ProgressNow Daily News Digest

Some Democrats seek change in filibuster rules, but others are wary - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702403.html A growing number of Democrats, from senatorial veterans such as Vice President Biden to freshman Sen. Tom Udall (N.M.), are calling for a rules change that would transform the culture of long and sometimes tedious debate in the world's greatest deliberative body. But these nascent efforts to curb the use of filibuster face resistance from Senate elders with long memories, who know that political winds can take today's large majority and create tomorrow's minority. Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has not scheduled any debate on the issue. First in 1917 and then in 1975, the Senate formally set up rules for "cloture motions," the name given to the parliamentary device to shut down debate. It requires the affirmative votes of 60 sitting senators. The Constitution cites only five requirements for Senate supermajorities, including impeachment convictions of presidents, but allows the House and Senate to set their own rules. Under long-standing resolutions, the Senate considers itself to be a "continuing body" whose parliamentary rules remain in effect unless a two-thirds supermajority votes to change them.

Obama to invite GOP to healthcare summit - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-health8-2010feb08,0,845183.story In a high-stakes bid to revive his healthcare overhaul, President Obama announced during a pre-Super Bowl television interview that he would convene a bipartisan summit in which Republicans and Democrats would try to forge a compromise while a national TV audience watched. Republican leaders indicated they would attend the Feb. 25 gathering, but said they want to start over -- tossing out the measures that passed the Senate and House last year. Speaking to Katie Couric of CBS, Obama said: "What I want to do is ask them to put their ideas on the table and then after the recess . . . to come back and have a large meeting -- Republicans and Democrats -- to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward." The half-day summit would be held at Blair House, across the street from the White House, after Congress' recess next week. Obama telegraphed his plans at a fundraiser Thursday night. "What I'd like to do is have a meeting whereby I'm sitting with the Republicans, sitting with the Democrats, sitting with healthcare experts, and let's just go through these bills . . . in a methodical way so that the American people can see and compare what makes the most sense," he said.

With Federal Stimulus Money Gone, Many Schools Face Budget Gaps - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/education/08educ.html?ref=politics Federal stimulus money has helped avoid drastic cuts at public schools in most parts of the nation, at least so far. But with the federal money running out, many of the nation’s schools are approaching what officials are calling a “funding cliff.” Congress included about $100 billion for education in the stimulus law last year to cushion the recession’s impact on schools and to help fuel an economic recovery. New studies show that many states will spend all or nearly all that is left between now and the end of this school term. With state and local tax revenues still in decline, the end of the federal money will leave big holes in education budgets from Massachusetts and Florida to California and Washington, experts said. “States are going to face a huge problem because they’ll have to find some way to replace these billions, either with cuts to their K-12 systems or by finding alternative revenues,” said Bruce Baker, an education professor at Rutgers University.

Report: ‘No strategic value’ to Afghan outpost where 8 died | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83843.html A U.S. military investigation into a battle last October in eastern Afghanistan that cost eight American soldiers their lives has concluded that the small outpost was worthless, the troops there didn't understand their mission, and intelligence and air support were tied up elsewhere in the province. According to an unclassified executive summary of the report that was released to McClatchy and other news organizations Friday, "There were inadequate measures taken by the chain of command, resulting in an attractive target for enemy fighters." A statement accompanying the summary said that the report, called an AR 15-6, suggests sanctions on higher-ranking officers and "also recommended administrative actions for some members of the chain of command to improve command oversight."

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Congress left to pick up health care pieces | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/congress_left_to_pick_up_healt Congress seems ready to take on a piecemeal approach to changing the nation’s health care system, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo, said. If the one-plan approach fails in Congress as President Obama now fears it will, Salazar said, he hopes to see Medicare given the ability to negotiate prices with drug companies, as well as eliminate antitrust exemptions for the health care industry. Drug-price negotiations by Medicare would be “a good idea,” Rocky Mountain Health Plans President Steve ErkenBrack said. “Getting drug costs ratcheted down by allowing negotiations would be a definite help.” Congress, however, should be careful that eliminating health care exemptions from antitrust provisions doesn’t boomerang and damage systems such as the one in Grand Junction, ErkenBrack said.

Romanoff complains about Obama’s campaign visit | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209771/1006 President Barack Obama's visit to Denver later this month has some Democrats upset. The president is headed to Denver Feb. 18 to raise money for Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. Bennet's primary challenger, former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, says the state party should insist the president hold an event for Romanoff supporters, too. "Many of my supporters were among the most active organizers for President Obama during the 2008 campaign and they remain staunchly behind the president," Romanoff wrote in a letter Friday to state party chairwoman Pat Waak. "Unfortunately, the current plan of events during the president's visit has sent a clear message: 'Support the appointed incumbent Senator or do not be part of the president's visit to Colorado," Romanoff wrote. Romanoff proposed that a separate event for Romanoff be scheduled. Romanoff said he would give all proceeds to the Democratic party.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Senate candidate rails against insiders

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5593296b1951324547.txt It was hard to tell which was steaming more — Tom Wiens or his cup of coffee. The 57-year-old Republican from Castle Rock is one of five GOP candidates for U.S. Senate. A former state representative, senator, the small-business owner and rancher campaigned Saturday in Pueblo. Discussing points of his platform over a cup of java at Solar Roast Coffee, 226 N. Main St., Wiens made it quite clear he's steamed about the nation's political system and that if elected, he'll work to correct it, along with advocating for small business and middle America. "I'm definitely not the insider's candidate. I'm sure the Washington and Denver insiders prefer I don't even run. In Washington, all they care about is special interests, if you're at the top and if you're on Wall Street. It makes me so angry. I want to get people energized that this is about a republic. I want to go to Washington to provide effective representation for the forgotten Americans," Wiens said.

Tancredo blasted for poll test idea - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345675 Former congressman Tom Tancredo took heat Friday for remarks at the national Tea Party convention that critics viewed as calling for a return to Jim Crow laws. But Tancredo said he wasn't targeting a specific group when he suggested in Nashville there should be a "civics-literacy" test before someone could vote. "People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House," Tancredo said in his opening-day speech Thursday. "His name is Barack Hussein Obama." Tests were used to prevent blacks from voting during segregation and were banned by the Voting Rights Act in 1964.

Senate Democrats : GOP math “fairy tale” | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/senate-democrats-gop-math-fairy-tale/ “After reading the Republican budget fix, it is quite clear that they can’t add or subtract,” said Senate Minority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs. “The budget shortfall is $1 billion. The Republicans proposed a reckless ‘off the cuff’ idea to fire state employees to save $17.8 million: $17.8 million in cuts to solve a $1 billion shortfall. “Now they just need to come up with 50 more plans so the math will add up. The problem is their plan doesn’t even identify the first $17.8 million.” Republicans Thursday proposed cutting payroll in the current year by 0.25 percent in order to generate $17.8 million in revenue and thus offset the need for accelerating the demise of seven tax exemptions by March to generate a roughly equal amount. But Morse said the math is way off. The correct payroll figure is $3.2 billion, and thus 0.25 percent of that would be only $8 million, not $17.8 million, Morse said. But even that math doesn’t take into account the fact that the year is 7/12ths over, and hence the savings would only be $3.3 million, he said.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Cuts cast bleak outlook for some programs

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5ae645b0f153436999.txt The state Legislature's Joint Budget Committee calls it the "ugly list." To some state employees, it translates into unemployment, and for citizens, it means reduced government services. The JBC holds the purse strings for state spending, and for the present fiscal year (ending June 30) it must come up with $20 million to remedy a shortfall in the state's $7 billion budget, which the Colorado Constitution requires to be balanced. So as certain as the sun rises each morning, the JBC reconciles the bottom line by the fiscal year's end. This year has been trickier than most because of the national economic downturn of the past few years, and more challenging times could lie ahead in the not too distant future, according to JBC member Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo. Consequently, some of Pueblo's traditionally most viable employers and sacrosanct institutions could be on the chopping block for funding in the years just ahead.

Doomed bills return to Colorado lawmakers year after year | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/legislature-93800-bill-role.html Every year, El Paso County lawmakers lead legislative lambs to the slaughter: bills so unlikely to pass that they’re considered all but dead upon introduction. The flock has only grown as the mostly-Republican delegation has fallen deeply into the General Assembly’s minority. Many of the measures they offer up as sacrifices on the political altar have changed little, having been introduced for years at every session. The exact number is hard to pin down, but lawmakers from here have penned about a dozen legislative proposals, knowing they will be killed by legislative committees long before reaching a floor vote. Last week, in one example, Republican Rep. Kent Lambert offered up his plan to have the state guarantee some of its savings accounts by buying gold bars. His bill would have required the gold to be stored at the state Capitol.

Pinnacol workers comp resists lawmaker efforts to increase public input | Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47103/profitable-pinnacol-workers-comp-resists-lawmaker-efforts-to-increase-public-input A controversial bill that aims to diversify and open up decision-making at Pinnacol Assurance, the impressively profitable quasi-governmental workers compensation insurance provider, passed out of the House Judicial Committee Friday on a mostly partisan vote. The hearing highlighted the tensions that define Pinnacol, an entity designed to serve the public but also required to act as a business. Bill sponsor Joe Mikloski, a Denver Democrat, aims to require Pinnacol to include a one-time injured worker and a physician on the directors board and to bring greater transparency to the board decision-making process by inviting the public to attend meetings. The bill would increase the board from nine to eleven members and institute public comment periods at each of the meetings. Meeting agendas would also have to posted seven days in advance. Pinnacol provides workers compensation insurance to nearly 60 percent of workers in Colorado.

Swalm leads defense of men at health insurance hearing | Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47160/swalm-leads-defense-of-men-at-health-insurance-hearing Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial, led the charge Thursday defending the rights of men to continue to pay less as a group on the individual health-insurance market in Colorado. Swalm is a member of the Health and Human Services committee that was weighing a bill aimed to ease wide inequalities in the cost of insurance for men and women in Colorado. The bill was sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge. “Men are having the toughest time finding work, so this is going to make it even harder for them to pay for insurance,” Swalm said. He later told the Colorado Independent that outside of the legislature, he worked as an insurance broker. Swalm energetically engaged committee members as well as people who cam to testify in favor of the bill, including Jerry McElroy, a spokesperson for national health care provider Kaiser Permanente. The only insurance company representative to speak at the hearing, McElroy said his company had decided to end gender discrimination costs in 1969 and that, contrary to the fears being expressed in the current debate, Kaiser had suffered no significant loss of revenue as a result. “We’re doing just fine,” McElroy told the committee.

Water-transfer mitigation bill dies in House | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/watertransfer_mitigation_bill A bill to require water buyers to mitigate large transfers of water from one river basin to another died on the House floor Friday. But that was because Denver Water lobbied hard against the bill and managed to turn some lawmakers to its side, said Rep. Sal Pace, who introduced House Bill 1159. “I had to run it, because every day I waited, I’d lose another vote,” the Pueblo Democrat said immediately after the bill’s demise. “I had a lot of people turn on me, including people who told me this morning (Friday) that they were with me.” The issue is not a new one for the Legislature, but each time it comes up, urban lawmakers along the Front Range and even rural ones on the South Platte River Basin manage to find ways to kill it, Western Slope lawmakers said.

Liquor-sale bills change the game - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350855 Convenience and grocery stores intent on increasing their share of Colorado's liquor market have a new tactic this year: deflate the David- versus-Goliath defense that liquor shops traditionally use to fight off proposals to expand the sale of full-strength beer, wine and liquor. For two years running, lawmakers have been swayed by liquor store owners' predictions that giving competitively advantaged supermarket chains and convenience stores the keys to the liquor cabinet would put their mom-and-pops out of commission. But a bill allowing corner stores to stock full-strength beer, up for a first hearing Wednesday, excludes corporate-controlled grocery stores and instead pits one small- business group against another, advocates say. And a plan grocers introduced Friday allowing themselves to buy out liquor stores and their licenses for five or six figures means a few hundred liquor store owners could hit a jackpot.

Feds put $424 million into FasTracks, Union Station - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345646 The announcement of a $304 million federal loan Friday gave the green light to the redevelopment of Union Station as a major Front Range transportation hub. After at least six years of planning, the loan, guaranteed by the city and county of Denver, will let the $480 million project begin. "Union Station is going to happen," said a gleeful Phil Washington, newly appointed general manager of the Regional Transportation District. "All the funding is now in place." Elbra Wedgeworth, volunteer chairwoman of the Denver Union Station Project Authority, said she was relieved the project has finally been funded. "This is the last hurdle," she said. "This will become the new legacy for our city." Construction manager Bill Mosher of Trammell Crow Co. said Union Station construction could begin in the next couple of months and continue for four years.

CU budget the topic at town hall meeting - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14352250 A town hall discussion was held Saturday morning by state representatives Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, and Claire Levy, D-Boulder, to discuss the future of higher education concerning the University of Colorado. About 20 people attended the meeting, which focused on the budget shortfall facing the university. "We need more people to understand the situation we`re up against," said Tanya Kelly-Bowry, a CU government relations officer. University funds are being supplanted by money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but ARRA is set to end next year, leaving questions about financing higher education. CU Vice Chancellor Richard Porreca spoke, lauding the university for its Flagship 2030 plan, its "green" ranking and the "best buy" university ranking it received from Fiske Guide to Colleges, but expressed concern about the financial situation.

Conservationist: Colorado sees climate change effects | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209852/1002 The head of one of the country's largest conservation groups is warning that Colorado is in the "bull's eye of climate change" and says the state's hunters and anglers are seeing firsthand the effects of warmer temperatures. Larry Schweiger, National Wildlife Federation president and chief executive, is visiting Colorado and other states to rally support for federal legislation addressing climate change by mandating cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. House has passed a bill, but the Senate hasn't considered one yet. "We're working very hard right now to help the Senate move a climate bill to final passage," Schweiger said, "so I've been spending a lot my time going into important states." Schweiger said he believes the National Wildlife Federation provides an important voice on the issue because the group's political make closely parallels the country's. "We have as many Republicans as we have Democrats and independents," he said last week.

Hot Springs Community Clashes With Hot Energy Source in Colo. - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/02/04/04greenwire-hot-springs-community-clashes-with-hot-energy-20834.html The Bureau of Land Management last week withdrew for the third time what could have become Colorado's first geothermal lease after receiving a slew of questions and complaints from landowners concerned about the impacts potential geothermal developments would have on property values. The planned Feb. 11 lease of the 800-acre site in Chaffee County, about 60 miles southwest of Denver, had generated fears among some residents and business owners that tapping the region's abundant geothermal heat could spoil picturesque landscapes and harm naturally occurring hot springs that draw tourists to the Chalk Creek Valley, a resort area at the foot of Mount Princeton. "We received several substantive comments in writing ... that caused us to decide to further review the current stipulations on the parcel," said Greg Shoop, BLM's Front Range District manager. "We want to assure the public that the environmental analysis process was thoroughly followed before the parcel is offered for sale." Jim Sample, spokesman for BLM's Colorado office, said the agency had received 283 written comments protesting the lease, many of which came from landowners whose property is directly above the subsurface lease.

Courts to decide whether First Amendment protects lies about being a war hero - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602048.html The federal courts are wrestling with a question of liberty and patriotism: Does the First Amendment right to free speech protect people who lie about being war heroes? At issue is the Stolen Valor Act, a three-year-old federal law that makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to lie about receiving a U.S. military medal. It is a crime even if the liar makes no effort to profit from his stolen glory. Lawyers in Colorado and California are challenging the act on behalf of two men who have been charged, saying the First Amendment protects almost all speech that doesn't hurt someone else. Neither man has been accused by prosecutors of seeking financial gain for himself. Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University's law school who is not involved in the two cases, said the Stolen Valor Act raises constitutional questions because it bans bragging or exaggerating about yourself.

Telluride Daily Planet - An anti-gay group plans a Gay Ski Week protest

http://telluridenews.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e0d9bc0d11452290036.txt Members from the Westboro Baptist Church are planning an anti-gay rally during Telluride’s 10th annual Gay Ski Week, slated for Feb. 20-27. According to the group’s Web site, they will rally from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 near the Capella Telluride during a a benefit for the Matthew Shepard Foundation at which Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother, will speak. Shepard was a University of Wyoming student who was beaten, tortured and tied to a fence and left to die in 1998. He was mistaken for a scarecrow when discovered in a coma. He died after five days in a coma and became a beacon for equal rights and acceptance. The WBC group has taken exception to pro-gay events and to military funerals, angered at society’s tolerance of homosexuality. According to the group’s events page, they will come to Telluride “to picket Judy Shepard during the [expletive] ski trip crap at the Idarado Ballroom. Did we mention recently that Judy Shepard is a money-grubbing God-hating pervert?”

Lawmakers tussle over bill that would ease insurance gender discrimination « Colorado Independe

http://coloradoindependent.com/47106/lawmakers-tussle-over-bill-that-would-ease-health-insurance-gender-discrimination A packed hearing Thursday for a bill that seeks to address wide differences in cost based on gender in the individual health insurance market in Colorado saw clashes erupt between male and female members of the committee. House Bill 1008, sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge, seeks to distribute and lower those costs for women who don’t have employer or state health plans. The motion ultimately passed out of committee on an 8 to 2 vote. “Women pay up to 59 percent more than men of the same age with 90 percent of private insurance companies, even though as a whole women tend to have less claims than men, irrespective of maternity coverage.” Mcann told the committee.

Arapahoe County to use iris scans to ID suspects - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345367 Fingerprinting a suspect is so last year. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson on Friday unveiled new technology that will allow officials to scan an arrestee's iris and within seconds retrieve pertinent electronic data about the suspect. "We'll take this into our jail to enhance our ability to identify inmates when they come in and when they are released," Robinson said at a press conference. Arapahoe County is the first Colorado law enforcement agency to deploy the biometric technology. It was paid for with a $10,000 grant from the National Sheriff's Association. Iris scanners are 10 times more accurate than fingerprinting, said Patricia Lawson, senior development officer for B12 Technologies, which developed the device.

‘Swift Justice’ documentary to show in Greeley | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209747/1002 The documentary film “Swift Justice,” about the 2006 immigration raids on the Swift meat-packing plants in Greeley and other cities, will be shown next Thursday at two libraries. The film, made in Greeley and produced by the Little Voices film production company, concerns the raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on the Greeley Swift plant and other company plants in six states. The raids resulted in the arrest of more than 1,200 people on charges of illegal immigration and identity theft. In Greeley, 262 people were arrested.

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Motel worker with keys to every room was sex offender - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14341122 The Sleep Inn near Denver International Airport fired its housekeeping manager after a 9Wants To Know investigation, but the motel refused to say if it will begin doing criminal background checks on employees. The manager, Edward "Eddie" Quintana, 65, has several misdemeanor sex crime convictions.

House to hear DUI felony bill | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/07/house-to-hear-dui-felony-bill-monday/ A bill that makes a third DUI conviction a felony is scheduled to be heard Monday afternoon by a House committee. House Bill 1184 doesn’t have a fiscal note attached to it yet but several Capitol observors say they believe the price tag will be too prohibitive for the budget-challenged state. The sponsor, Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said he expects to see the fiscal note on Monday. He said during testimony he is going to propose ways to cut the budget and use that savings to be able to incarcerate repeat DUI offenders. His budget-cutting proposals include eliminating a front license plate, which will save around $4 million, and reducing dues and membership fees the state pays to belong to a variety of organizations. “I think it’s important enough to try to find a way to pay for it,” Gardner said. Gardner’s measure is one of seven bills the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled to hear Monday afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. The hearing was moved to the Old Supreme Court chambers because a crowd is expected to testify on a river navigation measure.

Repeat DUI offenders must get jail terms, panel says - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345677 A state criminal-justice commission agreed Friday that repeat DUI offenders in Colorado must go to jail. The commission endorsed a legislative proposal that would mandate a jail term of 10 days to a year for a second drunken-driving offense and 60 days to a year for third or subsequent offenses. In addition, repeat offenders would face two years of supervision by probation officers and the threat of up to an additional year in jail for ignoring conditions of probation. Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, the bill's sponsor, said the lengthened probation and suspended jail provisions are intended to provide a potent incentive for counseling and treatment once an offender gets out of jail. "The year is a deposit that the judge can draw against" if the offender ignores probation requirements, she said. "What we're looking for is participation in alcohol treatment."

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350677 Until a few months ago, J.B. Woods was your standard-issue insurance agent. Auto, home, life. Would you like flood coverage with that? Then, in the middle of 2009, his phone rang: "I need insurance for my medical-marijuana dispensary," the caller said. And since that moment, few of the policies Woods has set up for clients have been standard-issue. Instead, Woods has become the guru of ganja insurance. Property insurance, theft insurance, liability insurance. Woods is now even offering crop insurance, in case a medical-marijuana harvest isn't as bountiful as expected. "They needed an insurance agent who specializes in this area because of all the complexities involved," Woods said.

Windsor struggles to find a resolution | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080324/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Windsor-struggles-to-find-a-resolution Town officials continue to work on a draft ordinance to regulate the sudden growth of medical marijuana dispensaries in Windsor. The Windsor Town Board and Windsor Planning Commission met last week for two hours in a joint session in the Fireside Room at Windsor High School. "It's slow and painful at times, but it's what we have to do to get it right," said Windsor Town Board Trustee Robert Bishop-Cotner. The focus of the meeting was to discuss various definitions of terms as mentioned in Amendment 20, zoning decisions, location issues and signage. The boards discussed at great length how to distinguish between caregiver and commercial caregiver with little resolution. "The definition of caregiver and commercial caregiver might be getting intermingled," said planning commissioner Paul Ehrlich. "Do we want to entertain a definition that can be confusing even though we know they're different?"

Medical marijuana on agenda for Fort Collins officials | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080323/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Medical-marijuana-on-agenda-for-Fort-Collins-officials Medical marijuana caregivers with more than one patient would not be able to grow or distribute products from their homes under regulations proposed by Fort Collins officials. They would not be allowed to grow marijuana outdoors, and their sundry products could only be distributed within city limits. These and a long list of other proposals aimed at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, or MMDs, in Fort Collins are expected to be discussed Tuesday during a City Council work session. Proposed rules for where marijuana dispensaries and "grows" may locate in the city and how they may operate came after researching how other Colorado cities are dealing with the issue and extensive public outreach, said Ginny Sawyer of the city's neighborhood service office.

Northern Colorado expo quietly touts medical marijuana | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070336/1002/Northern-Colorado-expo-quietly-touts-medical-marijuana Tim Gordon wanted to keep his Northern Colorado Medical Cannabis Expo on Saturday as low-key and nonconfrontational as possible. "I'm not trying to step on anybody's feet with this," he said. "I don't want to be aggressive and in-your-face to people who are not interested in medical cannabis." The event assembled dispensaries, legal services and marijuana advocates for a public forum about the state of the medical marijuana community. Speakers included Sensible Colorado, Front Range chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, The Cure Law Office and other political advocates. Gordon is the president of Front Range NORML and co-owner of Medicinal Gardens of Colorado, a medical marijuana dispensary in Fort Collins. He said the quarterly expo is as much for people within the medical marijuana community to come together as it is for the general public. Unity, according to him and others at the expo, is the community's greatest strength.

Man claiming pot card didn’t complete the paperwork | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209801/1001 An officer noticed an open garage door in Gypsum on Jan. 15. Several valuable items were visible and no one was at the house. The officer tried to phone the resident and close the garage door but could not succeed. He drove by the residence several times throughout the day to keep an eye on it. On Jan. 17, he was driving by the same house and noticed vehicles in the driveway. He knocked on the door. A man answered, stepped outside and quickly closed the door. The deputy smelled marijuana. He told the man his garage door had been open all day on the 15th and asked about the marijuana smell. The man said he had a medical marijuana card. The deputy asked to see it and then the man said he didn't have one. He said he was in the process of completing the paperwork due to problems with his knees.

Arapahoe County DA’s office accused of blacklisting therapist - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350841 A federal lawsuit was filed Friday against Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers and one of her prosecutors for allegedly "blacklisting" a counselor after she testified for the defense in a case last year. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, claims that after Kris Newland testified for a man accused of child sexual abuse who was later acquitted, the DA's office told the group that directs the referrals to therapists to stop sending cases to Newland. Nearly 80 percent of Newland's referrals came from the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services and the victim's compensation board, which is considered a division of the DA's office. That pretty much put Newland out of business, her attorney said.

County faults state in release of felon who killed mother | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/county_faults_state_in_release A parole system that failed to respond when told about a man’s arrest in 2008 was partially to blame for the man being released from jail and free to gun down a pregnant woman, Mesa County authorities allege in recent court filings. In a summary of the county’s defense to a federal lawsuit, the county argues it had no legal right to stop 41-year-old Lonnie Ray Herrera from posting bond in March 2008. Herrera, a felon with a long rap sheet who was serving parole, shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, Anna Macias, 23, nine days after he was released from the Mesa County Jail. Macias’ newborn girl was delivered hours after the shooting, but died within two days.

Arapahoe County to use iris scans to ID suspects - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345367 Fingerprinting a suspect is so last year. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson on Friday unveiled new technology that will allow officials to scan an arrestee's iris and within seconds retrieve pertinent electronic data about the suspect. "We'll take this into our jail to enhance our ability to identify inmates when they come in and when they are released," Robinson said at a press conference. Arapahoe County is the first Colorado law enforcement agency to deploy the biometric technology. It was paid for with a $10,000 grant from the National Sheriff's Association. Iris scanners are 10 times more accurate than fingerprinting, said Patricia Lawson, senior development officer for B12 Technologies, which developed the device.

Deputy struck by car, suspect shot during DUI stop in Castle Rock - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350674 A convict released decades early from a virtual life term in prison backed his car into one Douglas County deputy and was shot trying to run over a second during a drunken-driving arrest Friday night. Reese Slade, 43, was rushed to Littleton Hospital late Friday night after he was shot. Slade's condition is not known. But why he was not still in prison was a puzzle to some authorities. Slade was sentenced to a 64-year prison term in 2001, but that sentence was set aside by court order in 2006, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records. Mike Knight of the district attorney's office said he won't know until Monday, when he can review Slade's file, why he was released early. He said the Colorado attorney general's office handles appeals.

Fruita police building’s needs taking a back seat — for now | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/fruita_police_buildings_needs Fruita Police Chief Mark Angelo is a patient man, both by choice and circumstance. He and his staff of 16 sworn officers are facing space, operational and security limitations in the Fruita police station at 101 W. McCune Ave., which was built in 1981 and formerly housed a bank and City Hall. But any effort to address those issues is taking a back seat for the time being, given the roughly $40 million the city is investing in building a new wastewater treatment plant and a community center. The city budgeted $200,000 in capital funding in 2009 and plans to set aside that same amount this year and in 2011 for the Police Department. But Angelo said he returned last year’s allocation to help alleviate a budget shortfall and likely won’t spend capital money this year or next because he doesn’t want to invest in any quick fixes.

News : IRS on high alert for fraudulent returns, warn of likely scams (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e3150e06d9583291082.txt As tax season kicks into high gear, the Internal Revenue Service is warning people to be on high alert for scams--including ones promising to plump up your tax refunds. The IRS has begun seeing the “1099-OID” tax scam more and more often, said spokesman Brian Thiel. The 1099-OID (original issue discount) is a legitimate IRS form used by people who buy bonds at a discount to report accrued income from the bonds. But some tax-return preparers and individuals use the form to claim interest on bonds that don’t exist, and some falsely claim that they’ve already paid the taxes due on that interest. The strategy enables them to claim a greater refund on their 1040 form. Tax-return preparers who charge a percentage for their services also get more money, or, alternately, can justify charging a higher flat fee.

Vail Valley philanthropist Vilar gets 9 years - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14342686 Opera-loving philanthropist Alberto Vilar, who had a home in Beaver Creek, was sentenced today in New York to nine years in prison by a judge who credited his giving spirit but said he wanted to send a message to money managers that fraud will not be tolerated because it can damage confidence in the economy. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan also fined Vilar $25,000 and ordered him to pay $21.9 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $22 million. Vilar, 69, has been imprisoned since soon after a jury convicted him in November 2008 of conspiracy fraud for cheating investors of $40 million through his San Francisco-based company, Amerindo Investment Advisors Inc. Vilar donated $7 million to rebuild a Beaver Creek theater, which was later named the Vilar Performing Arts Center, and contributed $2 million toward revamping the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail.

Family upset after police shoot dog. - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345364 A Commerce City family is outraged after police shot their dog. Zoey was a mutt adopted from an animal shelter in 2003. The 35-pound dog had never bitten anyone, said owners Julia and Frank Agazio, although she'd always bark at visitors. A police officer shot the dog Wednesday while responding to a accidental 911 call. The family said they had informed police the call was made by accident. Officer Chris Dickey, spokesman for the Commerce City Police Department, said the female officer was confronted by "three, large vicious dogs" and shot Zoey as the dog attempted to attack her. The Agazios say Zoey was barking like she frequently did and that Zoey was 10 feet away from the officer.

Sheriff Braudis back home from hospital | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209867/1001 Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis was released Friday from Aspen Valley Hospital and is expected to return to work in at least three weeks, Undersheriff Joe DiSalvo said. For the next two months Braudis — hospitalized with a major upper respiratory infection — will undergo physical therapy to regain strength in his lungs. Afterward, he'll begin cardiovascular rehabilitation to regain his stamina, DiSalvo said. Braudis had been in the care of AVH for nearly a week, after spending time in the St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver, where he also spent three days in the intensive care unit. Braudis has declined comment since he was hospitalized. “Surprisingly, he's very happy and he's doing well,” DiSalvo said. “He's happy to be home.”

Trial begins for man accused of killing two women and boy in ice cream shop - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355370 A man who authorities say caused an accident that killed two women and a 3-year-old boy in an ice cream shop in Aurora in 2008, is on trial this week in Arapahoe County District Court. Francis Hernandez, who is in his 20s, faces 19 charges, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and child abuse resulting in death. On Sept. 4, 2008, Hernandez ran a red light and was driving more than 70 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone on Havana Street when he hit a pickup that was making a turn into a hamburger joint at a strip mall, according to authorities. The impact sent the truck into an ice cream parlor, where 3-year-old Marten Kudlis and others were inside.

Nederland preschool could get approval to reopen Monday - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14344174 An attorney and officials for Nederland's shuttered Over the Rainbow preschool will meet Monday with the Colorado Department of Human Services to try to mediate a way to reopen the school without having to go through the courts, school officials said Friday. The school has been fighting for an “immediate hearing” since the state suspended its child-care license last week because of background-check concerns that authorities uncovered while investigating a teacher on suspicion of sex assault on a child. Boulder County District Court Judge Lael Montgomery on Thursday ordered the state to move ahead in setting an appeal hearing on the license suspension, and on Friday the state agreed to meet with school officials at 9:30 a.m. Monday, said Rachel Matz, president of the school's board of directors.

Hospital tech in Hep C saga lets guilty plea stand - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345680 Former surgical scrub tech Kristen Diane Parker will let her guilty plea stand, even though she faces more than 20 years in prison for stealing hospital painkillers and infecting patients with hepatitis C. Parker, 27, decided Friday against taking her case to trial, in part, her attorney said, because some of her statements were released to the public by prosecutors. "I am concerned, had she chosen to go forward, if she would get a fair trial with the release of confidential information to the press," said her lawyer, Gregory Graf. Parker's videotaped debriefing and other information she gave prosecutors appeared on national media outlets, including all three network newscasts, "Inside Edition" and "Oprah," Graf said. Jeffrey Dorschner, spokesman for the Colorado U.S. attorney, said the release of Parker's videotaped debriefing was made part of the public record, and at no time did Graf object to its release.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Ianne matter hangs in limbo

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d5b32a6c30699590577.txt The ongoing investigation of a potential leak in the Pueblo District Attorney's office is complicating matters in three cases against Pueblo restaurateur Tony Ianne. At least two of the cases are waiting on a determination of whether attorney Randy Jorgensen can continue to represent Ianne in court, and Jorgensen can't make that conclusion until the special prosecutor from Adams County finishes an investigation into the matter. "First I have to be aware of what the conflict is, and at this point I don't know what it is," Jorgensen told the court Friday.

Former Morrison principal found not guilty in sex-assault case - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350727 The former principal of a private Christian school in Morrison has been acquitted of sex-assault charges. District attorney spokeswoman Pam Russell said a jury returned the verdict late Friday in the case of 36-year-old Daniel Charles Brock of Littleton. Brock testified in his own defense during the trial that started Tuesday in Golden. Brock was accused of sexually assaulting a male student at Silver State Christian School and attempting to molest another.

Police: Woman head-butted Avon officer | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209728/1001 Police have accused a Minturn woman of head-butting an Avon police officer. Jessica Darlene Estes, 31, faces assault charges in connection with a scuffle outside Finnegan's Wake in Avon. Police responded to the bar around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, where a woman claimed Estes had assaulted her, an Avon police report said. The woman said she and her friends were laughing and talking in the bar's bathroom when Estes told them to “Shut the [expletive] up,” the report said. The woman said Estes continued to yell at her and her friends later in the evening.

Loveland’s first baby of 2010 dead; mother in jail - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14346584 Loveland's first baby born in 2010 is dead, and her mother is in jail. Loveland detectives arrested Kaylynn Davis, 20, Friday on a charge of child abuse resulting in death. The infant died Jan. 25, police said. Summer Moon Hawk was born at 11:31 a.m. New Year's Day at McKee Medical Center. She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces. "We're very excited," Davis told the Loveland Reporter-Herald at the time. She said she wasn't due until Jan. 7 but had always wanted a baby born on the first day of the new year because it would be extra special. Her fiance, David Hawk of Loveland, sounded equally thrilled. "We're very happy, that's for sure," he told the Fort Collins Coloradoan. "We hope she grows up healthy and strong."

Motel worker with keys to every room was sex offender - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14341122 The Sleep Inn near Denver International Airport fired its housekeeping manager after a 9Wants To Know investigation, but the motel refused to say if it will begin doing criminal background checks on employees. The manager, Edward "Eddie" Quintana, 65, has several misdemeanor sex crime convictions.

Fears of hantavirus hinder cold-case probe - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355223 A pile of deer-mice feces is the latest stumbling block to solving a 1982 double-murder case in Archuleta County. The possibility of evidence being infected with hantavirus, carried by deer mice, has led FBI agents to postpone testing blood found inside a decaying bus on a remote Southern Colorado ranch. The bus may have been the murder scene of an unidentified man and a woman. "It's just one more delay in an investigation that has been very hard," said George Barter, an Archuleta County sheriff's detective. Barter said the hantavirus scare is only a temporary problem, but one that has already set him back four months.

Telluride Daily Planet - Local man charged in helping to defraud three banks of $290m

http://telluridenews.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e0e3b8b5e9562593136.txt A local man was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday on a bank fraud charge in connection with a $300 million scheme that spans major American banks. Shahin Kashanchi, a local business owner, was arrested this fall on bank fraud charges for his alleged involvement in a massive defrauding operation, according to federal prosecutors. He is accused of helping brother-in-law Hassan Nemazee, who allegedly defrauded three major banks. If convicted of bank fraud, Kashanchi could face up to 30 years and fines up to $1 million. Kashanchi, 46, owns Blue Gecko Inc., a home electronic-equipment installer here in Telluride. Nemazee was arrested on Aug. 25 and indicted for defrauding Citibank, HSBC and Bank of America of more than $290 million in loan proceeds. According to a report from the U.S. Attorney’s office in the southern district of New York, “Nemazee’s scheme depended on his use of fraudulent documents, including phony account statements and phony correspondence bearing forged signatures.”

Landscaping contractor jailed, accused of fraud | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209727/1002 A landscaping contractor is being held in Weld County Jail and faces possible fraud charges, according to information sent out Sunday by Fort Collins police.

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Local area contractor arrested

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/local/doc4b6f9e57c870e006647224.txt A Pueblo contractor was arrested last week on a warrant for theft for reportedly spending more than $25,000 worth of a client’s funds on items other than construction materials. Albert Lee Ornelas, 35, of the 1100 block of 32nd Lane, was arrested Wednesday. According to an affidavit by sheriff's Detective Ron Ivan, Ornelas was hired by an Illinois couple in January 2008, to build them a retirement home in Colorado City. In Jan. 2009, the victims discovered their home had not been built and that local material company had placed a $44,000 lien on their property because trusses and framing materials had not been paid for.

Handcuffed burglary suspect escapes from Aurora police car - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14341056 Aurora Police are looking for a burglary suspect who escaped handcuffed from an Aurora police car early today. Detective Shannon Lucy, spokeswoman for the Aurora Police Department, said that Aurora officers responded to reports of a fight in the 1600 block of Alton Street about 5 a.m. Once on the scene, police were able to break up a fight between approximately 10 people, said Lucy. Officers left. But a short time later they were called back after three people involved in the fight returned and one of them kicked down the front door of a house. All three were arrested, said Lucy.

Gas siphoning and shooting may be related, Springs police say | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/police-93811-gas-siphoning.html A man who was shot in the chest early Sunday may have been trying earlier to siphon gas from a rental-truck business in south Colorado Springs. According to Colorado Springs police, the gas theft happened at about 1 a.m. at Discount Exhaust Works, 1207 S. Nevada Ave. The business also rents Budget trucks. People who were at the shop when the theft happened told police that someone had been siphoning gas from the trucks. They gave police a description of the car the thief was believed to be driving. About 20 minutes later, police were called to investigate a shooting victim about a half-mile away at the Willow Brook Apartments on Rice Avenue.

Report: Owners tried to hide pit bull from authorities after attack | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoa

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100206/NEWS01/2060331/1002/Report-Owners-tried-to-hide-pit-bull-from-authorities-after-attack The owners of a pit bull that attacked a neighbor and her dog allegedly tried to keep the pit bull away from animal control officers after the attack, according to a report released Friday by the Larimer Humane Society. On Jan. 30, Barbara Berry reported that she and her sheltie, Sassy, were attacked by a pit bull in the 3000 block of Garrett Drive. Berry did not have Sassy on a leash at the time, and the dog was severely injured. The dog's right front leg was amputated Tuesday at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at CSU, and Sassy died early Wednesday morning, owner Jerry Berry said Friday.

Den Post: Colo. GOP lawmakers heavy on rhetoric light on specifics « Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47137/den-post-colo-gop-lawmakers-heavy-on-rhetoric-light-on-specifics The Denver Post today poked straight-faced fun at state Republican lawmakers this morning, mocking a big budget plan GOP legislative leaders unveiled yesterday. The proposed plan of attack in the ongoing battle over a budget that is short billions in revenue is to cut a lot of programs– and they want Democrats to decide what programs to cut. You can’t give the people behind this plan even a single point for subtlety. You can, however, award lots of points for election-year foolery and comic passing of the buck. The Post story conjures images of Wiley Coyote hauling out one of his ridiculous oversize Road Runner-catching contraptions: We’re for cuts! That is, we’re for you making cuts and us later criticizing the cuts you make!

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tough times, tough week dominate lawmakers’ talk

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5939911ff248335483.txt It wasn't the easiest meal to swallow and the digestion problems had nothing to do with the food. There were no complaints about the chile con juevos at the Pueblo Convention Center on Saturday, but breakfast is never quite appetizing when it's served with talks of balancing a state budget in an economic recession, possible program cuts and legislative defeats. About 130 people turned up for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Breakfast, the first of many chamber-hosted breakfasts throughout the legislative session. The meals are designed to let elected officials divulge their work at the state capitol and answer questions from the community.

Durango Herald News, ‘Amazon tax’ roils Colorado retailers

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/Amazon_tax_roils_Colorado_retailers/ The list price for Dan Brown's latest Masonic mystery, “The Lost Symbol," is $29.95. At a Colorado bookstore, buyers can expect to pay another 86 cents in state sales tax, plus local taxes. On Amazon.com, “The Lost Symbol" sells for $12 plus shipping costs. Tax free. And it's the tax-free part that's not fair, said Peter Schertz, co-owner of Maria's Bookshop in Durango. “What we're asking for as a very small bookstore is just a level playing field," Schertz said. He is willing to compete with Amazon and other Internet sites, and Maria's has its own Web site, so customers don't even need to visit the downtown Durango store. But people who buy from Maria's online have to pay sales tax.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tax bill affecting steel mill progresses

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d4c7b2d253717183772.txt A bill that representatives of Pueblo's steel mill say would cost the plant $2 million annually continued to move through the Legislature on Friday as part of a package of proposed tax-break repeals. On Thursday, over the objections of the United Steelworkers of America and management at Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, the Senate Finance Committee passed HB1190, which proposes to lift the tax exemption on energy used in manufacturing. Friday morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill, clearing the way for debate on the Senate floor. The bill was not heard Friday afternoon in the Senate. It got there along with eight others that would lift or suspend tax exemptions on everything from candy to online purchases and bull semen, and the Senate managed to heard debate on just the first.

Opposition warns tax hikes in state may mean layoffs - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_14345819 Steel workers and Coke and Pepsi bottlers have lined up to oppose a package of tax hikes to balance the state budget, saying the cuts will lead to layoffs. Also worried about their livelihoods are farmers on tight margins who would have to pay sales tax on pesticides, and small home-based Internet businesses that link people to online retailers like Amazon. Meanwhile, education groups and advocates for the developmentally disabled and low-income people who rely on government programs are urging lawmakers to pass the tax increases -- which the full Senate began debating Friday -- and avoid teacher layoffs and cuts to safety net spending. In the middle are lawmakers who must find a way to close a $1.5 billion shortfall in this year and next year`s budget, and Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided on how to do that. Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter proposed ending or suspending 13 tax credits and sales tax exemptions to raise about $125 million next year, and majority Democrats have been backing that plan in the Legislature. Republicans say they want Ritter to cut more, pointing out that most of the budget balancing during the recession has involved one-time fixes rather than reduced spending.

Proposals loosen up liquor business | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/proposals_loosen_up_liquor_bus Grand Junction liquor store owner Brandi Fisher—Pollock isn’t at all happy with two bills that could take sales away from her and others in the liquor business. Under two measures working their way through the Colorado Legislature, convenience stores would be able to sell full-strength beer, and grocers could buy out nearby liquor outlets. Though Fisher-Pollock said the bills are better than an unrestricted opening of all liquor sales for convenience and grocery stores, she still is actively opposing them and letting others in the business know they should, too. “If they’re going to do a law trying to restrict the saturation of liquor licenses, they need to do a lot more than that,” said Fisher-Pollock, who’s been meeting with other liquor store owners in Grand Junction about the bills.

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350677 Until a few months ago, J.B. Woods was your standard-issue insurance agent. Auto, home, life. Would you like flood coverage with that? Then, in the middle of 2009, his phone rang: "I need insurance for my medical-marijuana dispensary," the caller said. And since that moment, few of the policies Woods has set up for clients have been standard-issue. Instead, Woods has become the guru of ganja insurance. Property insurance, theft insurance, liability insurance. Woods is now even offering crop insurance, in case a medical-marijuana harvest isn't as bountiful as expected. "They needed an insurance agent who specializes in this area because of all the complexities involved," Woods said.

Labor department reps offer in-person answers | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100206/NEWS01/2060332/1002/Labor-department-reps-offer-in-person-answers On Friday morning at the Larimer County Workforce Center, Mike Cech, 56, of Fort Collins glanced down at his watch and realized he should move his car to avoid getting a parking ticket. Chech had been waiting patiently for an hour to visit with a Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's Unemployment Insurance Program representative and anticipated being there at least another hour before having a chance to discuss his unemployment benefits. One of hundreds who filtered through the work force center at 200 W. Oak St., Chech was laid off in November after 20 years with Applied Materials, a semiconductor equipment company in California.

Vice President Biden visits Beaver Creek | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100207/VALLEYNEWS/100209901/1001 Gabrie Higbie has been skiing at Beaver Creek for years, but Saturday's run-in with Vice President Joe Biden was one of her most exciting days on the mountain. Higbie, who works for the KZYR, The Zephyr radio station, arrived at Beaver Creek early Saturday morning to drop off her 4-year-old son, Sam, at ski school. When her car was searched by the Secret Service and bomb-sniffing dogs, she said to her son, “Gosh, you would think the president is in town.” She found out later that it was the vice president causing all the commotion. She was in Spruce Saddle on Beaver Creek Mountain when a friend told her that Biden was upstairs. She grabbed her friend Beth McKenzie to see if they could get a closer look.

Rifle gas wholesaler sees expanded business in compressed natural gas | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/rifle_gas_wholesaler_sees_expa A Rifle gasoline wholesaler and retailer hopes to open a compressed-natural-gas fueling station this year in Parachute along western Colorado’s Interstate 70 corridor, where no such stations currently are open to the public. Kirk Swallow, president of Swallow Oil, has applied to the town of Parachute for zoning approval to open a compressed-natural-gas fueling station at an existing gasoline station there. He hopes to open it by the end of summer. Swallow also applied for a grant from the Governor’s Energy Office to help him open a second station in Rifle.

