Villatoro was found dead Tuesday in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mejilla says Villatoro was found shot in the head and dressed in the uniform of an elite police force for unknown reasons. He had been in civilian clothing when seized on May 9. Mejilla and police both say the case appears to have started as a kidnapping. A ransom demand apparently was sent.

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Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFH3.DTL The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. The House voted 33-31, with 10 abstentions, against the candidacy of Tracy Thorne-Begland, who was nominated for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond. Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth attorney in Richmond, needed a majority of the 100-member House to be confirmed. He would have been the state's first openly gay judge.

John Edwards’ defense vague about final witnesses

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MN3G1OIFO3.DTL Attorneys for John Edwards on Tuesday indicated that their defense in his criminal trial for alleged campaign finance violations is winding down, but they did not say whether the former presidential candidate or his onetime mistress will take the witness stand. Defense lawyer Abbe Lowell said his team will make a decision about its remaining witnesses late Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether that information will be made public before Edwards' trial resumes Wednesday.

The real lesson from JPMorgan - PostPartisan - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-real-lesson-from-jpmorgan/2012/05/15/gIQAdlUeRU_blog.html It’s a teachable moment, but what’s the right lesson? Already, the $2 billion-plus trading debacle at JPMorgan Chase has inspired a powerful storyline. Nothing has changed since the financial crisis, it’s said. Big banks remain out of control, gambling recklessly. If Jamie Dimon’s bank, reputed to be one of the best-managed, can get into trouble, what can we expect of the others? Government regulations and regulators need to be tougher to counteract bankers’ greed and incompetence. The storyline is marred only by this: Everything in it is exaggerated, misleading or wrong.

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It’s time to break up the big banks - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/its-time-to-break-up-the-big-banks/2012/05/15/gIQApOEvQU_story.html Consider $2 billion lost on a bad bet, plus billions more as investors dumped the stock, a providential warning. When Jamie Dimon, the imperious head of JPMorgan Chase, revealed that the bank had lost so muchon a derivatives trade gone bad, it was clear warning that, four years after blowing up the economy, the big banks are still playing with bombs. This was no rogue trader. Dimon admitted to “many errors, sloppiness, bad judgment” in “poorly executed” derivative trades. Heads may role, but these were authorized trades by the bank’s leading — and notorious — trader, Bruno Iksil, the “London whale.”

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Bigotry blocks a gay Virginian from the bench - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bigotry-blocks-a-gay-virginian-from-the-bench/2012/05/15/gIQA0XRISU_story.html IF ANYTHING, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a top state prosecutor in Richmond with a decade of courtroom experience, is overqualified for a judgeship on the General District Court. Mr. Thorne-Begland, who has prosecuted dozens of homicides and other major felonies, runs one of the biggest commonwealth’s attorney’s offices in Virginia. The caseload of the court to which he was nominated consists mainly of traffic violations, minor crimes and run-of-the-mill civil disputes over contracts and late rent payments. But the judicial nomination of Mr. Thorne-Begland, a former Navy fighter pilot who is gay, was sabotaged by an ugly campaign of homophobic bigotry led by Virginia Republicans. In a vote at 1 a.m. Tuesday, the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, with an avowed homophobe leading the charge, killed his candidacy, thereby ensuring that Virginia state courts remain free of openly gay judges.

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Where have all the candidates gone? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-have-all-the-candidates-gone/2012/05/15/gIQA6ZRISU_story.html There was only one problem: None of these candidates wanted the nomination. Neither did the other “draft” candidates who received support on the Americans Elect Web site, including Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Howard Dean, Donald Trump, Al Gore, Sarah Palin and David Petraeus. Those who did want to run were not the sort of candidates the organizers of the third-party movement had in mind. There was Kenneth Domagala, who garnered 43 supporters; he advocates making Cuba the 51st state. Also available for the nomination was one J.L. Mealer (82 supporters), who is promoting a “massive new tax base created from the Mealer Plans,” and David Jon Sponheim (92 supporters), who gives top billing to legalized marijuana. Dwight Smith (225 supporters) also failed to attract enough enthusiasm, but he’ll probably make another go of it in 2016. He claims he has been running for president for 52 years.

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Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631942/ann-romney-be-at-cherry-hills-country-club Ann Romney will be in Colorado on Friday morning for a fundraising brunch and reception at Cherry Hills Country Club. The event is aimed at female voters but is open to men and women. Tickets are $500 a person, or $2,500 for "Host Committee" couples, according to a save-the-date flier from Romney Victory. The mailing lists three honorary Women for Mitt co-chairs: Claudia Beauprez, wife of former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez; former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; and Frances Owens, the former first lady of Colorado.

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2012/05/15/beltway-blog-senate-agrees-extend-exportimport-bank-colorados-republicans-vote/71180/ The Export-Import Bank’s charter was extended Tuesday after it handily passed the Senate and the House, with all of Colorado’s Republicans voting against it and all the Democrats voting for it. The bank takes no money from taxpayers and provides “export financing support” for about 2 percent of U.S. exports, according to a fact sheet. In 2011, that amounted to $32 billion in loans and loan guarantees to U.S. companies. It’s usually reauthorized without a lot of fanfare, but this year some conservative groups, like Club For Growth, said it screws up the open market.

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632112/colorado-house-speaker-set-trend-aside-opposing-civil For Republicans everywhere, the memo was like the opening scene of an asteroid movie where a scientist in a white coat briefs world leaders on the trajectory of a very big problem headed their way. The memo, released Friday by Jan van Lohuizen, a pre-eminent Republican pollster who worked for George W. Bush in 2004, clearly asserts the GOP is out of step with the rest of America — even many of its own voters — on gay marriage. Like the giant space rock plummeting toward Earth, support for gay rights is accelerating at a fast rate, the memo showed. A review of public polling shows that up to 2009, support for gay marriage among Americans increased at a rate of 1 percent a year but is now increasing at 5 percent a year, the memo said, with supporters outnumbering opponents by about 10 percent.

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20632214/colorado-lawmaker-was-urged-by-gay-son-vote Last week, businessman Dee Coram sat down with his father on the garden patio of the Coffee Trader, a hip hive of activity in the tiny town of Montrose. The elder Coram was on break from the legislature, where a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples teetered on the brink: It could languish in a GOP-run committee or come up for a full House vote, where it would most likely pass. With his trademark pragmatism, Republican Rep. Don Coram opined that the full House should get its vote in order to ward off attacks from well-heeled gay-rights activists come November. That was last week.

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/fight-is-on-civil-unions-battle-sure-to-return-both/article_19f7997e-9f18-11e1-9952-001a4bcf887a.html One week after supporters of same-sex civil unions rained chants of “shame on you” on House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited the chamber, opponents of the measure lauded him as a hero for strangling it. “Marriage has been saved in Colorado for another year,” conservative Denver radio personality Dan Caplis told about 300 supporters of traditional marriage gathered for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol. “It’s a day to celebrate.” The crowd erupted with applause when McNulty was introduced.

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20629075/tensions-remain-high-after-co-civil-unions-defeat Supporters of traditional marriage rallied at the Colorado Capitol as tensions remained high one day after a Republican-led House committee killed civil unions legislation. Dozens of people cheered Republican lawmakers and thanked House Speaker Frank McNulty, who assigned the civil unions bill Monday to a committee sure to defeat the legislation. A man with a horn heckled McNulty as he urged the crowd to carry the "message throughout the state of Colorado that we will protect families."

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lawmaker-138661-let-civil.html The gay son of a Republican lawmaker who cast a deciding vote to kill a bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions says his father let down the gay community. A House committee rejected the proposal 5-4 in a special session that began Monday. Montrose Republican Don Coram, whose son is gay, voted no. He said he had to set aside his personal interests and represent the conservative values of his rural district. He says he believes the bill essentially proposed gay marriage, which voters rejected in 2006.

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/wrap-138653-legislature-ready.html The state Legislature’s special session is ready to adjourn Wednesday morning, after moving at lightning speed to close out post-session work. Lawmakers tackled 10 bills and one resolution, and will finish after two and a half days. The Assembly will pass only three of those 10 bills Wednesday morning, when the state House and Senate finish their respective third readings. The Legislature's three successes, however, were nothing to sneer at. The House will sign off on a bill to fund $20 million in water projects and a registration measure for special mobile machinery fleets. And the Senate will approve a bill to reform the unemployment insurance system that its sponsors say will save Colorado businesses at least $150 million over the next five years.

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_20630686/pot-dui-bill-falls-1-vote-short-colo A bill that would have made it easier for Colorado district attorneys to prosecute people for driving while high on marijuana narrowly failed in a special legislative session Tuesday amid concerns the proposed THC limit was too low and would have made it too easy to convict sober drivers. House Bill 12S-1005, sponsored by Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would have put in place a legal limit on the amount of THC -- the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- that drivers would be allowed to have in their system. After passing in the House on Tuesday morning, the bill failed 17-17 in the Senate.

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/drivingwhilehigh-bill-dies-on-1717-vote Sen. Steve King wasn’t feeling good all day. The Grand Junction Republican knew Tuesday that one of his votes on his driving while stoned bill was out for the day, and he was scrambling to find more support before the Senate debated it. Lobbyists and lawmakers around the Capitol talked all day that it would die despite narrowly getting through the Senate during the regular session last month. It was one of 30 bills that died in the House because of a stalemate over civil unions. After two years of trying by King, the measure died on a 17–17 vote. The vote he needed to get it passed would have come from Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, but she was out for the day.

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20632194/colorado-senate-defeats-driving-while-high-bill-key A bill making it easier for prosecutors in Colorado to convict people of driving high on marijuana died in the state Senate special session Tuesday because one key supporter was absent. After the Senate voted down the bill on an informal vote, an effort to revive it failed on a 17-17 split. The missing vote was that of Sen. Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was the deciding vote on a nearly identical bill in the legislature's regular session. Reached by phone, Spence said she was in San Diego, where she had plans to celebrate her grandson's birthday that were made well before the special session was called. Spence said she was prepared to fly back to Denver on short notice to vote for the bill but that she didn't know the bill would be brought before the full Senate on Tuesday.

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/water-projects-up-for-vote/article_e55a7330-9f0d-11e1-ab04-001a4bcf887a.html Water projects for the San Luis Valley and a measure to ease the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses are the last bills standing in a special legislative session that is expected to conclude today. On Tuesday, bills to establish a legal limit for marijuana intoxication while driving and to allow businesses to establish for-profit enterprises built on socially conscious foundations fell by the wayside. The bill died on a 17-17 vote in the Senate. Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, had voted in favor of it in the past, but she was not present Tuesday, and as a consequence the bill failed to clear its final hurdle in the Legislature.