Completed Garfield County foreclosures lag behind filings | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100208/VALLEYNEWS/100209889/1001 Although completed foreclosures in 2009 dropped 4 percent in Colorado, the number of foreclosures that went to auction in Garfield County for the most part mirrored the increase in filings as a whole. While the county saw a record 408 foreclosure filings in 2009, up from 108 the previous year, 82 resulted in completed foreclosure sales. That number is up significantly from 10 completed sales in 2008 and 20 sales in 2007, according to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing 4th Quarter 2009 Foreclosure Report issued Feb. 4. The number of completed sales in a year is typically somewhat lower than actual foreclosure filings, explained Bob Slade, deputy public trustee for Garfield County.

Aspen’s December sales tax collections flat | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209830/1001 The city of Aspen's sales tax revenue for December remained flat over the previous year, marking the first time in 15 months that collections weren't in the negative figures. The last time sales tax collections increased over the previous year was in August 2008, when revenue was up 6 percent over the same month in the previous year, according to City Finance Director Don Taylor. Ever since, sales tax revenue has been on the decline. According to the city's consumption tax report, which was released Friday, taxable sales for December were the same as the same month in 2008. However, starting last September, the city's tax rate was reduced from 2.2 percent to 2.1 percent, or stated another way, the rate is now 4.5 percent lower than prior to September.

Durango Herald News, RHA wants HUD change

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/RHA_wants_HUD_change/ The head of a local housing organization is working to make destination cities like Durango more livable for the nonrich. Jennifer Lopez, executive director of Durango's Regional Housing Alliance, and the leaders of nearly a dozen housing organizations from other “gateway communities" in the mountain West want to change the federal government's rules that govern who gets rural housing assistance. Lopez said federal housing programs are “inadequate" here. “There is a serious mismatch between incomes and home prices in La Plata County," said Lopez.

Qwest being seen as likely takeover target - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14346718 Qwest Communications appears to be on the block, with a growing number of Wall Street analysts speculating that the company is a prime acquisition target and senior management speaking more freely about consolidation. The mergers-and-acquisitions tailwind is not new, just stronger. A drumbeat of analyst upgrades over the past few weeks cites the potential for the Denver-based company to be swallowed. "In recent years, we have seen numerous (rural phone company) mergers and acquisitions, and we expect further consolidation," Piper Jaffray analyst Chris Larsen wrote last week in upgrading Qwest shares.

More stories in National/Economy | Colorado/Economy

Cracking down on rental homes | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209841/1002 An ever-increasing number of second-home owners in Colorado's mountain towns are renting out their homes as vacation properties. Using online resources like vrbo.com and craigslist.org, many of these property owners are able to handle bookings at a minimal cost without hiring property management firms. But, the majority of these vacation rentals by owner are flying under the radar, not registering with the local government, not applying for business licenses and not paying sales or lodging taxes, according to a study conducted by the Town of Breckenridge last year. Nobody has a solid estimate on how much revenue in Colorado is being lost each year in off-the-books vacation rentals, but in ski towns like Breckenridge, Steamboat and Winter Park, it could add up to tens of thousands of dollars every year. The Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST), an organization of more than 25 municipalities, is looking to pool its resources to crack down on the short-term vacation rental industry. Alone, few towns have the resources to address the problem, which requires tracking down violators who are advertising online and elsewhere and cross-referencing them with licensed business owners and tax filings in each town.

Debate over neighborhood zoning in homestretch - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350676 Roy Vestal and Gosia Kung are neighbors, but they are worlds apart when it comes to how they think Denver should grow. Kung believes the city should encourage more density and make it easier for developers to build duplexes she says are needed to accommodate an expected surge in population. Vestal looks at the large, modern duplex Kung and her husband built in 2008 next to his 1888-era home in the Witter Cofield historic district and grimaces. He and his partner, Leo Fua, view the sleek design of the duplex as jarring when compared with the home they refer to as their "antique." Competing visions of the city's future are colliding as the city of Denver nears a deadline for finalizing an overhaul of zoning laws that will guide development throughout the city for decades to come.

Denver Councilman Lopez to lead neighborhood panel - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350730 Denver City Council President Jeanne Robb on Thursday appointed Councilman Paul Lopez as chairman of the council's Neighborhood, Community and Business Revitalization Committee, effective Wednesday. Lopez will replace Councilman Rick Garcia as the chairman of the committee. Garcia is leaving his council post to become a regional director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The committee addresses legislation on housing, human services, small business development and improvement districts in Denver's neighborhoods.

Southwestern Colorado turns to sunflowers for energy - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14346721 For 99 years, furnace tenders like "Outback" John Schertz have loaded coal into a giant boiler in the basement of the San Juan County courthouse. Now Schertz is adding sunflower hulls into the flames. Those hulls, pulverized and pressed into green pellets, represent a new twist in a southwestern Colorado attempt to turn sunflowers into fuel. The pellets are made in Dove Creek at San Juan Bioenergy, which started in 2006 as a nonprofit cooperative to produce biodiesel from sunflower oil. The plant changed its business model and product focus as dropping oil prices and the loss of government subsidies for biodiesel made that fuel a less desirable commodity. Today San Juan is a for-profit business creating uses for every scrap of the sunflower. San Juan is extruding food-grade oil from the more than 10,000 acres of sunflowers and safflowers grown in that corner of the state.

Glenwood chamber, council at odds over tourism contract | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100206/VALLEYNEWS/100209914/1001 The Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association and the Glenwood City Council had a heated debate on whether or not the city should open the tourism promotion contract to a public bidding process. The Glenwood Chamber has been awarded the contract on an annual basis for the past 22 years as a sole-source no-bid contract. However, some council members strongly suggested that the process be changed. Typically, sole-source contracts are issued in situations where only one person or company can provide the contractual services needed. Some council members thought that not issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) went against their oath as public stewards. “I took an oath to represent the people the best way that I could,” said Councilor Leo McKinney. “And giving money away in a no-bid situation, I don't feel that I'm living up to that standard.”

The Longmont Times-Call - Park is offered as city ‘buffer’

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20700 Firestone has offered to put a park and a trail corridor on its disputed border with Longmont. The proposed 40-foot-wide corridor would initially follow Fairview Street north from Colo. 119, before angling northeast near Union Reservoir to join a new 10-acre park. That also follows the western edge of the town’s Firelight and Union annexations, which sits on Longmont’s eastern city limits. “That provides a buffer,” said Firestone Mayor Chad Auer, who also discussed the proposal with the town’s planning commission earlier in the week. “From our perspective, it’s the best we can do.” Firestone has the authority to set aside up to 10 percent of an annexation for parks and open space.

Telluride Daily Planet - A million tiny owners

http://telluridenews.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e0dc488693549929169.txt It used to be that if you wanted your own place, not just a timeshare, but your own deed to a ski condo in Mountain Village, you had to pony up several hundred thousand dollars or so. Now, hotels are offering many of their units for private ownership. It was that very finance scheme that made the purchase of The Peaks possible for a group of local investors last November, and the Mondrian which is before the Mountain Village Town Council right now has also pitched such a plan, eventually sweetening the deal for the town by adding a floor of 40 rooms which the developers say will not be for sale. Apparently, it’s a sign of our times that a traditional hotel cannot survive in this climate. “They borrowed $100 million on a handshake,” said Mike Theive, a partner in the Peaks Capital Group and a longtime local, who opened what was then the town’s lone restaurant — the Iron Ladle — some 38 years ago when he moved to Telluride. “In our economic environment, cash is king, and it has to be rewarded. That’s not available in a traditional hotel environment.”

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Are people leaving the Vail Valley? | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209734/1001 We've all heard the stories: The economy's bad; people are leaving Colorado's Vail Valley. But are people really leaving? It's hard to tell. Some people have left, of course. But families with kids seem to be riding out the economic slump here in the valley. There's evidence that some people are leaving. The number of births at Vail Valley Medical Center in 2009 was down more than 100 from 2008. And auto registrations dropped by about 1,100 from 2008 to 2009. Then there are other indicators. Megan McGee-Banta of Catholic Charities said her office is taking about as many cases as it has in the past, although the types of cases it takes up are different. “We're seeing fewer landlord-tenant cases and more cases of people not being paid by employers,” McGee-Banta said. “Maybe some individuals are leaving, but families seem to be staying.”

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Faces of the Recession: Bankruptcy attorney helps people through the bad times | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209743/1002 While the country struggles with its finances, the gorilla in the room grows bigger. Wall Street takes its bailouts and companies struggle to refinance loans, and the average Joe in more cases than ever is turning to bankruptcy to make it through these tough times. Personal and business bankruptcy filings are soaring nationwide, and growing locally, rivaling the nationwide push to beat bankruptcy reform in 2005. “My business is booming. I've hired another secretary,” said Greeley bankruptcy attorney Keith Abbott. “In that sense, it stimulated my economy, but unfortunately, it comes at the price of other people suffering bad times. ... There's no bankruptcy attorney who's starving right now.”

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Habitat for Humanity cook-off puts home ownership on the menu - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14351481 Tamales, tapenade and meatballs made the menu at the Holy Smokes Clergy Cook-Off on Saturday, but donations to families needing a home of their own was the best dish served. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity teamed up with five area churches for the fifth annual event, held at Broomfield United Methodist Church. Organizers expected to raise $6,000 for the charity. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity serves Boulder and Broomfield counties. The organization and its volunteers have built 53 homes since 1993 and are working on several more, said executive director John Lovell. The Aquileras, a family of four with a 9-year-old autistic son, had never dreamed of owning their own home.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Adams State speeds up construction plans

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e4ee93a8f9643087614.txt Adams State College officials have accelerated construction plans thanks to a favorable bond market and hope to tackle an additional $27 million in building renovations and street closures by spring of 2011. The college unveiled plans this week to renovate three buildings and rolled out a parking-permit system and a proposal to build parking for 382 spaces in an effort to ease neighbors' concerns over student traffic. The plans come while student enrollment is on the rise at the 90-acre campus. Adams State welcomed a record 2,350 undergraduates to campus this year and its leaders hope to see that figure grow to 2,700 by 2015.

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Faces of the Recession: With economy down, the eviction business is up | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209737/1002 She stands on the courthouse steps in downtown Greeley on Tuesdays and says loud enough for anyone around to hear: “Is anyone here for the sheriff's sale? Anyone here for the sheriff's sale?” Mary Schwartz has been doing this for years, announcing public sales on the courthouse steps after the original owners lost their property. There are more of the sales now, probably because of the recession. It's called a “sheriff's sale,” and for Schwartz, the sales business is spotty. “Sometimes, we don't have anybody show up to buy the property,” she said. “I think sometimes they don't like the freezing cold and the pigeon droppings.” The sheriff's sale is usually for property that's been foreclosed on, and in the past couple of years, the number has increased due to mortgage problems and the recession. The sales usually involve a title dispute, land, property or oil and gas leases.

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Free Press to become weekly publication | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/free_press_to_become_weekly_pu The Grand Junction Free Press will cut back the number of days it publishes and become a weekly newspaper starting March 5. Free Press publisher Valerie Smith announced the change Friday in a news release, acknowledging the current economy played a part in the decision. Smith said the newspaper will print every Friday and update its Web site frequently with local and regional news. The reduction in publication days comes almost a year to the date after the Free Press announced it would publish only three days a week.

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Longmont’s InPhase Technologies closes operations - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/longmont-news/ci_14344605 Nine years ago this week, a spin-off from Bell Labs settled in Longmont with the intention of commercially proving its breakthroughs in holographic memory technologies. During the coming years, InPhase Technologies grew in size and potential, raising upward of $100 million in funding for development of its fast, high-capacity holographic data storage disks. Five years ago, the company's CEO said that by 2010, the firm would launch another generation of its disks with capacities around 1.6 terabytes. Actions taken this week, however, are putting that and other promises in jeopardy. Earlier this week, InPhase officials laid off the company's 60 employees -- who had taken significant pay cuts in the previous months -- and closed the office after running short of funds, said Bart Stuck, an InPhase investor who said he has been involved with the company since 1996.

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Pitkin County debates its housing options | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209837/1001 Investing in the city of Aspen's Burlingame Ranch worker housing development is not the only option available to Pitkin County as it looks to best leverage about $9 million in accumulated housing funds, commissioners agreed during a retreat last week in Redstone. That was about the only conclusion commissioners could agree upon as they debated whether the county housing dollars should be spent in Aspen or elsewhere in the valley. Commissioners have been mulling their options for about a year, ever since they first announced they had money they'd like to spend on worker housing and put out a call for partnerships and proposals. Some 30 to 40 opportunities have been analyzed, but commissioners have yet to pull the trigger on any of them. “The only thing holding it up is the failure to make a decision,” County Attorney John Ely told commissioners, some of whom are apparently frustrated by the inaction.

Pedicabs’ free range curtailed at Pepsi Center, Mile High - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14345392 To tame the pedicab pandemonium on Denver's streets, two sports venues have worked out some rules of engagement with the pedal pushers. Some drivers say the new rules are cutting into their nightly pay for propelling passengers on the three-wheeled vehicles. But other drivers and officials of the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field at Mile High say that a growing number of aggressive drivers brought the changes upon themselves. "In all honesty, it's chaos out there," said Greg Duran, who has operated a pedicab company and been a driver for half a dozen years. Complaints were mounting about pedicabs flying through parking lots, cutting across grass, careening through crowds on sidewalks and being a bit too zealous in soliciting customers. "I'm sure it was just a few guys, but it created the feeling for change," said Scott Gales, spokesman for Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which owns the Pepsi Center.

News : IRS on high alert for fraudulent returns, warn of likely scams (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e3150e06d9583291082.txt As tax season kicks into high gear, the Internal Revenue Service is warning people to be on high alert for scams--including ones promising to plump up your tax refunds. The IRS has begun seeing the “1099-OID” tax scam more and more often, said spokesman Brian Thiel. The 1099-OID (original issue discount) is a legitimate IRS form used by people who buy bonds at a discount to report accrued income from the bonds. But some tax-return preparers and individuals use the form to claim interest on bonds that don’t exist, and some falsely claim that they’ve already paid the taxes due on that interest. The strategy enables them to claim a greater refund on their 1040 form. Tax-return preparers who charge a percentage for their services also get more money, or, alternately, can justify charging a higher flat fee.

The Orchard Town Center in Westminster shows ‘really good momentum’ - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/broomfield-news/ci_14341957 It's an early evening on a Saturday in January, and if you're looking for parking among the metered spots that line the grid at The Orchard Town Center shopping mall in Westminster, you're out of luck. An hour before show time, the 7 p.m. viewing of the movie "Avatar" at the AMC Orchard 12's IMAX cinema is sold out. People with tickets are even lining up behind a roped section of the newest movie house along the Interstate 25 corridor, waiting for good seats. Even before "Avatar" was released, however, business at the open-air mall has been good compared to the previous year. According to the city of Westminster, city sales-tax receipts at Orchard Town Center for October and November last year -- the most recent sales-tax figures available -- were 12 percent higher than the same period in 2008.

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Aspen’s $1 million decision: the architect for Burlingame | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209835/1001 The Aspen City Council on Monday will have to make the unpopular decision to either select a local architectural firm to design a city-developed housing project or pick an out-of-town company that is willing to do the work for $1 million less. The majority of the council last month informally decided to award a $1.6 million contract to Boulder-based Oz Architecture to design the final phases of Burlingame Ranch, located off Highway 82 across from Buttermilk. But when questions arose about whether Oz might have underbid the project or wasn't providing the same level of services as its competitor, the Aspen-based Poss Architecture Planning, the council put the decision off so city officials could gather more information to back up their recommendation to select the out-of-town firm.

Vail Valley philanthropist Vilar gets 9 years - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14342686 Opera-loving philanthropist Alberto Vilar, who had a home in Beaver Creek, was sentenced today in New York to nine years in prison by a judge who credited his giving spirit but said he wanted to send a message to money managers that fraud will not be tolerated because it can damage confidence in the economy. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan also fined Vilar $25,000 and ordered him to pay $21.9 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $22 million. Vilar, 69, has been imprisoned since soon after a jury convicted him in November 2008 of conspiracy fraud for cheating investors of $40 million through his San Francisco-based company, Amerindo Investment Advisors Inc. Vilar donated $7 million to rebuild a Beaver Creek theater, which was later named the Vilar Performing Arts Center, and contributed $2 million toward revamping the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail.

Republic Airways will phase out plane that serves Aspen | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209834/1001 The long-term future of what is currently Frontier Airlines service to Aspen was thrown into question last week when Republic Airways announced it would shut down Frontier's Lynx Aviation and phase out the fleet of Bombardier Q400s that Frontier flies to regional markets, including Aspen. Frontier service to Aspen using the Q400 turboprop is, however, apparently secure through the end of the coming summer, according to resort official Bill Tomcich. Republic acquired Lynx when it purchased Frontier Airlines out of bankruptcy last year. Most of the flying done by Lynx will be replaced by regional jets operated by Republic crews, though service to Fargo, N.D., and Tulsa, Okla., will be dropped on April 5, the airline said.

Lafayette chiropractor Eric St. Pierre assists at Winter Olympics - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14355678 Eric St. Pierre, a Lafayette chiropractic sports doctor, has helped speed skaters, weightlifters and other elite athletes recover from injuries and stay in top condition. It's that experience with five national teams, he said, that secured him a spot as one of five chiropractic doctors on the 47-member medical staff selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee to support athletes at the Winter Olympics. "This is just a dream come true," he said. "It's very exciting." He left Saturday for Vancouver, where he will work as a trainer for the short track speed skating team and assist with the general care for all 200 athletes in the Olympic Village. The Olympics officially open Friday and wrap up Feb. 28. The 30-year-old St. Pierre heads up sports rehabilitation at Lafayette's South Pointe Medical Center, a pain and physical rehabilitation clinic.

Durango Herald News, Prospecting for gold near Silverton

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Prospecting_for_gold_near_Silverton/ The town of Silverton is receiving some welcome publicity thanks to a number of national media outlets that have featured snowboard legend Shaun White training on a halfpipe built specifically for him last winter in the San Juan Mountains. The CBS television program “60 Minutes" aired a 13-minute segment Sunday night that begins with White in Silverton at his “very own top-secret training facility hidden high, very high, in Colorado's rugged backcountry. They'd come in and order up and drink quite a bit and have a good time. Shaun White had an unbelievable appetite. He'd be up there snowboarding all day, and he'd come in and eat three meals all by himself. He really liked the food. - Greg Custer, owner, San Juan Grill in Silverton “The only way to get there … helicopter," says Bob Simon, 68, the show's correspondent who accompanied White to the halfpipe located within the Silverton Mountain ski area boundaries. “The scenery was breathtaking." Although “60 Minutes" never mentions Silverton by name, numerous other media outlets have. Simon asks White why he didn't build a halfpipe in a “civilized place like Vail or Aspen," to which White replies he wanted to keep his tricks a secret and unleash them during competition.

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Telluride Daily Planet - Local man charged in helping to defraud three banks of $290m

http://telluridenews.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e0e3b8b5e9562593136.txt A local man was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday on a bank fraud charge in connection with a $300 million scheme that spans major American banks. Shahin Kashanchi, a local business owner, was arrested this fall on bank fraud charges for his alleged involvement in a massive defrauding operation, according to federal prosecutors. He is accused of helping brother-in-law Hassan Nemazee, who allegedly defrauded three major banks. If convicted of bank fraud, Kashanchi could face up to 30 years and fines up to $1 million. Kashanchi, 46, owns Blue Gecko Inc., a home electronic-equipment installer here in Telluride. Nemazee was arrested on Aug. 25 and indicted for defrauding Citibank, HSBC and Bank of America of more than $290 million in loan proceeds. According to a report from the U.S. Attorney’s office in the southern district of New York, “Nemazee’s scheme depended on his use of fraudulent documents, including phony account statements and phony correspondence bearing forged signatures.”

Landscaping contractor jailed, accused of fraud | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209727/1002 A landscaping contractor is being held in Weld County Jail and faces possible fraud charges, according to information sent out Sunday by Fort Collins police.

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Local area contractor arrested

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/local/doc4b6f9e57c870e006647224.txt A Pueblo contractor was arrested last week on a warrant for theft for reportedly spending more than $25,000 worth of a client’s funds on items other than construction materials. Albert Lee Ornelas, 35, of the 1100 block of 32nd Lane, was arrested Wednesday. According to an affidavit by sheriff's Detective Ron Ivan, Ornelas was hired by an Illinois couple in January 2008, to build them a retirement home in Colorado City. In Jan. 2009, the victims discovered their home had not been built and that local material company had placed a $44,000 lien on their property because trusses and framing materials had not been paid for.

Gas siphoning and shooting may be related, Springs police say | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/police-93811-gas-siphoning.html A man who was shot in the chest early Sunday may have been trying earlier to siphon gas from a rental-truck business in south Colorado Springs. According to Colorado Springs police, the gas theft happened at about 1 a.m. at Discount Exhaust Works, 1207 S. Nevada Ave. The business also rents Budget trucks. People who were at the shop when the theft happened told police that someone had been siphoning gas from the trucks. They gave police a description of the car the thief was believed to be driving. About 20 minutes later, police were called to investigate a shooting victim about a half-mile away at the Willow Brook Apartments on Rice Avenue.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Bill to extend nurse tuition forgiveness clears another hurdle

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d539096a75477679958.txt A Senate committee on Friday passed Sen. Abel Tapia's bill proposing to extend eligibility for tuition forgiveness to nurses who achieve advanced degrees. Tapia, D-Pueblo, introduced SB58, which would grant eligibility for student loan forgiveness to nurses who earn advanced degrees and teach their craft on a part-time basis. On Friday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill. Last week it had gained approval from the Senate Finance Committee. Currently, the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program overseen by CollegeInvest applies only to nurses who are teaching full-time. Tapia said funding for the extension already exists through CollegeInvest, and no new spending would be required. When the first tuition loan forgiveness program for nurses was adopted by the Legislature in 2006, it didn't sufficiently extend benefits to lure instructors away from their lucrative field, in Tapia's estimation.

New bill would allow students to transfer credits from for-profit colleges - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355221 Metropolitan State College of Denver is so packed with students that officials are spending $24,000 a semester to rent space at a campus movie theater to hold classes. Though enrollment is up at colleges across the state, those serving high-risk students, such as Metro and community colleges, feel the squeeze the most. Enrollment is up 19 percent since the fall of 2008 at 13 community colleges across Colorado, and nearly 60 programs are full and putting students on wait lists. In November, enrollment at the 13 schools totaled almost 83,000, according to the Colorado Community College System.

The science of learning - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345651 Think of it as a chemistry experiment: Distill a coherent set of standards with a well-prepared teacher, then light a Bunsen burner under students with the latest technology and other hands-on resources. Performed well, the exercise yields an eighth- grader grounded in science and eager to pursue the discipline into high school and beyond. But economically strapped districts — and that covers most of Colorado — find it increasingly difficult to secure tools vital to the inquiry-based science model embraced as a "best practice." Some schools already worry budget cuts will leave them short of materials, particularly the non-reusable sort such as chemicals, and behind the curve on ever-changing technology.

History lessons vary for Colorado students - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350793 The Great Depression. Stomach-churning slaughterhouse depictions from Upton Sinclair. Immigration. Cubans, the U.S.S. Maine and muckrakers. Prisoners buried alive, upside down, by barbarians. Welcome to history, U.S. and otherwise, as offered in Colorado high schools. It is taught in classrooms with flat-screen TVs and classrooms barely up to code, to students relaxing in armchairs, students with keen interest and big aspirations and students blocking out the whole business with headphones. If government mandates, No Child Left Behind and the Colorado Student Assessment Program have created lock- step, fill-in-the-blank curricula for math and reading, as some claim, there can be no such complaints about history.

Deep K-12 budget cuts will be even deeper than anticipated « Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47153/deep-k-12-budget-cuts-will-be-even-deeper-than-anticipated It’s an election year and Colorado political news readers will be reading a lot about taxing and spending– about the big difference between Democratic and Republican ideas about government. Recession realities, however, are mocking those easy distinctions. Yesterday, legislative staff reported that Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and Democratic-dominated legislature will be slashing state aid to K-12 education next school year by a projected $431 million or 7.5 percent of the current school budget. School administrators believe the cuts will get even larger.

University of Colorado attracts $69M in grants - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14352249 The University of Colorado`s Boulder campus has secured 120 research awards sponsored by federal economic stimulus money, totaling $69 million in grants. The regents, when they meet in Colorado Springs next week, will hear an update on stimulus grants. University-wide, researchers have been awarded 248 grants totaling $123.4 million, according to the school. With the money, CU researchers are conducting a wide variety of projects. Christopher Porter, an assistant professor with CU`s School of Medicine, is exploring whether doctors will one day be able to "turn off" specific genes to make it easier for conventional therapies to kill cancerous cells. In Boulder, assistant computer science professor Katie Siek is developing a technology to help decrease obesity in low-income neighborhoods. Nicholas Seeds, a professor in CU`s School of Medicine, is searching for ways for people with spinal injuries to breathe more easily.

CU applies for federal grants to help finish biotechnology hub - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_14343880 The University of Colorado has applied for multi-million dollar federal grants to help finish the construction of its biotechnology building since the cash-strapped state is rejecting the school's funding requests. CU's Boulder campus split the building's construction into two projects so that it could move forward on construction, without depending on state funding. The first phase of the building will be 257,000 square feet, and CU expects it to be finished in fall 2011. The school has plans for a 54,000-square-foot addition, which hinges on funding. Instead of waiting for an economic turn-around at the state level -- which could leave construction on the final wing of the building stalled for an indefinite period of time -- CU is looking for money elsewhere. Russ Moore, interim vice chancellor for research, said CU has applied for two federal stimulus grants from the National Institutes of Health that each amounts to about $15 million. University officials are waiting to hear back from the agency.

CU could add master’s in law, Ph.D. in Asian languages - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_14344675 The University of Colorado regents next week will consider adding two new degree programs at the Boulder campus: a master's in law and a doctorate in Asian languages. As school officials make the pitch during tough economic times, the regents will review documents that show enrollment in some recently approved degree tracks is soaring past projections. The degree proposals also highlight the revenue potential of the programs, show there's a high demand and outline how the disciplines fit into the school's long-term plan known as "Flagship 2030" -- which aims to prepare graduates for an increasingly competitive global economy. The regents are expected to approve the new degree proposals at their board meeting Thursday in Colorado Springs. CU's School of Law is proposing a "master of laws" degree in three specialty areas -- natural resources, technology and intellectual property, and entrepreneurial law.

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The Longmont Times-Call - SVVSD plans extra days

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20676 A couple of hundred students from Rocky Mountain and Spangler elementary schools are going to have short summer vacations. The St. Vrain Valley School District plans to add seven weeks of summer school for the lowest-performing students at those schools. The Success for All Students program is estimated to cost $84,775 per school for one year, said Regina Renaldi, director of priority schools. In addition to summer school, the program includes before- and after-school programs, opening the schools’ libraries once a week during the summer, and providing a liaison between the schools and the parents in the two schools. “We want to be really clear we’re going to go the extra mile to get everyone involved,” Renaldi said.

D-11 summer school, jobs on chopping block | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/summer-93758-school-jobs.html About $7 million in proposed cuts in Colorado Springs School District 11 that were laid on the table this week by district administrators would eliminate summer learning programs and cut 47 jobs. The instructional services budget, which includes money for programs for special needs and gifted students, would take a 32 percent budget cut — with about 40 percent of that coming from the summer programs. The proposals were presented to the D-11 board with the endorsement of a citizen oversight committee, which also submitted proposals for deeper cuts that may be necessary. Among those ideas: employee furloughs, fewer assistant principals, no busing, a 1 percent across-the-board pay reduction and elimination of library technology educators. The group, the budget subcommittee of the District Advisory and Accountability Committee, also suggested increasing athletic and rental fees and contracting out some custodial work. The district might have to cut as much as $16 million from its general fund budget, which this year was $225 million.

PSD panel wants Red Feather to stay open | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070331/1002/PSD-panel-wants-Red-Feather-to-stay-open Red Feather Elementary School, a small mountain school, will remain open if a Poudre School District Feasibility Committee recommendation stands. The committee voted 14-0 Friday night to not close the school after several months of study and discussion. Residents in the village had united in an impassioned effort to keep the school open. The feasibility committee was formed in October and tasked with recommending how to help balance school enrollment across the district and to more efficiently use the district's facilities. Among its responsibilities was making a recommendation on whether the school should be closed. With 35 students, Red Feather Elementary is located in Red Feather Lakes, northwest of Fort Collins. If PSD were to close the school, students would be bused to Livermore Elementary School about 24 miles away.

Denver teachers won’t be forced into most troubled schools anymore - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345676 Veteran Denver teachers who can't find a job in the district won't be assigned to the city's most troubled schools next year, according to a new edict by Superintendent Tom Boasberg. The rule changes Denver Public Schools' direct-placement system, which disproportionately shunted unassigned, tenured teachers into the poorest and neediest schools. "I believe the practice is wrong," Boasberg said in an e-mail to principals Friday. "It is bad for our students, our teachers and our schools." School districts around the nation are changing the way they assign tenured teachers, who under labor agreements and state laws are assured classroom positions even if schools don't want them. Denver's change comes as state lawmakers contemplating changes to state laws that govern teacher tenure and forced placement.

Mapleton district to close two low-achieving schools - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345369 Low enrollment and test scores led the Mapleton School Board this week to vote to close two struggling schools and to make other changes in the small district in Adams County. The board decided to shutter Welby New Technology High School and the Enrichment Academy. Welby is below the state median in improvement in all subjects, according to the district. With an enrollment of 201, it is just half full, and student achievement has slipped — 7 percent of students were proficient in math, 17 percent in writing and 38 percent in reading. At Enrichment Academy, a K-6 school with an enrollment of 207, students are 31 percent proficient at math and reading and 26 percent proficient at writing. The school is half-filled, and improvement rates are at or below the state median, officials said.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Adams State speeds up construction plans

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e4ee93a8f9643087614.txt Adams State College officials have accelerated construction plans thanks to a favorable bond market and hope to tackle an additional $27 million in building renovations and street closures by spring of 2011. The college unveiled plans this week to renovate three buildings and rolled out a parking-permit system and a proposal to build parking for 382 spaces in an effort to ease neighbors' concerns over student traffic. The plans come while student enrollment is on the rise at the 90-acre campus. Adams State welcomed a record 2,350 undergraduates to campus this year and its leaders hope to see that figure grow to 2,700 by 2015.

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The Pueblo Chieftain :: Walsh schools try to harness wind

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/local/doc4b6fa54142570648674429.txt Over the past few years, the breeze in Southeastern Colorado has proven it can turn a profit. The area, whipping with dust and tumble weeds, is home to two of the state's largest wind farms and has several other private projects in the works. The latest attempt to capture the wind and turn it green comes from the Walsh School District. The tiny school district in eastern Baca County is the first in the state to install a Skystream wind turbine under the Colorado Wind for Schools program. The 2.4-kilowatt turbine, which is owned and operated by the school district, stands 45 feet tall on the south side of the high school near a bus barn. The turbine was erected in November and connected with Southeast Colorado Power Association on Dec. 3. It was dedicated at a ceremony held Friday.

Craig Daily Press / HVAC system to save MCHS 20 percent of energy

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2010/feb/08/hvac-system-save-mchs-20-percent-energy/ For the past 20 years, Moffat County High School could never find a balance. Some classrooms were sweltering at about 82 degrees, while, at the same time, another room would be hovering in the low 50s. But the days of calling maintenance to freezing classrooms are coming to a close. In the summer and fall, Haselden Construction worked to install a $650,000 HVAC system, complete with new boilers, to help control temperatures in the building.

Durango Herald News, Charter school backers gather

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/Charter_school_backers_gather/ Organizers of the proposed Mountain Middle School, who were forced to wait at least a year to obtain a charter to open, now are looking to form a loose home-schooling consortium in 2010-11. Nancy Heleno, the Durango woman leading the effort to found Mountain Middle School, met with interested parents Thursday at the Crossroads building. She encouraged parents to look into Colorado Virtual Academy, an online charter school. “There are a variety of different ways we can make it happen," Heleno told a group of about 18 parents. Backers withdrew Mountain Middle School's application for a charter to open in 2010-11 after questions from the Colorado Charter School Institute. State officials encouraged the applicants to wait a year, when new state content standards take effect.

The Longmont Times-Call - Winning team gets $1,500 for school

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20686 When Fall River got first prize No. 1, cheers erupted from the team. But that was nothing compared to the screaming that followed first prize No. 2. “I probably screamed the loudest,” admitted 11-year-old Chelsea Engelhard, part of the team that won both its division and the grand prize at the St. Vrain Valley School District Technology Fair on Saturday. “Now we have $1,500 for our school. It’s amazing!” The fair is designed to show how students are using technology in the classroom. All together, 24 schools entered 31 projects, including such unusual entries as gardening podcasts and cell phone-recharging tennis shoes.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Glover to speak Wednesday at Colorado State University-Pueblo

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e54b9c88db376662890.txt Actor and activist Danny Glover is scheduled to speak Wednesday as part of Colorado State University-Pueblo's Distinguished Speaker Series. Glover is expected to speak on Martin Luther King Jr. and Langston Hughes. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Hoag Recital Hall. Glover, a 64-year-old San Francisco native, is perhaps best known for his role in the "Lethal Weapon" film franchise along with Mel Gibson. A five-time Emmy winner, Glover's breakthrough film role was in "The Color Purple," but he earned a role on Broadway a few years before in the play about South African apartheid, "Master Harold . . . and the Boys." Last year, Glover was in the disaster film "2012," and he is currently shooting a movie in Utah titled, "Dragon Fire."

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Aspen Middle School: Taking to the wilderness - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14349308 Before the 130 Aspen Middle School 8th-graders knuckled down in the classroom to learn metric measurements, parse language structure and analyze constitutional rights last fall, they strapped on heavy backpacks and trooped off into the wilderness. For a week, they backpacked from Aspen to Marble with their teachers, sleeping in tents and cooking over camp stoves. Along the way, they learned about geology, astronomy and cartology. They wrote haikus. They sketched out art projects that were later featured in a school calendar. "The learning that comes with it is profound," said Aspen Middle School principal Tom Heald.

‘Swift Justice’ documentary to show in Greeley | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209747/1002 The documentary film “Swift Justice,” about the 2006 immigration raids on the Swift meat-packing plants in Greeley and other cities, will be shown next Thursday at two libraries. The film, made in Greeley and produced by the Little Voices film production company, concerns the raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on the Greeley Swift plant and other company plants in six states. The raids resulted in the arrest of more than 1,200 people on charges of illegal immigration and identity theft. In Greeley, 262 people were arrested.

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Boulder-area library catalogs go mobile - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14341755 Book lovers on the go now have an easier way to find out if titles are available at Boulder- and Broomfield-area libraries, which have launched a redesigned Web site especially for mobile phones. Card catalogs are the way of the past, according to Matthew Hamilton, the manager for Boulder's library innovation and technology. "We have been seeing increased use of our Web site on mobile devices," Hamilton said. To meet the growing demand, the Flatirons Library Consortium -- made up of the Boulder Library system, the Louisville Public Library and the Broomfield Public Library -- turned to its online vendor.

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Growing Up Boulder holds logo contest - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14351617 Growing Up Boulder, an initiative focused on making the city a better place for children and youth, is asking the community for help selecting a logo. Students from Casey Middle School and Boulder High School submitted nine logos in a contest earlier this month, and youth are urged to vote on their three favorite submissions. A committee will then choose the winning logo from the finalists, and the winning student will get a chance to work with a graphic designer to have the concept logo professionally designed. Voting will be open until Friday. "We`re still working on getting our image out there," said Kendall Frost, a CU student and marketing intern for the group. "Things are just starting to get going. We`re moving from the planning phase to the action phase."

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Greg Mortenson to make trip to Greeley | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209745/1002 Greg Mortenson, who was nominated for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his work building more than 90 schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, will appear in Greeley for a public appearance on Wednesday. Mortenson helped write “Three Cups of Tea,” a national bestseller about his journey to get his organization and goal underway, and he wrote a follow-up to that book, “Stones Into Schools,” on his own. “Three Cups of Tea” was the common read in Greeley late last year. Mortenson was a mountain climber coming down from a rough trip up K2, one of the world's fiercest peaks, when he stumbled onto a village. The people there helped nurse him back to health despite their poverty and, consequently, changed his life after he promised to build them a school.

CU professor Anders Halverson writes book on rainbow trout - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14348854 More than a century ago, America's government leaders wanted to encourage men to get back in touch with their primal abilities because they thought industrialization had diminished their masculinity, according to a new book written by a University of Colorado professor. Their cure was to give them something to capture and kill. And so America's waterways were stocked with a fish that fought the line and gave anglers just enough of a challenge: the rainbow trout. In his new book, "An Entirely Synthetic Fish: How Rainbow Trout Beguiled America and Overran the World," Anders Halverson, an ecologist and research associate at CU's Center of the American West, discusses the history of one of America's favorite game fish. "The thought was that the men will go out and fish, become strong and then democracy will be safe," Halverson said.

CSU student killed on tracks may have been train-hopping - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14341456 A man found dead along railroad track two miles from Keenesburg has been identified as Devon Arnold, a 22-year-old Colorado State University senior majoring in mechanical engineering. Margie Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Weld County Sheriff's Office, said a relative identified Arnold, of Centennial. Arnold disappeared while attending a Nuggets game at the Pepsi Center with Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers and other CSU students. Arnold left his companions a few times during the game, according to Wynn Smiley, ATO's national executive director. The final time he did not return to his seat.

DU to show documentary on Somali crisis - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350728 The documentary "Silent Cry," about a humanitarian crisis facing Somalis in Ogaden, Ethiopia, will be shown for free at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Lindsay Auditorium (at Sturm Hall) at the University of Denver. For more information, contact Patrick Bowen, patrick.bowen@ du.edu, or 303-921-4112. Map at: http://www.du.edu/media/documents/ maps/campusMapPrintable.pdf.

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Children’s Museum hosts Colorado Ballet performances for young dancers - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14356000 Abigail O'Brien, 8, dreams of being a ballerina, but for Christina Schifano, a young dancer with the Colorado Ballet's Studio Company, that dream is a lot closer — though she isn't there yet. On Sunday, Abigail and Schifano crossed paths at the Children's Museum, where the Colorado Ballet performed a quick bit of "Beauty and the Beast," "Cinderella" and "Don Quixote." It was part of the Colorado Ballet's education and outreach program, which serves 60,000 students, parents and educators, said Anne O'Connor, the program's director. And so on Sunday, more than 200 children packed the museum, in two performances, to see Beauty dance with the Beast and Cinderella dance with a broom.

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Creek suspends girls from swim team - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14342369 Several members of the Cherry Creek High School girls swim and dive team have been "suspended from competition," after a report of consuming alcohol, the school district told 9NEWS on Friday. Cherry Creek athletic director Randy McCall would not say how many students were punished, nor the names of the swimmers, nor which meets the swimmers are suspended from. The news comes one week before the Class 5A state swim meet in Fort Collins. The Bruins have won the 5A state championship the last five years and have won 25 state titles since 1974.

Nederland preschool could get approval to reopen Monday - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14344174 An attorney and officials for Nederland's shuttered Over the Rainbow preschool will meet Monday with the Colorado Department of Human Services to try to mediate a way to reopen the school without having to go through the courts, school officials said Friday. The school has been fighting for an “immediate hearing” since the state suspended its child-care license last week because of background-check concerns that authorities uncovered while investigating a teacher on suspicion of sex assault on a child. Boulder County District Court Judge Lael Montgomery on Thursday ordered the state to move ahead in setting an appeal hearing on the license suspension, and on Friday the state agreed to meet with school officials at 9:30 a.m. Monday, said Rachel Matz, president of the school's board of directors.

Former Morrison principal found not guilty in sex-assault case - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350727 The former principal of a private Christian school in Morrison has been acquitted of sex-assault charges. District attorney spokeswoman Pam Russell said a jury returned the verdict late Friday in the case of 36-year-old Daniel Charles Brock of Littleton. Brock testified in his own defense during the trial that started Tuesday in Golden. Brock was accused of sexually assaulting a male student at Silver State Christian School and attempting to molest another.

Durango Herald News, Romanoff stumps in Durango

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Romanoff_stumps_in_Durango/ Andrew Romanoff, who is fighting for the Democratic Party's nomination for U.S. Senate, brought his “Main Street tour" to Southwest Colorado over the weekend with a message of curtailing special interests' influence in Washington. Romanoff is challenging U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who was appointed to the seat after Ken Salazar resigned to become Interior secretary. Romanoff, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, was on the short list for the appointment but was passed over in favor of Bennet, former superintendent of Denver Public Schools and virtually unknown in the world of politics. Romanoff, in an interview Sunday at The Durango Herald, said he's not afraid to stand up to special interests or even his own party, “which is what I'm doing with this campaign, by definition."

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Romanoff brings Senate campaign to valley

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d583816e68967651058.txt Andrew Romanoff brought his U.S. Senate campaign to the San Luis Valley, where he received a bipartisan greeting Friday and heard about the demand for jobs and balancing local concerns on federal lands. The former speaker of the state House of Representatives, who is trying to unseat Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination, made his first stop in the valley since declaring his candidacy in September. "You get a pretty clear sense, I think, from this conversation that folks feel like they get the back end of the deal on economic development efforts," he said. He told the dozen people gathered for lunch at a local restaurant that jobs would be the first plank in his platform. And although the state is unable to offer the economic incentives that others might, Romanoff said the outlook for jobs could improve by focusing on education and infrastructure development. Conejos County Commissioner Joe Mestas said he'd like to see a way for local counties to secure more benefits from federal energy development.

Norton has 14-point lead over Bennet in latest Rasmussen survey | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/norton-has-14-point-lead-over-bennet-in-latest-rasmussen-survey/ Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton cracks the 50-percent-support mark for the first time and leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet by 14 points in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll of Colorado’s U.S. Senate race. Norton, considered the Republican front-runner, leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent in the poll of 500 likely voters conducted Feb. 2. It has a margin of error of 4.5 percent. “This poll reflects exactly what I’m seeing as I travel around this great state,” Norton said in a release. “People want a Senator who will stand up for Colorado values, not an ideologue to rubber-stamp the President’s Big Government policies.” Democrats are skeptical of Rasmussen Reports polls.

Poll: Buck leads over Democratic rivals | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209799/1002 Weld District Attorney Ken Buck leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet 45 percent to 41 percent, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday. Republican front runner former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent, according to the telephone survey of 500 likely Colorado voters conducted this week. The margin of error for the survey is 4.5 percentage points. The margins in both hypothetical races were only slightly changed from a January poll that showed Buck topping Bennet by 5 percentage points and Norton winning by 12 percentage points. Buck, Norton and former state Sen. Tom Wiens are the three most prominent candidates for the Republican nomination. The poll shows Wiens topping Bennet 44 percent to 40 percent. On the Democratic side, Bennet faces a primary challenge from former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff. While the poll does not show Romanoff beating any of the three Republican contenders, he does fare better than Bennet against Norton, trailing 45 percent to 38 percent. Romanoff also fares better than Bennet against Wiens, trailing 42 percent to 40 percent. Buck, however, does better against Romanoff than Bennet, leading 45 percent to 39 percent.

Polis spreading the wealth among his Democratic colleagues - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14355357 During his first year in Congress, Boulder`s Jared Polis showed he could raise money like a House veteran, writing checks for fellow freshmen representatives at a rate that rivals the fundraising clout of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Polis` political committee last year doled out more than $400,000 to Democratic members of Congress in swing districts and national political campaign groups. By the end of 2009, the freshman congressman`s fundraising on behalf of Democrats was close to that by Pelosi and other top Democrats. Polis has hosted Pelosi at one of his Colorado fundraisers and traveled to Chicago and New Mexico to raise money and bolster congressmen facing tough re-election campaigns.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Treasurer candidate touts schooling, background

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5541d446f783604323.txt Greenwood Village Republican Walker Stapleton said he's the best choice for state treasurer based on his education and professional background. The grandson of historic Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton and cousin to former President George W. Bush made a campaign stop at Pueblo County Republican headquarters Saturday. As treasurer, Stapleton said he'd wisely manage state funds for the Public Employees' Retirement Association and be an advocate for taxpayers. "I'm proud to say I've never been part of inside politics. I've been involved with building a successful business," the 35-year-old told the small crowd. "Nobody (running for treasurer) has my education background or work experience. I'll be an independent advocate for the taxpayers of Colorado and will build a business-friendly tax environment."

Den Post: Colo. GOP lawmakers heavy on rhetoric light on specifics « Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47137/den-post-colo-gop-lawmakers-heavy-on-rhetoric-light-on-specifics The Denver Post today poked straight-faced fun at state Republican lawmakers this morning, mocking a big budget plan GOP legislative leaders unveiled yesterday. The proposed plan of attack in the ongoing battle over a budget that is short billions in revenue is to cut a lot of programs– and they want Democrats to decide what programs to cut. You can’t give the people behind this plan even a single point for subtlety. You can, however, award lots of points for election-year foolery and comic passing of the buck. The Post story conjures images of Wiley Coyote hauling out one of his ridiculous oversize Road Runner-catching contraptions: We’re for cuts! That is, we’re for you making cuts and us later criticizing the cuts you make!

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tough times, tough week dominate lawmakers’ talk

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5939911ff248335483.txt It wasn't the easiest meal to swallow and the digestion problems had nothing to do with the food. There were no complaints about the chile con juevos at the Pueblo Convention Center on Saturday, but breakfast is never quite appetizing when it's served with talks of balancing a state budget in an economic recession, possible program cuts and legislative defeats. About 130 people turned up for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Breakfast, the first of many chamber-hosted breakfasts throughout the legislative session. The meals are designed to let elected officials divulge their work at the state capitol and answer questions from the community.

Durango Herald News, ‘Amazon tax’ roils Colorado retailers

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/Amazon_tax_roils_Colorado_retailers/ The list price for Dan Brown's latest Masonic mystery, “The Lost Symbol," is $29.95. At a Colorado bookstore, buyers can expect to pay another 86 cents in state sales tax, plus local taxes. On Amazon.com, “The Lost Symbol" sells for $12 plus shipping costs. Tax free. And it's the tax-free part that's not fair, said Peter Schertz, co-owner of Maria's Bookshop in Durango. “What we're asking for as a very small bookstore is just a level playing field," Schertz said. He is willing to compete with Amazon and other Internet sites, and Maria's has its own Web site, so customers don't even need to visit the downtown Durango store. But people who buy from Maria's online have to pay sales tax.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tax bill affecting steel mill progresses

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d4c7b2d253717183772.txt A bill that representatives of Pueblo's steel mill say would cost the plant $2 million annually continued to move through the Legislature on Friday as part of a package of proposed tax-break repeals. On Thursday, over the objections of the United Steelworkers of America and management at Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, the Senate Finance Committee passed HB1190, which proposes to lift the tax exemption on energy used in manufacturing. Friday morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill, clearing the way for debate on the Senate floor. The bill was not heard Friday afternoon in the Senate. It got there along with eight others that would lift or suspend tax exemptions on everything from candy to online purchases and bull semen, and the Senate managed to heard debate on just the first.

Opposition warns tax hikes in state may mean layoffs - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_14345819 Steel workers and Coke and Pepsi bottlers have lined up to oppose a package of tax hikes to balance the state budget, saying the cuts will lead to layoffs. Also worried about their livelihoods are farmers on tight margins who would have to pay sales tax on pesticides, and small home-based Internet businesses that link people to online retailers like Amazon. Meanwhile, education groups and advocates for the developmentally disabled and low-income people who rely on government programs are urging lawmakers to pass the tax increases -- which the full Senate began debating Friday -- and avoid teacher layoffs and cuts to safety net spending. In the middle are lawmakers who must find a way to close a $1.5 billion shortfall in this year and next year`s budget, and Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided on how to do that. Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter proposed ending or suspending 13 tax credits and sales tax exemptions to raise about $125 million next year, and majority Democrats have been backing that plan in the Legislature. Republicans say they want Ritter to cut more, pointing out that most of the budget balancing during the recession has involved one-time fixes rather than reduced spending.

Footing the bill for bills | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/footing_the_bill_for_bills With a $1.5 billion fault line preparing to level any attempts to add costs to the 2010-11 state budget, passing a bill with a large fiscal note could prove a difficult task this spring. But that won’t stop bills from appearing with fiscal notes. Already, 101 bills have been introduced that carry a fiscal note that include an expenditure increase or reduction and/or a revenue increase or reduction. Here are the most and least pricey bills suggested so far. All prices apply to 2010-11 and expenditures do not account for revenue adjustments in the bills or vice versa.

Proposals loosen up liquor business | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/proposals_loosen_up_liquor_bus Grand Junction liquor store owner Brandi Fisher—Pollock isn’t at all happy with two bills that could take sales away from her and others in the liquor business. Under two measures working their way through the Colorado Legislature, convenience stores would be able to sell full-strength beer, and grocers could buy out nearby liquor outlets. Though Fisher-Pollock said the bills are better than an unrestricted opening of all liquor sales for convenience and grocery stores, she still is actively opposing them and letting others in the business know they should, too. “If they’re going to do a law trying to restrict the saturation of liquor licenses, they need to do a lot more than that,” said Fisher-Pollock, who’s been meeting with other liquor store owners in Grand Junction about the bills.

Lawmakers tussle over bill that would ease insurance gender discrimination « Colorado Independe

http://coloradoindependent.com/47106/lawmakers-tussle-over-bill-that-would-ease-health-insurance-gender-discrimination A packed hearing Thursday for a bill that seeks to address wide differences in cost based on gender in the individual health insurance market in Colorado saw clashes erupt between male and female members of the committee. House Bill 1008, sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge, seeks to distribute and lower those costs for women who don’t have employer or state health plans. The motion ultimately passed out of committee on an 8 to 2 vote. “Women pay up to 59 percent more than men of the same age with 90 percent of private insurance companies, even though as a whole women tend to have less claims than men, irrespective of maternity coverage.” Mcann told the committee.

House to hear DUI felony bill | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/07/house-to-hear-dui-felony-bill-monday/ A bill that makes a third DUI conviction a felony is scheduled to be heard Monday afternoon by a House committee. House Bill 1184 doesn’t have a fiscal note attached to it yet but several Capitol observors say they believe the price tag will be too prohibitive for the budget-challenged state. The sponsor, Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said he expects to see the fiscal note on Monday. He said during testimony he is going to propose ways to cut the budget and use that savings to be able to incarcerate repeat DUI offenders. His budget-cutting proposals include eliminating a front license plate, which will save around $4 million, and reducing dues and membership fees the state pays to belong to a variety of organizations. “I think it’s important enough to try to find a way to pay for it,” Gardner said. Gardner’s measure is one of seven bills the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled to hear Monday afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. The hearing was moved to the Old Supreme Court chambers because a crowd is expected to testify on a river navigation measure.

Repeat DUI offenders must get jail terms, panel says - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345677 A state criminal-justice commission agreed Friday that repeat DUI offenders in Colorado must go to jail. The commission endorsed a legislative proposal that would mandate a jail term of 10 days to a year for a second drunken-driving offense and 60 days to a year for third or subsequent offenses. In addition, repeat offenders would face two years of supervision by probation officers and the threat of up to an additional year in jail for ignoring conditions of probation. Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, the bill's sponsor, said the lengthened probation and suspended jail provisions are intended to provide a potent incentive for counseling and treatment once an offender gets out of jail. "The year is a deposit that the judge can draw against" if the offender ignores probation requirements, she said. "What we're looking for is participation in alcohol treatment."

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Bill to extend nurse tuition forgiveness clears another hurdle

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d539096a75477679958.txt A Senate committee on Friday passed Sen. Abel Tapia's bill proposing to extend eligibility for tuition forgiveness to nurses who achieve advanced degrees. Tapia, D-Pueblo, introduced SB58, which would grant eligibility for student loan forgiveness to nurses who earn advanced degrees and teach their craft on a part-time basis. On Friday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill. Last week it had gained approval from the Senate Finance Committee. Currently, the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program overseen by CollegeInvest applies only to nurses who are teaching full-time. Tapia said funding for the extension already exists through CollegeInvest, and no new spending would be required. When the first tuition loan forgiveness program for nurses was adopted by the Legislature in 2006, it didn't sufficiently extend benefits to lure instructors away from their lucrative field, in Tapia's estimation.

New bill would allow students to transfer credits from for-profit colleges - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355221 Metropolitan State College of Denver is so packed with students that officials are spending $24,000 a semester to rent space at a campus movie theater to hold classes. Though enrollment is up at colleges across the state, those serving high-risk students, such as Metro and community colleges, feel the squeeze the most. Enrollment is up 19 percent since the fall of 2008 at 13 community colleges across Colorado, and nearly 60 programs are full and putting students on wait lists. In November, enrollment at the 13 schools totaled almost 83,000, according to the Colorado Community College System.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Pace’s water transfer bill dies on House floor

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d459507ef5391244397.txt A bill that would have required mitigation agreements between communities where water transfers originate and their destinations died Friday in the House with strong opposition from urban legislators. Rep. Sal Pace's HB1159 was killed on second reading, with 23 members in support and 36 opposed. Two members were absent, and Pace said they may have voted on his side, but wouldn't have affected the outcome. "I'm surprised by the number of people that flipped on me in the last day," said Pace, D-Pueblo. Pace hurried the bill along this week. He wanted it to move quickly because he said he was losing votes with each passing day as metropolitan water interests lobbied lawmakers against it.

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350677 Until a few months ago, J.B. Woods was your standard-issue insurance agent. Auto, home, life. Would you like flood coverage with that? Then, in the middle of 2009, his phone rang: "I need insurance for my medical-marijuana dispensary," the caller said. And since that moment, few of the policies Woods has set up for clients have been standard-issue. Instead, Woods has become the guru of ganja insurance. Property insurance, theft insurance, liability insurance. Woods is now even offering crop insurance, in case a medical-marijuana harvest isn't as bountiful as expected. "They needed an insurance agent who specializes in this area because of all the complexities involved," Woods said.

Windsor struggles to find a resolution | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080324/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Windsor-struggles-to-find-a-resolution Town officials continue to work on a draft ordinance to regulate the sudden growth of medical marijuana dispensaries in Windsor. The Windsor Town Board and Windsor Planning Commission met last week for two hours in a joint session in the Fireside Room at Windsor High School. "It's slow and painful at times, but it's what we have to do to get it right," said Windsor Town Board Trustee Robert Bishop-Cotner. The focus of the meeting was to discuss various definitions of terms as mentioned in Amendment 20, zoning decisions, location issues and signage. The boards discussed at great length how to distinguish between caregiver and commercial caregiver with little resolution. "The definition of caregiver and commercial caregiver might be getting intermingled," said planning commissioner Paul Ehrlich. "Do we want to entertain a definition that can be confusing even though we know they're different?"

Medical marijuana on agenda for Fort Collins officials | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080323/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Medical-marijuana-on-agenda-for-Fort-Collins-officials Medical marijuana caregivers with more than one patient would not be able to grow or distribute products from their homes under regulations proposed by Fort Collins officials. They would not be allowed to grow marijuana outdoors, and their sundry products could only be distributed within city limits. These and a long list of other proposals aimed at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, or MMDs, in Fort Collins are expected to be discussed Tuesday during a City Council work session. Proposed rules for where marijuana dispensaries and "grows" may locate in the city and how they may operate came after researching how other Colorado cities are dealing with the issue and extensive public outreach, said Ginny Sawyer of the city's neighborhood service office.

Northern Colorado expo quietly touts medical marijuana | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070336/1002/Northern-Colorado-expo-quietly-touts-medical-marijuana Tim Gordon wanted to keep his Northern Colorado Medical Cannabis Expo on Saturday as low-key and nonconfrontational as possible. "I'm not trying to step on anybody's feet with this," he said. "I don't want to be aggressive and in-your-face to people who are not interested in medical cannabis." The event assembled dispensaries, legal services and marijuana advocates for a public forum about the state of the medical marijuana community. Speakers included Sensible Colorado, Front Range chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, The Cure Law Office and other political advocates. Gordon is the president of Front Range NORML and co-owner of Medicinal Gardens of Colorado, a medical marijuana dispensary in Fort Collins. He said the quarterly expo is as much for people within the medical marijuana community to come together as it is for the general public. Unity, according to him and others at the expo, is the community's greatest strength.

On the Spot: Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/08/on-the-spot-rep-carole-murray-r-castle-rock/ Carole Murray once worked as a newspaper reporter, but her colleagues don’t hold it against her. Her career also has included a stint as a teacher, director of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and two terms as Douglas County’s elected clerk and recorder. Murray, 61, is married to Lisle Gates, principal of Castle View High School in Castle Rock. Between them, they have five children and eight grandchildren.

Lawmakers seeing red | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/lawmakers-seeing-red/ Even the men got into the act Friday, wearing red to the Capitol as part of National Wear Red Day to raise awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, wore his father’s red aloha tie. Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley, was the showstopper, though, with red pants, sweater and a tie.

Gail Schwartz’s 15 minutes | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/06/gail-schwartzs-15-minutes/ State Sen. Gail Schwartz is quoted in the The New York Times in an article the newspaper ran about geothermal energy and Chaffee County. According to the article, the Bureau of Land Management withdrew for the third time “what could have become Colorado’s first geothermal lease after receiving a slew of questions and complaints from landowners concerned about the impacts potential geothermal developments would have on property values.” Schwartz, a Snowmass Village Democrat who represents a wide swath of Colorado, wrote to the BLM about the lease.

The science of learning - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345651 Think of it as a chemistry experiment: Distill a coherent set of standards with a well-prepared teacher, then light a Bunsen burner under students with the latest technology and other hands-on resources. Performed well, the exercise yields an eighth- grader grounded in science and eager to pursue the discipline into high school and beyond. But economically strapped districts — and that covers most of Colorado — find it increasingly difficult to secure tools vital to the inquiry-based science model embraced as a "best practice." Some schools already worry budget cuts will leave them short of materials, particularly the non-reusable sort such as chemicals, and behind the curve on ever-changing technology.

History lessons vary for Colorado students - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350793 The Great Depression. Stomach-churning slaughterhouse depictions from Upton Sinclair. Immigration. Cubans, the U.S.S. Maine and muckrakers. Prisoners buried alive, upside down, by barbarians. Welcome to history, U.S. and otherwise, as offered in Colorado high schools. It is taught in classrooms with flat-screen TVs and classrooms barely up to code, to students relaxing in armchairs, students with keen interest and big aspirations and students blocking out the whole business with headphones. If government mandates, No Child Left Behind and the Colorado Student Assessment Program have created lock- step, fill-in-the-blank curricula for math and reading, as some claim, there can be no such complaints about history.

Deep K-12 budget cuts will be even deeper than anticipated « Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47153/deep-k-12-budget-cuts-will-be-even-deeper-than-anticipated It’s an election year and Colorado political news readers will be reading a lot about taxing and spending– about the big difference between Democratic and Republican ideas about government. Recession realities, however, are mocking those easy distinctions. Yesterday, legislative staff reported that Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and Democratic-dominated legislature will be slashing state aid to K-12 education next school year by a projected $431 million or 7.5 percent of the current school budget. School administrators believe the cuts will get even larger.

University of Colorado attracts $69M in grants - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14352249 The University of Colorado`s Boulder campus has secured 120 research awards sponsored by federal economic stimulus money, totaling $69 million in grants. The regents, when they meet in Colorado Springs next week, will hear an update on stimulus grants. University-wide, researchers have been awarded 248 grants totaling $123.4 million, according to the school. With the money, CU researchers are conducting a wide variety of projects. Christopher Porter, an assistant professor with CU`s School of Medicine, is exploring whether doctors will one day be able to "turn off" specific genes to make it easier for conventional therapies to kill cancerous cells. In Boulder, assistant computer science professor Katie Siek is developing a technology to help decrease obesity in low-income neighborhoods. Nicholas Seeds, a professor in CU`s School of Medicine, is searching for ways for people with spinal injuries to breathe more easily.

Labor department reps offer in-person answers | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100206/NEWS01/2060332/1002/Labor-department-reps-offer-in-person-answers On Friday morning at the Larimer County Workforce Center, Mike Cech, 56, of Fort Collins glanced down at his watch and realized he should move his car to avoid getting a parking ticket. Chech had been waiting patiently for an hour to visit with a Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's Unemployment Insurance Program representative and anticipated being there at least another hour before having a chance to discuss his unemployment benefits. One of hundreds who filtered through the work force center at 200 W. Oak St., Chech was laid off in November after 20 years with Applied Materials, a semiconductor equipment company in California.

Ben Nighthorse Campbell and the media | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/ben-nighthorse-campbell-and-the-press/ Ben Nighthorse Campbell admits he doesn’t have much use for reporters but he was thrilled to find out one of his favorites returned to the West. The former U.S. senator recently wrote a gushing letter to The Communicator in Santa Rosa, N.M., praising its new editor/owner/reporter/deliveryman/photographer/you get the idea. Campbell said that during his 22 years in office he never met a more “fair or personable reporter” than M.E. Sprengelmeyer, who covered Washington for the Rocky Mountain News until it closed almost a year ago.

Vice President Biden visits Beaver Creek | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100207/VALLEYNEWS/100209901/1001 Gabrie Higbie has been skiing at Beaver Creek for years, but Saturday's run-in with Vice President Joe Biden was one of her most exciting days on the mountain. Higbie, who works for the KZYR, The Zephyr radio station, arrived at Beaver Creek early Saturday morning to drop off her 4-year-old son, Sam, at ski school. When her car was searched by the Secret Service and bomb-sniffing dogs, she said to her son, “Gosh, you would think the president is in town.” She found out later that it was the vice president causing all the commotion. She was in Spruce Saddle on Beaver Creek Mountain when a friend told her that Biden was upstairs. She grabbed her friend Beth McKenzie to see if they could get a closer look.

Feds offer no species protection for pika - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350732 The American pika isn't heading for the endangered species list, but federal scientists say there's no question it bears watching if the West continues to warm. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formally announced its decision Friday that Endangered Species Act protections aren't warranted for the climate-sensitive pika, a mountain-dwelling relative of the rabbit that lives in 10 Western states. Agency officials acknowledge, though, that there's still plenty that's not known about the pika, a species that can be difficult to study because of its remote mountain habitat. A federal biologist said the decision not to list the pika is just the beginning of what's expected to be more intensive monitoring of the secretive species in the coming years.

Durango Herald News, Conoco Phillips to pay $175K fine

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Conoco_Phillips_to_pay_175K_fine/ ConocoPhillips Co. has agreed to pay a hefty fine and install pollution-control equipment to settle alleged Clean Air Act violations on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The company will pay $175,000 in civil penalties in an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the Argenta and Sunnyside compressor stations. ConocoPhillips also agreed to install new equipment and implement practices to reduce emissions and conserve natural gas. “The settlement will formalize ConocoPhillips Co.'s commitment to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, toxic and greenhouse gases, while conservation measures help return valuable natural gas to the marketplace," Carol Rushin, EPA Region 8 acting regional administrator, said in a news release Thursday.

Feds take deliberate approach on oil shale leasing | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209885/1002 Concerns and conflict over the first round of federal oil shale leases in the Rockies have made the government more deliberate in the second round, a federal official said Friday. Alan Gilbert, a senior adviser to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, said during an oil shale forum that a team of federal and state representatives will review the applications from three companies for 160-acre parcels. The leases on public land are for research and development of technology to tap the oil locked in shale under northwest Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. The companies showing progress could expand work to 640 acres. "There is a more deliberate pace, intentionally, toward this second round of leasing," Gilbert said at a daylong oil shale conference by the University of Colorado Law School's Natural Resources Law Center.

Battlement Mesa health studies on track | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100207/VALLEYNEWS/100209897/1001 Garfield County officials are moving ahead with plans to conduct health studies among the residents of Battlement Mesa, in order to better evaluate any health effects related to oil and gas drilling activities in the neighborhood. County environmental health director Jim Rada said he has been regularly meeting, talking and exchanging e-mails with residents, researchers, state agencies, industry representatives and others working to get the studies underway. Rada said he is in touch with national nonprofit foundations that have shown interest in funding a “health impact assessment” that could have ramifications for one company's plans to drill in a residential area.

Garfield County to speak up on drilling plans | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield_county_to_speak_up_on Garfield County plans to raise concerns with the state this month regarding natural gas well-spacing proposals in Battlement Mesa and the Garfield Creek State Wildlife Area near New Castle. County commissioners last week agreed to intervene in applications by Antero Resources at Battlement Mesa and Dejour Energy (USA) Corp. at Garfield Creek. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission plans to consider the applications Feb. 22. The commission’s rules let local governments intervene in such applications to raise environmental, health, safety and welfare concerns. Judy Jordan, the county’s oil and gas liaison, said the concern at Garfield Creek is the potential wildlife impacts of drilling. At Battlement Mesa, Antero’s proposal would allow for one well pad per 40 acres, which is more than is allowed in the development’s zoning, she said.

Aquifer mysteries hold key to effects of uranium mining | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070332/1002/Aquifer-mysteries-hold-key-to-effects-of-uranium-mining The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday a decision about whether Powertech USA will be permitted to conduct an aquifer pump test for its proposed Centennial Project uranium mine northeast of Fort Collins will be announced by mid-April. If approved, Powertech will be allowed to test the feasibility of in situ leach mining for uranium at the Centennial Project site. The test could help regulators find answers to questions about how the underlying aquifer works and how any contamination from the mine could move through it and affect groundwater elsewhere. Powertech's in situ leach mining method would pump a baking-soda-like fluid into the ground, which would loosen uranium from the underground rock formation, then pump the fluid back out of the ground, taking the uranium with it. The proposed pump test would allow Powertech to pump water out of the uranium-containing aquifer, store it and reinject it.

News : Telluride group files legal challenge to Energy Fuels mill water (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e30908d4e9324089686.txt A Telluride conservation nonprofit filed a legal challenge on January 26 in Montrose District Court to the proposed Energy Fuels (EF) Pinon Ridge yellowcake uranium mill, based on their belief that EF cannot prove they have the capacity to exploit and utilize water beneficially, and that they cannot avoid polluted water discharges from the mill. The filing of a “statement of opposition” by Sheep Mountain Alliance (SMA) of Telluride, preceded a separate filing last Tuesday by two groups in Moab, Utah based on similar issues. Both actions are based on Colorado water rights law and are distinct from the current hearings and process to issue a state environmental permit by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The next CDPHE hearing will be in Montrose on February 17.

GarCo wary of accepting pit liners at landfill | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garco_wary_of_accepting_pit_li Garfield County officials want to hear more from the oil and gas industry before spending millions of dollars so its landfill can accept well-pad pit liners. The county is looking at a price tag of nearly $2 million to build a landfill cell capable of accepting the liners, which can be fouled by oil and gas contaminants. New state rules generally require that the liners be removed when a pit is closed rather than being buried on site. But they currently must be shipped outside the county for disposal. County manager Ed Green said the landfill cell would cost about four times as much as a normal cell because it would need to have a liner with leak-detection equipment beneath it and at liner seams. It’s also possible the liners could be characterized as hazardous waste, which would trigger state and federal rules and add to costs. Garfield is the state’s most active county for drilling, and Green said a local disposal site can be an attractive option to help companies comply with the law.

Rifle gas wholesaler sees expanded business in compressed natural gas | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/rifle_gas_wholesaler_sees_expa A Rifle gasoline wholesaler and retailer hopes to open a compressed-natural-gas fueling station this year in Parachute along western Colorado’s Interstate 70 corridor, where no such stations currently are open to the public. Kirk Swallow, president of Swallow Oil, has applied to the town of Parachute for zoning approval to open a compressed-natural-gas fueling station at an existing gasoline station there. He hopes to open it by the end of summer. Swallow also applied for a grant from the Governor’s Energy Office to help him open a second station in Rifle.

Xcel smart grid costs blow up, PUC orders more transparency - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14346139 Xcel Energy has begun charging customers across the state to recoup some of the skyrocketing costs the company has incurred building its smart grid project in Boulder. In response, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission has decided to take a larger role in regulating Xcel's "SmartGridCity," which commissioners say will increase the transparency of the project. The smart grid already allows Xcel to read meters in Boulder remotely, route power around bottle-necked lines and detect power outages without relying on people calling in. Ultimately, the finished system will also allow customers to see real-time data reflecting their energy use and then make energy-conserving decisions about how household appliances draw power and when. When Boulder was chosen for the smart grid project in March 2008, Xcel Energy projected that capital expenditures for the SmartGridCity would be about $15.3 million. By May 2009, Xcel had changed its projected cost to $27.9 million, and now the company believes the total bill will reach $42.1 million, not including the costs of operating and maintaining the new grid.

Basalt mulls building micro-hydro project | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209838/1001 The springs from Basalt Mountain might soon provide more than clean, fresh water to town residents. The town is studying the construction of a micro-hydro plant that would supply enough power to offset use of 30 average homes, according to Town Manager Bill Kane. The micro-hydro project could provide up to 40 kilowatts, he said. The town this spring will apply for a $350,000 grant from the state of Colorado, which has focused on clean energy projects under Gov. Bill Ritter's leadership the past three years. The town might pursue the project even if it doesn't receive state funds, Kane said. The town has a dedicated water fund that it would tap for the project, so it wouldn't require a new tax. Final design and cost estimates aren't available yet. The concept would be to use the pipelines that deliver water from Lucksinger Springs, and possibly Basalt Springs, both of which are on Basalt Mountain, downhill to the town's water filtration plant. A hydroelectric turbine and generator, possibly two, would be added to the delivery lines, according to a prospectus. The power produced from the systems would be connected to the Holy Cross Energy grid.

Water districts voice interest in proposed pipeline | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080306/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Water-districts-voice-interest-in-proposed-pipeline Two Larimer County water districts have said they are interested in receiving water from the Regional Watershed Supply Project, entrepreneur Aaron Million's proposed 560-mile-long pipeline that would bring water from southwest Wyoming to the Front Range. The $3 billion project would take about 250,000 acre-feet of water from the Green River at Flaming Gorge Reservoir, pump it above the Continental Divide along the Interstate 80 corridor and pipe it south to thirsty Front Range communities and water districts. Colorado can take water from Wyoming because the Green River, part of the Colorado River system, briefly enters northwest Colorado, giving the state a right to some of its water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing the feasibility of the project.

Arapahoe County DA’s office accused of blacklisting therapist - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350841 A federal lawsuit was filed Friday against Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers and one of her prosecutors for allegedly "blacklisting" a counselor after she testified for the defense in a case last year. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, claims that after Kris Newland testified for a man accused of child sexual abuse who was later acquitted, the DA's office told the group that directs the referrals to therapists to stop sending cases to Newland. Nearly 80 percent of Newland's referrals came from the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services and the victim's compensation board, which is considered a division of the DA's office. That pretty much put Newland out of business, her attorney said.

CU applies for federal grants to help finish biotechnology hub - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_14343880 The University of Colorado has applied for multi-million dollar federal grants to help finish the construction of its biotechnology building since the cash-strapped state is rejecting the school's funding requests. CU's Boulder campus split the building's construction into two projects so that it could move forward on construction, without depending on state funding. The first phase of the building will be 257,000 square feet, and CU expects it to be finished in fall 2011. The school has plans for a 54,000-square-foot addition, which hinges on funding. Instead of waiting for an economic turn-around at the state level -- which could leave construction on the final wing of the building stalled for an indefinite period of time -- CU is looking for money elsewhere. Russ Moore, interim vice chancellor for research, said CU has applied for two federal stimulus grants from the National Institutes of Health that each amounts to about $15 million. University officials are waiting to hear back from the agency.

Completed Garfield County foreclosures lag behind filings | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100208/VALLEYNEWS/100209889/1001 Although completed foreclosures in 2009 dropped 4 percent in Colorado, the number of foreclosures that went to auction in Garfield County for the most part mirrored the increase in filings as a whole. While the county saw a record 408 foreclosure filings in 2009, up from 108 the previous year, 82 resulted in completed foreclosure sales. That number is up significantly from 10 completed sales in 2008 and 20 sales in 2007, according to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing 4th Quarter 2009 Foreclosure Report issued Feb. 4. The number of completed sales in a year is typically somewhat lower than actual foreclosure filings, explained Bob Slade, deputy public trustee for Garfield County.

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Pueblo West leaders want roads funds

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/local/doc4b6fa4eed8485824670663.txt Roads and money for roads will dominate Monday afternoon's meeting between Pueblo West board members and the Pueblo County commissioners. The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Pueblo West Metropolitan District offices at 109 E. Industrial Blvd. Some Pueblo West board members would like more certainty about $3.5 million the county has promised the district for a roads project. The money comes from a ballot measure passed in 2006 that allows Pueblo County to keep whatever tax money it collected above prior-year limits. The time-out from the state's tax-refunding law was expected to earn the county about $23 million, of which $3.5 million was promised for roads projects in Pueblo West.

Aspen’s December sales tax collections flat | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209830/1001 The city of Aspen's sales tax revenue for December remained flat over the previous year, marking the first time in 15 months that collections weren't in the negative figures. The last time sales tax collections increased over the previous year was in August 2008, when revenue was up 6 percent over the same month in the previous year, according to City Finance Director Don Taylor. Ever since, sales tax revenue has been on the decline. According to the city's consumption tax report, which was released Friday, taxable sales for December were the same as the same month in 2008. However, starting last September, the city's tax rate was reduced from 2.2 percent to 2.1 percent, or stated another way, the rate is now 4.5 percent lower than prior to September.

Durango Herald News, RHA wants HUD change

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/RHA_wants_HUD_change/ The head of a local housing organization is working to make destination cities like Durango more livable for the nonrich. Jennifer Lopez, executive director of Durango's Regional Housing Alliance, and the leaders of nearly a dozen housing organizations from other “gateway communities" in the mountain West want to change the federal government's rules that govern who gets rural housing assistance. Lopez said federal housing programs are “inadequate" here. “There is a serious mismatch between incomes and home prices in La Plata County," said Lopez.

Cracking down on rental homes | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209841/1002 An ever-increasing number of second-home owners in Colorado's mountain towns are renting out their homes as vacation properties. Using online resources like vrbo.com and craigslist.org, many of these property owners are able to handle bookings at a minimal cost without hiring property management firms. But, the majority of these vacation rentals by owner are flying under the radar, not registering with the local government, not applying for business licenses and not paying sales or lodging taxes, according to a study conducted by the Town of Breckenridge last year. Nobody has a solid estimate on how much revenue in Colorado is being lost each year in off-the-books vacation rentals, but in ski towns like Breckenridge, Steamboat and Winter Park, it could add up to tens of thousands of dollars every year. The Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST), an organization of more than 25 municipalities, is looking to pool its resources to crack down on the short-term vacation rental industry. Alone, few towns have the resources to address the problem, which requires tracking down violators who are advertising online and elsewhere and cross-referencing them with licensed business owners and tax filings in each town.

Debate over neighborhood zoning in homestretch - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350676 Roy Vestal and Gosia Kung are neighbors, but they are worlds apart when it comes to how they think Denver should grow. Kung believes the city should encourage more density and make it easier for developers to build duplexes she says are needed to accommodate an expected surge in population. Vestal looks at the large, modern duplex Kung and her husband built in 2008 next to his 1888-era home in the Witter Cofield historic district and grimaces. He and his partner, Leo Fua, view the sleek design of the duplex as jarring when compared with the home they refer to as their "antique." Competing visions of the city's future are colliding as the city of Denver nears a deadline for finalizing an overhaul of zoning laws that will guide development throughout the city for decades to come.

Three Windsor Town Board incumbents won’t run again | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209800/1002 On April 12, when the new Windsor Town Board is sworn in, there will be three new faces behind the podium. At-large members Richard Drake, Nancy Weber and Michael Kelly confirmed Friday they do not intend to seek re-election. “There's an umbrella that everybody's under,” Weber said. “My umbrella includes my husband, my daughters, my friends and my work. Town board is a time consuming commitment, and I don't feel like I could give my husband, my daughters, my friends, my work and the town 110 percent. And at the end of the day, I like to give 110 percent. I don't think it's fair not to give them 110 percent.”

Denver Councilman Lopez to lead neighborhood panel - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350730 Denver City Council President Jeanne Robb on Thursday appointed Councilman Paul Lopez as chairman of the council's Neighborhood, Community and Business Revitalization Committee, effective Wednesday. Lopez will replace Councilman Rick Garcia as the chairman of the committee. Garcia is leaving his council post to become a regional director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The committee addresses legislation on housing, human services, small business development and improvement districts in Denver's neighborhoods.

Nunn board fires its town clerk | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209802/1002 The controversy infesting Nunn's town board has claimed another official. On Thursday night, town clerk, town treasurer and court clerk Tori McMechan was fired after a public hearing that lasted 41⁄2 hours. The hearing featured witnesses accusing McMechan of willfully committing rule violations and incompetence. On Dec. 28, four new trustees and a new mayor were sworn in following a mass town board recall. Mayor Joe Bagby, who had been elected following the recall and sworn in that night, resigned shortly afterward. Mayor pro tem Tom Bender is serving as the town's mayor until April's upcoming municipal elections. The root of much of the larger quarrel originated in disagreements about a proposed uranium mine, which have been ongoing for months, but heated up last summer.

Glenwood chamber, council at odds over tourism contract | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100206/VALLEYNEWS/100209914/1001 The Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association and the Glenwood City Council had a heated debate on whether or not the city should open the tourism promotion contract to a public bidding process. The Glenwood Chamber has been awarded the contract on an annual basis for the past 22 years as a sole-source no-bid contract. However, some council members strongly suggested that the process be changed. Typically, sole-source contracts are issued in situations where only one person or company can provide the contractual services needed. Some council members thought that not issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) went against their oath as public stewards. “I took an oath to represent the people the best way that I could,” said Councilor Leo McKinney. “And giving money away in a no-bid situation, I don't feel that I'm living up to that standard.”

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Bridge, school officers to lead council agenda

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/local/doc4b6f9d740ba78727231143.txt Agreeing to provide maintenance work on the new Fourth Street bridge and extending the agreement to provide police officers in Pueblo City Schools are two items on City Council's agenda for its regular meeting Monday night at City Hall. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in council chambers. It will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. work session. At the work session, council is scheduled to receive a report from Colorado Department of Transportation officials on the future design of the Interstate 25 corridor.

The Longmont Times-Call - Park is offered as city ‘buffer’

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20700 Firestone has offered to put a park and a trail corridor on its disputed border with Longmont. The proposed 40-foot-wide corridor would initially follow Fairview Street north from Colo. 119, before angling northeast near Union Reservoir to join a new 10-acre park. That also follows the western edge of the town’s Firelight and Union annexations, which sits on Longmont’s eastern city limits. “That provides a buffer,” said Firestone Mayor Chad Auer, who also discussed the proposal with the town’s planning commission earlier in the week. “From our perspective, it’s the best we can do.” Firestone has the authority to set aside up to 10 percent of an annexation for parks and open space.

Local vehicle fleet managers gain ‘green’ tips | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100206/VALLEYNEWS/100209915/1001 Converting a government or private vehicle fleet to become more green isn't a move that can be made overnight, according clean energy vehicle technology consultant Michael Ogburn. Instead, there needs to be a clear policy and specific goals, following a plan that can be implemented over a period of time with measurable results, he said. Ogburn works with Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) and the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative (G-NECI), organizers of the “Vehicle Fleets in the Clean Energy Economy” workshop, held Friday at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. The workshop brought together public and private fleet managers, energy industry representatives and local and state government officials to discuss methods of reducing costs by turning to the use of more energy-efficient vehicles and alternative fuels.

The Longmont Times-Call - SVVSD plans extra days

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20676 A couple of hundred students from Rocky Mountain and Spangler elementary schools are going to have short summer vacations. The St. Vrain Valley School District plans to add seven weeks of summer school for the lowest-performing students at those schools. The Success for All Students program is estimated to cost $84,775 per school for one year, said Regina Renaldi, director of priority schools. In addition to summer school, the program includes before- and after-school programs, opening the schools’ libraries once a week during the summer, and providing a liaison between the schools and the parents in the two schools. “We want to be really clear we’re going to go the extra mile to get everyone involved,” Renaldi said.

D-11 summer school, jobs on chopping block | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/summer-93758-school-jobs.html About $7 million in proposed cuts in Colorado Springs School District 11 that were laid on the table this week by district administrators would eliminate summer learning programs and cut 47 jobs. The instructional services budget, which includes money for programs for special needs and gifted students, would take a 32 percent budget cut — with about 40 percent of that coming from the summer programs. The proposals were presented to the D-11 board with the endorsement of a citizen oversight committee, which also submitted proposals for deeper cuts that may be necessary. Among those ideas: employee furloughs, fewer assistant principals, no busing, a 1 percent across-the-board pay reduction and elimination of library technology educators. The group, the budget subcommittee of the District Advisory and Accountability Committee, also suggested increasing athletic and rental fees and contracting out some custodial work. The district might have to cut as much as $16 million from its general fund budget, which this year was $225 million.

Two seek mayor post in Dillon | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209842/1001 Barbara Davis's second term as Dillon's mayor is done in April, and two councilmen have thrown their hats in the ring for the seat. Don Parsons and Ron Holland have both officially announced their intent to run for mayor. Election day is April 6. Both men are already ensconced in town politics — Parsons has put in four years on Dillon's council and two years on its planning commission; Holland has spent two years on the council as well.

PSD panel wants Red Feather to stay open | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070331/1002/PSD-panel-wants-Red-Feather-to-stay-open Red Feather Elementary School, a small mountain school, will remain open if a Poudre School District Feasibility Committee recommendation stands. The committee voted 14-0 Friday night to not close the school after several months of study and discussion. Residents in the village had united in an impassioned effort to keep the school open. The feasibility committee was formed in October and tasked with recommending how to help balance school enrollment across the district and to more efficiently use the district's facilities. Among its responsibilities was making a recommendation on whether the school should be closed. With 35 students, Red Feather Elementary is located in Red Feather Lakes, northwest of Fort Collins. If PSD were to close the school, students would be bused to Livermore Elementary School about 24 miles away.

Denver teachers won’t be forced into most troubled schools anymore - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345676 Veteran Denver teachers who can't find a job in the district won't be assigned to the city's most troubled schools next year, according to a new edict by Superintendent Tom Boasberg. The rule changes Denver Public Schools' direct-placement system, which disproportionately shunted unassigned, tenured teachers into the poorest and neediest schools. "I believe the practice is wrong," Boasberg said in an e-mail to principals Friday. "It is bad for our students, our teachers and our schools." School districts around the nation are changing the way they assign tenured teachers, who under labor agreements and state laws are assured classroom positions even if schools don't want them. Denver's change comes as state lawmakers contemplating changes to state laws that govern teacher tenure and forced placement.

News : Patterson kicks off campaign (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6cd2a2e721c072258710.txt Bill Patterson, candidate for the Montrose City Council’s at-large seat, will launch his campaign at 4:30 p.m. Monday on the steps of the former Elks Civic Building, 107 S. Cascade Ave. Patterson also will hold a “meet the candidate” event at 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Sandtrap Restaurant, 1350 Birch St.

Mapleton district to close two low-achieving schools - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345369 Low enrollment and test scores led the Mapleton School Board this week to vote to close two struggling schools and to make other changes in the small district in Adams County. The board decided to shutter Welby New Technology High School and the Enrichment Academy. Welby is below the state median in improvement in all subjects, according to the district. With an enrollment of 201, it is just half full, and student achievement has slipped — 7 percent of students were proficient in math, 17 percent in writing and 38 percent in reading. At Enrichment Academy, a K-6 school with an enrollment of 207, students are 31 percent proficient at math and reading and 26 percent proficient at writing. The school is half-filled, and improvement rates are at or below the state median, officials said.

Depths of winter, potholes | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/depths_of_winter_potholes They hide on streets and lurk in parking lots. Unsuspecting drivers may not realize their presence until they’re virtually on top of them. By then, it’s too late to avoid them, and another victim has been claimed. They are potholes, and thanks to a persistent blanket of snow and deep freeze that has locked temperatures below 40 degrees for the better part of the past two months, they’re bigger and more prevalent this winter than in years past. That means busy days for public works crews across the Grand Valley, their repair work a strain on local government budgets already struggling with revenue shortfalls. It also means frustration for motorists who risk an appointment with an auto repair shop every time they venture onto the road.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Alamosa weighs City Hall options

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d577a207fc759347855.txt City council could see a series of votes to finance a new City Hall as early as next month, City Manager Nathan Cherpeski said Wednesday. Council signed off on a location in September, picking the existing City Hall site near Cole Park as the ideal site for the new City Hall and library and the renovation of the existing building to house its police and fire departments. Council is considering the project because its existing facility is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The panel also hopes to catch up with a population that has grown 40 percent since the current building was built in 1960. But council still has to decide how it would finance the roughly $7 million project.

‘CityWorks’ offers residents insight, education | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/OPINION01/2080314/1014/OPINION/ CityWorks offers residents insight education It's still possible to fight City Hall and win. But sometimes a little understanding, formed from education and experience, is a better approach. The city of Fort Collins is offering residents a unique view into their own municipal government through CityWorks 101 - a free series of interactive classes designed to teach residents about how the city operates and to develop future leaders from civically engaged residents. The 2010 class is March 25-May 15. Applications are available online at http://www.fcgov.com and are due Feb. 26. Topics include form of government; city involvement; development review and city planning; police services; utilities; transportation; natural resources and natural area; culture, recreation and parks; and budgeting and economic development.

Fruita police building’s needs taking a back seat — for now | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/fruita_police_buildings_needs Fruita Police Chief Mark Angelo is a patient man, both by choice and circumstance. He and his staff of 16 sworn officers are facing space, operational and security limitations in the Fruita police station at 101 W. McCune Ave., which was built in 1981 and formerly housed a bank and City Hall. But any effort to address those issues is taking a back seat for the time being, given the roughly $40 million the city is investing in building a new wastewater treatment plant and a community center. The city budgeted $200,000 in capital funding in 2009 and plans to set aside that same amount this year and in 2011 for the Police Department. But Angelo said he returned last year’s allocation to help alleviate a budget shortfall and likely won’t spend capital money this year or next because he doesn’t want to invest in any quick fixes.

Pitkin County debates its housing options | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209837/1001 Investing in the city of Aspen's Burlingame Ranch worker housing development is not the only option available to Pitkin County as it looks to best leverage about $9 million in accumulated housing funds, commissioners agreed during a retreat last week in Redstone. That was about the only conclusion commissioners could agree upon as they debated whether the county housing dollars should be spent in Aspen or elsewhere in the valley. Commissioners have been mulling their options for about a year, ever since they first announced they had money they'd like to spend on worker housing and put out a call for partnerships and proposals. Some 30 to 40 opportunities have been analyzed, but commissioners have yet to pull the trigger on any of them. “The only thing holding it up is the failure to make a decision,” County Attorney John Ely told commissioners, some of whom are apparently frustrated by the inaction.

Pedicabs’ free range curtailed at Pepsi Center, Mile High - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14345392 To tame the pedicab pandemonium on Denver's streets, two sports venues have worked out some rules of engagement with the pedal pushers. Some drivers say the new rules are cutting into their nightly pay for propelling passengers on the three-wheeled vehicles. But other drivers and officials of the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field at Mile High say that a growing number of aggressive drivers brought the changes upon themselves. "In all honesty, it's chaos out there," said Greg Duran, who has operated a pedicab company and been a driver for half a dozen years. Complaints were mounting about pedicabs flying through parking lots, cutting across grass, careening through crowds on sidewalks and being a bit too zealous in soliciting customers. "I'm sure it was just a few guys, but it created the feeling for change," said Scott Gales, spokesman for Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which owns the Pepsi Center.

Durango Herald News, Chimney Rock lookout will be scrapped in fall

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/06/Chimney_Rock_lookout_will_be_scrapped_in_fall/ The U.S. Forest Service next fall will remove a modern-era lookout tower at Chimney Rock because it obstructs visitors' ability to view astronomical alignments from culturally significant locations in the archaeological area. As part of the project, a nonfunctioning toilet will be removed and a wall in the upper parking area will be repaired. U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, is trying to make Chimney Rock Archaeological Area a national monument. The 3,160-acre archaeological area between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs in the San Juan National Forest is known for its two asymmetrical rock spires.

Durango Herald News, Charter school backers gather

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/Charter_school_backers_gather/ Organizers of the proposed Mountain Middle School, who were forced to wait at least a year to obtain a charter to open, now are looking to form a loose home-schooling consortium in 2010-11. Nancy Heleno, the Durango woman leading the effort to found Mountain Middle School, met with interested parents Thursday at the Crossroads building. She encouraged parents to look into Colorado Virtual Academy, an online charter school. “There are a variety of different ways we can make it happen," Heleno told a group of about 18 parents. Backers withdrew Mountain Middle School's application for a charter to open in 2010-11 after questions from the Colorado Charter School Institute. State officials encouraged the applicants to wait a year, when new state content standards take effect.