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519871/1001 Summit County's state legislators say they're walking away from this year's extended session somewhat disappointed, after several high-profile bills died amid partisan politics. With different parties leading the state House and Senate, 2012 became a year for less controversial legislation, culminating in what has thus far been a largely unproductive special session. “There were some disappointments, one of them being civil unions,” Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D-Blackhawk) said. “Because we have … Republican leadership in the House and Democratic leadership in the Senate, it's a time when it's difficult to really accomplish any major work.”

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_20631603/colorado-groups-urge-veto-limits-voted-ballot-inspections A growing coalition is asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto a bill that creates rules for public inspection of voted ballots, saying it is "an unprecedented step" to block the public's right to ensure fair elections that was "ramrodded" through the legislature in its final days. Among those who have contacted Hickenlooper or plan to do so are members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Task Force, the chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and two election-integrity groups.

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/ex-pol-to-speak-on-move-to-amend/article_337c433a-9f0f-11e1-aa5d-001a4bcf887a.html The Supreme Court's controversial ruling in its Citizens United v. FEC decision is only the most recent case where the federal high court has said U.S. corporations have the same rights as individual citizens, according to a national leader in a grass-roots movement aimed at changing that. "When the Supreme Court ruled in 1886 that railroads in Santa Clara, Calif., couldn't be taxed differently than individual property owners, it caused an uproar that sparked a populist uprising even then," said David Cobb, a California lawyer and former Green Party presidential candidate who is speaking in Pueblo this evening.

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/salazar-says-many-oil-and-gas-leases-idle/1 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that millions of acres of acreage leased by industry for oil and gas development remain idle. A report released by the Department of the Interior said more than two-thirds of federal offshore acreage leased by industry and more than half of federal onshore leased acreage in the lower 48 states remains idle - neither producing nor under active exploration or development by the companies that hold the leases. "As part of the Obama administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to make millions of acres of public land available for safe and responsible domestic energy production," said Salazar.

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20630643/loveland-approves-drilling-moratorium Residents of the Centerra neighborhoods in east Loveland, and others in the city core, got the time they asked for on Tuesday night with the City Council putting the brakes on new petroleum development in the city for nine months. An emergency moratorium on the processing of any new permits or approvals for natural gas and oil drilling operations within Loveland took effect shortly after 9 p.m. with the required six councilors voting in favor of the measure that will remain in effect until Feb. 16.

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120516/VALLEYNEWS/120519923/1001 The Strudley family said on Tuesday that they will appeal a recent decision by a Denver District Court judge, throwing out the family's lawsuit against the Antero Resources gas drilling company. “I'm extremely positive about it,” said Bill Strudley about the appeal, expressing confidence that his team of attorneys will win a reversal of the decision by Judge Ann Frick and the lawsuit will continue. Speaking from his home, Strudley said he feels the appeal is important.

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519911/1002 A small company that holds a federal lease to extract petroleum from oil shale reserves in western Colorado is taking a new approach to withdrawing crude oil from solid rock — one that it hopes will avoid groundwater contamination. The process is "basically the same as steaming vegetables," said Alan Burnham, chief technology officer for Rifle, Colo.-based American Shale Oil LLC. Within weeks, the company will send a pool of oil down a well and blast it with hot fuel gas. The boiling oil will heat up an underground zone about 50 feet wide and 50 feet deep to more than 600 degrees.

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519901/1001 The city of Aspen had hired a California company to drill a test well for geothermal energy during the current offseason, but the project has been pushed back to the fall. In November and December, Dan's Water Well and Pump Service drilled to 1,000 feet in the Prockter Open Space parking lot across from Herron Park. The test was unsuccessful as the drillers were unable to reach water. The city then hired Dan's to do another test of as much as 1,500 feet starting in late April. The timeline has changed, and now the work will begin in late September or early October, said city spokeswoman Mitzi Rapkin.

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/may/16/shell-host-open-house-craig/ Shell representatives will be in Craig next week for a repeat performance of what took place last month in Hayden. Scott Scheffler, Shell communications specialist, said Tuesday a venue has been obtained for what will be the energy company’s fourth community open house in as many weeks. “Hayden is a good midway point between our operations in Moffat County and Routt County,” Scheffler said. “But we wanted to make sure to bring an open house to each local community.”

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120515/NEWS/120519883/1001 Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Co. — entities that for decades battled in court over water — stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado. The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state’s water resources. Signatories described the agreement as a meaningful way forward to protect the Colorado River.

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20631981/denver-water-two-western-counties-ratify-deal Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties have ratified a deal aimed at balancing the Denver area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities and avoiding costly legal battles.

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519875/1001 The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. “I'm not sure the fighting's ever going to completely stop,” Hickenlooper said, “but it is nice to see we are at least moving into rubber bullets and beanbag shot guns rather than the high-velocity weapons we were using before.”

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519895/1001 A national environmental organization named the Crystal River one of 2012's most endangered rivers in America on Tuesday because of the threat of dams and diversions. American Rivers ranked the Crystal as the eighth most endangered river in the country for 2012. Its status as one of the last and largest free-flowing rivers in Colorado is in peril, according to Matt Rice, Colorado conservation director for American Rivers.

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519898/1001 The Colorado Water Trust has received 16 formal offers from water-rights holders to participate in a pilot program aimed at boosting streamflows in rivers across the state this summer. The upper Roaring Fork River, which was reduced to a trickle in Aspen during the drought summer of 2002, inspired changes in Colorado water law that make the Request for Water 2012 program possible, but it appears that a key player in water diversions from the Fork will not participate.