Aspen’s $1 million decision: the architect for Burlingame | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209835/1001 The Aspen City Council on Monday will have to make the unpopular decision to either select a local architectural firm to design a city-developed housing project or pick an out-of-town company that is willing to do the work for $1 million less. The majority of the council last month informally decided to award a $1.6 million contract to Boulder-based Oz Architecture to design the final phases of Burlingame Ranch, located off Highway 82 across from Buttermilk. But when questions arose about whether Oz might have underbid the project or wasn't providing the same level of services as its competitor, the Aspen-based Poss Architecture Planning, the council put the decision off so city officials could gather more information to back up their recommendation to select the out-of-town firm.

Superior Historical Museum to open - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/superior-news/ci_14338765 The Superior Historical Commission set a goal more than a decade ago of opening a museum to highlight the town's coal mining past. Saturday, the volunteer group can check that one off its list. The museum, an old Superior mining camp house that was rescued from a farm in Broomfield and restored at Ted Asti Park in Superior's Original Town, will open to the public for the first time Saturday. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of every month. "We're doing what we can to preserve the history of Superior," said Larry Dorsey, chairman of the Historical Commission. "We're very proud of what we've got here."

News : City’s ‘Employee of the Year’ leaving Montrose (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6cd2661a6ce651118892.txt City Engineer Jason Ullmann, who last month was named Montrose employee of the year, is resigning effective Feb. 26 to become the Colorado Division of Water Resources’ assistant division engineer for the Gunnison River Basin. “It is disappointing to see Jason leave,” City Manager Mary Watt said in a news release. “He has done much to improve the city’s infrastructure and to make Montrose a better place to live and work. He leaves a big hole on the staff, but I am happy that he is advancing professionally. His new position is a wonderful opportunity for him, and he will continue to contribute to the vitality of the Montrose area.”

Craig Daily Press / Dinosaur National Monument staff receives regional honor

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2010/feb/06/dinosaur-national-monument-staff-receives-regional/ Dinosaur National Monument staff earned an Intermountain Region Wilderness Stewardship Award for a recent project of removing old structures from the Jones Hole area, according to a news release. During the summer, about 14 staff members worked on the project to “re-establish the wilderness character of the area,” the news release stated. In the north end of the monument, several 1960s structures stood about a quarter-mile from the Green River and four miles from the nearest road.

The Longmont Times-Call - Public invited to discuss Lagerman lands

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20701 People can offer suggestions about Boulder County’s future management of 1,520 acres around Lagerman Reservoir during a Wednesday night open house at the county Parks and Open Space Department’s headquarters. The Parks and Open Space Department is inviting discussion of “interests, values, needs and concerns” about the Lagerman/Imel Open Space Complex, eight publicly owned properties in an area southwest of Longmont and north of Niwot. Boulder County owns six of those eight properties jointly with the city of Boulder and is the sole owner of the other two.

Durango Herald News, Romanoff stumps in Durango

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Romanoff_stumps_in_Durango/ Andrew Romanoff, who is fighting for the Democratic Party's nomination for U.S. Senate, brought his “Main Street tour" to Southwest Colorado over the weekend with a message of curtailing special interests' influence in Washington. Romanoff is challenging U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who was appointed to the seat after Ken Salazar resigned to become Interior secretary. Romanoff, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, was on the short list for the appointment but was passed over in favor of Bennet, former superintendent of Denver Public Schools and virtually unknown in the world of politics. Romanoff, in an interview Sunday at The Durango Herald, said he's not afraid to stand up to special interests or even his own party, “which is what I'm doing with this campaign, by definition."

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Romanoff brings Senate campaign to valley

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d583816e68967651058.txt Andrew Romanoff brought his U.S. Senate campaign to the San Luis Valley, where he received a bipartisan greeting Friday and heard about the demand for jobs and balancing local concerns on federal lands. The former speaker of the state House of Representatives, who is trying to unseat Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination, made his first stop in the valley since declaring his candidacy in September. "You get a pretty clear sense, I think, from this conversation that folks feel like they get the back end of the deal on economic development efforts," he said. He told the dozen people gathered for lunch at a local restaurant that jobs would be the first plank in his platform. And although the state is unable to offer the economic incentives that others might, Romanoff said the outlook for jobs could improve by focusing on education and infrastructure development. Conejos County Commissioner Joe Mestas said he'd like to see a way for local counties to secure more benefits from federal energy development.

Norton has 14-point lead over Bennet in latest Rasmussen survey | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/norton-has-14-point-lead-over-bennet-in-latest-rasmussen-survey/ Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton cracks the 50-percent-support mark for the first time and leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet by 14 points in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll of Colorado’s U.S. Senate race. Norton, considered the Republican front-runner, leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent in the poll of 500 likely voters conducted Feb. 2. It has a margin of error of 4.5 percent. “This poll reflects exactly what I’m seeing as I travel around this great state,” Norton said in a release. “People want a Senator who will stand up for Colorado values, not an ideologue to rubber-stamp the President’s Big Government policies.” Democrats are skeptical of Rasmussen Reports polls.

Poll: Buck leads over Democratic rivals | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209799/1002 Weld District Attorney Ken Buck leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet 45 percent to 41 percent, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday. Republican front runner former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent, according to the telephone survey of 500 likely Colorado voters conducted this week. The margin of error for the survey is 4.5 percentage points. The margins in both hypothetical races were only slightly changed from a January poll that showed Buck topping Bennet by 5 percentage points and Norton winning by 12 percentage points. Buck, Norton and former state Sen. Tom Wiens are the three most prominent candidates for the Republican nomination. The poll shows Wiens topping Bennet 44 percent to 40 percent. On the Democratic side, Bennet faces a primary challenge from former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff. While the poll does not show Romanoff beating any of the three Republican contenders, he does fare better than Bennet against Norton, trailing 45 percent to 38 percent. Romanoff also fares better than Bennet against Wiens, trailing 42 percent to 40 percent. Buck, however, does better against Romanoff than Bennet, leading 45 percent to 39 percent.

Polis spreading the wealth among his Democratic colleagues - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14355357 During his first year in Congress, Boulder`s Jared Polis showed he could raise money like a House veteran, writing checks for fellow freshmen representatives at a rate that rivals the fundraising clout of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Polis` political committee last year doled out more than $400,000 to Democratic members of Congress in swing districts and national political campaign groups. By the end of 2009, the freshman congressman`s fundraising on behalf of Democrats was close to that by Pelosi and other top Democrats. Polis has hosted Pelosi at one of his Colorado fundraisers and traveled to Chicago and New Mexico to raise money and bolster congressmen facing tough re-election campaigns.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Treasurer candidate touts schooling, background

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5541d446f783604323.txt Greenwood Village Republican Walker Stapleton said he's the best choice for state treasurer based on his education and professional background. The grandson of historic Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton and cousin to former President George W. Bush made a campaign stop at Pueblo County Republican headquarters Saturday. As treasurer, Stapleton said he'd wisely manage state funds for the Public Employees' Retirement Association and be an advocate for taxpayers. "I'm proud to say I've never been part of inside politics. I've been involved with building a successful business," the 35-year-old told the small crowd. "Nobody (running for treasurer) has my education background or work experience. I'll be an independent advocate for the taxpayers of Colorado and will build a business-friendly tax environment."

Three Windsor Town Board incumbents won’t run again | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209800/1002 On April 12, when the new Windsor Town Board is sworn in, there will be three new faces behind the podium. At-large members Richard Drake, Nancy Weber and Michael Kelly confirmed Friday they do not intend to seek re-election. “There's an umbrella that everybody's under,” Weber said. “My umbrella includes my husband, my daughters, my friends and my work. Town board is a time consuming commitment, and I don't feel like I could give my husband, my daughters, my friends, my work and the town 110 percent. And at the end of the day, I like to give 110 percent. I don't think it's fair not to give them 110 percent.”

Two seek mayor post in Dillon | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209842/1001 Barbara Davis's second term as Dillon's mayor is done in April, and two councilmen have thrown their hats in the ring for the seat. Don Parsons and Ron Holland have both officially announced their intent to run for mayor. Election day is April 6. Both men are already ensconced in town politics — Parsons has put in four years on Dillon's council and two years on its planning commission; Holland has spent two years on the council as well.

News : Patterson kicks off campaign (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6cd2a2e721c072258710.txt Bill Patterson, candidate for the Montrose City Council’s at-large seat, will launch his campaign at 4:30 p.m. Monday on the steps of the former Elks Civic Building, 107 S. Cascade Ave. Patterson also will hold a “meet the candidate” event at 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Sandtrap Restaurant, 1350 Birch St.

Gail Schwartz’s 15 minutes | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/06/gail-schwartzs-15-minutes/ State Sen. Gail Schwartz is quoted in the The New York Times in an article the newspaper ran about geothermal energy and Chaffee County. According to the article, the Bureau of Land Management withdrew for the third time “what could have become Colorado’s first geothermal lease after receiving a slew of questions and complaints from landowners concerned about the impacts potential geothermal developments would have on property values.” Schwartz, a Snowmass Village Democrat who represents a wide swath of Colorado, wrote to the BLM about the lease.

Durango Herald News, Conoco Phillips to pay $175K fine

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Conoco_Phillips_to_pay_175K_fine/ ConocoPhillips Co. has agreed to pay a hefty fine and install pollution-control equipment to settle alleged Clean Air Act violations on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The company will pay $175,000 in civil penalties in an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the Argenta and Sunnyside compressor stations. ConocoPhillips also agreed to install new equipment and implement practices to reduce emissions and conserve natural gas. “The settlement will formalize ConocoPhillips Co.'s commitment to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, toxic and greenhouse gases, while conservation measures help return valuable natural gas to the marketplace," Carol Rushin, EPA Region 8 acting regional administrator, said in a news release Thursday.

Feds take deliberate approach on oil shale leasing | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209885/1002 Concerns and conflict over the first round of federal oil shale leases in the Rockies have made the government more deliberate in the second round, a federal official said Friday. Alan Gilbert, a senior adviser to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, said during an oil shale forum that a team of federal and state representatives will review the applications from three companies for 160-acre parcels. The leases on public land are for research and development of technology to tap the oil locked in shale under northwest Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. The companies showing progress could expand work to 640 acres. "There is a more deliberate pace, intentionally, toward this second round of leasing," Gilbert said at a daylong oil shale conference by the University of Colorado Law School's Natural Resources Law Center.

Battlement Mesa health studies on track | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100207/VALLEYNEWS/100209897/1001 Garfield County officials are moving ahead with plans to conduct health studies among the residents of Battlement Mesa, in order to better evaluate any health effects related to oil and gas drilling activities in the neighborhood. County environmental health director Jim Rada said he has been regularly meeting, talking and exchanging e-mails with residents, researchers, state agencies, industry representatives and others working to get the studies underway. Rada said he is in touch with national nonprofit foundations that have shown interest in funding a “health impact assessment” that could have ramifications for one company's plans to drill in a residential area.

Garfield County to speak up on drilling plans | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield_county_to_speak_up_on Garfield County plans to raise concerns with the state this month regarding natural gas well-spacing proposals in Battlement Mesa and the Garfield Creek State Wildlife Area near New Castle. County commissioners last week agreed to intervene in applications by Antero Resources at Battlement Mesa and Dejour Energy (USA) Corp. at Garfield Creek. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission plans to consider the applications Feb. 22. The commission’s rules let local governments intervene in such applications to raise environmental, health, safety and welfare concerns. Judy Jordan, the county’s oil and gas liaison, said the concern at Garfield Creek is the potential wildlife impacts of drilling. At Battlement Mesa, Antero’s proposal would allow for one well pad per 40 acres, which is more than is allowed in the development’s zoning, she said.

Aquifer mysteries hold key to effects of uranium mining | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070332/1002/Aquifer-mysteries-hold-key-to-effects-of-uranium-mining The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday a decision about whether Powertech USA will be permitted to conduct an aquifer pump test for its proposed Centennial Project uranium mine northeast of Fort Collins will be announced by mid-April. If approved, Powertech will be allowed to test the feasibility of in situ leach mining for uranium at the Centennial Project site. The test could help regulators find answers to questions about how the underlying aquifer works and how any contamination from the mine could move through it and affect groundwater elsewhere. Powertech's in situ leach mining method would pump a baking-soda-like fluid into the ground, which would loosen uranium from the underground rock formation, then pump the fluid back out of the ground, taking the uranium with it. The proposed pump test would allow Powertech to pump water out of the uranium-containing aquifer, store it and reinject it.

News : Telluride group files legal challenge to Energy Fuels mill water (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e30908d4e9324089686.txt A Telluride conservation nonprofit filed a legal challenge on January 26 in Montrose District Court to the proposed Energy Fuels (EF) Pinon Ridge yellowcake uranium mill, based on their belief that EF cannot prove they have the capacity to exploit and utilize water beneficially, and that they cannot avoid polluted water discharges from the mill. The filing of a “statement of opposition” by Sheep Mountain Alliance (SMA) of Telluride, preceded a separate filing last Tuesday by two groups in Moab, Utah based on similar issues. Both actions are based on Colorado water rights law and are distinct from the current hearings and process to issue a state environmental permit by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The next CDPHE hearing will be in Montrose on February 17.

GarCo wary of accepting pit liners at landfill | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garco_wary_of_accepting_pit_li Garfield County officials want to hear more from the oil and gas industry before spending millions of dollars so its landfill can accept well-pad pit liners. The county is looking at a price tag of nearly $2 million to build a landfill cell capable of accepting the liners, which can be fouled by oil and gas contaminants. New state rules generally require that the liners be removed when a pit is closed rather than being buried on site. But they currently must be shipped outside the county for disposal. County manager Ed Green said the landfill cell would cost about four times as much as a normal cell because it would need to have a liner with leak-detection equipment beneath it and at liner seams. It’s also possible the liners could be characterized as hazardous waste, which would trigger state and federal rules and add to costs. Garfield is the state’s most active county for drilling, and Green said a local disposal site can be an attractive option to help companies comply with the law.

Rifle gas wholesaler sees expanded business in compressed natural gas | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/rifle_gas_wholesaler_sees_expa A Rifle gasoline wholesaler and retailer hopes to open a compressed-natural-gas fueling station this year in Parachute along western Colorado’s Interstate 70 corridor, where no such stations currently are open to the public. Kirk Swallow, president of Swallow Oil, has applied to the town of Parachute for zoning approval to open a compressed-natural-gas fueling station at an existing gasoline station there. He hopes to open it by the end of summer. Swallow also applied for a grant from the Governor’s Energy Office to help him open a second station in Rifle.

Xcel smart grid costs blow up, PUC orders more transparency - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14346139 Xcel Energy has begun charging customers across the state to recoup some of the skyrocketing costs the company has incurred building its smart grid project in Boulder. In response, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission has decided to take a larger role in regulating Xcel's "SmartGridCity," which commissioners say will increase the transparency of the project. The smart grid already allows Xcel to read meters in Boulder remotely, route power around bottle-necked lines and detect power outages without relying on people calling in. Ultimately, the finished system will also allow customers to see real-time data reflecting their energy use and then make energy-conserving decisions about how household appliances draw power and when. When Boulder was chosen for the smart grid project in March 2008, Xcel Energy projected that capital expenditures for the SmartGridCity would be about $15.3 million. By May 2009, Xcel had changed its projected cost to $27.9 million, and now the company believes the total bill will reach $42.1 million, not including the costs of operating and maintaining the new grid.

Basalt mulls building micro-hydro project | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209838/1001 The springs from Basalt Mountain might soon provide more than clean, fresh water to town residents. The town is studying the construction of a micro-hydro plant that would supply enough power to offset use of 30 average homes, according to Town Manager Bill Kane. The micro-hydro project could provide up to 40 kilowatts, he said. The town this spring will apply for a $350,000 grant from the state of Colorado, which has focused on clean energy projects under Gov. Bill Ritter's leadership the past three years. The town might pursue the project even if it doesn't receive state funds, Kane said. The town has a dedicated water fund that it would tap for the project, so it wouldn't require a new tax. Final design and cost estimates aren't available yet. The concept would be to use the pipelines that deliver water from Lucksinger Springs, and possibly Basalt Springs, both of which are on Basalt Mountain, downhill to the town's water filtration plant. A hydroelectric turbine and generator, possibly two, would be added to the delivery lines, according to a prospectus. The power produced from the systems would be connected to the Holy Cross Energy grid.

Southwestern Colorado turns to sunflowers for energy - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14346721 For 99 years, furnace tenders like "Outback" John Schertz have loaded coal into a giant boiler in the basement of the San Juan County courthouse. Now Schertz is adding sunflower hulls into the flames. Those hulls, pulverized and pressed into green pellets, represent a new twist in a southwestern Colorado attempt to turn sunflowers into fuel. The pellets are made in Dove Creek at San Juan Bioenergy, which started in 2006 as a nonprofit cooperative to produce biodiesel from sunflower oil. The plant changed its business model and product focus as dropping oil prices and the loss of government subsidies for biodiesel made that fuel a less desirable commodity. Today San Juan is a for-profit business creating uses for every scrap of the sunflower. San Juan is extruding food-grade oil from the more than 10,000 acres of sunflowers and safflowers grown in that corner of the state.

Sinclair Oil refinery evacuated - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350735 Officials at a Sinclair Oil refinery in Sinclair say a spill of a substance called gas oil prompted an evacuation of the refinery and that no one was injured. Officials said Friday morning's spill released about 30 barrels of gas oil after the roof of a tank apparently started leaking.

Local vehicle fleet managers gain ‘green’ tips | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100206/VALLEYNEWS/100209915/1001 Converting a government or private vehicle fleet to become more green isn't a move that can be made overnight, according clean energy vehicle technology consultant Michael Ogburn. Instead, there needs to be a clear policy and specific goals, following a plan that can be implemented over a period of time with measurable results, he said. Ogburn works with Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) and the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative (G-NECI), organizers of the “Vehicle Fleets in the Clean Energy Economy” workshop, held Friday at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. The workshop brought together public and private fleet managers, energy industry representatives and local and state government officials to discuss methods of reducing costs by turning to the use of more energy-efficient vehicles and alternative fuels.

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Walsh schools try to harness wind

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/local/doc4b6fa54142570648674429.txt Over the past few years, the breeze in Southeastern Colorado has proven it can turn a profit. The area, whipping with dust and tumble weeds, is home to two of the state's largest wind farms and has several other private projects in the works. The latest attempt to capture the wind and turn it green comes from the Walsh School District. The tiny school district in eastern Baca County is the first in the state to install a Skystream wind turbine under the Colorado Wind for Schools program. The 2.4-kilowatt turbine, which is owned and operated by the school district, stands 45 feet tall on the south side of the high school near a bus barn. The turbine was erected in November and connected with Southeast Colorado Power Association on Dec. 3. It was dedicated at a ceremony held Friday.

Craig Daily Press / HVAC system to save MCHS 20 percent of energy

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2010/feb/08/hvac-system-save-mchs-20-percent-energy/ For the past 20 years, Moffat County High School could never find a balance. Some classrooms were sweltering at about 82 degrees, while, at the same time, another room would be hovering in the low 50s. But the days of calling maintenance to freezing classrooms are coming to a close. In the summer and fall, Haselden Construction worked to install a $650,000 HVAC system, complete with new boilers, to help control temperatures in the building.

Superior Historical Museum to open - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/superior-news/ci_14338765 The Superior Historical Commission set a goal more than a decade ago of opening a museum to highlight the town's coal mining past. Saturday, the volunteer group can check that one off its list. The museum, an old Superior mining camp house that was rescued from a farm in Broomfield and restored at Ted Asti Park in Superior's Original Town, will open to the public for the first time Saturday. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of every month. "We're doing what we can to preserve the history of Superior," said Larry Dorsey, chairman of the Historical Commission. "We're very proud of what we've got here."

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Pace’s water transfer bill dies on House floor

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d459507ef5391244397.txt A bill that would have required mitigation agreements between communities where water transfers originate and their destinations died Friday in the House with strong opposition from urban legislators. Rep. Sal Pace's HB1159 was killed on second reading, with 23 members in support and 36 opposed. Two members were absent, and Pace said they may have voted on his side, but wouldn't have affected the outcome. "I'm surprised by the number of people that flipped on me in the last day," said Pace, D-Pueblo. Pace hurried the bill along this week. He wanted it to move quickly because he said he was losing votes with each passing day as metropolitan water interests lobbied lawmakers against it.

Gail Schwartz’s 15 minutes | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/06/gail-schwartzs-15-minutes/ State Sen. Gail Schwartz is quoted in the The New York Times in an article the newspaper ran about geothermal energy and Chaffee County. According to the article, the Bureau of Land Management withdrew for the third time “what could have become Colorado’s first geothermal lease after receiving a slew of questions and complaints from landowners concerned about the impacts potential geothermal developments would have on property values.” Schwartz, a Snowmass Village Democrat who represents a wide swath of Colorado, wrote to the BLM about the lease.

Feds offer no species protection for pika - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350732 The American pika isn't heading for the endangered species list, but federal scientists say there's no question it bears watching if the West continues to warm. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formally announced its decision Friday that Endangered Species Act protections aren't warranted for the climate-sensitive pika, a mountain-dwelling relative of the rabbit that lives in 10 Western states. Agency officials acknowledge, though, that there's still plenty that's not known about the pika, a species that can be difficult to study because of its remote mountain habitat. A federal biologist said the decision not to list the pika is just the beginning of what's expected to be more intensive monitoring of the secretive species in the coming years.

Durango Herald News, Conoco Phillips to pay $175K fine

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Conoco_Phillips_to_pay_175K_fine/ ConocoPhillips Co. has agreed to pay a hefty fine and install pollution-control equipment to settle alleged Clean Air Act violations on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The company will pay $175,000 in civil penalties in an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the Argenta and Sunnyside compressor stations. ConocoPhillips also agreed to install new equipment and implement practices to reduce emissions and conserve natural gas. “The settlement will formalize ConocoPhillips Co.'s commitment to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, toxic and greenhouse gases, while conservation measures help return valuable natural gas to the marketplace," Carol Rushin, EPA Region 8 acting regional administrator, said in a news release Thursday.

Feds take deliberate approach on oil shale leasing | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209885/1002 Concerns and conflict over the first round of federal oil shale leases in the Rockies have made the government more deliberate in the second round, a federal official said Friday. Alan Gilbert, a senior adviser to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, said during an oil shale forum that a team of federal and state representatives will review the applications from three companies for 160-acre parcels. The leases on public land are for research and development of technology to tap the oil locked in shale under northwest Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. The companies showing progress could expand work to 640 acres. "There is a more deliberate pace, intentionally, toward this second round of leasing," Gilbert said at a daylong oil shale conference by the University of Colorado Law School's Natural Resources Law Center.

Battlement Mesa health studies on track | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100207/VALLEYNEWS/100209897/1001 Garfield County officials are moving ahead with plans to conduct health studies among the residents of Battlement Mesa, in order to better evaluate any health effects related to oil and gas drilling activities in the neighborhood. County environmental health director Jim Rada said he has been regularly meeting, talking and exchanging e-mails with residents, researchers, state agencies, industry representatives and others working to get the studies underway. Rada said he is in touch with national nonprofit foundations that have shown interest in funding a “health impact assessment” that could have ramifications for one company's plans to drill in a residential area.

Garfield County to speak up on drilling plans | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garfield_county_to_speak_up_on Garfield County plans to raise concerns with the state this month regarding natural gas well-spacing proposals in Battlement Mesa and the Garfield Creek State Wildlife Area near New Castle. County commissioners last week agreed to intervene in applications by Antero Resources at Battlement Mesa and Dejour Energy (USA) Corp. at Garfield Creek. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission plans to consider the applications Feb. 22. The commission’s rules let local governments intervene in such applications to raise environmental, health, safety and welfare concerns. Judy Jordan, the county’s oil and gas liaison, said the concern at Garfield Creek is the potential wildlife impacts of drilling. At Battlement Mesa, Antero’s proposal would allow for one well pad per 40 acres, which is more than is allowed in the development’s zoning, she said.

Aquifer mysteries hold key to effects of uranium mining | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070332/1002/Aquifer-mysteries-hold-key-to-effects-of-uranium-mining The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday a decision about whether Powertech USA will be permitted to conduct an aquifer pump test for its proposed Centennial Project uranium mine northeast of Fort Collins will be announced by mid-April. If approved, Powertech will be allowed to test the feasibility of in situ leach mining for uranium at the Centennial Project site. The test could help regulators find answers to questions about how the underlying aquifer works and how any contamination from the mine could move through it and affect groundwater elsewhere. Powertech's in situ leach mining method would pump a baking-soda-like fluid into the ground, which would loosen uranium from the underground rock formation, then pump the fluid back out of the ground, taking the uranium with it. The proposed pump test would allow Powertech to pump water out of the uranium-containing aquifer, store it and reinject it.

News : Telluride group files legal challenge to Energy Fuels mill water (Montrose, CO)

http://montrosepress.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e30908d4e9324089686.txt A Telluride conservation nonprofit filed a legal challenge on January 26 in Montrose District Court to the proposed Energy Fuels (EF) Pinon Ridge yellowcake uranium mill, based on their belief that EF cannot prove they have the capacity to exploit and utilize water beneficially, and that they cannot avoid polluted water discharges from the mill. The filing of a “statement of opposition” by Sheep Mountain Alliance (SMA) of Telluride, preceded a separate filing last Tuesday by two groups in Moab, Utah based on similar issues. Both actions are based on Colorado water rights law and are distinct from the current hearings and process to issue a state environmental permit by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The next CDPHE hearing will be in Montrose on February 17.

GarCo wary of accepting pit liners at landfill | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/garco_wary_of_accepting_pit_li Garfield County officials want to hear more from the oil and gas industry before spending millions of dollars so its landfill can accept well-pad pit liners. The county is looking at a price tag of nearly $2 million to build a landfill cell capable of accepting the liners, which can be fouled by oil and gas contaminants. New state rules generally require that the liners be removed when a pit is closed rather than being buried on site. But they currently must be shipped outside the county for disposal. County manager Ed Green said the landfill cell would cost about four times as much as a normal cell because it would need to have a liner with leak-detection equipment beneath it and at liner seams. It’s also possible the liners could be characterized as hazardous waste, which would trigger state and federal rules and add to costs. Garfield is the state’s most active county for drilling, and Green said a local disposal site can be an attractive option to help companies comply with the law.

Rifle gas wholesaler sees expanded business in compressed natural gas | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/rifle_gas_wholesaler_sees_expa A Rifle gasoline wholesaler and retailer hopes to open a compressed-natural-gas fueling station this year in Parachute along western Colorado’s Interstate 70 corridor, where no such stations currently are open to the public. Kirk Swallow, president of Swallow Oil, has applied to the town of Parachute for zoning approval to open a compressed-natural-gas fueling station at an existing gasoline station there. He hopes to open it by the end of summer. Swallow also applied for a grant from the Governor’s Energy Office to help him open a second station in Rifle.

Xcel smart grid costs blow up, PUC orders more transparency - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14346139 Xcel Energy has begun charging customers across the state to recoup some of the skyrocketing costs the company has incurred building its smart grid project in Boulder. In response, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission has decided to take a larger role in regulating Xcel's "SmartGridCity," which commissioners say will increase the transparency of the project. The smart grid already allows Xcel to read meters in Boulder remotely, route power around bottle-necked lines and detect power outages without relying on people calling in. Ultimately, the finished system will also allow customers to see real-time data reflecting their energy use and then make energy-conserving decisions about how household appliances draw power and when. When Boulder was chosen for the smart grid project in March 2008, Xcel Energy projected that capital expenditures for the SmartGridCity would be about $15.3 million. By May 2009, Xcel had changed its projected cost to $27.9 million, and now the company believes the total bill will reach $42.1 million, not including the costs of operating and maintaining the new grid.

Basalt mulls building micro-hydro project | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209838/1001 The springs from Basalt Mountain might soon provide more than clean, fresh water to town residents. The town is studying the construction of a micro-hydro plant that would supply enough power to offset use of 30 average homes, according to Town Manager Bill Kane. The micro-hydro project could provide up to 40 kilowatts, he said. The town this spring will apply for a $350,000 grant from the state of Colorado, which has focused on clean energy projects under Gov. Bill Ritter's leadership the past three years. The town might pursue the project even if it doesn't receive state funds, Kane said. The town has a dedicated water fund that it would tap for the project, so it wouldn't require a new tax. Final design and cost estimates aren't available yet. The concept would be to use the pipelines that deliver water from Lucksinger Springs, and possibly Basalt Springs, both of which are on Basalt Mountain, downhill to the town's water filtration plant. A hydroelectric turbine and generator, possibly two, would be added to the delivery lines, according to a prospectus. The power produced from the systems would be connected to the Holy Cross Energy grid.

Water districts voice interest in proposed pipeline | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080306/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Water-districts-voice-interest-in-proposed-pipeline Two Larimer County water districts have said they are interested in receiving water from the Regional Watershed Supply Project, entrepreneur Aaron Million's proposed 560-mile-long pipeline that would bring water from southwest Wyoming to the Front Range. The $3 billion project would take about 250,000 acre-feet of water from the Green River at Flaming Gorge Reservoir, pump it above the Continental Divide along the Interstate 80 corridor and pipe it south to thirsty Front Range communities and water districts. Colorado can take water from Wyoming because the Green River, part of the Colorado River system, briefly enters northwest Colorado, giving the state a right to some of its water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing the feasibility of the project.

Southwestern Colorado turns to sunflowers for energy - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14346721 For 99 years, furnace tenders like "Outback" John Schertz have loaded coal into a giant boiler in the basement of the San Juan County courthouse. Now Schertz is adding sunflower hulls into the flames. Those hulls, pulverized and pressed into green pellets, represent a new twist in a southwestern Colorado attempt to turn sunflowers into fuel. The pellets are made in Dove Creek at San Juan Bioenergy, which started in 2006 as a nonprofit cooperative to produce biodiesel from sunflower oil. The plant changed its business model and product focus as dropping oil prices and the loss of government subsidies for biodiesel made that fuel a less desirable commodity. Today San Juan is a for-profit business creating uses for every scrap of the sunflower. San Juan is extruding food-grade oil from the more than 10,000 acres of sunflowers and safflowers grown in that corner of the state.

Sinclair Oil refinery evacuated - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350735 Officials at a Sinclair Oil refinery in Sinclair say a spill of a substance called gas oil prompted an evacuation of the refinery and that no one was injured. Officials said Friday morning's spill released about 30 barrels of gas oil after the roof of a tank apparently started leaking.

The Longmont Times-Call - Park is offered as city ‘buffer’

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20700 Firestone has offered to put a park and a trail corridor on its disputed border with Longmont. The proposed 40-foot-wide corridor would initially follow Fairview Street north from Colo. 119, before angling northeast near Union Reservoir to join a new 10-acre park. That also follows the western edge of the town’s Firelight and Union annexations, which sits on Longmont’s eastern city limits. “That provides a buffer,” said Firestone Mayor Chad Auer, who also discussed the proposal with the town’s planning commission earlier in the week. “From our perspective, it’s the best we can do.” Firestone has the authority to set aside up to 10 percent of an annexation for parks and open space.

Local vehicle fleet managers gain ‘green’ tips | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100206/VALLEYNEWS/100209915/1001 Converting a government or private vehicle fleet to become more green isn't a move that can be made overnight, according clean energy vehicle technology consultant Michael Ogburn. Instead, there needs to be a clear policy and specific goals, following a plan that can be implemented over a period of time with measurable results, he said. Ogburn works with Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) and the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative (G-NECI), organizers of the “Vehicle Fleets in the Clean Energy Economy” workshop, held Friday at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. The workshop brought together public and private fleet managers, energy industry representatives and local and state government officials to discuss methods of reducing costs by turning to the use of more energy-efficient vehicles and alternative fuels.

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Walsh schools try to harness wind

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/local/doc4b6fa54142570648674429.txt Over the past few years, the breeze in Southeastern Colorado has proven it can turn a profit. The area, whipping with dust and tumble weeds, is home to two of the state's largest wind farms and has several other private projects in the works. The latest attempt to capture the wind and turn it green comes from the Walsh School District. The tiny school district in eastern Baca County is the first in the state to install a Skystream wind turbine under the Colorado Wind for Schools program. The 2.4-kilowatt turbine, which is owned and operated by the school district, stands 45 feet tall on the south side of the high school near a bus barn. The turbine was erected in November and connected with Southeast Colorado Power Association on Dec. 3. It was dedicated at a ceremony held Friday.

Durango Herald News, Chimney Rock lookout will be scrapped in fall

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/06/Chimney_Rock_lookout_will_be_scrapped_in_fall/ The U.S. Forest Service next fall will remove a modern-era lookout tower at Chimney Rock because it obstructs visitors' ability to view astronomical alignments from culturally significant locations in the archaeological area. As part of the project, a nonfunctioning toilet will be removed and a wall in the upper parking area will be repaired. U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, is trying to make Chimney Rock Archaeological Area a national monument. The 3,160-acre archaeological area between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs in the San Juan National Forest is known for its two asymmetrical rock spires.

Craig Daily Press / HVAC system to save MCHS 20 percent of energy

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2010/feb/08/hvac-system-save-mchs-20-percent-energy/ For the past 20 years, Moffat County High School could never find a balance. Some classrooms were sweltering at about 82 degrees, while, at the same time, another room would be hovering in the low 50s. But the days of calling maintenance to freezing classrooms are coming to a close. In the summer and fall, Haselden Construction worked to install a $650,000 HVAC system, complete with new boilers, to help control temperatures in the building.

Aspen Middle School: Taking to the wilderness - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14349308 Before the 130 Aspen Middle School 8th-graders knuckled down in the classroom to learn metric measurements, parse language structure and analyze constitutional rights last fall, they strapped on heavy backpacks and trooped off into the wilderness. For a week, they backpacked from Aspen to Marble with their teachers, sleeping in tents and cooking over camp stoves. Along the way, they learned about geology, astronomy and cartology. They wrote haikus. They sketched out art projects that were later featured in a school calendar. "The learning that comes with it is profound," said Aspen Middle School principal Tom Heald.

Superior Historical Museum to open - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/superior-news/ci_14338765 The Superior Historical Commission set a goal more than a decade ago of opening a museum to highlight the town's coal mining past. Saturday, the volunteer group can check that one off its list. The museum, an old Superior mining camp house that was rescued from a farm in Broomfield and restored at Ted Asti Park in Superior's Original Town, will open to the public for the first time Saturday. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of every month. "We're doing what we can to preserve the history of Superior," said Larry Dorsey, chairman of the Historical Commission. "We're very proud of what we've got here."

CU professor Anders Halverson writes book on rainbow trout - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14348854 More than a century ago, America's government leaders wanted to encourage men to get back in touch with their primal abilities because they thought industrialization had diminished their masculinity, according to a new book written by a University of Colorado professor. Their cure was to give them something to capture and kill. And so America's waterways were stocked with a fish that fought the line and gave anglers just enough of a challenge: the rainbow trout. In his new book, "An Entirely Synthetic Fish: How Rainbow Trout Beguiled America and Overran the World," Anders Halverson, an ecologist and research associate at CU's Center of the American West, discusses the history of one of America's favorite game fish. "The thought was that the men will go out and fish, become strong and then democracy will be safe," Halverson said.

Craig Daily Press / Dinosaur National Monument staff receives regional honor

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2010/feb/06/dinosaur-national-monument-staff-receives-regional/ Dinosaur National Monument staff earned an Intermountain Region Wilderness Stewardship Award for a recent project of removing old structures from the Jones Hole area, according to a news release. During the summer, about 14 staff members worked on the project to “re-establish the wilderness character of the area,” the news release stated. In the north end of the monument, several 1960s structures stood about a quarter-mile from the Green River and four miles from the nearest road.

The Longmont Times-Call - Public invited to discuss Lagerman lands

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20701 People can offer suggestions about Boulder County’s future management of 1,520 acres around Lagerman Reservoir during a Wednesday night open house at the county Parks and Open Space Department’s headquarters. The Parks and Open Space Department is inviting discussion of “interests, values, needs and concerns” about the Lagerman/Imel Open Space Complex, eight publicly owned properties in an area southwest of Longmont and north of Niwot. Boulder County owns six of those eight properties jointly with the city of Boulder and is the sole owner of the other two.

Lake Pueblo eagle-watchers get eyeful - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350846 The fact that the eagle-watchers far outnumbered the eagles did little to dampen the viewers' enthusiasm at the Eagle Day Festival on Saturday at Lake Pueblo State Park. "I came to see the eagles," Dave Jones of Pueblo West proclaimed. And Jones, along with hundreds of other eagle fans, got their chance. Saturday morning's cold and mist meant the half-dozen or so bald eagles that spend the winter around the reservoir stayed put, making it easy for spotting scopes to zoom in on them. "It's a good year for eagles," said John Koshak, watchable wildlife coordinator for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which sponsors the annual festival. "The colder it is up north, the better it is for us for eagles."

Grassland officials issue a wildfire threat warning | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209795/1002 Tall, dry grasses have increased the danger of wildfires on the Pawnee National Grassland in northern Weld County. U.S. Forest Service officials are warning that people need to be careful not to start a wildfire when visiting the area. An unusually wet spring and summer in 2009 helped the grasses to grow tall. Those grasses are now cured and very dry, according to a release from the forest service. “People come to the Grassland and may not think about the wildfire threat like they would in the forest,” Pawnee district ranger Lori Bell said in the release. “But burning grass with strong winds can be a deadly force when someone carelessly sets it on fire.”

Homeland’s crisis strains Haitian families in region - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/08/homelands_crisis_strains_haitian_families_in_region/ In the aftermath of the devastating quake, Haitians in Massachusetts and beyond are facing intense pressure to pay for medical care, food, and shelter for loved ones in Haiti - and even to find ways to bring them here. But for many local Haitians, the new demands are sorely straining families struggling to make ends meet. Haitian immigrants and their children are a diverse mix of professionals and laborers, but they are hurting more in the recession than average state residents, according to recent census data. About 13.5 percent of Haitians fell under the poverty line, nearly double the state average, while their per capita income was $18,000, compared with $33,800 statewide. Still, immigrants and others are digging into their savings and wiring what they can to Haiti from money-transfer kiosks set up in bakeries, minimarts, and storefronts across Massachusetts. Carlo Jean Michel of Boston, a 56-year-old parking valet, sent money to a friend who lost several relatives and her house. But he also sent her bus fare so that she could travel from the town of Merger to Port-au-Prince to locate Michel’s missing daughter.

Haitians prepare for boat journey to Florida - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-haiti-boats7-2010feb07,0,3603449.story An orphaned teen is one of two dozen Haitians on a vessel awaiting their time to leave. Some are further enticed by news that Haitians in the U.S. have 'temporary protected status' after the quake.

Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702984.html In the past six weeks, Americans have witnessed two jarringly different -- but completely accurate -- views of al-Qaeda's terrorist network. One image was that of terrorist leaders being hunted down and killed by satellite-guided, pilotless aircraft. The other was of an agile foe slipping past U.S. defenses and increasingly intent on striking inside the United States. New assessments of al-Qaeda by the top U.S. counterterrorism experts offer grounds for both optimism and concern a year after President Obama took office. Officials say al-Qaeda's ability to wage mass-casualty terrorism has been undercut by relentless U.S. attacks on the network's leadership, finances and training camps. But even in its weakened state, the group has shifted tactics to focus on small-scale operations that are far harder to detect and disrupt, analysts say. The deadly November shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Tex., and the failed Christmas Day attempt to bomb an airliner -- both examples of the low-tech approach -- have raised the fear level in Washington and across the country. Some terrorism experts say the worst could be still to come as a wounded jihadist movement thrashes about in search of a victory.

Some Democrats seek change in filibuster rules, but others are wary - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702403.html A growing number of Democrats, from senatorial veterans such as Vice President Biden to freshman Sen. Tom Udall (N.M.), are calling for a rules change that would transform the culture of long and sometimes tedious debate in the world's greatest deliberative body. But these nascent efforts to curb the use of filibuster face resistance from Senate elders with long memories, who know that political winds can take today's large majority and create tomorrow's minority. Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has not scheduled any debate on the issue. First in 1917 and then in 1975, the Senate formally set up rules for "cloture motions," the name given to the parliamentary device to shut down debate. It requires the affirmative votes of 60 sitting senators. The Constitution cites only five requirements for Senate supermajorities, including impeachment convictions of presidents, but allows the House and Senate to set their own rules. Under long-standing resolutions, the Senate considers itself to be a "continuing body" whose parliamentary rules remain in effect unless a two-thirds supermajority votes to change them.

The Fix - White House moves to make the filibuster a campaign issue

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/making-the-filibuster-a-campai.html Over the past week, President Obama and his senior aides have repeatedly cited Republicans' filibuster threats as the primary reason for the lack of progress on big ticket legislative items, an early sign that Democrats will seek to use this bit of legislative arcana against the GOP in the coming midterm election. At a meeting -- televised, natch -- with Senate Democrats last week, Obama harped on the GOP's willingness to invoke the filibuster, noting that Democrats had taken more cloture votes to end debate and force votes in 2009 than they did in the 1950s and 1960s combined.

Obama to invite GOP to healthcare summit - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-health8-2010feb08,0,845183.story In a high-stakes bid to revive his healthcare overhaul, President Obama announced during a pre-Super Bowl television interview that he would convene a bipartisan summit in which Republicans and Democrats would try to forge a compromise while a national TV audience watched. Republican leaders indicated they would attend the Feb. 25 gathering, but said they want to start over -- tossing out the measures that passed the Senate and House last year. Speaking to Katie Couric of CBS, Obama said: "What I want to do is ask them to put their ideas on the table and then after the recess . . . to come back and have a large meeting -- Republicans and Democrats -- to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward." The half-day summit would be held at Blair House, across the street from the White House, after Congress' recess next week. Obama telegraphed his plans at a fundraiser Thursday night. "What I'd like to do is have a meeting whereby I'm sitting with the Republicans, sitting with the Democrats, sitting with healthcare experts, and let's just go through these bills . . . in a methodical way so that the American people can see and compare what makes the most sense," he said.

Obama tries to rally Democrats, defends healthcare overhaul - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-dnc7-2010feb07,0,4756598.story Attempting to rouse a party shaken by electoral setbacks, President Obama told fellow Democrats on Saturday that he would press ahead with his healthcare proposal and other pieces of his ambitious agenda, rejecting suggestions that a more cautious approach might minimize losses in the upcoming midterm elections. Obama, who left the White House during a blizzard, sought to rally Democratic National Committee members in a speech that was part pep talk and part prescription for what the party must do to overcome problems reflected by the loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat held by the late Democratic icon Edward M. Kennedy. Trimming goals and postponing hard choices are the wrong approach, the president said. In an emotional high point of his 20-minute address, Obama acknowledged that the public wonders whether elected officials can overcome the immense power of lobbyists and special interests and "confront the real problems that touch their lives."

In a Message to Democrats, Wall St. Sends Cash to G.O.P. - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08lobby.html?ref=politics The shift reflects the hard political edge to the industry’s campaign to thwart Mr. Obama’s proposals for tighter financial regulations. Just two years after Mr. Obama helped his party pull in record Wall Street contributions — $89 million from the securities and investment business, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics — some of his biggest supporters, like Mr. Dimon, have become the industry’s chief lobbyists against his regulatory agenda. Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner: Global bank reform still needed - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602297.html Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Saturday that the recovery in the global economy has not caused major economies to ease up on their commitment to stiffen the rules for banks. "We all share a deep commitment to try to move forward and reach agreement on a strong, comprehensive set of financial reforms on the timetable we all committed to last September," he said at a news conference after a meeting of Group of Seven finance chiefs in Iqaluit, Canada. "That means agreement on . . . a new set of capital requirements for large global institutions by the end of this year," he added, playing down the possibility that the United States might be headed in a different direction from the G-7. President Obama has proposed additional rules that would limit proprietary trading by banks, put them out of the hedge fund and private equity business and limit their future growth through a new market share cap.

No one complains about bank bonuses in Greenwich, Conn. | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/83718.html After one of the leanest years in memory, life in this upper-crust enclave is slowly returning to normal. The Greenwich version of normal, anyway. Caterers' cell phones are ringing again. Luxury car dealers are sending the Porsches out for test drives. An architect is booking multimillion-dollar jobs for his "masters of the universe" clients, titans of Wall Street who've made this leafy Connecticut suburb of New York one of the wealthiest towns in the country. When the financial industry tumbled, Greenwich's fortunes fell with it. Now, as the federal bailout has helped lift investment banks to surprisingly robust profits, the news that major financial firms will dole out billions of dollars in salaries and bonuses this year came as welcome relief here, even though the rest of the country is still grappling with 10 percent unemployment. Discreetly, Greenwich is starting to spend money again, and spending here — where the median household earns $126,549, almost two-and-a-half times the national median, based on 2008 census estimates — isn't quite like spending anywhere else.