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/colorado-to-appeal-water-quality-ruling/article_db8b0efa-9f17-11e1-887b-001a4bcf887a.html The state will appeal a ruling by Pueblo District Judge Victor Reyes ordering the commission to redo its water quality certification for the Southern Delivery System. The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission voted unanimously Monday to appeal the decision. The commission approved staff certification under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act in 2010, after the decision was protested by Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and the Rocky Mountain Environmental Labor Coalition. Thiebaut filed suit last year in Pueblo District Court seeking to rescind the certification.

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_20625003/petraeus-wife-speak-colorado The wife of retired Army Gen. David Petraeus is speaking at Fort Carson and in the Denver area on personal finance for members of the military. Holly Petraeus will speak Tuesday at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and at Colorado National Guard headquarters in Centennial. She is director of the Office of Service Member Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_20631980/camping-ban-days-may-be-numbered-occupy-denver Every night, Ajay Jones, 24, falls asleep on a strip of grass along West 14th Avenue in Civic Center with dozens of others in what has become known as the Occupy Denver encampment — a camp that will soon be illegal. Denver's City Council on Monday voted 9-4 to ban unauthorized camping in the city amid howls of resentment from mostly Occupy Denver protesters who chanted, "Shame!" after the decision. On Tuesday afternoon, Jones and about a dozen others milled around the Occupy camp near the Greek amphitheater, playing guitar, debating the ordinance and wondering what will happen next.

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/homeless-advocates-denver-businesses-seek-solutions-amid-camping-ban/1 Advocates for the homeless are working with business leaders and elected officials to find ways to address the shortage of Denver-area shelters, housing and treatment services. The homeless-camping ban passed Monday night by the Denver City Council gives new impetus "to continue to move forward ... on a real solution," said John Parvensky, chief executive of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Tami Door, chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which is involved in the discussions, said she couldn't talk about proposals yet.

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631538/911-operator-fired-connecton-fatal-road-rage-call A Denver 911 operator was fired Tuesday, after incorrectly telling a driver and his passengers to return to the area of a road rage incident. A person in the caller's car was then shot at the scene. Jimma Reat later died. 9Wants to Know has learned the 911 operator had received a verbal reprimand one month before the April incident. The firing letter, released to 9Wants to Know by the City and County of Denver, says the employee was reprimanded on February 29 for his "omission of several scene safety aspects and lack of acceptance of the location information being provided."

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20630604/larimer-county-residents-split-support-needle-access-program Saving lives or putting a community at risk? That is the question before the Larimer County Board of Health as it decides whether to allow Northern Colorado AIDS Project to launch a needle access program based in Fort Collins. The nonprofit NCAP wants to provide clean needles to injection drug users, along with education and referrals to treatment, as one piece of a comprehensive program to prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C and to encourage drug rehabilitation.

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519894/1001 When a group of open space program managers and supporters from around the state gathered in Glenwood Springs last fall for the yearly Colorado Open Space Alliance conference, there was a bit of irony involved. Neither Garfield County nor the city of Glenwood Springs have formal open lands programs, although past attempts have been made to convince voters to enact tax measures to support such an effort. But a new group of Garfield County residents is now working to add the county to the list of 20 other Colorado counties that have open space programs.

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20630646/boulder-council-approves-rec-center-passes-veterans In time for Memorial Day, Boulder will offer a free 90-day rec center pass to post-9/11 veterans and a 25 percent discount on annual passes to all veterans. The Boulder City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the creation of the pass programs, which will provide access to the city's three recreation centers, two outdoor pools and the Boulder Reservoir.

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628572/gluckman-named-interim-county-manager-commissioners-interview-finalists The Larimer County commissioners will discuss who to hire as the new county manager during a mix of closed and open meetings Wednesday. However, until that person takes the helm of the county, Assistant County Manager Neil Gluckman will serve as interim county manager. The commissioners appointed Gluckman to that position Tuesday, effective May 21 until a new county manager steps into position.

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20630203/active-military-and-families-can-get-free-annual Starting Saturday, active-duty military personnel and their dependents can get a free annual pass to visit any of the country's more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands, the Interior Department announced today. Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The passes are part of the Joining Forces initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support military families .

Trinidad councilman objects to recall - Pueblo Chieftain: Colorado State And Regional News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/trinidad-councilman-objects-to-recall/article_c2379078-9f11-11e1-9914-001a4bcf887a.html A hearing has been scheduled Monday to address a city councilman's protest of a recall movement against him. Councilman Al Pando has filed a formal objection to the recall effort and the hearing will be held at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631983/2-denver-schools-investigated-abnormalities-standardized-tests Denver Public Schools has asked the state to investigate possible impropriety in standardized testing at two of its schools. The district did not identify the schools, but sources told the Denver Post that one of them is Beach Court Elementary in northwest Denver. For the past few years, Beach Court has been a district darling, held out as an example of the progress that can be made in a struggling school with large numbers of impoverished students.

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/NEWS01/705169913/-1/News01/School-fees:-Necessary-evil-or-key-to-future? On Tuesday evening, Durango School District 9-R’s board meeting was dominated by consternation about money. Lane Gibson, the schools’ chief financial officer, predicted 9-R would receive about $403,536 less from the state for the 2012-13 fiscal year than in the current budget. Student fees proved most divisive and remain unresolved. Though Colorado law requires the board to approve of all student fees, this only became general knowledge in February.

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/east-ranked-among-top-u-s-high-schools/article_6c6bf7a4-9f18-11e1-9e60-001a4bcf887a.html East High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. East was rated 877 in the nation and 32nd in Colorado, according to the magazine's annual report that lists the best high schools in the nation. "This certainly is a huge celebration for East and our students," first-year Principal Chris Tabeling said of the ranking. "This is a testament to our hard-working staff, a staff that's committed to doing what's best for our students."