With Federal Stimulus Money Gone, Many Schools Face Budget Gaps - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/education/08educ.html?ref=politics Federal stimulus money has helped avoid drastic cuts at public schools in most parts of the nation, at least so far. But with the federal money running out, many of the nation’s schools are approaching what officials are calling a “funding cliff.” Congress included about $100 billion for education in the stimulus law last year to cushion the recession’s impact on schools and to help fuel an economic recovery. New studies show that many states will spend all or nearly all that is left between now and the end of this school term. With state and local tax revenues still in decline, the end of the federal money will leave big holes in education budgets from Massachusetts and Florida to California and Washington, experts said. “States are going to face a huge problem because they’ll have to find some way to replace these billions, either with cuts to their K-12 systems or by finding alternative revenues,” said Bruce Baker, an education professor at Rutgers University.

Beverage industry douses tax on soft drinks - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-soda-tax7-2010feb07,0,282916.story Employing a broad-based lobbying effort, the soft drink industry has smothered a plan to tax sugared beverages -- a plan advocates said would have reduced obesity and helped finance healthcare reform. Only months ago, public health advocates thought the tax would be a natural for congressional Democrats looking for revenue to fund expanded health insurance coverage. The soaring costs of treating ailments related to excess weight -- including diabetes and heart disease -- added urgency to the issue. But the White House staff reviewing funding options never embraced the idea even after President Obama expressed interest last summer. A key congressional committee, after initially seeming receptive, ended up refusing to consider it. Several minority advocacy groups, including some committed to fighting obesity, lined up against the tax after years of receiving financial support from the industry. There is no sign that First Lady Michelle Obama will mention taxes Tuesday when she unveils her new healthy-eating initiative, which had input from fast food and soft drink representatives.

Iraqi protests target Saddam loyalists - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2010/02/08/iraqi_protests_target_saddam_loyalists/ Hundreds of protesters denounced Iraqis still loyal to Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Party yesterday as tensions soared over the decision to blacklist suspected Baathists from next month’s election. Protesters chanted and carried signs that said, “No, No to Ba’ath Party!’’ and “The return of the Ba’ath Party is a return to mass graves.’’ Shi’ite officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his political allies, are trying to purge all high-level posts of Iraqis with ties to the Ba’ath party, which was outlawed in Iraq in 2003. A decision to ban about 450 candidates from March 7 parliamentary elections because of suspected ties to Hussein’s regime has threatened to reopen wounds between once-dominant Sunnis and the Shi’ite majority. The ban is widely seen as targeting Sunnis, though Shi’ites are on the blacklist as well.

NRA, onetime ally feud over next big guns case to go before Supreme Court - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702401.html The National Rifle Association was on the outside looking in when the Supreme Court handed gun rights activists a landmark victory in 2008. After the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to gun ownership and that the District's handgun ban was unconstitutional, it was an upstart band of libertarian lawyers that celebrated on the marble steps and received the glory for the breakthrough decision. The NRA, the nation's premier and most powerful gun rights group, has worked hard not to be in that position again. And because of an unusual intervention recently by the justices, its attorney will be in the mix when the court considers the next big guns case next month. The case is McDonald v. Chicago, a challenge of gun laws in Chicago and its suburbs that are strikingly similar to the Washington handgun ban. It asks the court to decide something left unsettled in its landmark ruling in Heller v. District of Columbia: whether the Second Amendment offers protection against actions by state and local governments, not just the federal government and its enclaves.

Twin bombings kill at least 22 in Pakistan - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-pakistan-blasts6-2010feb06,0,3221782.story A bus filled with Shiite Muslims was attacked, then a second blast occurred at a hospital where victims of the first explosion were taken.

Why are U.S., allies telling Taliban about coming offensive? | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83858.html Thousands of U.S., British and Afghan troops are poised to launch the biggest offensive of the war in Afghanistan in a test of the Obama administration's new counterinsurgency strategy. Military operations usually are intended to catch the enemy off guard, but for weeks U.S. and allied officials have been telling reporters about their forthcoming assault on Marjah, a Taliban-held town of 80,000 and drug-trafficking hub in southern poppy-growing Helmand province. Senior NATO commanders and top Afghan officials have openly discussed the approximate time of Operation Moshtarak — the Dari language word for "together" — the size of the force and their objectives in news conferences, interviews and press releases that have been disseminated around the world and posted on government Web sites. Leaflets have been airdropped on the town. Though the exact time of the kickoff hasn't been disclosed, a "news article" posted Thursday on the British Ministry of Defense's site announced that operations involving "elements of the Royal Welsh, Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards" and Afghan forces "in preparation" for the Marjah attack had been underway for 36 hours.

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Report: ‘No strategic value’ to Afghan outpost where 8 died | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83843.html A U.S. military investigation into a battle last October in eastern Afghanistan that cost eight American soldiers their lives has concluded that the small outpost was worthless, the troops there didn't understand their mission, and intelligence and air support were tied up elsewhere in the province. According to an unclassified executive summary of the report that was released to McClatchy and other news organizations Friday, "There were inadequate measures taken by the chain of command, resulting in an attractive target for enemy fighters." A statement accompanying the summary said that the report, called an AR 15-6, suggests sanctions on higher-ranking officers and "also recommended administrative actions for some members of the chain of command to improve command oversight."

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Afghan force faces crucial test in Marja - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-army7-2010feb07,0,6823905.story As doubts increase about the Afghan security force's ability to take over security next year, soldiers' participation in a Marine offensive in Helmand will serve as a measure of readiness.

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NATO arrests Afghan police official accused of aiding insurgents - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-arrest8-2010feb08,0,4683092.story NATO forces swooped down on the home of a senior Afghan police official, arrested him and accused him of helping insurgents make and plant roadside bombs, Western military officials said Sunday. The incident, which took place last week in Kapisa province in eastern Afghanistan, is likely to raise tensions between foreign forces and the national police. That partnership is considered a crucial element of plans by the Obama administration to draw down American forces starting next year. Before any large-scale Western pullout occurs, Afghan security forces are supposed to take on more responsibility for safeguarding the country.

Iran’s Nuclear Move Prompts New Calls for Sanctions - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/world/middleeast/09iran.html?ref=world Officials from the United States, France and Russia called Monday for stronger measures against Tehran after Iran told the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency that it would begin enriching its stockpile of uranium for a medical reactor in Tehran as early as Tuesday. In Paris, the visiting United States defense secretary, Robert M. Gates, said the Obama administration and the other nations had reached out sincerely to reassure Iran and entice it to negotiate an end to its nuclear program. “All of these initiatives have been rejected,” Mr. Gates said. While “we must still try and find a peaceful way to resolve this issue,” he said, “the only path that is left to us at this point, it seems to me, is that pressure track. But it will require all of the international community to work together.” Separately, the French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, said, “The only thing we can do, alas, is apply sanctions given that negotiations are impossible.” In Moscow, Konstantin I. Kosachyov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of the Russian Parliament, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as urging the international community to prepare “serious measures.”

Israel says it’s willing to talk peace with Syria - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2010/02/08/israel_says_its_willing_to_talk_peace_with_syria/ Israel’s prime minister attempted to end a war of words with Syria yesterday, saying his country is open to peace talks with its longtime enemy. Israeli and Syrian officials have traded threats over the past week, raising concerns of an escalation between countries that have officially been at war for more than 60 years. Israel desires peace agreements with “all of its neighbors,’’ Benjamin Netanyahu told his weekly Cabinet meeting. “We did it with Egypt and Jordan, and we want to achieve similar agreements with the Palestinians and the Syrians,’’ he said. “I hope that we are on the brink of renewing negotiations with the Palestinians, and we are open to renewing the process with the Syrians as well.’’ Netanyahu’s comments came after an ominous exchange between officials in the countries.

8 in Congress urge Obama to halt talks over Cuba’s arrest of contractor | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83864.html Eight congressional Republicans on Friday alleged the Obama administration is trying to "appease"' the Cuban government after the arrest in Havana of a Washington subcontractor, and called for the cancellation of bilateral migration talks now set for Feb. 19. "We are greatly concerned about the manner in which the administration is handling the arrest of Alan Gross'' and its impact on the U.S. government's pro-democracy programs in Cuba, they wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Gross, a Maryland subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been jailed in Havana since his Dec. 4 arrest after delivering sophisticated communications equipment to Jewish groups on the island. The letter to Clinton noted that after Gross' arrest, USAID strongly discouraged recipients of U.S. pro-democracy funds from traveling to Cuba, and that nongovernmental organizations "have been informed that the administration is considering taking democracy assistance funding in a `new direction.'''

Toyota to recall and repair brakes on new Priuses sold in Japan - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020700758.html Toyota's quality woes mounted over the weekend, with a reported decision in its home market to recall and repair the brakes on its latest model of the Prius, the hybrid that last year was the best-selling new car in Japan. Company sources told dealers and the Japanese media that at least 170,000 of the cars in Japan would be subject to the recall, which will fix a software glitch in antilock brakes. Owners have complained that the car's brakes sometimes fail briefly on bumpy roads. Toyota also intends to begin recalls or voluntary repairs for more than 300,000 of the new Prius models, which have been sold in about 60 countries, company sources told local media. About 103,000 of the newest Prius models have been sold in the United States since May, and Toyota has told dealers that it is preparing a plan to repair the brakes on those. A Toyota executive, in a message to U.S. dealers, said the plan will be announced this week.

Mass. wind farm that Obama administration might support meets strong resistance - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702965.html Interior Secretary Ken Salazar journeyed out into Nantucket Sound on a Coast Guard vessel last week to signal the Obama administration's readiness to put some muscle behind wind energy. To do that, Salazar has to resolve a battle over building a wind farm on 25 square miles of open water that has driven a rift between environmentalists, infuriated local Native Americans and threatened one of the administration's cherished priorities.

NOAA reorganization would provide more info on global warming - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020801696.html The initiative, modeled loosely on the 140-year-old National Weather Service, will provide forecasts to farmers, regional water managers and business operators affected by changing climate conditions. But it comes at a time when climate skeptics have become increasingly effective in attacking the credibility of global warming forecasts. NOAA, along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ranks as one of the federal government's key agencies for monitoring the climate and conducting climate research. "We currently respond to millions of annual requests for climate information, and we expect those requests to grow exponentially," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco in an interview, adding that in light of recent scientific advances, "the models will continue to improve, and we will be able to provide more and more information." The move does not come with a designated boost in funding, but it will bring NOAA's climate research arm together with its more consumer-oriented services so they can operate, in Lubchenco's words, "cheek by jowl."

Obama official accuses GOP of using terrorism as ‘political football’ - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-brennan-abdulmutallab8-2010feb08,0,133448.story President Obama's deputy national security advisor accused Republicans on Sunday of using national security as a "political football" and of being disingenuous in criticizing the treatment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day airliner attack. On NBC's "Meet the Press," John Brennan was asked about GOP criticism that the Obama administration was treating the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane as a routine criminal case rather than a terrorist plot. Brennan said he was "tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as a political football. They are going out there. . . unknowing of the facts, and they're making charges and allegations that are not anchored in reality." Republicans have said that Abdulmutallab, 23, should have been treated as an enemy combatant.

Anti-terrorism chief rebukes politicians who use cases as talking points - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702772.html President Obama's senior counterterrorism adviser on Sunday criticized politicians for using terrorism situations such as the Detroit bombing case as a "political football." But leaders of the Republican Party, among the harshest critics of the handling of the Detroit incident, on Sunday disputed John O. Brennan's remarks. Republican House and Senate members have questioned why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day bombing attempt, was not treated as an enemy combatant instead of being questioned for 50 minutes by the FBI and later given his Miranda rights. Former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in her speech Saturday night before the Tea Party convention, said the Obama administration sees "no downsides or upsides to treating terrorists like civilian criminal defendants. But a lot of us would beg to differ."

Palin in 2012? She Says Run Is Possible - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08palin.html?ref=politics “It would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country,” Ms. Palin told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” in an interview recorded a few hours before she gave the keynote address at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. “I won’t close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future.” Those words were buttressed by the response she received at the convention on Saturday night. As Ms. Palin left the stage, the crowd erupted into chants of “Run, Sarah, Run.” Ms. Palin gave the Tea Party crowd exactly what it wanted, declaring the primacy of the Tenth Amendment in limiting government powers, complaining about the bailouts and the “generational theft” of rising deficits and urging the audience to back conservative challengers in contested primaries. “America is ready for another revolution!” she told the crowd, prompting the first of several standing ovations.

Palin says she might run in 2012, that Obama can be beat | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83934.html Sarah Palin said Sunday she might run for president in 2012 if she decides it's good for her family and country. Fresh from a speech to conservative activists at a "tea party" gathering in Nashville, the former Alaska governor said President Barack Obama could be defeated in 2012, that she's boning up on foreign and national policy and that she would run if it felt right. "I would," she said on Fox News, where she's a paid contributor. "I would if I believed that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family. Certainly, I would do so." Palin added: "I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country. I don't know if it's going to be ever seeking a title, though. It may be just doing a darn good job as a reporter or covering some of the current events."

Enthusiastic Republicans crowding many primary races - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-republicans7-2010feb07,0,1980043.story As the Republican Party's chances of success in the fall elections increase week by week, so too has the number of Republican candidates jumping into primaries across the country. Party officials claim to welcome the enthusiasm, but in many places it's the sort of welcome reserved for an uninvited guest. Or eight uninvited guests, as is the case in Arkansas, where the lineup of candidates wanting to challenge Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln has swelled to nine. An open seat in Tennessee has four Republicans vying for the nomination, and one erstwhile Republican running as an independent. Two competitive districts in Virginia have drawn out 11 hopefuls between them. Races in Nevada, New Hampshire and California also are crowding fast. In cases such as Arkansas', a surplus of candidates is evidence of an eagerness to take on a politically weak Democrat. Lincoln's approval ratings are among the lowest in the Senate. In other cases, it's a result of internal strife between the party's establishment and the often more-conservative newcomers. Experts say that those primaries promise to deliver very public and expensive displays of division that could undercut GOP efforts to win seats in November.

After Buying Spree, China Owns Stakes in Top U.S. Firms - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/business/global/09invest.html?ref=business Flush with cash despite the global economic downturn, China’s sovereign wealth fund quietly snapped up more than $9 billion worth of shares last year in some of the biggest American corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup.

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David Plouffe advising White House on 2010 midterm elections - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702402.html Ask David Plouffe how Democrats can recover from their electoral setbacks over the past few months and he has a simple answer: Republicans. "Politics is a comparative exercise," Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, told the Fix in his first extended interview since he took on a broadened political role for the White House in advance of the midterm elections. "This isn't just a referendum on Democrats or our party. It's a choice." That choice was made explicit far too late in last month's special Senate election in Massachusetts between then-state Sen. Scott Brown (R) and state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), Plouffe noted. "Everyone would agree that the definition of Brown should have happened a lot sooner and a lot more clearly," he said. The Democratic defeat, which meant the loss of a filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority, served as something of a wake-up call for the White House -- making clear the need to step up its efforts (and ability) to effectively monitor what is expected to be a large playing field this fall.

Cry for Self-Rule by Tamils Is Muffled by Reality - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/world/asia/08lanka.html?ref=world After 26 years of war that ended with a decisive government assault last May, Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority seems no closer to winning a measure of autonomy in a Sinhalese-dominated nation, and Tamil nationalism, the cri de coeur of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, seems all but dead. “All of this armed struggle, so many dead and wounded, for what?” said P. Balasundarampillai, who leads the Citizen Committee in this city on the claw-shaped peninsula of the northern Tamil heartland. “In many spheres of public life our role is very much reduced. Economically we are weak, and politically we are weak.” Just how little power Tamils have was made plain in last month’s presidential election. Though the Tamil Tigers’ war for a separate homeland in the north and east of this island nation has dominated life in Sri Lanka for nearly three decades, the question of how to address the root causes of the conflict — perceived discrimination by the Sinhalese majority against the Tamils — barely figured in the campaign.

Mid-Atlantic slowly digs out from massive snowstorm - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/02/08/mid_atlantic_slowly_digs_out_from_massive_snowstorm/ Planes were grounded, trains stood still and Greyhound buses weren’t rolling in the Mid-Atlantic yesterday, leaving stranded travelers wondering when they would be able to escape the icy, gray mess created by a major snowstorm. Federal agencies will be closed today in Washington as the region continues to dig out from the weekend storm that dumped 2 to 3 feet of snow in some areas. The federal shutdown affects about 230,000 government employees who work inside the Washington Beltway. It costs the government approximately $100 million to close for the day. Essential services will continue and emergency employees will be required to report to work. Hundreds of thousands of homes were without power with temperatures below freezing all day, and utilities warned that it could be days before all service is restored. Plows had scraped down to bare pavement on some main thoroughfares while not touching streets in many areas.

Paul Krugman - America Is Not Yet Lost - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08krugman.html?ref=opinion We’ve always known that America’s reign as the world’s greatest nation would eventually end. But most of us imagined that our downfall, when it came, would be something grand and tragic. What we’re getting instead is less a tragedy than a deadly farce. Instead of fraying under the strain of imperial overstretch, we’re paralyzed by procedure. Instead of re-enacting the decline and fall of Rome, we’re re-enacting the dissolution of 18th-century Poland. A brief history lesson: In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Polish legislature, the Sejm, operated on the unanimity principle: any member could nullify legislation by shouting “I do not allow!” This made the nation largely ungovernable, and neighboring regimes began hacking off pieces of its territory. By 1795 Poland had disappeared, not to re-emerge for more than a century. Today, the U.S. Senate seems determined to make the Sejm look good by comparison. Last week, after nine months, the Senate finally approved Martha Johnson to head the General Services Administration, which runs government buildings and purchases supplies. It’s an essentially nonpolitical position, and nobody questioned Ms. Johnson’s qualifications: she was approved by a vote of 94 to 2. But Senator Christopher Bond, Republican of Missouri, had put a “hold” on her appointment to pressure the government into approving a building project in Kansas City.

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Welfare back as a campaign issue for GOP in California | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83956.html Ronald Reagan singled out what he called a "welfare queen" for abusing government aid. Newt Gingrich pushed welfare reform as part of his Contract With America. Now, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, the top Republican candidates for California governor, are bringing back welfare as a key issue in their quest for primary votes. Welfare's high-profile role in the race became clear last month when Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, unveiled her first issue-specific radio ad. "Some people worry that we're creating a welfare state," Whitman says at the start of the spot. "The fact is, California is the welfare state." Poizner, another ultra-wealthy former Silicon Valley CEO, has made tightening welfare rules a key part of his plan to balance the state budget. Like Whitman, Poizner proposes cutting lifetime welfare limits to two years from five.

Researchers target humpback whales in herring loss study - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/02/08/researchers_target_humpback_whales_in_herring_loss_study/ Something is holding down the herring population of Prince William Sound, and marine scientists are tailing some rather large suspects: humpback whales. Humpbacks, once hunted to near extinction, are thriving in waters fouled 21 years ago by the Exxon Valdez, the supertanker that ran aground and leaked nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil. The herring population crashed after the spill but should have rebounded by now. One hypothesis is that humpbacks, traditionally summer residents in the sound, are taking a big bite out of vast herring schools that form in the deep water of the sound’s fjords each autumn. Jan Straley, a marine biology professor at the University of Alaska Southeast, and other researchers have studied whales the last two winters with surprising results. Humpbacks are showing up in significant numbers, even in winter. When summer resident whales leave, others humpbacks move in. Some summer residents are even skipping their annual transoceanic mating and birthing trips to Hawaii and Mexico in favor of icy Alaska waters.

Tebow ad falls short of the hype - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-tebow-abortion8-2010feb08,0,1153376.story Boy tackles mom. That was about it. The ad that made former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, the unintended stars of Super Bowl XLIV was not a screed against abortion. Nor was it a heartwarming story about a mother ignoring doctors' advice and having her baby. It was, instead, a lighthearted take on a mother-son relationship. In the ad, Pam Tebow holds a baby photo of Tim, now 22. "I call him my miracle baby," she says. "He almost didn't make it into this world. . . . you know, with all our family's been through, we have to be tough." Suddenly, she appears to be tackled and flies off-screen. "Timmy!" she scolds, popping back up. "I'm trying to tell our story here!"

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Editorial - The Truth About the Deficit - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/opinion/07sun1.html When the White House released its new budget last week, including more spending to create desperately needed jobs, Republican leaders in Congress denounced President Obama for driving up the deficit and demanded that the Democrats halt their “reckless” ways. The deficit numbers — a projected $1.3 trillion in fiscal 2011 alone — are breathtaking. What is even more breathtaking is the Republicans’ cynical refusal to acknowledge that the country would never have gotten into so deep a hole if President George W. Bush and the Republican-led Congress had not spent years slashing taxes — mainly on the wealthy — and spending with far too little restraint. Unfortunately, the problem does not stop there. The Republican amnesia and posturing are playing well on the hustings, where Americans are deeply anxious about the economy and fearful of losing their jobs and homes. Far too many Democratic lawmakers are losing their nerve.

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A fracking quandary for EPA - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/07/a_fracking_quandary_for_epa/ IF THE United States is going to curb its greenhouse gas emissions, it desperately needs a replacement for the high-carbon coal that fuels almost half the nation’s electricity. Unfortunately, there are downsides to all the alternatives, from nuclear power, which carries a high cost and emits toxic waste with no place to store it, to wind turbines, which also have a high cost and require extensive transmission lines to link windy areas with cities. Now new deposits of natural gas previously locked in shale formations are making that fuel look like a possible transition to a low-carbon future. Federal and state regulators have to ensure, however, that the rush to exploit this new source of gas does not cause severe environmental damage. The US Environmental Protection Agency could have been an effective referee over this process. Yet the gas industry managed to slip into the 2005 energy bill an exemption from EPA review of the special drilling that shale formations require. Congress should repeal that provision.

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Ezra Klein - The six Republican ideas already in the health-care reform bill

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/five_compronises_in_health_car.html At this point, I don't think it's well understood how many of the GOP's central health-care policy ideas have already been included as compromises in the health-care bill. But one good way is to look at the GOP's "Solutions for America" homepage, which lays out its health-care plan in some detail. It has four planks. All of them -- yes, you read that right -- are in the Senate health-care bill.

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In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story The Republican governor is 'eager to get started,' and the state's Democratic senators are urging the Obama administration to begin selling leases next year. The plan has raised concern from NASA.

A family left behind by the H1N1 virus - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-sci-flu-death8-2010feb08,0,1053278.story Virginia Romo was pregnant with her sixth child when she caught the swine flu. Her husband and children, raising the baby on their own, are still stunned at how swiftly the disease took her from them.

E.J. Dionne Jr. - On health care: ‘Finish the kitchen’ - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020701787.html If President Obama gets to sign a health-reform bill, as I believe he will, one reason may be Rep. Jay Inslee's difficult experience renovating his kitchen. He told his kitchen story at a House Democratic caucus after Republican Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts sent Inslee's colleagues into paroxysms of dismay, chaos and fear. Brown's triumph reduced the Democrats' majority in the Senate to "only" 59, and this led many in both houses to want to give up on health reform altogether. Even Obama was sounding an uncertain trumpet. This made no sense to Inslee, a Democrat from Washington state. First elected to the House in 1992, he was swept out of office in the 1994 Republican landslide that followed the collapse of Bill Clinton's health-care efforts. Four years later, Inslee returned to Congress.

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Put health costs on a diet - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/08/put_health_costs_on_a_diet/ PAYING FOR health care on a fee-for-service basis is an engine for inflation. Last year, a state reform commission came up with a better proposal: pay doctors and hospitals a fixed annual amount for treating each patient’s particular condition, with quality safeguards. But for such a “global’’ system to hold down costs, that annual amount has to go on a diet, with each year’s increase ratcheted downward. Only in this way will patients and the doctors supervising their treatment have incentives to provide high-quality care in cost-efficient settings.

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General-aviation security proposal is being scaled back - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602077.html Citing industry objections, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing to scale back a controversial plan to expand aviation security rules for the first time to thousands of private planes. TSA officials said this week they expect to issue a revised plan this fall that will significantly reduce from 15,000 the number of U.S.-registered general-aviation aircraft subjected to tougher rules. Also, instead of mandating that all passengers aboard private planes be checked against terrorist watch lists, name checks in many cases could be left to the discretion of pilots, they said. The shifts would mark significant rollbacks of security changes that supporters called overdue and essential to preventing terrorists from using small planes to smuggle dangerous weapons or carry out suicide attacks. Opponents, however, called the measures unwarranted, poorly thought out and overly burdensome on aircraft owners and manufacturers.

The case for clear standards on holding the worst of the detainees - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020503729.html NO LAWS specify the procedures and standards that should govern the indefinite detention of terrorism suspects. Now that an Obama administration task force has determined that some 50 detainees at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are too dangerous to release but not eligible for prosecution or transfer, that legal vacuum needs to be filled. The administration, like the Bush administration before it, argues that the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) gives it the right to use "all necessary and appropriate force" -- including indefinite detention -- against al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorism suspects responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. This approach is at once too broad and too narrow.

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Derrick Z. Jackson - The double standard at CBS - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/06/the_double_standard_at_cbs/ THERE ARE already at least two Christian broadcasting channels, so there is no need for CBS to be a right-wing revival tent for the Super Bowl. Now, before all the knees start jerking, I want to be clear that this pro-choicer has no problem in the abstract with CBS’s decision to air an ad featuring Florida football star Tim Tebow. The ad, funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, features the decision by Tebow’s mother to reject the advice of doctors to have an abortion when she was very sick while the future Heisman Trophy winner was in her womb. That story is an unqualified, beautiful individual testament to faith and love. But Focus on the Family wants to twist the free choice of this mother into a political vehicle to eliminate choice for all other women. But not even that ultimately offends me. Where CBS bears false witness is the fact that they accepted that ad while rejecting a Super Bowl ad for a gay dating service. The ad starts with one man in a Green Bay Packers jersey and the other in a Minnesota Vikings shirt cheering against each other. It ends with them making out on the couch.

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Protected by the justice system, a would-be bomber still talks - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/07/protected_by_the_justice_system_a_would_be_bomber_still_talks/ THE NEWS that the would-be airplane bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has resumed cooperation with the FBI validates the Justice Department’s decision to charge him in federal court rather than a military commission. And the creative methods employed by the FBI to obtain his cooperation refute the notion - advanced with much tub-thumping anger on talk radio - that a defendant in the criminal justice system is somehow off limits to interrogators seeking information about terrorist plots. The FBI shrewdly sought out relatives of Abdulmutallab in Nigeria who were willing to come to the United States and prevail on him to tell what he knows about Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Using family members to turn the defendant into a cooperative informant highlighted a crucial element of the interrogator’s craft: the need to establish trust between a questioner and a prisoner. The flipping of Abdulmutallab proved what intelligence professionals know well: that psychological methods of interrogation are almost always more effective than the rough stuff seen in the movies.

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James Carroll - Political prayer breakfasts are bad religion - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/08/political_prayer_breakfasts_are_bad_religion/ THERE ARE only three things wrong with the National Prayer Breakfast: the past, the present, and the future. Last week, President Obama presided at the annual Washington event before what the New York Times called “a bipartisan array’’ of national and international figures. “I assure you,’’ he told them, “I’m praying a lot these days.’’ The president went with the flow of public piety, singing prayer’s praises as a source of calm, strength, and civility. It “can touch our hearts with humility,’’ he said. That had the ring of truth, since the prayer breakfast confronts the president with how little personal freedom he has. He could no more boycott the toe-curling display of religiosity than he could remove that flag pin from his lapel. Religion is not supposed to be coercive in this country, but the prayer breakfast is the ultimate command performance, and that is only part of the problem.

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DNA and justice - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-dna6-2010feb06,0,3083796.story Thirty-three years after he was convicted of raping a neighbor in Rochester, N.Y., Frederick Peacock became the 250th American to be exonerated by DNA evidence. Peacock, now 60, was paroled from prison decades ago, but he continued to insist that he had been wrongly convicted, and in 2002 the New York-based Innocence Project took up his case. This week, DNA testing that wasn't available either at the time of his conviction in 1976 or his parole in 1982 confirmed that he was not guilty of the rape for which he had served six years in prison. But Peacock's case is more than just another example of a life damaged by wrongful conviction. The sheer length of time it took for him to clear his name highlights not only the need for broad access to DNA testing, but the importance of preserving evidence, even long after a case appears to be over.

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Haiti is a reminder of how we can help other quake-prone areas - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-hough8-2010feb08,0,207101.story The time to act is before disaster strikes, by preparing hospitals and other specialized teams to plan for the inevitable.

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Editorial - Lobbyists and Students - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon2.html?ref=opinion The private lending companies that earn billions of dollars in undeserved profits from the federal student loan program are working overtime to kill a bill that would stop their gravy train once and for all — and should have been enacted long ago. The House stood up to the powerful lending lobby last fall and passed a student loan reform bill. The White House has been pushing the Senate, but it is having trouble finding its spine and has yet to introduce a bill. The House version phases out the wasteful part of the federal college lending program that pays private lenders a rich subsidy to make risk-free loans that are guaranteed by the government. The bill also expands another, more reliable and less expensive federal loan program that permits students to borrow directly from the government through their colleges. The arguments for moving in this direction are irrefutable. The subsidized program, for example, was supposed to keep loans flowing during recessions. But the loans dried up in the last credit crunch, forcing the government to rescue the program. The direct program, by contrast, suffered no such disruption. In addition to being more reliable, the direct program costs less. The Congressional Budget Office estimated last year that the country could save about $80 billion over the next decade by ending the private system and moving to the direct one.

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Gregory Rodriguez - It started with King George III - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rodriguez8-2010feb08,0,5446611.column Let me get straight to the point: Americans' profound distrust of government is neurotic -- irrational, defensive and born of emotional trauma. That doesn't mean I discount other sources of our disabling distrust of Washington. I believe the scholars who cite watershed events like Watergate and Vietnam as having undermined our belief in governing institutions. But such recent-history rationales for our distrust don't fully explain the emotional depth of our disaffection. They don't properly take into account how these events triggered the anti-government strain already in our national DNA, in the same way that, say, environmental factors can trigger a genetic predisposition or a childhood trauma can create anxiety in an adult. If Americans were to seek help for their neurosis, any good therapist would try to dig down to the root of the outsized distrust. Maybe he or she would let us beat around the bush for a few sessions. We'd recount incidents of government corruption, overreach. Then there was slavery, Jim Crow, internment camps and poorly planned wars. But eventually, we'd have to discuss our national birth trauma, our violent revolt against our "father," King George III, which gave us our independence in the first place.

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Erin Aubry Kaplan - The term ‘Negro’? Color it obsolete - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kaplan8-2010feb08,0,7157375.story When a website pointed out that 'Negro' was going to appear once more on the 2010 census, many blacks reacted with shock and distaste. They see it as a relic of the bad old days of segregation.

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Editorial - Pay Up - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon3.html?ref=opinion Claimants are still looking for their money, more than a decade after the federal Department of Agriculture reached a landmark settlement for having cheated generations of black farmers through “indifference and blatant discrimination.” The 1999 agreement on what is known as the Pigford class-action lawsuit was hailed as the biggest civil rights settlement in American history. The judge estimated a swift $2 billion payout — or $60,000 each — for victimized black farmers. It has not worked out that way, as the White House’s new budget confirms with a request for $1.15 billion to pay still-pending claims from black farmers. The same amount was requested last year but did not survive the self-interested knives and elbows of the Congressional budget scrum. The class-action suit detailed how eligible black farmers traditionally were denied loans by the agriculture agency while their white peers went to the head of the line for growing-season wherewithal and homestead improvements.

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New Orleans elects Mitch Landrieu mayor - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-orleans-mayor7-2010feb07,0,3073458.story Louisiana's lieutenant governor will be the first white city leader since his father, 'Moon' Landrieu, left office in 1978.

Five myths about how to create jobs - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020501445.html With the unemployment rate in the United States lingering just below 10 percent and the midterm elections just nine months away, job creation has become the top priority in Washington. President Obama has called for transferring $30 billion in repaid bank bailout money to a small-business lending fund, saying, "Jobs will be our number one focus in 2010, and we're going to start where most new jobs do, with small business." The fund is among several measures -- tax incentives, infrastructure projects, efforts to increase exports -- that the White House has proposed to help boost employment. As Americans consider the various approaches, we must have realistic expectations. We need to debunk some myths about what it takes to stimulate job growth.

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‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ ended my military career, but not my service - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020501444.html I knew I was done hiding behind the "don't ask, don't tell" policy after four months flying missions to Iraq as a loadmaster with the 37th Airlift Squadron. It was my second tour -- one I'd picked because of the long hours and irregular schedule, a lifestyle that I thought would make it easier to keep my personal life private. But lying about who you are, especially to people you are serving with, is never easy.

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Back and forth with Beijing - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-china7-2010feb07,0,2603153.story Walk softly and carry a message of mutual respect. That was the Obama administration's initial approach to China, part of a broad policy of seeking dialogue on difficult issues with friends and enemies alike. In that spirit, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the People's Republic on her first trip abroad and avoided public expressions of concern about Chinese human rights abuses. President Obama put off meeting China's nemesis, the Tibetan Dalai Lama, ahead of his own foray to China, hoping to focus attention on core U.S. concerns such as nuclear proliferation in Iran and North Korea, trade relations and climate change. He held his tongue when his hosts carefully stage-managed the trip to eliminate all opportunities for dissent, and the two sides issued such a cooperative communique that political analysts began to speculate about a "G-2" era in which the powers would address global problems together.

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Traffic fines as cash cow - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-fines6-2010feb06,0,1021103.story Raising traffic fines has become attractive to politicians because, unlike hiking taxes, it seldom attracts much opposition. That's OK by us, but it's possible to raise fines to the point that they're grossly disproportionate to the infraction. We're getting perilously close to that level in L.A., and in some cases have probably exceeded it. As a matter of principle, it's usually smart to tax socially destructive behavior such as bad driving; not only are there social benefits (fewer accidents), but public services get an important source of funding, and people who object to paying can avoid doing so simply by driving more responsibly. But when punishments don't fit the crime, it encourages public cynicism and lawless behavior. For a low-income driver, a $500 traffic fine -- the cost of running a red light in L.A. when traffic school is factored in -- is a devastating expense. Some people will break more laws to avoid paying it. There's some evidence that red-light cameras improve safety at intersections, so we're not bothered by plans to put up more. And if the city can collar parking ticket scofflaws and raise needed funds by booting cars more often, then boot away. Planners should think carefully, though, before imposing outrageous fines for relatively minor traffic violations.

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Howard Kurtz - White House press corps feels bypassed by Obama - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702693.html Six months ago, network executives were complaining that the White House was costing them tens of millions of dollars by pressing them to carry presidential news conferences in prime time. Problem solved: President Obama hasn't held a full-scale news conference since July. Instead, he answered a dozen people's questions last week on YouTube, most of them easily finessed and -- extra bonus! -- no annoying follow-ups of the kind posed by real, live journalists. It would be hard -- impossible, actually -- to argue that Obama hasn't been accessible to the media, not with his constant television interviews. The man has even done color commentary at a Georgetown basketball game. But the decision to bypass the White House press corps is no accident. "It's a source of great frustration here," says Chip Reid, CBS's White House correspondent. "It's important for us to hold the president's feet to the fire."

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Editorial - A Welcome Retraction - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06sat3.html For a decade, many parents have worried that vaccines might somehow be causing autism in children. Repeated assurances from respected experts that there is no link have failed to quiet those fears. Now The Lancet, a prestigious British medical journal that published the paper that first gave wide credence to those fears, has retracted it, saying that the paper’s authors had made false claims about how the study was conducted. The journal acted after a British medical panel had found the lead author, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, guilty of dishonesty and flouting medical ethics. The original paper, published in 1998, was based on only 12 children. It nevertheless drew an inferential link between an autismlike disorder and the triple-vaccine used to prevent measles, mumps and rubella. Although that paper stopped short of claiming the combination vaccine caused the disorder, Dr. Wakefield suggested at a press conference that parents would be wise to use single vaccines for each of the diseases.

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Crime: Shame has its purposes - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/06/crime_shame_has_its_purposes/ Public shame has been a controversial punishment since well before “The Scarlet Letter,’’ the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel in which Massachusetts moralists punished alleged sins of the flesh by trying to humiliate the perpetrators. Yet shame has its beneficial uses, and the US attorney’s office in Boston has hit upon one of them. In several recent plea deals, prosecutors have forced businesses that admit to breaking environmental laws to take out ads publicizing their own guilt. One ad declared, “I towed my fishing boat, the Nicole Renee, offshore and I sank it.’’ Another proclaimed, “It would have been a lot cheaper to obey the law!’’

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Congress left to pick up health care pieces | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/congress_left_to_pick_up_healt Congress seems ready to take on a piecemeal approach to changing the nation’s health care system, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo, said. If the one-plan approach fails in Congress as President Obama now fears it will, Salazar said, he hopes to see Medicare given the ability to negotiate prices with drug companies, as well as eliminate antitrust exemptions for the health care industry. Drug-price negotiations by Medicare would be “a good idea,” Rocky Mountain Health Plans President Steve ErkenBrack said. “Getting drug costs ratcheted down by allowing negotiations would be a definite help.” Congress, however, should be careful that eliminating health care exemptions from antitrust provisions doesn’t boomerang and damage systems such as the one in Grand Junction, ErkenBrack said.

Romanoff complains about Obama’s campaign visit | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209771/1006 President Barack Obama's visit to Denver later this month has some Democrats upset. The president is headed to Denver Feb. 18 to raise money for Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. Bennet's primary challenger, former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, says the state party should insist the president hold an event for Romanoff supporters, too. "Many of my supporters were among the most active organizers for President Obama during the 2008 campaign and they remain staunchly behind the president," Romanoff wrote in a letter Friday to state party chairwoman Pat Waak. "Unfortunately, the current plan of events during the president's visit has sent a clear message: 'Support the appointed incumbent Senator or do not be part of the president's visit to Colorado," Romanoff wrote. Romanoff proposed that a separate event for Romanoff be scheduled. Romanoff said he would give all proceeds to the Democratic party.

Durango Herald News, Romanoff stumps in Durango

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Romanoff_stumps_in_Durango/ Andrew Romanoff, who is fighting for the Democratic Party's nomination for U.S. Senate, brought his “Main Street tour" to Southwest Colorado over the weekend with a message of curtailing special interests' influence in Washington. Romanoff is challenging U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who was appointed to the seat after Ken Salazar resigned to become Interior secretary. Romanoff, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, was on the short list for the appointment but was passed over in favor of Bennet, former superintendent of Denver Public Schools and virtually unknown in the world of politics. Romanoff, in an interview Sunday at The Durango Herald, said he's not afraid to stand up to special interests or even his own party, “which is what I'm doing with this campaign, by definition."

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Romanoff brings Senate campaign to valley

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d583816e68967651058.txt Andrew Romanoff brought his U.S. Senate campaign to the San Luis Valley, where he received a bipartisan greeting Friday and heard about the demand for jobs and balancing local concerns on federal lands. The former speaker of the state House of Representatives, who is trying to unseat Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination, made his first stop in the valley since declaring his candidacy in September. "You get a pretty clear sense, I think, from this conversation that folks feel like they get the back end of the deal on economic development efforts," he said. He told the dozen people gathered for lunch at a local restaurant that jobs would be the first plank in his platform. And although the state is unable to offer the economic incentives that others might, Romanoff said the outlook for jobs could improve by focusing on education and infrastructure development. Conejos County Commissioner Joe Mestas said he'd like to see a way for local counties to secure more benefits from federal energy development.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Senate candidate rails against insiders

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5593296b1951324547.txt It was hard to tell which was steaming more — Tom Wiens or his cup of coffee. The 57-year-old Republican from Castle Rock is one of five GOP candidates for U.S. Senate. A former state representative, senator, the small-business owner and rancher campaigned Saturday in Pueblo. Discussing points of his platform over a cup of java at Solar Roast Coffee, 226 N. Main St., Wiens made it quite clear he's steamed about the nation's political system and that if elected, he'll work to correct it, along with advocating for small business and middle America. "I'm definitely not the insider's candidate. I'm sure the Washington and Denver insiders prefer I don't even run. In Washington, all they care about is special interests, if you're at the top and if you're on Wall Street. It makes me so angry. I want to get people energized that this is about a republic. I want to go to Washington to provide effective representation for the forgotten Americans," Wiens said.

Norton has 14-point lead over Bennet in latest Rasmussen survey | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/norton-has-14-point-lead-over-bennet-in-latest-rasmussen-survey/ Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton cracks the 50-percent-support mark for the first time and leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet by 14 points in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll of Colorado’s U.S. Senate race. Norton, considered the Republican front-runner, leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent in the poll of 500 likely voters conducted Feb. 2. It has a margin of error of 4.5 percent. “This poll reflects exactly what I’m seeing as I travel around this great state,” Norton said in a release. “People want a Senator who will stand up for Colorado values, not an ideologue to rubber-stamp the President’s Big Government policies.” Democrats are skeptical of Rasmussen Reports polls.

Poll: Buck leads over Democratic rivals | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209799/1002 Weld District Attorney Ken Buck leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet 45 percent to 41 percent, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday. Republican front runner former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent, according to the telephone survey of 500 likely Colorado voters conducted this week. The margin of error for the survey is 4.5 percentage points. The margins in both hypothetical races were only slightly changed from a January poll that showed Buck topping Bennet by 5 percentage points and Norton winning by 12 percentage points. Buck, Norton and former state Sen. Tom Wiens are the three most prominent candidates for the Republican nomination. The poll shows Wiens topping Bennet 44 percent to 40 percent. On the Democratic side, Bennet faces a primary challenge from former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff. While the poll does not show Romanoff beating any of the three Republican contenders, he does fare better than Bennet against Norton, trailing 45 percent to 38 percent. Romanoff also fares better than Bennet against Wiens, trailing 42 percent to 40 percent. Buck, however, does better against Romanoff than Bennet, leading 45 percent to 39 percent.

Polis spreading the wealth among his Democratic colleagues - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14355357 During his first year in Congress, Boulder`s Jared Polis showed he could raise money like a House veteran, writing checks for fellow freshmen representatives at a rate that rivals the fundraising clout of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Polis` political committee last year doled out more than $400,000 to Democratic members of Congress in swing districts and national political campaign groups. By the end of 2009, the freshman congressman`s fundraising on behalf of Democrats was close to that by Pelosi and other top Democrats. Polis has hosted Pelosi at one of his Colorado fundraisers and traveled to Chicago and New Mexico to raise money and bolster congressmen facing tough re-election campaigns.

Tancredo blasted for poll test idea - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345675 Former congressman Tom Tancredo took heat Friday for remarks at the national Tea Party convention that critics viewed as calling for a return to Jim Crow laws. But Tancredo said he wasn't targeting a specific group when he suggested in Nashville there should be a "civics-literacy" test before someone could vote. "People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House," Tancredo said in his opening-day speech Thursday. "His name is Barack Hussein Obama." Tests were used to prevent blacks from voting during segregation and were banned by the Voting Rights Act in 1964.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Treasurer candidate touts schooling, background

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5541d446f783604323.txt Greenwood Village Republican Walker Stapleton said he's the best choice for state treasurer based on his education and professional background. The grandson of historic Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton and cousin to former President George W. Bush made a campaign stop at Pueblo County Republican headquarters Saturday. As treasurer, Stapleton said he'd wisely manage state funds for the Public Employees' Retirement Association and be an advocate for taxpayers. "I'm proud to say I've never been part of inside politics. I've been involved with building a successful business," the 35-year-old told the small crowd. "Nobody (running for treasurer) has my education background or work experience. I'll be an independent advocate for the taxpayers of Colorado and will build a business-friendly tax environment."

Den Post: Colo. GOP lawmakers heavy on rhetoric light on specifics « Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47137/den-post-colo-gop-lawmakers-heavy-on-rhetoric-light-on-specifics The Denver Post today poked straight-faced fun at state Republican lawmakers this morning, mocking a big budget plan GOP legislative leaders unveiled yesterday. The proposed plan of attack in the ongoing battle over a budget that is short billions in revenue is to cut a lot of programs– and they want Democrats to decide what programs to cut. You can’t give the people behind this plan even a single point for subtlety. You can, however, award lots of points for election-year foolery and comic passing of the buck. The Post story conjures images of Wiley Coyote hauling out one of his ridiculous oversize Road Runner-catching contraptions: We’re for cuts! That is, we’re for you making cuts and us later criticizing the cuts you make!

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tough times, tough week dominate lawmakers’ talk

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5939911ff248335483.txt It wasn't the easiest meal to swallow and the digestion problems had nothing to do with the food. There were no complaints about the chile con juevos at the Pueblo Convention Center on Saturday, but breakfast is never quite appetizing when it's served with talks of balancing a state budget in an economic recession, possible program cuts and legislative defeats. About 130 people turned up for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Breakfast, the first of many chamber-hosted breakfasts throughout the legislative session. The meals are designed to let elected officials divulge their work at the state capitol and answer questions from the community.

Senate Democrats : GOP math “fairy tale” | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/senate-democrats-gop-math-fairy-tale/ “After reading the Republican budget fix, it is quite clear that they can’t add or subtract,” said Senate Minority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs. “The budget shortfall is $1 billion. The Republicans proposed a reckless ‘off the cuff’ idea to fire state employees to save $17.8 million: $17.8 million in cuts to solve a $1 billion shortfall. “Now they just need to come up with 50 more plans so the math will add up. The problem is their plan doesn’t even identify the first $17.8 million.” Republicans Thursday proposed cutting payroll in the current year by 0.25 percent in order to generate $17.8 million in revenue and thus offset the need for accelerating the demise of seven tax exemptions by March to generate a roughly equal amount. But Morse said the math is way off. The correct payroll figure is $3.2 billion, and thus 0.25 percent of that would be only $8 million, not $17.8 million, Morse said. But even that math doesn’t take into account the fact that the year is 7/12ths over, and hence the savings would only be $3.3 million, he said.

Durango Herald News, ‘Amazon tax’ roils Colorado retailers

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/Amazon_tax_roils_Colorado_retailers/ The list price for Dan Brown's latest Masonic mystery, “The Lost Symbol," is $29.95. At a Colorado bookstore, buyers can expect to pay another 86 cents in state sales tax, plus local taxes. On Amazon.com, “The Lost Symbol" sells for $12 plus shipping costs. Tax free. And it's the tax-free part that's not fair, said Peter Schertz, co-owner of Maria's Bookshop in Durango. “What we're asking for as a very small bookstore is just a level playing field," Schertz said. He is willing to compete with Amazon and other Internet sites, and Maria's has its own Web site, so customers don't even need to visit the downtown Durango store. But people who buy from Maria's online have to pay sales tax.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tax bill affecting steel mill progresses

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d4c7b2d253717183772.txt A bill that representatives of Pueblo's steel mill say would cost the plant $2 million annually continued to move through the Legislature on Friday as part of a package of proposed tax-break repeals. On Thursday, over the objections of the United Steelworkers of America and management at Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, the Senate Finance Committee passed HB1190, which proposes to lift the tax exemption on energy used in manufacturing. Friday morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill, clearing the way for debate on the Senate floor. The bill was not heard Friday afternoon in the Senate. It got there along with eight others that would lift or suspend tax exemptions on everything from candy to online purchases and bull semen, and the Senate managed to heard debate on just the first.

Opposition warns tax hikes in state may mean layoffs - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_14345819 Steel workers and Coke and Pepsi bottlers have lined up to oppose a package of tax hikes to balance the state budget, saying the cuts will lead to layoffs. Also worried about their livelihoods are farmers on tight margins who would have to pay sales tax on pesticides, and small home-based Internet businesses that link people to online retailers like Amazon. Meanwhile, education groups and advocates for the developmentally disabled and low-income people who rely on government programs are urging lawmakers to pass the tax increases -- which the full Senate began debating Friday -- and avoid teacher layoffs and cuts to safety net spending. In the middle are lawmakers who must find a way to close a $1.5 billion shortfall in this year and next year`s budget, and Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided on how to do that. Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter proposed ending or suspending 13 tax credits and sales tax exemptions to raise about $125 million next year, and majority Democrats have been backing that plan in the Legislature. Republicans say they want Ritter to cut more, pointing out that most of the budget balancing during the recession has involved one-time fixes rather than reduced spending.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Cuts cast bleak outlook for some programs

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5ae645b0f153436999.txt The state Legislature's Joint Budget Committee calls it the "ugly list." To some state employees, it translates into unemployment, and for citizens, it means reduced government services. The JBC holds the purse strings for state spending, and for the present fiscal year (ending June 30) it must come up with $20 million to remedy a shortfall in the state's $7 billion budget, which the Colorado Constitution requires to be balanced. So as certain as the sun rises each morning, the JBC reconciles the bottom line by the fiscal year's end. This year has been trickier than most because of the national economic downturn of the past few years, and more challenging times could lie ahead in the not too distant future, according to JBC member Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo. Consequently, some of Pueblo's traditionally most viable employers and sacrosanct institutions could be on the chopping block for funding in the years just ahead.

Footing the bill for bills | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/footing_the_bill_for_bills With a $1.5 billion fault line preparing to level any attempts to add costs to the 2010-11 state budget, passing a bill with a large fiscal note could prove a difficult task this spring. But that won’t stop bills from appearing with fiscal notes. Already, 101 bills have been introduced that carry a fiscal note that include an expenditure increase or reduction and/or a revenue increase or reduction. Here are the most and least pricey bills suggested so far. All prices apply to 2010-11 and expenditures do not account for revenue adjustments in the bills or vice versa.

Doomed bills return to Colorado lawmakers year after year | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/legislature-93800-bill-role.html Every year, El Paso County lawmakers lead legislative lambs to the slaughter: bills so unlikely to pass that they’re considered all but dead upon introduction. The flock has only grown as the mostly-Republican delegation has fallen deeply into the General Assembly’s minority. Many of the measures they offer up as sacrifices on the political altar have changed little, having been introduced for years at every session. The exact number is hard to pin down, but lawmakers from here have penned about a dozen legislative proposals, knowing they will be killed by legislative committees long before reaching a floor vote. Last week, in one example, Republican Rep. Kent Lambert offered up his plan to have the state guarantee some of its savings accounts by buying gold bars. His bill would have required the gold to be stored at the state Capitol.

Pinnacol workers comp resists lawmaker efforts to increase public input | Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47103/profitable-pinnacol-workers-comp-resists-lawmaker-efforts-to-increase-public-input A controversial bill that aims to diversify and open up decision-making at Pinnacol Assurance, the impressively profitable quasi-governmental workers compensation insurance provider, passed out of the House Judicial Committee Friday on a mostly partisan vote. The hearing highlighted the tensions that define Pinnacol, an entity designed to serve the public but also required to act as a business. Bill sponsor Joe Mikloski, a Denver Democrat, aims to require Pinnacol to include a one-time injured worker and a physician on the directors board and to bring greater transparency to the board decision-making process by inviting the public to attend meetings. The bill would increase the board from nine to eleven members and institute public comment periods at each of the meetings. Meeting agendas would also have to posted seven days in advance. Pinnacol provides workers compensation insurance to nearly 60 percent of workers in Colorado.

Proposals loosen up liquor business | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/proposals_loosen_up_liquor_bus Grand Junction liquor store owner Brandi Fisher—Pollock isn’t at all happy with two bills that could take sales away from her and others in the liquor business. Under two measures working their way through the Colorado Legislature, convenience stores would be able to sell full-strength beer, and grocers could buy out nearby liquor outlets. Though Fisher-Pollock said the bills are better than an unrestricted opening of all liquor sales for convenience and grocery stores, she still is actively opposing them and letting others in the business know they should, too. “If they’re going to do a law trying to restrict the saturation of liquor licenses, they need to do a lot more than that,” said Fisher-Pollock, who’s been meeting with other liquor store owners in Grand Junction about the bills.

Lawmakers tussle over bill that would ease insurance gender discrimination « Colorado Independe

http://coloradoindependent.com/47106/lawmakers-tussle-over-bill-that-would-ease-health-insurance-gender-discrimination A packed hearing Thursday for a bill that seeks to address wide differences in cost based on gender in the individual health insurance market in Colorado saw clashes erupt between male and female members of the committee. House Bill 1008, sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge, seeks to distribute and lower those costs for women who don’t have employer or state health plans. The motion ultimately passed out of committee on an 8 to 2 vote. “Women pay up to 59 percent more than men of the same age with 90 percent of private insurance companies, even though as a whole women tend to have less claims than men, irrespective of maternity coverage.” Mcann told the committee.

House to hear DUI felony bill | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/07/house-to-hear-dui-felony-bill-monday/ A bill that makes a third DUI conviction a felony is scheduled to be heard Monday afternoon by a House committee. House Bill 1184 doesn’t have a fiscal note attached to it yet but several Capitol observors say they believe the price tag will be too prohibitive for the budget-challenged state. The sponsor, Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said he expects to see the fiscal note on Monday. He said during testimony he is going to propose ways to cut the budget and use that savings to be able to incarcerate repeat DUI offenders. His budget-cutting proposals include eliminating a front license plate, which will save around $4 million, and reducing dues and membership fees the state pays to belong to a variety of organizations. “I think it’s important enough to try to find a way to pay for it,” Gardner said. Gardner’s measure is one of seven bills the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled to hear Monday afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. The hearing was moved to the Old Supreme Court chambers because a crowd is expected to testify on a river navigation measure.

Repeat DUI offenders must get jail terms, panel says - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345677 A state criminal-justice commission agreed Friday that repeat DUI offenders in Colorado must go to jail. The commission endorsed a legislative proposal that would mandate a jail term of 10 days to a year for a second drunken-driving offense and 60 days to a year for third or subsequent offenses. In addition, repeat offenders would face two years of supervision by probation officers and the threat of up to an additional year in jail for ignoring conditions of probation. Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, the bill's sponsor, said the lengthened probation and suspended jail provisions are intended to provide a potent incentive for counseling and treatment once an offender gets out of jail. "The year is a deposit that the judge can draw against" if the offender ignores probation requirements, she said. "What we're looking for is participation in alcohol treatment."

Swalm leads defense of men at health insurance hearing | Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47160/swalm-leads-defense-of-men-at-health-insurance-hearing Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial, led the charge Thursday defending the rights of men to continue to pay less as a group on the individual health-insurance market in Colorado. Swalm is a member of the Health and Human Services committee that was weighing a bill aimed to ease wide inequalities in the cost of insurance for men and women in Colorado. The bill was sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge. “Men are having the toughest time finding work, so this is going to make it even harder for them to pay for insurance,” Swalm said. He later told the Colorado Independent that outside of the legislature, he worked as an insurance broker. Swalm energetically engaged committee members as well as people who cam to testify in favor of the bill, including Jerry McElroy, a spokesperson for national health care provider Kaiser Permanente. The only insurance company representative to speak at the hearing, McElroy said his company had decided to end gender discrimination costs in 1969 and that, contrary to the fears being expressed in the current debate, Kaiser had suffered no significant loss of revenue as a result. “We’re doing just fine,” McElroy told the committee.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Bill to extend nurse tuition forgiveness clears another hurdle

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d539096a75477679958.txt A Senate committee on Friday passed Sen. Abel Tapia's bill proposing to extend eligibility for tuition forgiveness to nurses who achieve advanced degrees. Tapia, D-Pueblo, introduced SB58, which would grant eligibility for student loan forgiveness to nurses who earn advanced degrees and teach their craft on a part-time basis. On Friday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill. Last week it had gained approval from the Senate Finance Committee. Currently, the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program overseen by CollegeInvest applies only to nurses who are teaching full-time. Tapia said funding for the extension already exists through CollegeInvest, and no new spending would be required. When the first tuition loan forgiveness program for nurses was adopted by the Legislature in 2006, it didn't sufficiently extend benefits to lure instructors away from their lucrative field, in Tapia's estimation.

New bill would allow students to transfer credits from for-profit colleges - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355221 Metropolitan State College of Denver is so packed with students that officials are spending $24,000 a semester to rent space at a campus movie theater to hold classes. Though enrollment is up at colleges across the state, those serving high-risk students, such as Metro and community colleges, feel the squeeze the most. Enrollment is up 19 percent since the fall of 2008 at 13 community colleges across Colorado, and nearly 60 programs are full and putting students on wait lists. In November, enrollment at the 13 schools totaled almost 83,000, according to the Colorado Community College System.

Water-transfer mitigation bill dies in House | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/watertransfer_mitigation_bill A bill to require water buyers to mitigate large transfers of water from one river basin to another died on the House floor Friday. But that was because Denver Water lobbied hard against the bill and managed to turn some lawmakers to its side, said Rep. Sal Pace, who introduced House Bill 1159. “I had to run it, because every day I waited, I’d lose another vote,” the Pueblo Democrat said immediately after the bill’s demise. “I had a lot of people turn on me, including people who told me this morning (Friday) that they were with me.” The issue is not a new one for the Legislature, but each time it comes up, urban lawmakers along the Front Range and even rural ones on the South Platte River Basin manage to find ways to kill it, Western Slope lawmakers said.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Pace’s water transfer bill dies on House floor

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d459507ef5391244397.txt A bill that would have required mitigation agreements between communities where water transfers originate and their destinations died Friday in the House with strong opposition from urban legislators. Rep. Sal Pace's HB1159 was killed on second reading, with 23 members in support and 36 opposed. Two members were absent, and Pace said they may have voted on his side, but wouldn't have affected the outcome. "I'm surprised by the number of people that flipped on me in the last day," said Pace, D-Pueblo. Pace hurried the bill along this week. He wanted it to move quickly because he said he was losing votes with each passing day as metropolitan water interests lobbied lawmakers against it.

Liquor-sale bills change the game - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350855 Convenience and grocery stores intent on increasing their share of Colorado's liquor market have a new tactic this year: deflate the David- versus-Goliath defense that liquor shops traditionally use to fight off proposals to expand the sale of full-strength beer, wine and liquor. For two years running, lawmakers have been swayed by liquor store owners' predictions that giving competitively advantaged supermarket chains and convenience stores the keys to the liquor cabinet would put their mom-and-pops out of commission. But a bill allowing corner stores to stock full-strength beer, up for a first hearing Wednesday, excludes corporate-controlled grocery stores and instead pits one small- business group against another, advocates say. And a plan grocers introduced Friday allowing themselves to buy out liquor stores and their licenses for five or six figures means a few hundred liquor store owners could hit a jackpot.

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350677 Until a few months ago, J.B. Woods was your standard-issue insurance agent. Auto, home, life. Would you like flood coverage with that? Then, in the middle of 2009, his phone rang: "I need insurance for my medical-marijuana dispensary," the caller said. And since that moment, few of the policies Woods has set up for clients have been standard-issue. Instead, Woods has become the guru of ganja insurance. Property insurance, theft insurance, liability insurance. Woods is now even offering crop insurance, in case a medical-marijuana harvest isn't as bountiful as expected. "They needed an insurance agent who specializes in this area because of all the complexities involved," Woods said.

Windsor struggles to find a resolution | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080324/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Windsor-struggles-to-find-a-resolution Town officials continue to work on a draft ordinance to regulate the sudden growth of medical marijuana dispensaries in Windsor. The Windsor Town Board and Windsor Planning Commission met last week for two hours in a joint session in the Fireside Room at Windsor High School. "It's slow and painful at times, but it's what we have to do to get it right," said Windsor Town Board Trustee Robert Bishop-Cotner. The focus of the meeting was to discuss various definitions of terms as mentioned in Amendment 20, zoning decisions, location issues and signage. The boards discussed at great length how to distinguish between caregiver and commercial caregiver with little resolution. "The definition of caregiver and commercial caregiver might be getting intermingled," said planning commissioner Paul Ehrlich. "Do we want to entertain a definition that can be confusing even though we know they're different?"

Medical marijuana on agenda for Fort Collins officials | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080323/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Medical-marijuana-on-agenda-for-Fort-Collins-officials Medical marijuana caregivers with more than one patient would not be able to grow or distribute products from their homes under regulations proposed by Fort Collins officials. They would not be allowed to grow marijuana outdoors, and their sundry products could only be distributed within city limits. These and a long list of other proposals aimed at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, or MMDs, in Fort Collins are expected to be discussed Tuesday during a City Council work session. Proposed rules for where marijuana dispensaries and "grows" may locate in the city and how they may operate came after researching how other Colorado cities are dealing with the issue and extensive public outreach, said Ginny Sawyer of the city's neighborhood service office.

Northern Colorado expo quietly touts medical marijuana | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070336/1002/Northern-Colorado-expo-quietly-touts-medical-marijuana Tim Gordon wanted to keep his Northern Colorado Medical Cannabis Expo on Saturday as low-key and nonconfrontational as possible. "I'm not trying to step on anybody's feet with this," he said. "I don't want to be aggressive and in-your-face to people who are not interested in medical cannabis." The event assembled dispensaries, legal services and marijuana advocates for a public forum about the state of the medical marijuana community. Speakers included Sensible Colorado, Front Range chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, The Cure Law Office and other political advocates. Gordon is the president of Front Range NORML and co-owner of Medicinal Gardens of Colorado, a medical marijuana dispensary in Fort Collins. He said the quarterly expo is as much for people within the medical marijuana community to come together as it is for the general public. Unity, according to him and others at the expo, is the community's greatest strength.

Man claiming pot card didn’t complete the paperwork | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209801/1001 An officer noticed an open garage door in Gypsum on Jan. 15. Several valuable items were visible and no one was at the house. The officer tried to phone the resident and close the garage door but could not succeed. He drove by the residence several times throughout the day to keep an eye on it. On Jan. 17, he was driving by the same house and noticed vehicles in the driveway. He knocked on the door. A man answered, stepped outside and quickly closed the door. The deputy smelled marijuana. He told the man his garage door had been open all day on the 15th and asked about the marijuana smell. The man said he had a medical marijuana card. The deputy asked to see it and then the man said he didn't have one. He said he was in the process of completing the paperwork due to problems with his knees.

On the Spot: Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/08/on-the-spot-rep-carole-murray-r-castle-rock/ Carole Murray once worked as a newspaper reporter, but her colleagues don’t hold it against her. Her career also has included a stint as a teacher, director of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and two terms as Douglas County’s elected clerk and recorder. Murray, 61, is married to Lisle Gates, principal of Castle View High School in Castle Rock. Between them, they have five children and eight grandchildren.

Proposals loosen up liquor business | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/proposals_loosen_up_liquor_bus Grand Junction liquor store owner Brandi Fisher—Pollock isn’t at all happy with two bills that could take sales away from her and others in the liquor business. Under two measures working their way through the Colorado Legislature, convenience stores would be able to sell full-strength beer, and grocers could buy out nearby liquor outlets. Though Fisher-Pollock said the bills are better than an unrestricted opening of all liquor sales for convenience and grocery stores, she still is actively opposing them and letting others in the business know they should, too. “If they’re going to do a law trying to restrict the saturation of liquor licenses, they need to do a lot more than that,” said Fisher-Pollock, who’s been meeting with other liquor store owners in Grand Junction about the bills.

Lawmakers tussle over bill that would ease insurance gender discrimination « Colorado Independe

http://coloradoindependent.com/47106/lawmakers-tussle-over-bill-that-would-ease-health-insurance-gender-discrimination A packed hearing Thursday for a bill that seeks to address wide differences in cost based on gender in the individual health insurance market in Colorado saw clashes erupt between male and female members of the committee. House Bill 1008, sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge, seeks to distribute and lower those costs for women who don’t have employer or state health plans. The motion ultimately passed out of committee on an 8 to 2 vote. “Women pay up to 59 percent more than men of the same age with 90 percent of private insurance companies, even though as a whole women tend to have less claims than men, irrespective of maternity coverage.” Mcann told the committee.

House to hear DUI felony bill | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/07/house-to-hear-dui-felony-bill-monday/ A bill that makes a third DUI conviction a felony is scheduled to be heard Monday afternoon by a House committee. House Bill 1184 doesn’t have a fiscal note attached to it yet but several Capitol observors say they believe the price tag will be too prohibitive for the budget-challenged state. The sponsor, Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said he expects to see the fiscal note on Monday. He said during testimony he is going to propose ways to cut the budget and use that savings to be able to incarcerate repeat DUI offenders. His budget-cutting proposals include eliminating a front license plate, which will save around $4 million, and reducing dues and membership fees the state pays to belong to a variety of organizations. “I think it’s important enough to try to find a way to pay for it,” Gardner said. Gardner’s measure is one of seven bills the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled to hear Monday afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. The hearing was moved to the Old Supreme Court chambers because a crowd is expected to testify on a river navigation measure.

Repeat DUI offenders must get jail terms, panel says - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345677 A state criminal-justice commission agreed Friday that repeat DUI offenders in Colorado must go to jail. The commission endorsed a legislative proposal that would mandate a jail term of 10 days to a year for a second drunken-driving offense and 60 days to a year for third or subsequent offenses. In addition, repeat offenders would face two years of supervision by probation officers and the threat of up to an additional year in jail for ignoring conditions of probation. Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, the bill's sponsor, said the lengthened probation and suspended jail provisions are intended to provide a potent incentive for counseling and treatment once an offender gets out of jail. "The year is a deposit that the judge can draw against" if the offender ignores probation requirements, she said. "What we're looking for is participation in alcohol treatment."

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Bill to extend nurse tuition forgiveness clears another hurdle

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d539096a75477679958.txt A Senate committee on Friday passed Sen. Abel Tapia's bill proposing to extend eligibility for tuition forgiveness to nurses who achieve advanced degrees. Tapia, D-Pueblo, introduced SB58, which would grant eligibility for student loan forgiveness to nurses who earn advanced degrees and teach their craft on a part-time basis. On Friday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill. Last week it had gained approval from the Senate Finance Committee. Currently, the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program overseen by CollegeInvest applies only to nurses who are teaching full-time. Tapia said funding for the extension already exists through CollegeInvest, and no new spending would be required. When the first tuition loan forgiveness program for nurses was adopted by the Legislature in 2006, it didn't sufficiently extend benefits to lure instructors away from their lucrative field, in Tapia's estimation.

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350677 Until a few months ago, J.B. Woods was your standard-issue insurance agent. Auto, home, life. Would you like flood coverage with that? Then, in the middle of 2009, his phone rang: "I need insurance for my medical-marijuana dispensary," the caller said. And since that moment, few of the policies Woods has set up for clients have been standard-issue. Instead, Woods has become the guru of ganja insurance. Property insurance, theft insurance, liability insurance. Woods is now even offering crop insurance, in case a medical-marijuana harvest isn't as bountiful as expected. "They needed an insurance agent who specializes in this area because of all the complexities involved," Woods said.

Windsor struggles to find a resolution | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080324/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Windsor-struggles-to-find-a-resolution Town officials continue to work on a draft ordinance to regulate the sudden growth of medical marijuana dispensaries in Windsor. The Windsor Town Board and Windsor Planning Commission met last week for two hours in a joint session in the Fireside Room at Windsor High School. "It's slow and painful at times, but it's what we have to do to get it right," said Windsor Town Board Trustee Robert Bishop-Cotner. The focus of the meeting was to discuss various definitions of terms as mentioned in Amendment 20, zoning decisions, location issues and signage. The boards discussed at great length how to distinguish between caregiver and commercial caregiver with little resolution. "The definition of caregiver and commercial caregiver might be getting intermingled," said planning commissioner Paul Ehrlich. "Do we want to entertain a definition that can be confusing even though we know they're different?"

Medical marijuana on agenda for Fort Collins officials | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080323/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Medical-marijuana-on-agenda-for-Fort-Collins-officials Medical marijuana caregivers with more than one patient would not be able to grow or distribute products from their homes under regulations proposed by Fort Collins officials. They would not be allowed to grow marijuana outdoors, and their sundry products could only be distributed within city limits. These and a long list of other proposals aimed at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, or MMDs, in Fort Collins are expected to be discussed Tuesday during a City Council work session. Proposed rules for where marijuana dispensaries and "grows" may locate in the city and how they may operate came after researching how other Colorado cities are dealing with the issue and extensive public outreach, said Ginny Sawyer of the city's neighborhood service office.

Northern Colorado expo quietly touts medical marijuana | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070336/1002/Northern-Colorado-expo-quietly-touts-medical-marijuana Tim Gordon wanted to keep his Northern Colorado Medical Cannabis Expo on Saturday as low-key and nonconfrontational as possible. "I'm not trying to step on anybody's feet with this," he said. "I don't want to be aggressive and in-your-face to people who are not interested in medical cannabis." The event assembled dispensaries, legal services and marijuana advocates for a public forum about the state of the medical marijuana community. Speakers included Sensible Colorado, Front Range chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, The Cure Law Office and other political advocates. Gordon is the president of Front Range NORML and co-owner of Medicinal Gardens of Colorado, a medical marijuana dispensary in Fort Collins. He said the quarterly expo is as much for people within the medical marijuana community to come together as it is for the general public. Unity, according to him and others at the expo, is the community's greatest strength.

Man claiming pot card didn’t complete the paperwork | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209801/1001 An officer noticed an open garage door in Gypsum on Jan. 15. Several valuable items were visible and no one was at the house. The officer tried to phone the resident and close the garage door but could not succeed. He drove by the residence several times throughout the day to keep an eye on it. On Jan. 17, he was driving by the same house and noticed vehicles in the driveway. He knocked on the door. A man answered, stepped outside and quickly closed the door. The deputy smelled marijuana. He told the man his garage door had been open all day on the 15th and asked about the marijuana smell. The man said he had a medical marijuana card. The deputy asked to see it and then the man said he didn't have one. He said he was in the process of completing the paperwork due to problems with his knees.

Lawmakers seeing red | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/lawmakers-seeing-red/ Even the men got into the act Friday, wearing red to the Capitol as part of National Wear Red Day to raise awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, wore his father’s red aloha tie. Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley, was the showstopper, though, with red pants, sweater and a tie.

CU applies for federal grants to help finish biotechnology hub - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_14343880 The University of Colorado has applied for multi-million dollar federal grants to help finish the construction of its biotechnology building since the cash-strapped state is rejecting the school's funding requests. CU's Boulder campus split the building's construction into two projects so that it could move forward on construction, without depending on state funding. The first phase of the building will be 257,000 square feet, and CU expects it to be finished in fall 2011. The school has plans for a 54,000-square-foot addition, which hinges on funding. Instead of waiting for an economic turn-around at the state level -- which could leave construction on the final wing of the building stalled for an indefinite period of time -- CU is looking for money elsewhere. Russ Moore, interim vice chancellor for research, said CU has applied for two federal stimulus grants from the National Institutes of Health that each amounts to about $15 million. University officials are waiting to hear back from the agency.

Prius’ stuck gas pedal almost killed Colo. woman more than 3 years ago - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350044 Ted James says he tried to blow the whistle on safety issues with Toyota more than three years ago, but no one at Toyota would listen. "I tried everything I could to sound the alarm, and I was ignored. It was so frustrating," James said. He is hoping Congress will listen now. James wants to testify at the congressional hearings later this month about Toyota's problems. He said he notified Toyota there was a defect in the vehicles that could be deadly in August 2006 after an accident nearly killed his wife. The family lives in Eagle. The accident happened as Elizabeth James was driving the family's Toyota Prius east on Interstate 70 past Idaho Springs.

Summit medics bring relief to Haiti through operations, amputations | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209818/1001 Dr. Peter Janes recently treated amputee patients amid the cracked walls of a Haitian hospital in makeshift operating rooms: “I'm still fixing femurs in my nightmares,” he said. The orthopedic surgeon with Vail-Summit Orthopaedics in Frisco returned last week from a volunteer trip to help people suffering with crushed arms and legs. Patients, untreated for two-and-a-half weeks, waited in tents outside a Port-au-Prince hospital as they were wheeled or carried up three floors to operating rooms. Dr. Anthony Brocato, an anesthesiologist with the group, said there were no cases of head or chest trauma. “I'm sure they're out there, but most of those people probably died,” he said.

Area doctors and nurses prepare for Haiti | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209836/1001 A group of local medical professionals preparing to go to earthquake-ravaged Haiti are asking for financial assistance in order to help complete their mission. While the project is in the preliminary stages, Tom Dalessandri of Carbondale is organizing a group of doctors and nurses to travel to Haiti in the coming weeks. The plan originally was supposed to take shape by the middle of this month, but Dalessandri is now shooting for later because of logistical and financial issues, he said. “Our real issue is that we don't want to flounder once we get down there; we need a constructive plan,” Dalessandri said, adding he is dealing with a dozen different organizations tofind the right facility to work from, as well as provide the necessary support.

Family with local ties survives Haiti quake | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100208/VALLEYNEWS/100209890/1001 When a 7.0 earthquake struck the impoverished nation of Haiti on Jan. 12, one of the many tales of tragedy and triumph involved a family with ties to the Roaring Fork Valley. A mission school in Haiti, founded by a couple with friends and relatives in Glenwood Springs, was one of the uncounted buildings that collapsed when the earthquake hit the island. There were 58 people in the three-story mission school at Carrefour, a town about 15 miles west of Port au Prince, according to Al and Linda Stoltzfus of Glenwood Springs. Only 11 survived. One couple, Rodney Smoker and his wife, Lillian, and their infant son, Jeremiah, were on the second floor when the walls began to tremble. Rodney Smoker is a nephew of the Stoltzfuses — his mother, Darlene, is sister to Al Stoltzfus and is married to the mission school's founder, Lloyd Smoker.

Grand Junction grad now flying helicopter missions in Haiti | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/grand_junction_grad_now_flying_helicopter_missions_in_haiti It seems like something from a technology-driven adventure flick, but Lt. Sean Cavanagh’s experience maneuvering a helicopter between canyon walls was all too real. Cavanagh, a helicopter pilot assigned to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, just completed a three-week assignment to Joint Task Force-Haiti. The Carl Vinson and its Red Lion squadron of SH-60F Seahawk helicopters arrived off Haiti the night of Jan. 14, two days after the Jan. 12 earthquake that shattered the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. For Cavanagh, a 26-year-old 2001 Grand Junction High School graduate, a mission on Jan. 26 never will fade from memory, he said via e-mail. Cavanagh and another pilot, Lt. Steve Schwarzer, were directed to a nearby landing zone where patients in critical condition were awaiting transport to one of two hospital ships, the USS Bataan or the USS Comfort, the latter of which was about two minutes’ flight from the landing zone.

The Longmont Times-Call - Mile-Hi Skydiving hopes to send plane to Haiti

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=20703 It usually transports daredevils looking for thrills in the skies. But if all goes according to plan, a skydiving jump plane from Longmont will be fulfilling a much more fundamental mission — delivering relief aid to Haitians displaced by last month’s earthquakes. Frank Casares, owner of Mile-Hi Skydiving Center in Longmont, hopes to send his de Havilland Twin Otter on a two-week mission to transport emergency supplies to the devastated country. “It’s something you feel like you have to do,” he said. “We have an opportunity and a means to help them out.” Although it is configured to carry 23 skydivers and a pilot, the Twin Otter can also hold up to 4,000 pounds of cargo. And it can land easily on unpaved roads, making it a perfect fit for the trip, Casares said.

Sinclair Oil refinery evacuated - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350735 Officials at a Sinclair Oil refinery in Sinclair say a spill of a substance called gas oil prompted an evacuation of the refinery and that no one was injured. Officials said Friday morning's spill released about 30 barrels of gas oil after the roof of a tank apparently started leaking.

Boulder Community Hospital: Clerical error caused inaccuracy in Consumer Reports - Boulder Daily Cam

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14344603 The inaccurate analysis of deadly infections at Boulder Community Hospital by Consumer Reports was based on a reporting mistake made by a hospital staff member. An article in the March issue of the magazine says Boulder Community had 129 percent more infections than average among patients being treated with the help of intravenous central lines, the worst rate of the 28 Colorado hospitals reviewed by the magazine. Consumer Reports' data was based on numbers provided by The Leapfrog Group, an organization that collects information from voluntary hospital surveys. Data provided to the state by the hospital showed fewer infections than the numbers used by the magazine. "You need to understand that all of the data that Boulder Community is expressing concern about comes from them," John Santa, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center, said Tuesday after the Camera ran a story saying the hospital disputed the magazine's analysis.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Many older people not vaccinated

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e59b9517c2770396865.txt More than 33 percent of adults 65 and older have not been vaccinated for pneumonia, a common killer of the ill and aged, according to a report released Thursday. According to the report, “Adult Immunization: Shots to Save Lives,” Colorado is doing better than most states, with a rate of 27.4 percent. The report came from the Trust for America’s Health, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Pneumonia infections, a common complication of flu and other diseases, is blamed for an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 preventable deaths each year and $10 billion in preventable health care costs.

Craig Daily Press / Panel discusses factors related to suicide

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2010/feb/06/panel-discusses-factors-related-suicide/ Kelsey Grinstead attended Thursday’s suicide prevention forum in Craig for one person — herself. The 17-year-old Moffat County High School senior was there, at The Memorial Hospital, in hopes of understanding what affects more people her age everyday.

Craig Daily Press / Suicide, depression forum encourages community to be proactive

http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2010/feb/06/suicide-depression-forum-encourages-community-be-p/ In a standing-room-only event Thursday night, nearly 50 parents, police officers, school administrators and teenagers crowded into a conference room at The Memorial Hospital to learn about suicide prevention. They all seemed to have a similar message: We want to help. “We went because there’s a concern for (suicide) with our youth in the area,” said Travis Jensen, assistant principal at Moffat County High School. “We are gaining more knowledge about it and more understanding about it so we can help to prevent it.” The event, the Suicide, Depression and the Grief Process community forum hosted by Reaching Everyone Preventing Suicide, was geared toward helping visitors to do just that.

Family: Pilot in Boulder mid-air crash ‘experienced,’ ‘made safety a priority’ - Boulder Daily Camer

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14352511 Bob Matthews, a longtime Boulder lawyer, was described as an adventurer and family man by relatives and close friends who mourned him Sunday, a day after he and his brother died in a fiery mid-air collision over north Boulder. "He was your classic great guy," said Neal Cohen, a law partner and friend. "He was the center of gravity for his friends. He was devoted to his family. We're all just incredibly stunned." Matthews, 58, and with his brother, Mark A. Matthews, 56, and Alexander Howard Gilmer, a 25-year-old Evergreen pilot, were killed when their planes collided at 8,000-plus feet over U.S. 36 and Broadway on Saturday afternoon, scattering debris across Boulder County open space.

Probe of plane collision to take more than a year - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14352002 It is likely to be a year, or more, before federal investigators determine what caused Saturday's deadly midair collision of two small planes in north Boulder. In this case, however, investigators will have advantages they often don't have in trying to determine what happened in a crash where everyone on both planes perished. For starters, they will be able to talk to the pilot of a glider who cut loose from the aircraft towing him just as it collided with the other plane. They also will also be able to question two passengers who were riding in the glider, a woman and her 11-year-old son.

Victims of Boulder midair crash identified - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355506 The victims of a fiery plane collision over north Boulder included two brothers — middle-aged family men and professionals — and a young pilot from Evergreen, authorities and family confirmed Sunday. Boulder litigator Bob Matthews, Englewood engineer Mark Matthews and 25-year-old pilot Alexander Gilmer died when the brothers' Cirrus SR20 collided with Gilmer's one-man Piper Pawnee on Saturday afternoon. "Mark and Bob were men who were dearly loved," the Matthews family said in a statement. "Wherever they went, they impacted their community with their integrity, kindness, humor and love." The Gilmer family declined to comment Sunday evening.

Greg Mortenson to make trip to Greeley | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209745/1002 Greg Mortenson, who was nominated for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his work building more than 90 schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, will appear in Greeley for a public appearance on Wednesday. Mortenson helped write “Three Cups of Tea,” a national bestseller about his journey to get his organization and goal underway, and he wrote a follow-up to that book, “Stones Into Schools,” on his own. “Three Cups of Tea” was the common read in Greeley late last year. Mortenson was a mountain climber coming down from a rough trip up K2, one of the world's fiercest peaks, when he stumbled onto a village. The people there helped nurse him back to health despite their poverty and, consequently, changed his life after he promised to build them a school.

Lafayette chiropractor Eric St. Pierre assists at Winter Olympics - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14355678 Eric St. Pierre, a Lafayette chiropractic sports doctor, has helped speed skaters, weightlifters and other elite athletes recover from injuries and stay in top condition. It's that experience with five national teams, he said, that secured him a spot as one of five chiropractic doctors on the 47-member medical staff selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee to support athletes at the Winter Olympics. "This is just a dream come true," he said. "It's very exciting." He left Saturday for Vancouver, where he will work as a trainer for the short track speed skating team and assist with the general care for all 200 athletes in the Olympic Village. The Olympics officially open Friday and wrap up Feb. 28. The 30-year-old St. Pierre heads up sports rehabilitation at Lafayette's South Pointe Medical Center, a pain and physical rehabilitation clinic.

CSU student killed on tracks may have been train-hopping - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14341456 A man found dead along railroad track two miles from Keenesburg has been identified as Devon Arnold, a 22-year-old Colorado State University senior majoring in mechanical engineering. Margie Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Weld County Sheriff's Office, said a relative identified Arnold, of Centennial. Arnold disappeared while attending a Nuggets game at the Pepsi Center with Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers and other CSU students. Arnold left his companions a few times during the game, according to Wynn Smiley, ATO's national executive director. The final time he did not return to his seat.

Family upset after police shoot dog. - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345364 A Commerce City family is outraged after police shot their dog. Zoey was a mutt adopted from an animal shelter in 2003. The 35-pound dog had never bitten anyone, said owners Julia and Frank Agazio, although she'd always bark at visitors. A police officer shot the dog Wednesday while responding to a accidental 911 call. The family said they had informed police the call was made by accident. Officer Chris Dickey, spokesman for the Commerce City Police Department, said the female officer was confronted by "three, large vicious dogs" and shot Zoey as the dog attempted to attack her. The Agazios say Zoey was barking like she frequently did and that Zoey was 10 feet away from the officer.

Grassland officials issue a wildfire threat warning | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209795/1002 Tall, dry grasses have increased the danger of wildfires on the Pawnee National Grassland in northern Weld County. U.S. Forest Service officials are warning that people need to be careful not to start a wildfire when visiting the area. An unusually wet spring and summer in 2009 helped the grasses to grow tall. Those grasses are now cured and very dry, according to a release from the forest service. “People come to the Grassland and may not think about the wildfire threat like they would in the forest,” Pawnee district ranger Lori Bell said in the release. “But burning grass with strong winds can be a deadly force when someone carelessly sets it on fire.”

Sheriff Braudis back home from hospital | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209867/1001 Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis was released Friday from Aspen Valley Hospital and is expected to return to work in at least three weeks, Undersheriff Joe DiSalvo said. For the next two months Braudis — hospitalized with a major upper respiratory infection — will undergo physical therapy to regain strength in his lungs. Afterward, he'll begin cardiovascular rehabilitation to regain his stamina, DiSalvo said. Braudis had been in the care of AVH for nearly a week, after spending time in the St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver, where he also spent three days in the intensive care unit. Braudis has declined comment since he was hospitalized. “Surprisingly, he's very happy and he's doing well,” DiSalvo said. “He's happy to be home.”

Snowmobiler dies after collision in Grand County - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355369 A 38-year old snowmobiler has died from injuries he received in an accident Sunday afternoon. Grand County Dispatch received a call just after noon Sunday that there was an accident on the west side of Little Gravel Mountain. The Grand County Sheriff's Department said the victim was involved in a collision with another member of his riding group. CPR was being performed on the victim when emergency crews arrived. Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County EMS and the Grand Lake Fire Department responded to the scene. The victim's name is being withheld until relatives are notified.

Creek suspends girls from swim team - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14342369 Several members of the Cherry Creek High School girls swim and dive team have been "suspended from competition," after a report of consuming alcohol, the school district told 9NEWS on Friday. Cherry Creek athletic director Randy McCall would not say how many students were punished, nor the names of the swimmers, nor which meets the swimmers are suspended from. The news comes one week before the Class 5A state swim meet in Fort Collins. The Bruins have won the 5A state championship the last five years and have won 25 state titles since 1974.

Hospital tech in Hep C saga lets guilty plea stand - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345680 Former surgical scrub tech Kristen Diane Parker will let her guilty plea stand, even though she faces more than 20 years in prison for stealing hospital painkillers and infecting patients with hepatitis C. Parker, 27, decided Friday against taking her case to trial, in part, her attorney said, because some of her statements were released to the public by prosecutors. "I am concerned, had she chosen to go forward, if she would get a fair trial with the release of confidential information to the press," said her lawyer, Gregory Graf. Parker's videotaped debriefing and other information she gave prosecutors appeared on national media outlets, including all three network newscasts, "Inside Edition" and "Oprah," Graf said. Jeffrey Dorschner, spokesman for the Colorado U.S. attorney, said the release of Parker's videotaped debriefing was made part of the public record, and at no time did Graf object to its release.

Some of Mississippi woman’s 58 dogs moving to Colorado - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350363 A disabled former nurse and dog breeder in Holmes County, Miss., looked West when she needed help for 58 dogs in her falling-down house. Many of the dogs — most of them wire-haired terriers — will be taken Tuesday to a shelter in Denver. The elderly woman first called the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, because she could no longer afford to care for the dogs. The Utah group then called In Defense of Animals' Project Hope sanctuary in Mississippi, said Doll Stanley, director of investigations for the group's Mid-South office. "She loved the dogs so much and didn't want to give them to someone who wouldn't take care of them," Stanley said. "The whole north side of her house had fallen off, but she was bound to her house because she didn't know what to do with the dogs."

Fears of hantavirus hinder cold-case probe - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355223 A pile of deer-mice feces is the latest stumbling block to solving a 1982 double-murder case in Archuleta County. The possibility of evidence being infected with hantavirus, carried by deer mice, has led FBI agents to postpone testing blood found inside a decaying bus on a remote Southern Colorado ranch. The bus may have been the murder scene of an unidentified man and a woman. "It's just one more delay in an investigation that has been very hard," said George Barter, an Archuleta County sheriff's detective. Barter said the hantavirus scare is only a temporary problem, but one that has already set him back four months.

Report: Owners tried to hide pit bull from authorities after attack | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoa

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100206/NEWS01/2060331/1002/Report-Owners-tried-to-hide-pit-bull-from-authorities-after-attack The owners of a pit bull that attacked a neighbor and her dog allegedly tried to keep the pit bull away from animal control officers after the attack, according to a report released Friday by the Larimer Humane Society. On Jan. 30, Barbara Berry reported that she and her sheltie, Sassy, were attacked by a pit bull in the 3000 block of Garrett Drive. Berry did not have Sassy on a leash at the time, and the dog was severely injured. The dog's right front leg was amputated Tuesday at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at CSU, and Sassy died early Wednesday morning, owner Jerry Berry said Friday.

Completed Garfield County foreclosures lag behind filings | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100208/VALLEYNEWS/100209889/1001 Although completed foreclosures in 2009 dropped 4 percent in Colorado, the number of foreclosures that went to auction in Garfield County for the most part mirrored the increase in filings as a whole. While the county saw a record 408 foreclosure filings in 2009, up from 108 the previous year, 82 resulted in completed foreclosure sales. That number is up significantly from 10 completed sales in 2008 and 20 sales in 2007, according to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing 4th Quarter 2009 Foreclosure Report issued Feb. 4. The number of completed sales in a year is typically somewhat lower than actual foreclosure filings, explained Bob Slade, deputy public trustee for Garfield County.

Durango Herald News, RHA wants HUD change

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/RHA_wants_HUD_change/ The head of a local housing organization is working to make destination cities like Durango more livable for the nonrich. Jennifer Lopez, executive director of Durango's Regional Housing Alliance, and the leaders of nearly a dozen housing organizations from other “gateway communities" in the mountain West want to change the federal government's rules that govern who gets rural housing assistance. Lopez said federal housing programs are “inadequate" here. “There is a serious mismatch between incomes and home prices in La Plata County," said Lopez.

Cracking down on rental homes | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209841/1002 An ever-increasing number of second-home owners in Colorado's mountain towns are renting out their homes as vacation properties. Using online resources like vrbo.com and craigslist.org, many of these property owners are able to handle bookings at a minimal cost without hiring property management firms. But, the majority of these vacation rentals by owner are flying under the radar, not registering with the local government, not applying for business licenses and not paying sales or lodging taxes, according to a study conducted by the Town of Breckenridge last year. Nobody has a solid estimate on how much revenue in Colorado is being lost each year in off-the-books vacation rentals, but in ski towns like Breckenridge, Steamboat and Winter Park, it could add up to tens of thousands of dollars every year. The Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST), an organization of more than 25 municipalities, is looking to pool its resources to crack down on the short-term vacation rental industry. Alone, few towns have the resources to address the problem, which requires tracking down violators who are advertising online and elsewhere and cross-referencing them with licensed business owners and tax filings in each town.

Debate over neighborhood zoning in homestretch - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350676 Roy Vestal and Gosia Kung are neighbors, but they are worlds apart when it comes to how they think Denver should grow. Kung believes the city should encourage more density and make it easier for developers to build duplexes she says are needed to accommodate an expected surge in population. Vestal looks at the large, modern duplex Kung and her husband built in 2008 next to his 1888-era home in the Witter Cofield historic district and grimaces. He and his partner, Leo Fua, view the sleek design of the duplex as jarring when compared with the home they refer to as their "antique." Competing visions of the city's future are colliding as the city of Denver nears a deadline for finalizing an overhaul of zoning laws that will guide development throughout the city for decades to come.