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c55bc4115040822600.txt The R-1 School District, which includes Telluride Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, is in the process of planning its 2013 budget. On Monday, board members reviewed the proposed budget, which will they will vote on in June, with an option for revisions in October.

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519896/1001 After an exhaustive search process, the Aspen School District has hired an Ohio educator as Aspen High's next principal. “I would be remiss if I didn't say that we had several very qualified candidates, ... but clearly one candidate rose to the top — Kimberly Martin,” Aspen Superintendent John Maloy said at a special school board meeting Tuesday to formally approve the appointment.

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20628560/boulder-named-5th-most-well-read-city-america Boulder is the fifth most well-read city in the United States, according to online retailer Amazon.com. The rankings, released today, were determined by compiling Amazon's per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2011. Only cities with more than 100,000 residents were included.

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20631489/boulder-county-commissioners-ok-new-intergovernmental-land-use Boulder County's commissioners on Tuesday approved a pair of pacts that map out where Lyons and the county have agreed that the town could geographically expand its boundaries over the coming 10 years, if property owners in that "primary planning area" seek annexation to the town. Lyons, represented at Tuesday's meeting by town administrator Victoria Simonsen and Trustee LaVern Johnson, approved the two intergovernmental agreements on separate 5-1 Town Board votes last month.

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20628597/larimer-county-signs-agreement-regional-crime-lab The Larimer County commissioners have officially signed an agreement in support of the Northern Colorado Regional Crime Lab. The commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement for the lab Tuesday — one week after expressing concern that the costs to each participant were not clearly defined. Commissioner Steve Johnson, in particular, wanted a clear picture of exactly what the county will pay for with its estimated $73,000 in yearly operations and maintenance costs.

Longmont gets ready to trim council boundary lines - Longmont Times-Call

http://www.timescall.com/news/longmont-local-news/ci_20633033/longmont-gets-ready-trim-council-boundary-lines It's time for the city to draw the line. Literally. This summer, Longmont residents will get the chance to talk about where the city's new City Council ward lines should be. The lines get adjusted roughly every 10 years, following the state and county redistricting that comes after each new U.S. census.

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626820/county-extends-fire-ban-may-restrict-sale-fireworks With a wildfire burning west of Fort Collins and conditions dry and hot, Larimer County may consider banning the sale of fireworks this summer. Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the county commissioners that, depending on what the weather does, he may ask for a fireworks ban in the coming weeks — a move that would affect the estimated 14 fireworks sellers who set up stands in the unincorporated county.

Aspen area due for severe wildﬁre season | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120516/NEWS/120519897/1001 The national forest surrounding Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley is ripe for wildfires, according to Scott Fitzwilliams, supervisor of the White River National Forest. But while the Forest Service and other agencies are prepared to fight them, there may be times when the agency lets fires burn despite the tinder-dry conditions, Fitzwilliams told Pitkin County commissioners Tuesday. “There may be times this summer when I choose to manage a fire with multiple objectives … when we want to do more than just put it out,” he said.

Undersheriff: Hewlett fire likely caused by person accidentally - Loveland Reporter-Herald

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/larimer-county/ci_20626802/undersheriff-hewlett-gulch-fire-likely-caused-by-person The 400-acre Hewlett fire burning near homes in the Poudre Canyon appears to have been accidentally started. “There's no obvious natural cause for the fire, which leads us to believe it is a man-caused fire,” Undersheriff Bill Nelson told the Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday. “I think it's probably accidental.”

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2012/05/16/news/doc4fb2c5aa5665b721281360.txt Following the sudden death of long-serving San Miguel County Judge Sharon Shuteran on May 5, the state of Colorado has launched the process to select and appoint her replacement. Recommendations for the new judge will be sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper after the Seventh Judicial District Nominating Commission meets June 4 in Montrose. Until then, San Miguel County will utilize different judges from within the district to fill the vacancy.

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_20627275/roger-pielke-jr-cu-boulder-climate-scientist-receives University of Colorado environmental studies professor Roger Pielke Jr. has been awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Linkoping University, one of Sweden's top universities. Pielke will travel to Sweden later this month to attend the university's graduation ceremony and receive the award. Linkoping, in awarding the degree, wrote that Pielke's "outstanding achievement in interdisciplinary climate research is a bold and refreshing voice in the climate debate."

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Blackhawk helicopters will buzz over Denver on Wednesday - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20628976/blackhawk-helicopters-will-buzz-over-denver-wednesday Watch out for those Blackhawk helicopters over Denver on Wednesday. The Denver Police Department reports on its Facebook page that as part of a federal disaster response exercise, the helicopters will be landing at Denver Health Medical Center. DPD is advising folks to pay extra attention tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon in the area of Speer between 6th and 8th avenues.

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20632531/boulder-creates-committee-re-examine-chautauqua-lease A committee made up of two Boulder City Council members, members of the Colorado Chautauqua Association and various city staffers will re-examine the lease agreement that governs management of the historic park. The City Council members agreed Tuesday night that the lease is outdated and confusing, but they didn't get into a detailed discussion of what a new lease should look like or whether the city should pay for upkeep and maintenance.

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/hearing-138644-soldier-army.html A 4-year-old boy told an Army investigator that a Fort Carson soldier threw his little brother on the kitchen floor, according to testimony at an Army hearing Tuesday. The hearing is to determine whether to try Private First Class Jason Price at court martial on suspicion of killing the boy, his 2-year-old nephew Kevin Perez Rosa. Price was charged Nov. 24 with murder in the death of the toddler.

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20631984/angel-montoya-gets-life-killing-neveah-gallegos-3 A Denver district judge sentenced Angel Montoya to life in prison without the possibility of parole Tuesday for killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, Neveah Gallegos. Montoya was convicted last week of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse. Judge Sheila Rappaport's sentence includes 48 years for felony child-abuse and 12 months for abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor.

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield-sheriff-hikers-shouldnt-be-deterred-by-ex Recreationists shouldn’t let reports of naked men and indecent exposures stop them from enjoying local trails, Garfield County Lou Vallario assured some Carbondale-area residents Tuesday night. “Be a little more prepared, be a little more aware, take some precautions, but you need to do what you enjoy in life,” Vallario said at a meeting designed to update people on the incidents and cover means of self-protection. Only five members of the public, all women, attended the event. One said she was a witness to one of the recent incidents, when she came across a man masturbating off the Rio Grande Trail, a local bike path.

Cowardly move: Subverting majority rule to deny civil rights - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_20630175/cowardly-move-subverting-majority-rule-deny-civil-rights The Colorado Speaker of the House is not an honest broker. The civil unions bill that he was able to kill with a handful of like-minded Republicans -- not by a vote, but by killing it in committee -- wouldn't "push" same-sex marriage on anyone. Same-sex marriages should be legal. Marriage licenses are a civil right, conferred to consenting adults by the state. County clerks don't pepper couples about their fertility or willingness to procreate, and they don't quiz them on their religious preferences or beliefs. What those licenses do is protect the couple's children should the couple break up or die; they protect inheritances and property rights in courts; they allow a spouse to make end-of-life or other health decisions in grievous emergencies.

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Guest Commentary: A British expatriate weighs in on the Affordable Health Care Act - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_20630015/guest-commentary-british-expatriate-weighs-affordable-health-care As I listened to the over-excited reporting of the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act it reminded me of our first months in this country, fourteen years ago. The feelings of shock and dismay resurfaced, and I felt saddened that this country might again revert to not looking after its fellow citizens. When we first moved here I became a family advocate at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer, a non-profit helping people in need with short term assistance. I learnt a lot during those first months about the social welfare, or lack of it, in this country.

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | LPEA results

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169955/-1/opinion02 La Plata Electric Association members returned two incumbents to the co-op’s board of directors this year and replaced two others with new faces. The results represent a subtle, but real and important change. There are 12 people on the LPEA board, three from each of four districts. With directors serving three-year terms, one seat from each district goes before the members every year.

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Editorial: Digging into the past of Romney and Obama - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630766/editorial-getting-know-candidates A "hit job" is the term more than one irritated right-of-center pundit has applied to The Washington Post's story last week of a 47-year-old incident in which Mitt Romney and several fellow high-school students forcibly cut the hair of a boy they didn't like. What on earth does a story so old have to do with this year's presidential campaign, the critics have demanded to know. It's a serious question, since only a confirmed Romney-hater would claim that the man should be defined by his worst adolescent lapses. President Obama "tried drugs enthusiastically" in high school, remember, yet few today find his behavior relevant to the upcoming campaign.

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Colorado voices needed to protect Alaska habitat - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_20630173/colorado-voices-needed-protect-alaska-habitat The federal government is about to make a landmark decision on the future of one of Alaska's most prolific wildlife habitats that could have profound implications for waterfowl and other avian species that migrate to Colorado and other states. And it is now appropriate that Colorado's hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts voice their concerns about protecting this vital wildlife habitat in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve by June 1.

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Editorial: Colorado can’t fall prey to anti-vaccination nonsense - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630767/editorial-anti-vaccination-nonsense-colorado The whooping cough epidemic in Washington state offers some important public health lessons for places such as Colorado where vaccination opt-out rates are unacceptably high. Washington has about 1,280 cases reported and more expected. While it may seem a comfortable distance away in the Pacific Northwest, make no mistake: It could happen here. In fact, an outbreak has been reported in Greeley, where 11 cases have been reported. The illness is very contagious and can be serious, especially for babies.

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Guest Commentary: Great Outdoors Colorado an investment in future - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630831/goco-an-investment-future The hardest thing our political representatives do is make difficult decisions about competing priorities. During times of budget shortfalls, this challenge is magnified exponentially. During the recent state legislative session, lawmakers considered a proposal to send to the ballot a question Colorado voters have settled, not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. Fortunately, the proposal didn't make it out of its first committee hearing.

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Budgets cuts won’t cure all the city’s ills | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/news/city-138641-ills-steve.html Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is not being alarmist when he says the city soon will face a “day of reckoning,” a point when looming expenses will overwhelm revenues. Say what you want about the mayor, but don’t liken him to a ‘sky-is-falling’ Henny Penny. You should take seriously what he said May 13 — that infrastructure needs, from bridges to drainage improvements, will cost hundred of millions of dollars the city doesn’t have. Budget hawks are fond of saying that cutting programs and re-ordering priorities can cure all of this. Those who have to make the city’s books balance know better.

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Guest Commentary: Oil shale, the Colorado River and the lifeblood of the West - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_20630064/guest-commentary-oil-shale-colorado-river-and-lifeblood When I look through my faded, fraying family albums and look at the generations of mamas, papas, brothers and sisters who have made a life for themselves in the West, I often imagine the difficulties and challenges they have confronted. I have often wondered how, for hundreds of years, our ancestors were able to overcome those obstacles, sustain our families and provide for children.