Telluride Daily Planet - A million tiny owners

http://telluridenews.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/doc4b6e0dc488693549929169.txt It used to be that if you wanted your own place, not just a timeshare, but your own deed to a ski condo in Mountain Village, you had to pony up several hundred thousand dollars or so. Now, hotels are offering many of their units for private ownership. It was that very finance scheme that made the purchase of The Peaks possible for a group of local investors last November, and the Mondrian which is before the Mountain Village Town Council right now has also pitched such a plan, eventually sweetening the deal for the town by adding a floor of 40 rooms which the developers say will not be for sale. Apparently, it’s a sign of our times that a traditional hotel cannot survive in this climate. “They borrowed $100 million on a handshake,” said Mike Theive, a partner in the Peaks Capital Group and a longtime local, who opened what was then the town’s lone restaurant — the Iron Ladle — some 38 years ago when he moved to Telluride. “In our economic environment, cash is king, and it has to be rewarded. That’s not available in a traditional hotel environment.”

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Habitat for Humanity cook-off puts home ownership on the menu - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14351481 Tamales, tapenade and meatballs made the menu at the Holy Smokes Clergy Cook-Off on Saturday, but donations to families needing a home of their own was the best dish served. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity teamed up with five area churches for the fifth annual event, held at Broomfield United Methodist Church. Organizers expected to raise $6,000 for the charity. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity serves Boulder and Broomfield counties. The organization and its volunteers have built 53 homes since 1993 and are working on several more, said executive director John Lovell. The Aquileras, a family of four with a 9-year-old autistic son, had never dreamed of owning their own home.

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Faces of the Recession: With economy down, the eviction business is up | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209737/1002 She stands on the courthouse steps in downtown Greeley on Tuesdays and says loud enough for anyone around to hear: “Is anyone here for the sheriff's sale? Anyone here for the sheriff's sale?” Mary Schwartz has been doing this for years, announcing public sales on the courthouse steps after the original owners lost their property. There are more of the sales now, probably because of the recession. It's called a “sheriff's sale,” and for Schwartz, the sales business is spotty. “Sometimes, we don't have anybody show up to buy the property,” she said. “I think sometimes they don't like the freezing cold and the pigeon droppings.” The sheriff's sale is usually for property that's been foreclosed on, and in the past couple of years, the number has increased due to mortgage problems and the recession. The sales usually involve a title dispute, land, property or oil and gas leases.

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Pitkin County debates its housing options | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209837/1001 Investing in the city of Aspen's Burlingame Ranch worker housing development is not the only option available to Pitkin County as it looks to best leverage about $9 million in accumulated housing funds, commissioners agreed during a retreat last week in Redstone. That was about the only conclusion commissioners could agree upon as they debated whether the county housing dollars should be spent in Aspen or elsewhere in the valley. Commissioners have been mulling their options for about a year, ever since they first announced they had money they'd like to spend on worker housing and put out a call for partnerships and proposals. Some 30 to 40 opportunities have been analyzed, but commissioners have yet to pull the trigger on any of them. “The only thing holding it up is the failure to make a decision,” County Attorney John Ely told commissioners, some of whom are apparently frustrated by the inaction.

Aspen’s $1 million decision: the architect for Burlingame | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209835/1001 The Aspen City Council on Monday will have to make the unpopular decision to either select a local architectural firm to design a city-developed housing project or pick an out-of-town company that is willing to do the work for $1 million less. The majority of the council last month informally decided to award a $1.6 million contract to Boulder-based Oz Architecture to design the final phases of Burlingame Ranch, located off Highway 82 across from Buttermilk. But when questions arose about whether Oz might have underbid the project or wasn't providing the same level of services as its competitor, the Aspen-based Poss Architecture Planning, the council put the decision off so city officials could gather more information to back up their recommendation to select the out-of-town firm.

‘Swift Justice’ documentary to show in Greeley | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209747/1002 The documentary film “Swift Justice,” about the 2006 immigration raids on the Swift meat-packing plants in Greeley and other cities, will be shown next Thursday at two libraries. The film, made in Greeley and produced by the Little Voices film production company, concerns the raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on the Greeley Swift plant and other company plants in six states. The raids resulted in the arrest of more than 1,200 people on charges of illegal immigration and identity theft. In Greeley, 262 people were arrested.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Pueblo woman embroiled in international custody case

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d44f36d917397076849.txt An international child custody battle between a Pueblo woman and her ex-husband in Paris is being fought in U.S. District Court in Denver. The ex-husband alleges the Pueblo woman has refused for more than a month to return their 7-year-old son to his Paris home, where he resides with his father. The mother is known both as Amanda Joy Minarik and Amanda Joy Moore. The ex-husband, Francois Salinier, has invoked an international treaty on child abductions to bring his case before Chief Judge Wiley Daniel.

Trial begins for man accused of killing two women and boy in ice cream shop - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355370 A man who authorities say caused an accident that killed two women and a 3-year-old boy in an ice cream shop in Aurora in 2008, is on trial this week in Arapahoe County District Court. Francis Hernandez, who is in his 20s, faces 19 charges, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and child abuse resulting in death. On Sept. 4, 2008, Hernandez ran a red light and was driving more than 70 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone on Havana Street when he hit a pickup that was making a turn into a hamburger joint at a strip mall, according to authorities. The impact sent the truck into an ice cream parlor, where 3-year-old Marten Kudlis and others were inside.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Pueblo woman embroiled in international custody case

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d44f36d917397076849.txt An international child custody battle between a Pueblo woman and her ex-husband in Paris is being fought in U.S. District Court in Denver. The ex-husband alleges the Pueblo woman has refused for more than a month to return their 7-year-old son to his Paris home, where he resides with his father. The mother is known both as Amanda Joy Minarik and Amanda Joy Moore. The ex-husband, Francois Salinier, has invoked an international treaty on child abductions to bring his case before Chief Judge Wiley Daniel.

Loveland’s first baby of 2010 dead; mother in jail - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14346584 Loveland's first baby born in 2010 is dead, and her mother is in jail. Loveland detectives arrested Kaylynn Davis, 20, Friday on a charge of child abuse resulting in death. The infant died Jan. 25, police said. Summer Moon Hawk was born at 11:31 a.m. New Year's Day at McKee Medical Center. She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces. "We're very excited," Davis told the Loveland Reporter-Herald at the time. She said she wasn't due until Jan. 7 but had always wanted a baby born on the first day of the new year because it would be extra special. Her fiance, David Hawk of Loveland, sounded equally thrilled. "We're very happy, that's for sure," he told the Fort Collins Coloradoan. "We hope she grows up healthy and strong."

Ben Nighthorse Campbell and the media | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/ben-nighthorse-campbell-and-the-press/ Ben Nighthorse Campbell admits he doesn’t have much use for reporters but he was thrilled to find out one of his favorites returned to the West. The former U.S. senator recently wrote a gushing letter to The Communicator in Santa Rosa, N.M., praising its new editor/owner/reporter/deliveryman/photographer/you get the idea. Campbell said that during his 22 years in office he never met a more “fair or personable reporter” than M.E. Sprengelmeyer, who covered Washington for the Rocky Mountain News until it closed almost a year ago.

Boulder Community Hospital: Clerical error caused inaccuracy in Consumer Reports - Boulder Daily Cam

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14344603 The inaccurate analysis of deadly infections at Boulder Community Hospital by Consumer Reports was based on a reporting mistake made by a hospital staff member. An article in the March issue of the magazine says Boulder Community had 129 percent more infections than average among patients being treated with the help of intravenous central lines, the worst rate of the 28 Colorado hospitals reviewed by the magazine. Consumer Reports' data was based on numbers provided by The Leapfrog Group, an organization that collects information from voluntary hospital surveys. Data provided to the state by the hospital showed fewer infections than the numbers used by the magazine. "You need to understand that all of the data that Boulder Community is expressing concern about comes from them," John Santa, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center, said Tuesday after the Camera ran a story saying the hospital disputed the magazine's analysis.

Free Press to become weekly publication | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/free_press_to_become_weekly_pu The Grand Junction Free Press will cut back the number of days it publishes and become a weekly newspaper starting March 5. Free Press publisher Valerie Smith announced the change Friday in a news release, acknowledging the current economy played a part in the decision. Smith said the newspaper will print every Friday and update its Web site frequently with local and regional news. The reduction in publication days comes almost a year to the date after the Free Press announced it would publish only three days a week.

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Glover to speak Wednesday at Colorado State University-Pueblo

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e54b9c88db376662890.txt Actor and activist Danny Glover is scheduled to speak Wednesday as part of Colorado State University-Pueblo's Distinguished Speaker Series. Glover is expected to speak on Martin Luther King Jr. and Langston Hughes. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Hoag Recital Hall. Glover, a 64-year-old San Francisco native, is perhaps best known for his role in the "Lethal Weapon" film franchise along with Mel Gibson. A five-time Emmy winner, Glover's breakthrough film role was in "The Color Purple," but he earned a role on Broadway a few years before in the play about South African apartheid, "Master Harold . . . and the Boys." Last year, Glover was in the disaster film "2012," and he is currently shooting a movie in Utah titled, "Dragon Fire."

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‘Swift Justice’ documentary to show in Greeley | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209747/1002 The documentary film “Swift Justice,” about the 2006 immigration raids on the Swift meat-packing plants in Greeley and other cities, will be shown next Thursday at two libraries. The film, made in Greeley and produced by the Little Voices film production company, concerns the raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on the Greeley Swift plant and other company plants in six states. The raids resulted in the arrest of more than 1,200 people on charges of illegal immigration and identity theft. In Greeley, 262 people were arrested.

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Durango Herald News, Prospecting for gold near Silverton

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Prospecting_for_gold_near_Silverton/ The town of Silverton is receiving some welcome publicity thanks to a number of national media outlets that have featured snowboard legend Shaun White training on a halfpipe built specifically for him last winter in the San Juan Mountains. The CBS television program “60 Minutes" aired a 13-minute segment Sunday night that begins with White in Silverton at his “very own top-secret training facility hidden high, very high, in Colorado's rugged backcountry. They'd come in and order up and drink quite a bit and have a good time. Shaun White had an unbelievable appetite. He'd be up there snowboarding all day, and he'd come in and eat three meals all by himself. He really liked the food. - Greg Custer, owner, San Juan Grill in Silverton “The only way to get there … helicopter," says Bob Simon, 68, the show's correspondent who accompanied White to the halfpipe located within the Silverton Mountain ski area boundaries. “The scenery was breathtaking." Although “60 Minutes" never mentions Silverton by name, numerous other media outlets have. Simon asks White why he didn't build a halfpipe in a “civilized place like Vail or Aspen," to which White replies he wanted to keep his tricks a secret and unleash them during competition.

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DU to show documentary on Somali crisis - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350728 The documentary "Silent Cry," about a humanitarian crisis facing Somalis in Ogaden, Ethiopia, will be shown for free at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Lindsay Auditorium (at Sturm Hall) at the University of Denver. For more information, contact Patrick Bowen, patrick.bowen@ du.edu, or 303-921-4112. Map at: http://www.du.edu/media/documents/ maps/campusMapPrintable.pdf.

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Grand Junction grad now flying helicopter missions in Haiti | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/grand_junction_grad_now_flying_helicopter_missions_in_haiti It seems like something from a technology-driven adventure flick, but Lt. Sean Cavanagh’s experience maneuvering a helicopter between canyon walls was all too real. Cavanagh, a helicopter pilot assigned to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, just completed a three-week assignment to Joint Task Force-Haiti. The Carl Vinson and its Red Lion squadron of SH-60F Seahawk helicopters arrived off Haiti the night of Jan. 14, two days after the Jan. 12 earthquake that shattered the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. For Cavanagh, a 26-year-old 2001 Grand Junction High School graduate, a mission on Jan. 26 never will fade from memory, he said via e-mail. Cavanagh and another pilot, Lt. Steve Schwarzer, were directed to a nearby landing zone where patients in critical condition were awaiting transport to one of two hospital ships, the USS Bataan or the USS Comfort, the latter of which was about two minutes’ flight from the landing zone.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Old paratrooper still beats the odds

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e4e0e75b86851348736.txt Each passing day whittles down the ranks of those thousands of men who fought in World War II, and Leonard Vera knows that — but he's holding his own at the moment — and is finally sharing his memories with his family. "I'm not sick, and I can walk," the 85-year-old Vera explained, although he was resting in a wheelchair for the interview. A former paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, Vera has a combat veteran's impatience with complainers. He's not in the sympathy business, but then paratroopers usually aren't. "When people complain about food, I remember when we were glad to get anything to eat sitting in the rain or the snow," Vera said, shaking his head.

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Troop ski event at Copper Tuesday | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209837/1001 The Leoniads Fund, a nonprofit servicing returning troops, and Copper Mountain are hosting active duty soldiers, family members and U.S.O. staff members for a day of donated skiing and snowboarding on Tuesday, Feb. 9. “We'll host these great warriors for a day of rest and relaxation,” said Leoniads spokesman Tom Torres in an e-mail. He also noted that a local band — Jukebox Hero— will perform over lunch.

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Quillen: Two forms of populism - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14336565 It's hard to pick up a newspaper these days without encountering a phrase like "Obama shifts to populist mode" or "Sarah Palin inspires populist fervor." Even though "populist" is applied to both, it is hard to find many similarities until we define populism as "resentment of elites." When applied to financial elites, populism has a long history in American politics. Two centuries ago, Thomas Jefferson bemoaned "the general prey of the rich upon the poor" and wrote that "banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a moneyed aristocracy." Then there was the man on our $20 bill, Andrew Jackson, U.S. president from 1829 to 1837: "It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. . . . Every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society — the farmers, mechanics, and laborers — who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their Government."

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Sirota: Choosing economic life - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14344065 Judging by Tim Tebow's much- hyped Super Bowl ad, "choose life" remains conservatives' favorite abortion shibboleth. But really, the phrase better captures the stakes in the Great Budget Wars of 2010. Plagued by deficits, communities everywhere must now decide between tax reform and public spending cuts — between economic life and death. And thanks to two Western bellwether states, we know what each choice means. Choosing death means mimicking Colorado Springs — a Republican red tattoo on Colorado's purple heart. As a venue for political experiments, the sprawling GOP enclave is as pristine a conservative laboratory as you'll find in America. The city has garnered contemporary notoriety for domiciling right-wing groups like Focus on the Family and infecting the world with viruses like Douglas Bruce — the father of draconian initiatives that seek to prohibit governments from raising levies. When the Tea Party movement's anti-tax activists refer to the abstract concept of conservative purity, we can turn to a microcosm like the Springs for a good example of what such purity looks like in practice.

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Armchair legislating | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/opinion/articles/armchair_legislating Today, millions of Americans will gather in front of their flat-screen television sets to watch — and more importantly — critique the Super Bowl. Did Peyton Manning miss a wide-open receiver? Was the New Orleans front line ineffective in protecting Drew Brees? Were The Who out of sync in their half-time performance? The mistakes are easy to spot from the comfort of your easy chair. It’s much more difficult in the midst of fast-moving action. Ask anyone who has played football or performed live. The same armchair quarterbacking goes on too often regarding the legislative arena. Opinion writers, political operatives and — far too often — politicians who are supposed to be part of the solution are eager to proclaim what’s wrong with policy prescriptions of others, but reluctant to offer any of their own.

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Haley: Rethinking government - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14336578 Ray Budisavljevic has a simple message for state government: If he has to live within his means, it ought to do the same. Budisavljevic is the Pueblo site manager for Harsco, a worldwide industrial services company. He's worried about the effects a possible new state tax on industrial energy use will have on his business. In business, "you cut until you're healthy," he told us last week. "Government has an addiction to spending they just have to control." On the federal level, he's right. Spending is out of control. President Obama and his enablers in Congress have only tossed lighter fluid onto the spending bonfire ignited by congressional Republicans under President Bush. And Obama's recent effort to quell it — a spending freeze on just 17 percent of the budget, starting next year, not now — is meek. Locking in spending at its highest rate in history is not a profile in courage. But it's not fair to unleash that same venom at state lawmakers and Gov. Bill Ritter.

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Checkmate? More like stalemate - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_14343343 It should have already occurred to anyone who is otherwise completely unelectable -- whose own mama wouldn't donate to her campaign -- that it's time to run for office. Now, this potential, otherwise unelectable candidate has to have a reasonable level of television-ready attractiveness, though we concede that this is still more demanded of women running for office than of men. All she has to do is promise voters that she will stand firm to her core values and her conviction: To get nothing done. And she will be persuasive enough to win other legislators to her cause. She will ensure that when a law or appointment comes her way, she will simply swat it away like a gnat at a picnic. Even as, over time, that picnic rots at her feet. If you think this makes her even more unelectable, take a look at our very own elected leaders. This strategy is a slam dunk for our potential candidate: In the Colorado statehouse, this week, Senate Republicans countered the Democratic plan to eliminate tax credits and exemptions, including sales tax exemptions on the oh-so-necessary soda and candy, to call for budget cuts instead. The state faces a $2.4 billion shortfall this year, and a $1.3 billion hole next year. What to cut? The legislators repeatedly refused to suggest any. No tax credits, no exemptions, and just let the governor go off and find his billions on his own.

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And over here, kids, is Fort Lambert - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14346272 If it were up to Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, the state would put its rainy day money into gold bars and store it at the Capitol. The Colorado Springs Republican last week floated the idea of using the severance-tax revenue Colorado collects from drilling and mining and converting that money into gold. He said the move would offer the state a hedge against inflation, and would give residents the opportunity to see their money in physical assets. Of course, the state would have to spend a wad on security and a new vault. Even Lambert called it a "hare-brained" idea, but inexplicably said he'd probably bring it back next year. We have to wonder whether the representative has been watching too many late-night infomercials. Of course, at least it would give the school kids who tour the Capitol something new to see: Fort Lambert.

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More energy from renewables - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14354271 A bill that would boost the proportion of energy that Colorado gets from renewable sources heavily emphasizes the development of rooftop solar energy for homes and businesses. We think that's good for Colorado's economy, as it would stimulate the solar industry, and also good for the environment. The idea, however, leans heavily on market conditions and tax incentives that are currently favorable, but could change. We're talking about variables such as federal tax credits, which are now, in our opinion, generous. Another variable is the cost of a rooftop solar system, which due to market conditions is significantly less than it had been in recent years.

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Durango Herald News, ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’

http://durangoherald.com/sections/Opinion/Editorial/2010/02/07/Dont_ask_dont_tell/ In 2006, Sen. John McCain said he would support ending the military's “don't ask, don't tell" policy toward gays and lesbians in the armed forces if “the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change this policy.'" That happened Tuesday. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen told senators they support ending “don't ask, don't tell." McCain, however, did not budge, saying he was “disappointed" in their testimony. In that, he personified the prejudice that is the real basis for “don't ask, don't tell." It now falls to those who share his view to explain why they would continue a policy that demonstrably hinders the military in the performance of its duties. In addition to Mullen and Gates, ending “don't ask, don't tell" is supported by Colin Powell and John Shalikashvili, both former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs, and by the commander in chief, President Barack Obama. Powell, who supported the policy when it was enacted 17 years ago, essentially said times have changed. Mullen said he thought it wrong to force men and women in uniform to “lie about who they are."

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Allow rafters to pass through private lands - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14336544 For decades, whitewater rafters and property owners have fought wars over whether paddlers have the right to float through private property in Colorado. The law is unsettled, and that has left room for intermittent, ugly skirmishes. A bill introduced in the state legislature would bring some clarity to the issue and offer protection to commercial rafters from civil and criminal trespass actions. We favor the effort, and think rafters have the right, narrowly tailored and with restrictions, to float through private property. The state constitution dedicates Colorado's natural streams "to the use of the people of the state." Despite conflicting legal interpretations over the years, it's hard to imagine the framers intended to exclude recreational uses.

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Chris Romer - More than just a streetcar on Colfax Avenue - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14354272 For most of my life, I've lived within earshot of Colfax Avenue. I started riding the Colfax bus to and from my summer job at Denver Brick and Pipe when I was 15. As an urban dweller, I enjoy walking Colfax and observing the architecture and the concrete carnival of great restaurants and small businesses. Colfax has so much potential for economic development, job creation and neighborhood improvement in both Denver and Aurora by creating a livable and connected community along the street. In this politically charged legislative season, I am proud to sponsor a job creation bill to examine the feasibility of using a private-public partnership to install a streetcar along Colfax Avenue from Auraria to the new Anschutz medical campus. Consider the phenomenal results of the streetcar development in Portland, Ore. (www.portlandstreetcar.org). Since 1997, the city has constructed 4 miles of streetcar lanes in the city. While the capital cost of Portland's program was $103 million, there has been an astounding $3.5 billion in investments made within the two-block corridor of the streetcar. Further, 5.4 million square feet of office space and 10,212 new housing units can be found within that same area. The streetcar initially began functioning in 2001 and the developers planned for 3,500 riders per weekday. By the winter of 2008, however, it had a weekday ridership of about 11,900 travelers per day.

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Which way on medical pot? - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14336575 It doesn't take much reading between the lines of the latest medical marijuana legislation to see that its sponsors aren't interested in the dispensary model. So why are they bothering to create a new bureaucracy that would oversee a regulatory system so complex as to be unworkable? The bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, and Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, succeeds in clarifying legal rights for caregivers who could supply marijuana to a handful of patients. Doing so is appropriate and in keeping with voter intent, as the caregiver model was described in the constitutional amendment passed in 2000, whereas dispensaries were not. Because the amendment states that a caregiver "has significant responsibility for managing the well-being of a patient who has a debilitating medical condition," we think that if the state wants to significantly change how medical marijuana is to be distributed, the voters ought to do it.

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Biff America: The greater good | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100207/COLUMNS/100209858/1026 I'm a liberal; I was one before I could vote. I think my progressive beginnings were caused by the fact that my parents were conservative and I wanted to drive them crazy. Of course, it didn't hurt to be a teenager in the '60s, fan of beat literature and growing up in Kennedy country. I have to admit much of my early political assertions were little more than the parroting of those people I admired. (I would argue that for many — myself included — it is still that way; we quote rather than think.) But even if my liberal foundation was cast on jingoistic soil, I believed then and now in the liberal agenda that the greater good takes precedent over the individual. I believe that the will of a nation can supersede the rights and wants of any state — federally forced integration come to mind. I also maintain that the wealthy have an obligation to contribute to the system to a greater proportion than the middle class. I hold that the greatness of a nation is gauged by the plight of that nation's poorest citizens. I support national health care, gay marriage and the right of a private citizen to carry a registered handgun. That last one isn't “liberal thing,” but more an admission that I'm not perfect.

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Johnson: Sister forced to pay for the sins of a sibling - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355224 She laments wanting to tell the story at all. She loves both her daughters, but is, Kris Worthy says, at the end of her rope. Her oldest daughter is 21 and has long suffered from problems, she said. In recent years, they were compounded by her use of alcohol. Two years ago, fed up with the family telling her to get help and put her life together, the daughter fled to California to live with an aunt. And then, October arrived. And with it more trouble. In ordinary times, Kris Worthy might have just paid up and made her eldest's sin right. But these are not ordinary times. Several months back, she was laid off from her job, and now barely gets by working as a temp at an insurance agency.

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A comprehensive plan to rebuild Haiti - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14342733 The outpouring of generosity of the American people (and the world) to the Haitian people should put to rest the notion that Americans are isolationists and selfish. More than half of American households have contributed money and/or other supplies to Haiti relief efforts. There is no reason to believe that they will not continue to support Haiti in any way that they can. From all of us in the Haitian community: Thank you! More than two weeks after the devastating earthquake, the country is slowly preparing for the rebuilding effort, an effort that will be long and difficult. The international community is working to find ways to assist Haiti.

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Durango Herald News, Water issues

http://durangoherald.com/sections/Opinion/Editorial/2010/02/08/Water_issues/ Those who make decisions about the use of water in large quantities will benefit from this week's 1½ day conference and workshop organized by the Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance, known as DARCA, the member-driven irrigation ditch and reservoir nonprofit. The organization will hold its eighth annual gathering Thursday and Friday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Durango. Sessions will include Colorado River water availability, a legislative update by the Colorado Water Congress and water issues facing the Western Slope. Other topics will include the feasibility of pressurized water systems, alternatives to traditional “buy and dry" transfers and future strategies for the Bureau of Reclamation.

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Heads up: It’s Census time - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14344052 Sometime next month, Coloradans will find a Census 2010 form in their mailbox. It's just 10 questions long, and filling it out will take only minutes of your time. Completing the form and returning it is the right thing to do for your community. Why should you care? Getting an accurate count of the people in Colorado's many communities is important for two vital government functions: the disbursement of more than $400 billion a year in federal money, and the drawing of legislative districts at the state and federal level. Census numbers are used in federal grant formulas to apportion money for hospitals, roads, bridges and schools.

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Greene: Hickenlooper’s take on recession mind-befuddling - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350675 Buck up, Colorado. That seemed to have been John Hickenlooper's take last week when he said "a recession like this really is driven by people's mental state." I'm no economist and certainly no shrink. But I run across stories like Denver window installer Richard Vigil, who moved his wife and four kids into his parents' place after losing his job and health insurance last year. I listen to Hazel Miller, a local entertainer mourning the loss of her home in Lakewood to foreclosure. And I watch Heather Martinez standing outside a Denver car wash soliciting spare change to feed her two kids. Are we to think their troubles are all psychological?

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Charley Shimanski - The Red Cross, here and abroad - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guestopinion/ci_14343378 The American response to the disaster relief efforts in Haiti has been overwhelmingly compassionate and generous. Terrible times like these bring out the best in people, and we are grateful for the support being given to the American Red Cross. This generosity will help tens of thousands of survivors cope with and recover from their losses. Large-scale disasters bring the efforts of the American Red Cross to the forefront of public awareness. Helping families, individuals and communities affected by disasters is at the heart of the Red Cross mission. That Red Cross mission also extends to many other lifesaving efforts, including thousands of services that the Red Cross provides every day to help local residents in communities right here in Colorado. It is an unfortunate reality that in the wake of major disasters, charitable donations to support these types of local services here in Colorado drop markedly. While Red Cross donations and workers from around the world are providing food, shelter, water, clothing and medical help in Haiti, the Red Cross is also continuing its mission to serve communities closer to home. Local American Red Cross chapters respond to a disaster once every 21 hours in Colorado.

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Rotary: Help for Haiti - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/guestopinion/ci_14343379 Overflowing hospitals, suffering children and adults -- and almost no medical supplies. That is what I saw as a member of a delegation representing several Colorado Rotary clubs when we visited the Dominican Republic just one week after the tragic earthquake that devastated Haiti. The Rotary representatives from Colorado's District 5450 Rotary clubs delivered three Project C.U.R.E. containers of medical equipment and supplies to the Dominican Republic's only pediatric hospital in the capital city, Santo Domingo. This project was inspired by Past Rotary International President D.K. Lee, who during his term in 2008-2009 asked each club to initiate a project to reduce childhood mortality in the world. The medical supplies couldn't have arrived at a more opportune time. We visited hospitals in Santo Domingo and two on the way to Jimani, a town of 11,000 about 175 miles away on the border with Haiti.

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OUR VIEW: Progress on prison reform | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/opinion/percent-93752-prison-incarcerate.html Prison spending was less than 3 percent of the Colorado budget 20 years ago. Today, in an era when the population base is aging and crime rates are dropping, the state spends 9 percent of its general fund to incarcerate convicts. “It is clearly time to take a hard look at the sentence laws and policies that help drive run-away prison spending in Colorado,” said Mike Krause, a senior fellow at the conservative, free market Independence Institute. Krause, along with The Gazette, the Pew Center on the States, and Prison Fellowship sponsored a forum at the Antlers Hilton Friday night in order to promote understanding of the need to reform Colorado sentencing standards to reduce the overhead of incarceration.

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Jennifer Brown Friend - Addressing the causes of pilot fatigue - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_14341667 The recent debacle when American Airlines flight 331 crashed in Jamaica on Dec. 22, 2009 and other airline tragedies have ignited a firestorm of controversy about pilot fatigue and the safety of airline flight. The issues of fatigue, low pay and training have resulted in decreased public confidence in pilots. As the wife of a regional airline pilot, this has hit close to home. My husband, Andrew, has been a first officer with two regional airlines during his five-year career. A typical civilian pilot, he attended a large university to obtain his Bachelor's degree and then a flight school to obtain his necessary certificates and ratings. Andrew has never failed a check ride or exam. However, it is normal for many pilots to fail one or more checks in an aviation career. This does not make them incompetent pilots, as you will see in this essay; fatigue is the number one issue that endangers flight safety.

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Griego: The generals in Denver’s ongoing graffiti war - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14347672 At one of Denver's District 4 police Cmdr. Rudy Sandoval's recent community meetings, someone brings up graffiti. It comes up every meeting. It's mentioned with the weary aggravation displayed by couples about to start one of those discussions they've had a thousand times before and will have a thousand times hence with little hope anything will change. Years of talking about the scourge of graffiti, of press conferences and meetings, and of city cleaning crews busting their butts, and what do you get? You get Steve Tran, manager of Da Lat on South Federal Boulevard, transforming from amiable restaurateur to ticked-off taxpayer at the mere utterance of the g-word. "It's terrible! Terrible! I call Public Works, and they clean it, and the next day, there it is again. We need more police to find them, arrest them. We need to punish them real bad. We don't want it clean. We want it stopped."

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Littwin: Super Bowl is about the ads and true believers - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350293 Today is the big day. The day when you break out the Italian sausage in herbed pizza knots or maybe (my favorite) a couple dozen jerk wings from hell — just in time to sit down with a room full of your buddies to watch the much-anticipated Tim Tebow and Tim Tebow's Mom anti-abortion ad. I don't know if social historians have determined when exactly Super Bowl commercials became bigger than the game. I'm guessing it was sometime in the last X to XV years. Maybe it was the year of the croaking Budweiser frogs. Or maybe it was the year of the flatulent Budweiser horse. In any case, it has been inevitable since Joe Namath switched from guaranteeing Super Bowl victories to pushing pantyhose. If, like me, you have long been in search of the meaning of the Super Bowl, you know it has something to do with wretched excess. It could be the midwinter celebration of fried foods (for those watching at home) or perhaps the image of a woman with a snake wrapped around her neck (I once saw this at the official Super Bowl party in, of course, New Orleans, in the Voodoo Lounge).

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OUR VIEW: Obama butts in on Colorado politics | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/opinion/colorado-93750-obama-bennet.html President Barack Obama is coming to Colorado Feb. 18, which could help former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff defeat U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the upcoming Colorado Democratic primary. President Obama, with all due respect, you should butt out of this race. Obama will swing through Denver to support Bennet, whom he has already endorsed, and it’s hard to imagine why Bennet or Obama think this might be helpful. The visit is almost certain to backfire.

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Community sends prayers to Middle East | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080305/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Community-sends-prayers-to-Middle-East Half a world away, about 30 Baha'is met Sunday in north Loveland to pray and demonstrate solidarity for religious prisoners in the Middle East who share their faith. Some prayed in English, others in Farsi. Some wept. "We feel for their families. They are not political people. They are housewives and family men," said David Spencer of the Baha'i Faith Northern Colorado Center before quoting a verse of Baha'i scripture that says the blood of its martyrs waters the tree of the cause. He knows the prisoners may be executed, and if so, he hopes "that their sacrifice had some meaning and that their suffering wasn't endured under the cover of darkness." The Baha'i faith was established in Iran during the 19th Century.

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Homeland’s crisis strains Haitian families in region - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/08/homelands_crisis_strains_haitian_families_in_region/ In the aftermath of the devastating quake, Haitians in Massachusetts and beyond are facing intense pressure to pay for medical care, food, and shelter for loved ones in Haiti - and even to find ways to bring them here. But for many local Haitians, the new demands are sorely straining families struggling to make ends meet. Haitian immigrants and their children are a diverse mix of professionals and laborers, but they are hurting more in the recession than average state residents, according to recent census data. About 13.5 percent of Haitians fell under the poverty line, nearly double the state average, while their per capita income was $18,000, compared with $33,800 statewide. Still, immigrants and others are digging into their savings and wiring what they can to Haiti from money-transfer kiosks set up in bakeries, minimarts, and storefronts across Massachusetts. Carlo Jean Michel of Boston, a 56-year-old parking valet, sent money to a friend who lost several relatives and her house. But he also sent her bus fare so that she could travel from the town of Merger to Port-au-Prince to locate Michel’s missing daughter.

Haitians prepare for boat journey to Florida - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-haiti-boats7-2010feb07,0,3603449.story An orphaned teen is one of two dozen Haitians on a vessel awaiting their time to leave. Some are further enticed by news that Haitians in the U.S. have 'temporary protected status' after the quake.

Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702984.html In the past six weeks, Americans have witnessed two jarringly different -- but completely accurate -- views of al-Qaeda's terrorist network. One image was that of terrorist leaders being hunted down and killed by satellite-guided, pilotless aircraft. The other was of an agile foe slipping past U.S. defenses and increasingly intent on striking inside the United States. New assessments of al-Qaeda by the top U.S. counterterrorism experts offer grounds for both optimism and concern a year after President Obama took office. Officials say al-Qaeda's ability to wage mass-casualty terrorism has been undercut by relentless U.S. attacks on the network's leadership, finances and training camps. But even in its weakened state, the group has shifted tactics to focus on small-scale operations that are far harder to detect and disrupt, analysts say. The deadly November shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Tex., and the failed Christmas Day attempt to bomb an airliner -- both examples of the low-tech approach -- have raised the fear level in Washington and across the country. Some terrorism experts say the worst could be still to come as a wounded jihadist movement thrashes about in search of a victory.

Some Democrats seek change in filibuster rules, but others are wary - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702403.html A growing number of Democrats, from senatorial veterans such as Vice President Biden to freshman Sen. Tom Udall (N.M.), are calling for a rules change that would transform the culture of long and sometimes tedious debate in the world's greatest deliberative body. But these nascent efforts to curb the use of filibuster face resistance from Senate elders with long memories, who know that political winds can take today's large majority and create tomorrow's minority. Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has not scheduled any debate on the issue. First in 1917 and then in 1975, the Senate formally set up rules for "cloture motions," the name given to the parliamentary device to shut down debate. It requires the affirmative votes of 60 sitting senators. The Constitution cites only five requirements for Senate supermajorities, including impeachment convictions of presidents, but allows the House and Senate to set their own rules. Under long-standing resolutions, the Senate considers itself to be a "continuing body" whose parliamentary rules remain in effect unless a two-thirds supermajority votes to change them.

The Fix - White House moves to make the filibuster a campaign issue

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/making-the-filibuster-a-campai.html Over the past week, President Obama and his senior aides have repeatedly cited Republicans' filibuster threats as the primary reason for the lack of progress on big ticket legislative items, an early sign that Democrats will seek to use this bit of legislative arcana against the GOP in the coming midterm election. At a meeting -- televised, natch -- with Senate Democrats last week, Obama harped on the GOP's willingness to invoke the filibuster, noting that Democrats had taken more cloture votes to end debate and force votes in 2009 than they did in the 1950s and 1960s combined.

Obama to invite GOP to healthcare summit - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-health8-2010feb08,0,845183.story In a high-stakes bid to revive his healthcare overhaul, President Obama announced during a pre-Super Bowl television interview that he would convene a bipartisan summit in which Republicans and Democrats would try to forge a compromise while a national TV audience watched. Republican leaders indicated they would attend the Feb. 25 gathering, but said they want to start over -- tossing out the measures that passed the Senate and House last year. Speaking to Katie Couric of CBS, Obama said: "What I want to do is ask them to put their ideas on the table and then after the recess . . . to come back and have a large meeting -- Republicans and Democrats -- to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward." The half-day summit would be held at Blair House, across the street from the White House, after Congress' recess next week. Obama telegraphed his plans at a fundraiser Thursday night. "What I'd like to do is have a meeting whereby I'm sitting with the Republicans, sitting with the Democrats, sitting with healthcare experts, and let's just go through these bills . . . in a methodical way so that the American people can see and compare what makes the most sense," he said.

Obama tries to rally Democrats, defends healthcare overhaul - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-dnc7-2010feb07,0,4756598.story Attempting to rouse a party shaken by electoral setbacks, President Obama told fellow Democrats on Saturday that he would press ahead with his healthcare proposal and other pieces of his ambitious agenda, rejecting suggestions that a more cautious approach might minimize losses in the upcoming midterm elections. Obama, who left the White House during a blizzard, sought to rally Democratic National Committee members in a speech that was part pep talk and part prescription for what the party must do to overcome problems reflected by the loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat held by the late Democratic icon Edward M. Kennedy. Trimming goals and postponing hard choices are the wrong approach, the president said. In an emotional high point of his 20-minute address, Obama acknowledged that the public wonders whether elected officials can overcome the immense power of lobbyists and special interests and "confront the real problems that touch their lives."

In a Message to Democrats, Wall St. Sends Cash to G.O.P. - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08lobby.html?ref=politics The shift reflects the hard political edge to the industry’s campaign to thwart Mr. Obama’s proposals for tighter financial regulations. Just two years after Mr. Obama helped his party pull in record Wall Street contributions — $89 million from the securities and investment business, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics — some of his biggest supporters, like Mr. Dimon, have become the industry’s chief lobbyists against his regulatory agenda. Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner: Global bank reform still needed - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602297.html Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Saturday that the recovery in the global economy has not caused major economies to ease up on their commitment to stiffen the rules for banks. "We all share a deep commitment to try to move forward and reach agreement on a strong, comprehensive set of financial reforms on the timetable we all committed to last September," he said at a news conference after a meeting of Group of Seven finance chiefs in Iqaluit, Canada. "That means agreement on . . . a new set of capital requirements for large global institutions by the end of this year," he added, playing down the possibility that the United States might be headed in a different direction from the G-7. President Obama has proposed additional rules that would limit proprietary trading by banks, put them out of the hedge fund and private equity business and limit their future growth through a new market share cap.

No one complains about bank bonuses in Greenwich, Conn. | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/83718.html After one of the leanest years in memory, life in this upper-crust enclave is slowly returning to normal. The Greenwich version of normal, anyway. Caterers' cell phones are ringing again. Luxury car dealers are sending the Porsches out for test drives. An architect is booking multimillion-dollar jobs for his "masters of the universe" clients, titans of Wall Street who've made this leafy Connecticut suburb of New York one of the wealthiest towns in the country. When the financial industry tumbled, Greenwich's fortunes fell with it. Now, as the federal bailout has helped lift investment banks to surprisingly robust profits, the news that major financial firms will dole out billions of dollars in salaries and bonuses this year came as welcome relief here, even though the rest of the country is still grappling with 10 percent unemployment. Discreetly, Greenwich is starting to spend money again, and spending here — where the median household earns $126,549, almost two-and-a-half times the national median, based on 2008 census estimates — isn't quite like spending anywhere else.

With Federal Stimulus Money Gone, Many Schools Face Budget Gaps - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/education/08educ.html?ref=politics Federal stimulus money has helped avoid drastic cuts at public schools in most parts of the nation, at least so far. But with the federal money running out, many of the nation’s schools are approaching what officials are calling a “funding cliff.” Congress included about $100 billion for education in the stimulus law last year to cushion the recession’s impact on schools and to help fuel an economic recovery. New studies show that many states will spend all or nearly all that is left between now and the end of this school term. With state and local tax revenues still in decline, the end of the federal money will leave big holes in education budgets from Massachusetts and Florida to California and Washington, experts said. “States are going to face a huge problem because they’ll have to find some way to replace these billions, either with cuts to their K-12 systems or by finding alternative revenues,” said Bruce Baker, an education professor at Rutgers University.

Beverage industry douses tax on soft drinks - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-soda-tax7-2010feb07,0,282916.story Employing a broad-based lobbying effort, the soft drink industry has smothered a plan to tax sugared beverages -- a plan advocates said would have reduced obesity and helped finance healthcare reform. Only months ago, public health advocates thought the tax would be a natural for congressional Democrats looking for revenue to fund expanded health insurance coverage. The soaring costs of treating ailments related to excess weight -- including diabetes and heart disease -- added urgency to the issue. But the White House staff reviewing funding options never embraced the idea even after President Obama expressed interest last summer. A key congressional committee, after initially seeming receptive, ended up refusing to consider it. Several minority advocacy groups, including some committed to fighting obesity, lined up against the tax after years of receiving financial support from the industry. There is no sign that First Lady Michelle Obama will mention taxes Tuesday when she unveils her new healthy-eating initiative, which had input from fast food and soft drink representatives.

Iraqi protests target Saddam loyalists - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2010/02/08/iraqi_protests_target_saddam_loyalists/ Hundreds of protesters denounced Iraqis still loyal to Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Party yesterday as tensions soared over the decision to blacklist suspected Baathists from next month’s election. Protesters chanted and carried signs that said, “No, No to Ba’ath Party!’’ and “The return of the Ba’ath Party is a return to mass graves.’’ Shi’ite officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his political allies, are trying to purge all high-level posts of Iraqis with ties to the Ba’ath party, which was outlawed in Iraq in 2003. A decision to ban about 450 candidates from March 7 parliamentary elections because of suspected ties to Hussein’s regime has threatened to reopen wounds between once-dominant Sunnis and the Shi’ite majority. The ban is widely seen as targeting Sunnis, though Shi’ites are on the blacklist as well.

NRA, onetime ally feud over next big guns case to go before Supreme Court - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702401.html The National Rifle Association was on the outside looking in when the Supreme Court handed gun rights activists a landmark victory in 2008. After the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to gun ownership and that the District's handgun ban was unconstitutional, it was an upstart band of libertarian lawyers that celebrated on the marble steps and received the glory for the breakthrough decision. The NRA, the nation's premier and most powerful gun rights group, has worked hard not to be in that position again. And because of an unusual intervention recently by the justices, its attorney will be in the mix when the court considers the next big guns case next month. The case is McDonald v. Chicago, a challenge of gun laws in Chicago and its suburbs that are strikingly similar to the Washington handgun ban. It asks the court to decide something left unsettled in its landmark ruling in Heller v. District of Columbia: whether the Second Amendment offers protection against actions by state and local governments, not just the federal government and its enclaves.

Twin bombings kill at least 22 in Pakistan - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-pakistan-blasts6-2010feb06,0,3221782.story A bus filled with Shiite Muslims was attacked, then a second blast occurred at a hospital where victims of the first explosion were taken.

Why are U.S., allies telling Taliban about coming offensive? | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83858.html Thousands of U.S., British and Afghan troops are poised to launch the biggest offensive of the war in Afghanistan in a test of the Obama administration's new counterinsurgency strategy. Military operations usually are intended to catch the enemy off guard, but for weeks U.S. and allied officials have been telling reporters about their forthcoming assault on Marjah, a Taliban-held town of 80,000 and drug-trafficking hub in southern poppy-growing Helmand province. Senior NATO commanders and top Afghan officials have openly discussed the approximate time of Operation Moshtarak — the Dari language word for "together" — the size of the force and their objectives in news conferences, interviews and press releases that have been disseminated around the world and posted on government Web sites. Leaflets have been airdropped on the town. Though the exact time of the kickoff hasn't been disclosed, a "news article" posted Thursday on the British Ministry of Defense's site announced that operations involving "elements of the Royal Welsh, Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards" and Afghan forces "in preparation" for the Marjah attack had been underway for 36 hours.

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Report: ‘No strategic value’ to Afghan outpost where 8 died | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83843.html A U.S. military investigation into a battle last October in eastern Afghanistan that cost eight American soldiers their lives has concluded that the small outpost was worthless, the troops there didn't understand their mission, and intelligence and air support were tied up elsewhere in the province. According to an unclassified executive summary of the report that was released to McClatchy and other news organizations Friday, "There were inadequate measures taken by the chain of command, resulting in an attractive target for enemy fighters." A statement accompanying the summary said that the report, called an AR 15-6, suggests sanctions on higher-ranking officers and "also recommended administrative actions for some members of the chain of command to improve command oversight."

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Afghan force faces crucial test in Marja - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-army7-2010feb07,0,6823905.story As doubts increase about the Afghan security force's ability to take over security next year, soldiers' participation in a Marine offensive in Helmand will serve as a measure of readiness.

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NATO arrests Afghan police official accused of aiding insurgents - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-arrest8-2010feb08,0,4683092.story NATO forces swooped down on the home of a senior Afghan police official, arrested him and accused him of helping insurgents make and plant roadside bombs, Western military officials said Sunday. The incident, which took place last week in Kapisa province in eastern Afghanistan, is likely to raise tensions between foreign forces and the national police. That partnership is considered a crucial element of plans by the Obama administration to draw down American forces starting next year. Before any large-scale Western pullout occurs, Afghan security forces are supposed to take on more responsibility for safeguarding the country.