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Kill FREX, but not too fast (poll) | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/almost-138651-guillotine-years.html The Front Range Express is almost certainly doomed. It has survived the budgetary guillotine for years and further stays of execution seem unlikely, at best. Still, the most compassionate advocates for saving the life of this bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will not give up. Among them is Councilwoman Jan Martin. “My hope is to keep FREX another 18 months till the state can take it over,” Martin said, as quoted in a Gazette news story by Bob Stephens. “CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) is exploring a state-run system from Fort Collins maybe all the way to Pueblo.”

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The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | Procedural pranks hold up House in session’s final days

http://durangoherald.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/705169964/-1/opinion02 The actions taken on the night before the last day of the second session of the 68th General Assembly on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives were quite different, to say the least. No one, including all of the staff and all of the lobbyists with years of institutional knowledge, had ever seen anything like it. As usual, in the waning days of the session, we were working through a big pile of bills – most that could have easily been calendared earlier in the session. Any bill must get through second reading debate and approval on the day before the last day because second and third readings cannot take place on the same day. There were several bills that had come over from the Senate that were scheduled for second readings. Many of these bills had been heard and approved earlier that day by appropriate committees. These bills did not have time to be calendared and were put on a list of “special orders.”

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Carroll: The online challenge to college costs - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_20630830/carroll-online-challenge-college-costs For those who remember Gordon Gee's tenure as University of Colorado president, his recent comments to The New York Times on the student-debt crisis should come as no surprise. "I readily admit it," he declared. "I didn't think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families." Well, of course. Gee, who left CU in 1990 and has since been at the helm of Brown, Vanderbilt and Ohio State, secretly authorized valuable deferred-compensation packages for top associates at CU without bothering to clue in the regents, and even enriched a man he fired with a golden parachute.

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Question of pay - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/question-of-pay/article_c2d6ec3a-9f17-11e1-916e-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO CITY Manager Jerry Pacheco has asked City Council to provide guidance on where to set city salaries and benefits. It’s a tricky proposition. Human Resources Director Marisa Walker told council it would cost city taxpayers about $5.5 million more to make city salaries equal to the average paid in such cities as Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Arvada.

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Jury still out - Pueblo Chieftain: Editorials

http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/editorials/jury-still-out/article_99dad4ae-9f17-11e1-bfb6-001a4bcf887a.html PUEBLO ONCE was known as the smelting capital of the world. Five smelters operated in Pueblo during the 1880s and 1890s, and a sixth fired up its furnaces in the early 1900s in Blende. City Council has been informed that the federal Environmental Protection Agency wants to list the old Colorado Smelter site alongside the South Santa Fe hill as a Superfund site because of elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil of that neighborhood.

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Is John Edwards a criminal? - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-john-edwards-a-criminal/2012/05/15/gIQAgnhISU_story.html The prosecution has rested in a case that should never have been brought: the ghastly soap opera better known as the criminal trial of John Edwards. The testimony has been salacious, mesmerizing and revolting. Edwards has been proved to be what everyone already knew beyond a reasonable doubt: an egocentric cad. How big a cad? His daughter is set to testify about his love for her late mother. But a criminal? Nothing in the evidence so far has shaken my view that this case is an unfortunate instance of prosecutorial indiscretion.

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Obama defends same-sex stance marriage

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/15/MNDQ1OHRTA.DTL President Obama on Monday defended his support for same-sex marriage, saying the country has never gone wrong when it "expanded rights and responsibilities to everybody." "That doesn't weaken families. That strengthens families," he told gay and lesbian supporters and others at a fundraiser hosted by singer Ricky Martin and the LGBT Leadership Council. "It's the right thing to do."

Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/taxmageddon-sparks-rising-anxiety/2012/05/14/gIQAUxAAQU_story.html Defense contractors have slowed hiring. Tax advisers are warning firms not to count on favorite breaks. And hospitals are scouring their books for ways to cut costs. Across the U.S. economy, anxiety is rising about the potential for widespread disruptions after the November election, when a lame-duck Congress will have barely two months to resolve a grinding standoff over taxes and spending. The halls of the U.S. Capitol are already teeming with people warning of disaster if lawmakers fail to defuse a New Year’s budget bomb scheduled to raise taxes for every American taxpayer and slash spending at the Pentagon and most other federal agencies.

Voters split on Obama’s gay marriage announcement - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/voters-split-on-obamas-gay-marriage-announcement/2012/05/14/gIQALve4PU_blog.html Voters divide straight down the middle on President Obama’s recent statement that he supports allowing gays and lesbians to get married, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. As with the issue itself, views of the president’s major announcement last week are closely related to partisanship, education and age, with Democrats, more highly educated and younger adults generally supportive of Obama’s move. But there also a twist to the latest breakdowns: although African Americans typically oppose gay marriage, most in the new poll have favorable impressions of Obama’s support of it.

Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike following agreement with Israel - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-following-agreement-with-israel/2012/05/14/gIQAvNq6OU_story.html Israeli and Palestinian officials announced Monday that more than 1,600 Palestinian prisoners had agreed to end a nearly month-long hunger strike in exchange for concessions by Israel, including a modification to its practice of detention without charge or trial. The prisoners — all jailed in Israeli military prisons on suspicion or convictions of terror-related activity — agreed to “completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons,” Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said in a statement.

Hollande proposes ‘new pact’ for Europe in inaugural address - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hollande-proposes-new-pact-for-europe-in-inaugural-address/2012/05/15/gIQAkOSrQU_story.html Newly installed French President Francois Hollande declared Tuesday that he would propose a “new pact” to his European partners emphasizing economic stimulus in addition to the fiscal discipline imposed by Germany. Hollande, at his swearing-in ceremony, sought to walk a middle line between his insistence during a year-long campaign on the need for economic growth measures and Germany’s equally strong focus on bringing down government deficits and debts.

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EU finance ministers agree on new bank rules - SFGate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/international/i064840D38.DTL An official says European Union finance ministers have agreed unanimously on rules requiring banks to build higher defenses against future financial shocks. The rules will require lenders to increase their highest-quality capital — such as equity and cash reserves — from 2 percent of the risky assets they hold to 7 percent by 2019. The idea is to make banks less susceptible to the kind of meltdown that occurred in 2008.

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Gas prices this summer won’t be as high as feared | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/05/14/148730/gas-prices-this-summer-wont-be.html Gasoline for your summer vacation isn’t going to be cheap, but it’s unlikely to be as expensive as once feared. Average gas prices a month ago were $3.63 on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area and a few cents higher on the Kansas side, and they appeared poised to set a new record. Instead, they’ve declined 30 cents a gallon since then, and the question now is whether they will decline further. The idea of gas prices going beyond $4 a gallon and setting a record is fading fast.

Categories

National News

Colorado News

ProgressNow Daily News Digest

Daily News Digest for 5/16/2012

Top Stories

National News

Boehner vows another showdown over debt and taxes | McClatchy

Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination - The Washington Post

George W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney - The Washington Post

Virginia lawmakers reject gay prosecutor as judge - SFGate.com

Colorado News

Colorado House speaker set trend aside in opposing civil unions - The Denver Post

Colorado lawmaker and his gay son split on civil unions bill - The Denver Post

Legislators ready to wrap special session | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Driving-while-high bill dies on 17-17 vote | GJSentinel.com

Water projects up for vote - Pueblo Chieftain

Colorado groups urge veto of limits on voted-ballot inspections - The Denver Post

Salazar Says Many Oil and Gas Leases Idle | Business News

Loveland approves drilling moratorium - Loveland Reporter-Herald

Strudleys to appeal judge’s dismissal of Antero lawsuit | PostIndependent.com

Former foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement | SummitDaily.com

Colorado to appeal water quality ruling - Pueblo Chieftain

With camping ban, days may be numbered for Occupy Denver - The Denver Post

Larimer County residents split on support of needle access program - Loveland Reporter-Herald

2 Denver schools investigated for abnormalities on standardized tests - The Denver Post

News by Category

Colorado News

Civil Liberties and Equality

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

Crime and Penal Reform

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

Homeless Advocates, Denver Businesses Seek Solutions Amid Camping Ban | Business News

Denver 911 operator fired in connecton with fatal road-rage call - The Denver Post

Larimer County signs agreement for regional crime lab - Loveland Reporter-Herald

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

Telluride Daily Planet - Search under way for new San Miguel County judge

Hearing weighs court martial of soldier over toddler death | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Angel Montoya gets life for killing Neveah Gallegos, 3, of Denver - The Denver Post

Garfield sheriff: Hikers shouldn’t be deterred by exposure cases | GJSentinel.com

Economy

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

Craig Daily Press / Shell to host open house in Craig

Denver Water, two western counties ratify deal - The Denver Post

Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal | SummitDaily.com

Crystal one of ‘most endangered’ rivers | AspenTimes.com

Water loans might aid some Colorado rivers | AspenTimes.com

Petraeus’ wife to speak in Colorado - The Denver Post

Open space group trying to get Garfield County sales tax on fall ballot | AspenTimes.com

Boulder council approves rec center passes for veterans - Boulder Daily Camera

Gluckman named interim county manager - Loveland Reporter-Herald

Active military and families can get free annual passes to national parks starting Saturday - The De

Boulder County commissioners OK new intergovernmental land-use agreements with Lyons

County extends fire ban, may restrict sale of fireworks - Loveland Reporter-Herald

Boulder creates committee to re-examine Chautauqua lease - Boulder Daily Camera

Education

The Durango Herald 05/16/2012 | School fees: Necessary evil or key to future?

East ranked among top U.S. high schools - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

Telluride Daily Planet - School district plans 2013 budget

Ohio educator to be Aspen High principal | AspenTimes.com

Boulder named 5th most well-read city in America by Amazon.com - Boulder Daily Camera

Roger Pielke Jr., CU-Boulder climate scientist, receives honorary doctorate from Swedish university

Effective and Ethical Government

Ann Romney to be at Cherry Hills Country Club fundraiser in Denver - The Denver Post

Senate agrees to extend Export-Import Bank, Colorado’s Republicans vote against it | The Spot

‘Fight is on’: Civil unions battle sure to return, both sides say - Pueblo Chieftain

Tensions remain high after CO civil unions defeat - The Denver Post

Lawmaker’s gay son ‘let down’ by civil unions vote | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Pot DUI bill falls 1 vote short in Colo. Senate - Boulder Daily Camera

Colorado Senate defeats driving-while-high bill; key backer was absent - The Denver Post

2012 session a mixed bag for Summit’s lawmakers | SummitDaily.com

Ex-pol to speak on Move to Amend - Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

Oil-shale companies tout research projects | AspenTimes.com

Aspen geothermal project delayed | AspenTimes.com