Iran’s Nuclear Move Prompts New Calls for Sanctions - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/world/middleeast/09iran.html?ref=world Officials from the United States, France and Russia called Monday for stronger measures against Tehran after Iran told the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency that it would begin enriching its stockpile of uranium for a medical reactor in Tehran as early as Tuesday. In Paris, the visiting United States defense secretary, Robert M. Gates, said the Obama administration and the other nations had reached out sincerely to reassure Iran and entice it to negotiate an end to its nuclear program. “All of these initiatives have been rejected,” Mr. Gates said. While “we must still try and find a peaceful way to resolve this issue,” he said, “the only path that is left to us at this point, it seems to me, is that pressure track. But it will require all of the international community to work together.” Separately, the French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, said, “The only thing we can do, alas, is apply sanctions given that negotiations are impossible.” In Moscow, Konstantin I. Kosachyov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of the Russian Parliament, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as urging the international community to prepare “serious measures.”

Israel says it’s willing to talk peace with Syria - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2010/02/08/israel_says_its_willing_to_talk_peace_with_syria/ Israel’s prime minister attempted to end a war of words with Syria yesterday, saying his country is open to peace talks with its longtime enemy. Israeli and Syrian officials have traded threats over the past week, raising concerns of an escalation between countries that have officially been at war for more than 60 years. Israel desires peace agreements with “all of its neighbors,’’ Benjamin Netanyahu told his weekly Cabinet meeting. “We did it with Egypt and Jordan, and we want to achieve similar agreements with the Palestinians and the Syrians,’’ he said. “I hope that we are on the brink of renewing negotiations with the Palestinians, and we are open to renewing the process with the Syrians as well.’’ Netanyahu’s comments came after an ominous exchange between officials in the countries.

8 in Congress urge Obama to halt talks over Cuba’s arrest of contractor | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83864.html Eight congressional Republicans on Friday alleged the Obama administration is trying to "appease"' the Cuban government after the arrest in Havana of a Washington subcontractor, and called for the cancellation of bilateral migration talks now set for Feb. 19. "We are greatly concerned about the manner in which the administration is handling the arrest of Alan Gross'' and its impact on the U.S. government's pro-democracy programs in Cuba, they wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Gross, a Maryland subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been jailed in Havana since his Dec. 4 arrest after delivering sophisticated communications equipment to Jewish groups on the island. The letter to Clinton noted that after Gross' arrest, USAID strongly discouraged recipients of U.S. pro-democracy funds from traveling to Cuba, and that nongovernmental organizations "have been informed that the administration is considering taking democracy assistance funding in a `new direction.'''

Toyota to recall and repair brakes on new Priuses sold in Japan - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020700758.html Toyota's quality woes mounted over the weekend, with a reported decision in its home market to recall and repair the brakes on its latest model of the Prius, the hybrid that last year was the best-selling new car in Japan. Company sources told dealers and the Japanese media that at least 170,000 of the cars in Japan would be subject to the recall, which will fix a software glitch in antilock brakes. Owners have complained that the car's brakes sometimes fail briefly on bumpy roads. Toyota also intends to begin recalls or voluntary repairs for more than 300,000 of the new Prius models, which have been sold in about 60 countries, company sources told local media. About 103,000 of the newest Prius models have been sold in the United States since May, and Toyota has told dealers that it is preparing a plan to repair the brakes on those. A Toyota executive, in a message to U.S. dealers, said the plan will be announced this week.

Mass. wind farm that Obama administration might support meets strong resistance - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702965.html Interior Secretary Ken Salazar journeyed out into Nantucket Sound on a Coast Guard vessel last week to signal the Obama administration's readiness to put some muscle behind wind energy. To do that, Salazar has to resolve a battle over building a wind farm on 25 square miles of open water that has driven a rift between environmentalists, infuriated local Native Americans and threatened one of the administration's cherished priorities.

NOAA reorganization would provide more info on global warming - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020801696.html The initiative, modeled loosely on the 140-year-old National Weather Service, will provide forecasts to farmers, regional water managers and business operators affected by changing climate conditions. But it comes at a time when climate skeptics have become increasingly effective in attacking the credibility of global warming forecasts. NOAA, along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ranks as one of the federal government's key agencies for monitoring the climate and conducting climate research. "We currently respond to millions of annual requests for climate information, and we expect those requests to grow exponentially," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco in an interview, adding that in light of recent scientific advances, "the models will continue to improve, and we will be able to provide more and more information." The move does not come with a designated boost in funding, but it will bring NOAA's climate research arm together with its more consumer-oriented services so they can operate, in Lubchenco's words, "cheek by jowl."

Obama official accuses GOP of using terrorism as ‘political football’ - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-brennan-abdulmutallab8-2010feb08,0,133448.story President Obama's deputy national security advisor accused Republicans on Sunday of using national security as a "political football" and of being disingenuous in criticizing the treatment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day airliner attack. On NBC's "Meet the Press," John Brennan was asked about GOP criticism that the Obama administration was treating the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane as a routine criminal case rather than a terrorist plot. Brennan said he was "tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as a political football. They are going out there. . . unknowing of the facts, and they're making charges and allegations that are not anchored in reality." Republicans have said that Abdulmutallab, 23, should have been treated as an enemy combatant.

Anti-terrorism chief rebukes politicians who use cases as talking points - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702772.html President Obama's senior counterterrorism adviser on Sunday criticized politicians for using terrorism situations such as the Detroit bombing case as a "political football." But leaders of the Republican Party, among the harshest critics of the handling of the Detroit incident, on Sunday disputed John O. Brennan's remarks. Republican House and Senate members have questioned why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day bombing attempt, was not treated as an enemy combatant instead of being questioned for 50 minutes by the FBI and later given his Miranda rights. Former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in her speech Saturday night before the Tea Party convention, said the Obama administration sees "no downsides or upsides to treating terrorists like civilian criminal defendants. But a lot of us would beg to differ."

Palin in 2012? She Says Run Is Possible - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08palin.html?ref=politics “It would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country,” Ms. Palin told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” in an interview recorded a few hours before she gave the keynote address at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. “I won’t close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future.” Those words were buttressed by the response she received at the convention on Saturday night. As Ms. Palin left the stage, the crowd erupted into chants of “Run, Sarah, Run.” Ms. Palin gave the Tea Party crowd exactly what it wanted, declaring the primacy of the Tenth Amendment in limiting government powers, complaining about the bailouts and the “generational theft” of rising deficits and urging the audience to back conservative challengers in contested primaries. “America is ready for another revolution!” she told the crowd, prompting the first of several standing ovations.

Palin says she might run in 2012, that Obama can be beat | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83934.html Sarah Palin said Sunday she might run for president in 2012 if she decides it's good for her family and country. Fresh from a speech to conservative activists at a "tea party" gathering in Nashville, the former Alaska governor said President Barack Obama could be defeated in 2012, that she's boning up on foreign and national policy and that she would run if it felt right. "I would," she said on Fox News, where she's a paid contributor. "I would if I believed that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family. Certainly, I would do so." Palin added: "I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country. I don't know if it's going to be ever seeking a title, though. It may be just doing a darn good job as a reporter or covering some of the current events."

Enthusiastic Republicans crowding many primary races - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-republicans7-2010feb07,0,1980043.story As the Republican Party's chances of success in the fall elections increase week by week, so too has the number of Republican candidates jumping into primaries across the country. Party officials claim to welcome the enthusiasm, but in many places it's the sort of welcome reserved for an uninvited guest. Or eight uninvited guests, as is the case in Arkansas, where the lineup of candidates wanting to challenge Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln has swelled to nine. An open seat in Tennessee has four Republicans vying for the nomination, and one erstwhile Republican running as an independent. Two competitive districts in Virginia have drawn out 11 hopefuls between them. Races in Nevada, New Hampshire and California also are crowding fast. In cases such as Arkansas', a surplus of candidates is evidence of an eagerness to take on a politically weak Democrat. Lincoln's approval ratings are among the lowest in the Senate. In other cases, it's a result of internal strife between the party's establishment and the often more-conservative newcomers. Experts say that those primaries promise to deliver very public and expensive displays of division that could undercut GOP efforts to win seats in November.

After Buying Spree, China Owns Stakes in Top U.S. Firms - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/business/global/09invest.html?ref=business Flush with cash despite the global economic downturn, China’s sovereign wealth fund quietly snapped up more than $9 billion worth of shares last year in some of the biggest American corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup.

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David Plouffe advising White House on 2010 midterm elections - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702402.html Ask David Plouffe how Democrats can recover from their electoral setbacks over the past few months and he has a simple answer: Republicans. "Politics is a comparative exercise," Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, told the Fix in his first extended interview since he took on a broadened political role for the White House in advance of the midterm elections. "This isn't just a referendum on Democrats or our party. It's a choice." That choice was made explicit far too late in last month's special Senate election in Massachusetts between then-state Sen. Scott Brown (R) and state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), Plouffe noted. "Everyone would agree that the definition of Brown should have happened a lot sooner and a lot more clearly," he said. The Democratic defeat, which meant the loss of a filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority, served as something of a wake-up call for the White House -- making clear the need to step up its efforts (and ability) to effectively monitor what is expected to be a large playing field this fall.

Cry for Self-Rule by Tamils Is Muffled by Reality - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/world/asia/08lanka.html?ref=world After 26 years of war that ended with a decisive government assault last May, Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority seems no closer to winning a measure of autonomy in a Sinhalese-dominated nation, and Tamil nationalism, the cri de coeur of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, seems all but dead. “All of this armed struggle, so many dead and wounded, for what?” said P. Balasundarampillai, who leads the Citizen Committee in this city on the claw-shaped peninsula of the northern Tamil heartland. “In many spheres of public life our role is very much reduced. Economically we are weak, and politically we are weak.” Just how little power Tamils have was made plain in last month’s presidential election. Though the Tamil Tigers’ war for a separate homeland in the north and east of this island nation has dominated life in Sri Lanka for nearly three decades, the question of how to address the root causes of the conflict — perceived discrimination by the Sinhalese majority against the Tamils — barely figured in the campaign.

Mid-Atlantic slowly digs out from massive snowstorm - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/02/08/mid_atlantic_slowly_digs_out_from_massive_snowstorm/ Planes were grounded, trains stood still and Greyhound buses weren’t rolling in the Mid-Atlantic yesterday, leaving stranded travelers wondering when they would be able to escape the icy, gray mess created by a major snowstorm. Federal agencies will be closed today in Washington as the region continues to dig out from the weekend storm that dumped 2 to 3 feet of snow in some areas. The federal shutdown affects about 230,000 government employees who work inside the Washington Beltway. It costs the government approximately $100 million to close for the day. Essential services will continue and emergency employees will be required to report to work. Hundreds of thousands of homes were without power with temperatures below freezing all day, and utilities warned that it could be days before all service is restored. Plows had scraped down to bare pavement on some main thoroughfares while not touching streets in many areas.

Paul Krugman - America Is Not Yet Lost - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08krugman.html?ref=opinion We’ve always known that America’s reign as the world’s greatest nation would eventually end. But most of us imagined that our downfall, when it came, would be something grand and tragic. What we’re getting instead is less a tragedy than a deadly farce. Instead of fraying under the strain of imperial overstretch, we’re paralyzed by procedure. Instead of re-enacting the decline and fall of Rome, we’re re-enacting the dissolution of 18th-century Poland. A brief history lesson: In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Polish legislature, the Sejm, operated on the unanimity principle: any member could nullify legislation by shouting “I do not allow!” This made the nation largely ungovernable, and neighboring regimes began hacking off pieces of its territory. By 1795 Poland had disappeared, not to re-emerge for more than a century. Today, the U.S. Senate seems determined to make the Sejm look good by comparison. Last week, after nine months, the Senate finally approved Martha Johnson to head the General Services Administration, which runs government buildings and purchases supplies. It’s an essentially nonpolitical position, and nobody questioned Ms. Johnson’s qualifications: she was approved by a vote of 94 to 2. But Senator Christopher Bond, Republican of Missouri, had put a “hold” on her appointment to pressure the government into approving a building project in Kansas City.

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Welfare back as a campaign issue for GOP in California | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83956.html Ronald Reagan singled out what he called a "welfare queen" for abusing government aid. Newt Gingrich pushed welfare reform as part of his Contract With America. Now, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, the top Republican candidates for California governor, are bringing back welfare as a key issue in their quest for primary votes. Welfare's high-profile role in the race became clear last month when Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, unveiled her first issue-specific radio ad. "Some people worry that we're creating a welfare state," Whitman says at the start of the spot. "The fact is, California is the welfare state." Poizner, another ultra-wealthy former Silicon Valley CEO, has made tightening welfare rules a key part of his plan to balance the state budget. Like Whitman, Poizner proposes cutting lifetime welfare limits to two years from five.

Researchers target humpback whales in herring loss study - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/02/08/researchers_target_humpback_whales_in_herring_loss_study/ Something is holding down the herring population of Prince William Sound, and marine scientists are tailing some rather large suspects: humpback whales. Humpbacks, once hunted to near extinction, are thriving in waters fouled 21 years ago by the Exxon Valdez, the supertanker that ran aground and leaked nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil. The herring population crashed after the spill but should have rebounded by now. One hypothesis is that humpbacks, traditionally summer residents in the sound, are taking a big bite out of vast herring schools that form in the deep water of the sound’s fjords each autumn. Jan Straley, a marine biology professor at the University of Alaska Southeast, and other researchers have studied whales the last two winters with surprising results. Humpbacks are showing up in significant numbers, even in winter. When summer resident whales leave, others humpbacks move in. Some summer residents are even skipping their annual transoceanic mating and birthing trips to Hawaii and Mexico in favor of icy Alaska waters.

Tebow ad falls short of the hype - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-tebow-abortion8-2010feb08,0,1153376.story Boy tackles mom. That was about it. The ad that made former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, the unintended stars of Super Bowl XLIV was not a screed against abortion. Nor was it a heartwarming story about a mother ignoring doctors' advice and having her baby. It was, instead, a lighthearted take on a mother-son relationship. In the ad, Pam Tebow holds a baby photo of Tim, now 22. "I call him my miracle baby," she says. "He almost didn't make it into this world. . . . you know, with all our family's been through, we have to be tough." Suddenly, she appears to be tackled and flies off-screen. "Timmy!" she scolds, popping back up. "I'm trying to tell our story here!"

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Editorial - The Truth About the Deficit - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/opinion/07sun1.html When the White House released its new budget last week, including more spending to create desperately needed jobs, Republican leaders in Congress denounced President Obama for driving up the deficit and demanded that the Democrats halt their “reckless” ways. The deficit numbers — a projected $1.3 trillion in fiscal 2011 alone — are breathtaking. What is even more breathtaking is the Republicans’ cynical refusal to acknowledge that the country would never have gotten into so deep a hole if President George W. Bush and the Republican-led Congress had not spent years slashing taxes — mainly on the wealthy — and spending with far too little restraint. Unfortunately, the problem does not stop there. The Republican amnesia and posturing are playing well on the hustings, where Americans are deeply anxious about the economy and fearful of losing their jobs and homes. Far too many Democratic lawmakers are losing their nerve.

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A fracking quandary for EPA - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/07/a_fracking_quandary_for_epa/ IF THE United States is going to curb its greenhouse gas emissions, it desperately needs a replacement for the high-carbon coal that fuels almost half the nation’s electricity. Unfortunately, there are downsides to all the alternatives, from nuclear power, which carries a high cost and emits toxic waste with no place to store it, to wind turbines, which also have a high cost and require extensive transmission lines to link windy areas with cities. Now new deposits of natural gas previously locked in shale formations are making that fuel look like a possible transition to a low-carbon future. Federal and state regulators have to ensure, however, that the rush to exploit this new source of gas does not cause severe environmental damage. The US Environmental Protection Agency could have been an effective referee over this process. Yet the gas industry managed to slip into the 2005 energy bill an exemption from EPA review of the special drilling that shale formations require. Congress should repeal that provision.

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Ezra Klein - The six Republican ideas already in the health-care reform bill

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/five_compronises_in_health_car.html At this point, I don't think it's well understood how many of the GOP's central health-care policy ideas have already been included as compromises in the health-care bill. But one good way is to look at the GOP's "Solutions for America" homepage, which lays out its health-care plan in some detail. It has four planks. All of them -- yes, you read that right -- are in the Senate health-care bill.

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In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story The Republican governor is 'eager to get started,' and the state's Democratic senators are urging the Obama administration to begin selling leases next year. The plan has raised concern from NASA.

A family left behind by the H1N1 virus - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-sci-flu-death8-2010feb08,0,1053278.story Virginia Romo was pregnant with her sixth child when she caught the swine flu. Her husband and children, raising the baby on their own, are still stunned at how swiftly the disease took her from them.

E.J. Dionne Jr. - On health care: ‘Finish the kitchen’ - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020701787.html If President Obama gets to sign a health-reform bill, as I believe he will, one reason may be Rep. Jay Inslee's difficult experience renovating his kitchen. He told his kitchen story at a House Democratic caucus after Republican Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts sent Inslee's colleagues into paroxysms of dismay, chaos and fear. Brown's triumph reduced the Democrats' majority in the Senate to "only" 59, and this led many in both houses to want to give up on health reform altogether. Even Obama was sounding an uncertain trumpet. This made no sense to Inslee, a Democrat from Washington state. First elected to the House in 1992, he was swept out of office in the 1994 Republican landslide that followed the collapse of Bill Clinton's health-care efforts. Four years later, Inslee returned to Congress.

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Put health costs on a diet - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/08/put_health_costs_on_a_diet/ PAYING FOR health care on a fee-for-service basis is an engine for inflation. Last year, a state reform commission came up with a better proposal: pay doctors and hospitals a fixed annual amount for treating each patient’s particular condition, with quality safeguards. But for such a “global’’ system to hold down costs, that annual amount has to go on a diet, with each year’s increase ratcheted downward. Only in this way will patients and the doctors supervising their treatment have incentives to provide high-quality care in cost-efficient settings.

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General-aviation security proposal is being scaled back - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602077.html Citing industry objections, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing to scale back a controversial plan to expand aviation security rules for the first time to thousands of private planes. TSA officials said this week they expect to issue a revised plan this fall that will significantly reduce from 15,000 the number of U.S.-registered general-aviation aircraft subjected to tougher rules. Also, instead of mandating that all passengers aboard private planes be checked against terrorist watch lists, name checks in many cases could be left to the discretion of pilots, they said. The shifts would mark significant rollbacks of security changes that supporters called overdue and essential to preventing terrorists from using small planes to smuggle dangerous weapons or carry out suicide attacks. Opponents, however, called the measures unwarranted, poorly thought out and overly burdensome on aircraft owners and manufacturers.

The case for clear standards on holding the worst of the detainees - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020503729.html NO LAWS specify the procedures and standards that should govern the indefinite detention of terrorism suspects. Now that an Obama administration task force has determined that some 50 detainees at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are too dangerous to release but not eligible for prosecution or transfer, that legal vacuum needs to be filled. The administration, like the Bush administration before it, argues that the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) gives it the right to use "all necessary and appropriate force" -- including indefinite detention -- against al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorism suspects responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. This approach is at once too broad and too narrow.

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Derrick Z. Jackson - The double standard at CBS - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/06/the_double_standard_at_cbs/ THERE ARE already at least two Christian broadcasting channels, so there is no need for CBS to be a right-wing revival tent for the Super Bowl. Now, before all the knees start jerking, I want to be clear that this pro-choicer has no problem in the abstract with CBS’s decision to air an ad featuring Florida football star Tim Tebow. The ad, funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, features the decision by Tebow’s mother to reject the advice of doctors to have an abortion when she was very sick while the future Heisman Trophy winner was in her womb. That story is an unqualified, beautiful individual testament to faith and love. But Focus on the Family wants to twist the free choice of this mother into a political vehicle to eliminate choice for all other women. But not even that ultimately offends me. Where CBS bears false witness is the fact that they accepted that ad while rejecting a Super Bowl ad for a gay dating service. The ad starts with one man in a Green Bay Packers jersey and the other in a Minnesota Vikings shirt cheering against each other. It ends with them making out on the couch.

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Protected by the justice system, a would-be bomber still talks - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/07/protected_by_the_justice_system_a_would_be_bomber_still_talks/ THE NEWS that the would-be airplane bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has resumed cooperation with the FBI validates the Justice Department’s decision to charge him in federal court rather than a military commission. And the creative methods employed by the FBI to obtain his cooperation refute the notion - advanced with much tub-thumping anger on talk radio - that a defendant in the criminal justice system is somehow off limits to interrogators seeking information about terrorist plots. The FBI shrewdly sought out relatives of Abdulmutallab in Nigeria who were willing to come to the United States and prevail on him to tell what he knows about Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Using family members to turn the defendant into a cooperative informant highlighted a crucial element of the interrogator’s craft: the need to establish trust between a questioner and a prisoner. The flipping of Abdulmutallab proved what intelligence professionals know well: that psychological methods of interrogation are almost always more effective than the rough stuff seen in the movies.

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James Carroll - Political prayer breakfasts are bad religion - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/08/political_prayer_breakfasts_are_bad_religion/ THERE ARE only three things wrong with the National Prayer Breakfast: the past, the present, and the future. Last week, President Obama presided at the annual Washington event before what the New York Times called “a bipartisan array’’ of national and international figures. “I assure you,’’ he told them, “I’m praying a lot these days.’’ The president went with the flow of public piety, singing prayer’s praises as a source of calm, strength, and civility. It “can touch our hearts with humility,’’ he said. That had the ring of truth, since the prayer breakfast confronts the president with how little personal freedom he has. He could no more boycott the toe-curling display of religiosity than he could remove that flag pin from his lapel. Religion is not supposed to be coercive in this country, but the prayer breakfast is the ultimate command performance, and that is only part of the problem.

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DNA and justice - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-dna6-2010feb06,0,3083796.story Thirty-three years after he was convicted of raping a neighbor in Rochester, N.Y., Frederick Peacock became the 250th American to be exonerated by DNA evidence. Peacock, now 60, was paroled from prison decades ago, but he continued to insist that he had been wrongly convicted, and in 2002 the New York-based Innocence Project took up his case. This week, DNA testing that wasn't available either at the time of his conviction in 1976 or his parole in 1982 confirmed that he was not guilty of the rape for which he had served six years in prison. But Peacock's case is more than just another example of a life damaged by wrongful conviction. The sheer length of time it took for him to clear his name highlights not only the need for broad access to DNA testing, but the importance of preserving evidence, even long after a case appears to be over.

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Haiti is a reminder of how we can help other quake-prone areas - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-hough8-2010feb08,0,207101.story The time to act is before disaster strikes, by preparing hospitals and other specialized teams to plan for the inevitable.

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Editorial - Lobbyists and Students - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon2.html?ref=opinion The private lending companies that earn billions of dollars in undeserved profits from the federal student loan program are working overtime to kill a bill that would stop their gravy train once and for all — and should have been enacted long ago. The House stood up to the powerful lending lobby last fall and passed a student loan reform bill. The White House has been pushing the Senate, but it is having trouble finding its spine and has yet to introduce a bill. The House version phases out the wasteful part of the federal college lending program that pays private lenders a rich subsidy to make risk-free loans that are guaranteed by the government. The bill also expands another, more reliable and less expensive federal loan program that permits students to borrow directly from the government through their colleges. The arguments for moving in this direction are irrefutable. The subsidized program, for example, was supposed to keep loans flowing during recessions. But the loans dried up in the last credit crunch, forcing the government to rescue the program. The direct program, by contrast, suffered no such disruption. In addition to being more reliable, the direct program costs less. The Congressional Budget Office estimated last year that the country could save about $80 billion over the next decade by ending the private system and moving to the direct one.

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Gregory Rodriguez - It started with King George III - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rodriguez8-2010feb08,0,5446611.column Let me get straight to the point: Americans' profound distrust of government is neurotic -- irrational, defensive and born of emotional trauma. That doesn't mean I discount other sources of our disabling distrust of Washington. I believe the scholars who cite watershed events like Watergate and Vietnam as having undermined our belief in governing institutions. But such recent-history rationales for our distrust don't fully explain the emotional depth of our disaffection. They don't properly take into account how these events triggered the anti-government strain already in our national DNA, in the same way that, say, environmental factors can trigger a genetic predisposition or a childhood trauma can create anxiety in an adult. If Americans were to seek help for their neurosis, any good therapist would try to dig down to the root of the outsized distrust. Maybe he or she would let us beat around the bush for a few sessions. We'd recount incidents of government corruption, overreach. Then there was slavery, Jim Crow, internment camps and poorly planned wars. But eventually, we'd have to discuss our national birth trauma, our violent revolt against our "father," King George III, which gave us our independence in the first place.

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Erin Aubry Kaplan - The term ‘Negro’? Color it obsolete - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kaplan8-2010feb08,0,7157375.story When a website pointed out that 'Negro' was going to appear once more on the 2010 census, many blacks reacted with shock and distaste. They see it as a relic of the bad old days of segregation.

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Editorial - Pay Up - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon3.html?ref=opinion Claimants are still looking for their money, more than a decade after the federal Department of Agriculture reached a landmark settlement for having cheated generations of black farmers through “indifference and blatant discrimination.” The 1999 agreement on what is known as the Pigford class-action lawsuit was hailed as the biggest civil rights settlement in American history. The judge estimated a swift $2 billion payout — or $60,000 each — for victimized black farmers. It has not worked out that way, as the White House’s new budget confirms with a request for $1.15 billion to pay still-pending claims from black farmers. The same amount was requested last year but did not survive the self-interested knives and elbows of the Congressional budget scrum. The class-action suit detailed how eligible black farmers traditionally were denied loans by the agriculture agency while their white peers went to the head of the line for growing-season wherewithal and homestead improvements.

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New Orleans elects Mitch Landrieu mayor - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-orleans-mayor7-2010feb07,0,3073458.story Louisiana's lieutenant governor will be the first white city leader since his father, 'Moon' Landrieu, left office in 1978.

Five myths about how to create jobs - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020501445.html With the unemployment rate in the United States lingering just below 10 percent and the midterm elections just nine months away, job creation has become the top priority in Washington. President Obama has called for transferring $30 billion in repaid bank bailout money to a small-business lending fund, saying, "Jobs will be our number one focus in 2010, and we're going to start where most new jobs do, with small business." The fund is among several measures -- tax incentives, infrastructure projects, efforts to increase exports -- that the White House has proposed to help boost employment. As Americans consider the various approaches, we must have realistic expectations. We need to debunk some myths about what it takes to stimulate job growth.

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‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ ended my military career, but not my service - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020501444.html I knew I was done hiding behind the "don't ask, don't tell" policy after four months flying missions to Iraq as a loadmaster with the 37th Airlift Squadron. It was my second tour -- one I'd picked because of the long hours and irregular schedule, a lifestyle that I thought would make it easier to keep my personal life private. But lying about who you are, especially to people you are serving with, is never easy.

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Back and forth with Beijing - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-china7-2010feb07,0,2603153.story Walk softly and carry a message of mutual respect. That was the Obama administration's initial approach to China, part of a broad policy of seeking dialogue on difficult issues with friends and enemies alike. In that spirit, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the People's Republic on her first trip abroad and avoided public expressions of concern about Chinese human rights abuses. President Obama put off meeting China's nemesis, the Tibetan Dalai Lama, ahead of his own foray to China, hoping to focus attention on core U.S. concerns such as nuclear proliferation in Iran and North Korea, trade relations and climate change. He held his tongue when his hosts carefully stage-managed the trip to eliminate all opportunities for dissent, and the two sides issued such a cooperative communique that political analysts began to speculate about a "G-2" era in which the powers would address global problems together.

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Traffic fines as cash cow - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-fines6-2010feb06,0,1021103.story Raising traffic fines has become attractive to politicians because, unlike hiking taxes, it seldom attracts much opposition. That's OK by us, but it's possible to raise fines to the point that they're grossly disproportionate to the infraction. We're getting perilously close to that level in L.A., and in some cases have probably exceeded it. As a matter of principle, it's usually smart to tax socially destructive behavior such as bad driving; not only are there social benefits (fewer accidents), but public services get an important source of funding, and people who object to paying can avoid doing so simply by driving more responsibly. But when punishments don't fit the crime, it encourages public cynicism and lawless behavior. For a low-income driver, a $500 traffic fine -- the cost of running a red light in L.A. when traffic school is factored in -- is a devastating expense. Some people will break more laws to avoid paying it. There's some evidence that red-light cameras improve safety at intersections, so we're not bothered by plans to put up more. And if the city can collar parking ticket scofflaws and raise needed funds by booting cars more often, then boot away. Planners should think carefully, though, before imposing outrageous fines for relatively minor traffic violations.

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Howard Kurtz - White House press corps feels bypassed by Obama - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702693.html Six months ago, network executives were complaining that the White House was costing them tens of millions of dollars by pressing them to carry presidential news conferences in prime time. Problem solved: President Obama hasn't held a full-scale news conference since July. Instead, he answered a dozen people's questions last week on YouTube, most of them easily finessed and -- extra bonus! -- no annoying follow-ups of the kind posed by real, live journalists. It would be hard -- impossible, actually -- to argue that Obama hasn't been accessible to the media, not with his constant television interviews. The man has even done color commentary at a Georgetown basketball game. But the decision to bypass the White House press corps is no accident. "It's a source of great frustration here," says Chip Reid, CBS's White House correspondent. "It's important for us to hold the president's feet to the fire."

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Editorial - A Welcome Retraction - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06sat3.html For a decade, many parents have worried that vaccines might somehow be causing autism in children. Repeated assurances from respected experts that there is no link have failed to quiet those fears. Now The Lancet, a prestigious British medical journal that published the paper that first gave wide credence to those fears, has retracted it, saying that the paper’s authors had made false claims about how the study was conducted. The journal acted after a British medical panel had found the lead author, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, guilty of dishonesty and flouting medical ethics. The original paper, published in 1998, was based on only 12 children. It nevertheless drew an inferential link between an autismlike disorder and the triple-vaccine used to prevent measles, mumps and rubella. Although that paper stopped short of claiming the combination vaccine caused the disorder, Dr. Wakefield suggested at a press conference that parents would be wise to use single vaccines for each of the diseases.

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Crime: Shame has its purposes - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/06/crime_shame_has_its_purposes/ Public shame has been a controversial punishment since well before “The Scarlet Letter,’’ the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel in which Massachusetts moralists punished alleged sins of the flesh by trying to humiliate the perpetrators. Yet shame has its beneficial uses, and the US attorney’s office in Boston has hit upon one of them. In several recent plea deals, prosecutors have forced businesses that admit to breaking environmental laws to take out ads publicizing their own guilt. One ad declared, “I towed my fishing boat, the Nicole Renee, offshore and I sank it.’’ Another proclaimed, “It would have been a lot cheaper to obey the law!’’

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Congress left to pick up health care pieces | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/congress_left_to_pick_up_healt Congress seems ready to take on a piecemeal approach to changing the nation’s health care system, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo, said. If the one-plan approach fails in Congress as President Obama now fears it will, Salazar said, he hopes to see Medicare given the ability to negotiate prices with drug companies, as well as eliminate antitrust exemptions for the health care industry. Drug-price negotiations by Medicare would be “a good idea,” Rocky Mountain Health Plans President Steve ErkenBrack said. “Getting drug costs ratcheted down by allowing negotiations would be a definite help.” Congress, however, should be careful that eliminating health care exemptions from antitrust provisions doesn’t boomerang and damage systems such as the one in Grand Junction, ErkenBrack said.

Romanoff complains about Obama’s campaign visit | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209771/1006 President Barack Obama's visit to Denver later this month has some Democrats upset. The president is headed to Denver Feb. 18 to raise money for Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. Bennet's primary challenger, former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, says the state party should insist the president hold an event for Romanoff supporters, too. "Many of my supporters were among the most active organizers for President Obama during the 2008 campaign and they remain staunchly behind the president," Romanoff wrote in a letter Friday to state party chairwoman Pat Waak. "Unfortunately, the current plan of events during the president's visit has sent a clear message: 'Support the appointed incumbent Senator or do not be part of the president's visit to Colorado," Romanoff wrote. Romanoff proposed that a separate event for Romanoff be scheduled. Romanoff said he would give all proceeds to the Democratic party.

Durango Herald News, Romanoff stumps in Durango

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Romanoff_stumps_in_Durango/ Andrew Romanoff, who is fighting for the Democratic Party's nomination for U.S. Senate, brought his “Main Street tour" to Southwest Colorado over the weekend with a message of curtailing special interests' influence in Washington. Romanoff is challenging U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who was appointed to the seat after Ken Salazar resigned to become Interior secretary. Romanoff, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, was on the short list for the appointment but was passed over in favor of Bennet, former superintendent of Denver Public Schools and virtually unknown in the world of politics. Romanoff, in an interview Sunday at The Durango Herald, said he's not afraid to stand up to special interests or even his own party, “which is what I'm doing with this campaign, by definition."

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Romanoff brings Senate campaign to valley

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d583816e68967651058.txt Andrew Romanoff brought his U.S. Senate campaign to the San Luis Valley, where he received a bipartisan greeting Friday and heard about the demand for jobs and balancing local concerns on federal lands. The former speaker of the state House of Representatives, who is trying to unseat Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination, made his first stop in the valley since declaring his candidacy in September. "You get a pretty clear sense, I think, from this conversation that folks feel like they get the back end of the deal on economic development efforts," he said. He told the dozen people gathered for lunch at a local restaurant that jobs would be the first plank in his platform. And although the state is unable to offer the economic incentives that others might, Romanoff said the outlook for jobs could improve by focusing on education and infrastructure development. Conejos County Commissioner Joe Mestas said he'd like to see a way for local counties to secure more benefits from federal energy development.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Senate candidate rails against insiders

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5593296b1951324547.txt It was hard to tell which was steaming more — Tom Wiens or his cup of coffee. The 57-year-old Republican from Castle Rock is one of five GOP candidates for U.S. Senate. A former state representative, senator, the small-business owner and rancher campaigned Saturday in Pueblo. Discussing points of his platform over a cup of java at Solar Roast Coffee, 226 N. Main St., Wiens made it quite clear he's steamed about the nation's political system and that if elected, he'll work to correct it, along with advocating for small business and middle America. "I'm definitely not the insider's candidate. I'm sure the Washington and Denver insiders prefer I don't even run. In Washington, all they care about is special interests, if you're at the top and if you're on Wall Street. It makes me so angry. I want to get people energized that this is about a republic. I want to go to Washington to provide effective representation for the forgotten Americans," Wiens said.

Norton has 14-point lead over Bennet in latest Rasmussen survey | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/norton-has-14-point-lead-over-bennet-in-latest-rasmussen-survey/ Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton cracks the 50-percent-support mark for the first time and leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet by 14 points in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll of Colorado’s U.S. Senate race. Norton, considered the Republican front-runner, leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent in the poll of 500 likely voters conducted Feb. 2. It has a margin of error of 4.5 percent. “This poll reflects exactly what I’m seeing as I travel around this great state,” Norton said in a release. “People want a Senator who will stand up for Colorado values, not an ideologue to rubber-stamp the President’s Big Government policies.” Democrats are skeptical of Rasmussen Reports polls.

Poll: Buck leads over Democratic rivals | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209799/1002 Weld District Attorney Ken Buck leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet 45 percent to 41 percent, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday. Republican front runner former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent, according to the telephone survey of 500 likely Colorado voters conducted this week. The margin of error for the survey is 4.5 percentage points. The margins in both hypothetical races were only slightly changed from a January poll that showed Buck topping Bennet by 5 percentage points and Norton winning by 12 percentage points. Buck, Norton and former state Sen. Tom Wiens are the three most prominent candidates for the Republican nomination. The poll shows Wiens topping Bennet 44 percent to 40 percent. On the Democratic side, Bennet faces a primary challenge from former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff. While the poll does not show Romanoff beating any of the three Republican contenders, he does fare better than Bennet against Norton, trailing 45 percent to 38 percent. Romanoff also fares better than Bennet against Wiens, trailing 42 percent to 40 percent. Buck, however, does better against Romanoff than Bennet, leading 45 percent to 39 percent.

Polis spreading the wealth among his Democratic colleagues - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14355357 During his first year in Congress, Boulder`s Jared Polis showed he could raise money like a House veteran, writing checks for fellow freshmen representatives at a rate that rivals the fundraising clout of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Polis` political committee last year doled out more than $400,000 to Democratic members of Congress in swing districts and national political campaign groups. By the end of 2009, the freshman congressman`s fundraising on behalf of Democrats was close to that by Pelosi and other top Democrats. Polis has hosted Pelosi at one of his Colorado fundraisers and traveled to Chicago and New Mexico to raise money and bolster congressmen facing tough re-election campaigns.

Tancredo blasted for poll test idea - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345675 Former congressman Tom Tancredo took heat Friday for remarks at the national Tea Party convention that critics viewed as calling for a return to Jim Crow laws. But Tancredo said he wasn't targeting a specific group when he suggested in Nashville there should be a "civics-literacy" test before someone could vote. "People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House," Tancredo said in his opening-day speech Thursday. "His name is Barack Hussein Obama." Tests were used to prevent blacks from voting during segregation and were banned by the Voting Rights Act in 1964.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Treasurer candidate touts schooling, background

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5541d446f783604323.txt Greenwood Village Republican Walker Stapleton said he's the best choice for state treasurer based on his education and professional background. The grandson of historic Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton and cousin to former President George W. Bush made a campaign stop at Pueblo County Republican headquarters Saturday. As treasurer, Stapleton said he'd wisely manage state funds for the Public Employees' Retirement Association and be an advocate for taxpayers. "I'm proud to say I've never been part of inside politics. I've been involved with building a successful business," the 35-year-old told the small crowd. "Nobody (running for treasurer) has my education background or work experience. I'll be an independent advocate for the taxpayers of Colorado and will build a business-friendly tax environment."

Den Post: Colo. GOP lawmakers heavy on rhetoric light on specifics « Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47137/den-post-colo-gop-lawmakers-heavy-on-rhetoric-light-on-specifics The Denver Post today poked straight-faced fun at state Republican lawmakers this morning, mocking a big budget plan GOP legislative leaders unveiled yesterday. The proposed plan of attack in the ongoing battle over a budget that is short billions in revenue is to cut a lot of programs– and they want Democrats to decide what programs to cut. You can’t give the people behind this plan even a single point for subtlety. You can, however, award lots of points for election-year foolery and comic passing of the buck. The Post story conjures images of Wiley Coyote hauling out one of his ridiculous oversize Road Runner-catching contraptions: We’re for cuts! That is, we’re for you making cuts and us later criticizing the cuts you make!

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tough times, tough week dominate lawmakers’ talk

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5939911ff248335483.txt It wasn't the easiest meal to swallow and the digestion problems had nothing to do with the food. There were no complaints about the chile con juevos at the Pueblo Convention Center on Saturday, but breakfast is never quite appetizing when it's served with talks of balancing a state budget in an economic recession, possible program cuts and legislative defeats. About 130 people turned up for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Breakfast, the first of many chamber-hosted breakfasts throughout the legislative session. The meals are designed to let elected officials divulge their work at the state capitol and answer questions from the community.

Senate Democrats : GOP math “fairy tale” | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/senate-democrats-gop-math-fairy-tale/ “After reading the Republican budget fix, it is quite clear that they can’t add or subtract,” said Senate Minority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs. “The budget shortfall is $1 billion. The Republicans proposed a reckless ‘off the cuff’ idea to fire state employees to save $17.8 million: $17.8 million in cuts to solve a $1 billion shortfall. “Now they just need to come up with 50 more plans so the math will add up. The problem is their plan doesn’t even identify the first $17.8 million.” Republicans Thursday proposed cutting payroll in the current year by 0.25 percent in order to generate $17.8 million in revenue and thus offset the need for accelerating the demise of seven tax exemptions by March to generate a roughly equal amount. But Morse said the math is way off. The correct payroll figure is $3.2 billion, and thus 0.25 percent of that would be only $8 million, not $17.8 million, Morse said. But even that math doesn’t take into account the fact that the year is 7/12ths over, and hence the savings would only be $3.3 million, he said.

Durango Herald News, ‘Amazon tax’ roils Colorado retailers

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/Amazon_tax_roils_Colorado_retailers/ The list price for Dan Brown's latest Masonic mystery, “The Lost Symbol," is $29.95. At a Colorado bookstore, buyers can expect to pay another 86 cents in state sales tax, plus local taxes. On Amazon.com, “The Lost Symbol" sells for $12 plus shipping costs. Tax free. And it's the tax-free part that's not fair, said Peter Schertz, co-owner of Maria's Bookshop in Durango. “What we're asking for as a very small bookstore is just a level playing field," Schertz said. He is willing to compete with Amazon and other Internet sites, and Maria's has its own Web site, so customers don't even need to visit the downtown Durango store. But people who buy from Maria's online have to pay sales tax.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tax bill affecting steel mill progresses

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d4c7b2d253717183772.txt A bill that representatives of Pueblo's steel mill say would cost the plant $2 million annually continued to move through the Legislature on Friday as part of a package of proposed tax-break repeals. On Thursday, over the objections of the United Steelworkers of America and management at Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, the Senate Finance Committee passed HB1190, which proposes to lift the tax exemption on energy used in manufacturing. Friday morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill, clearing the way for debate on the Senate floor. The bill was not heard Friday afternoon in the Senate. It got there along with eight others that would lift or suspend tax exemptions on everything from candy to online purchases and bull semen, and the Senate managed to heard debate on just the first.

Opposition warns tax hikes in state may mean layoffs - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_14345819 Steel workers and Coke and Pepsi bottlers have lined up to oppose a package of tax hikes to balance the state budget, saying the cuts will lead to layoffs. Also worried about their livelihoods are farmers on tight margins who would have to pay sales tax on pesticides, and small home-based Internet businesses that link people to online retailers like Amazon. Meanwhile, education groups and advocates for the developmentally disabled and low-income people who rely on government programs are urging lawmakers to pass the tax increases -- which the full Senate began debating Friday -- and avoid teacher layoffs and cuts to safety net spending. In the middle are lawmakers who must find a way to close a $1.5 billion shortfall in this year and next year`s budget, and Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided on how to do that. Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter proposed ending or suspending 13 tax credits and sales tax exemptions to raise about $125 million next year, and majority Democrats have been backing that plan in the Legislature. Republicans say they want Ritter to cut more, pointing out that most of the budget balancing during the recession has involved one-time fixes rather than reduced spending.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Cuts cast bleak outlook for some programs

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5ae645b0f153436999.txt The state Legislature's Joint Budget Committee calls it the "ugly list." To some state employees, it translates into unemployment, and for citizens, it means reduced government services. The JBC holds the purse strings for state spending, and for the present fiscal year (ending June 30) it must come up with $20 million to remedy a shortfall in the state's $7 billion budget, which the Colorado Constitution requires to be balanced. So as certain as the sun rises each morning, the JBC reconciles the bottom line by the fiscal year's end. This year has been trickier than most because of the national economic downturn of the past few years, and more challenging times could lie ahead in the not too distant future, according to JBC member Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo. Consequently, some of Pueblo's traditionally most viable employers and sacrosanct institutions could be on the chopping block for funding in the years just ahead.

Footing the bill for bills | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/footing_the_bill_for_bills With a $1.5 billion fault line preparing to level any attempts to add costs to the 2010-11 state budget, passing a bill with a large fiscal note could prove a difficult task this spring. But that won’t stop bills from appearing with fiscal notes. Already, 101 bills have been introduced that carry a fiscal note that include an expenditure increase or reduction and/or a revenue increase or reduction. Here are the most and least pricey bills suggested so far. All prices apply to 2010-11 and expenditures do not account for revenue adjustments in the bills or vice versa.

Doomed bills return to Colorado lawmakers year after year | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/legislature-93800-bill-role.html Every year, El Paso County lawmakers lead legislative lambs to the slaughter: bills so unlikely to pass that they’re considered all but dead upon introduction. The flock has only grown as the mostly-Republican delegation has fallen deeply into the General Assembly’s minority. Many of the measures they offer up as sacrifices on the political altar have changed little, having been introduced for years at every session. The exact number is hard to pin down, but lawmakers from here have penned about a dozen legislative proposals, knowing they will be killed by legislative committees long before reaching a floor vote. Last week, in one example, Republican Rep. Kent Lambert offered up his plan to have the state guarantee some of its savings accounts by buying gold bars. His bill would have required the gold to be stored at the state Capitol.

Pinnacol workers comp resists lawmaker efforts to increase public input | Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47103/profitable-pinnacol-workers-comp-resists-lawmaker-efforts-to-increase-public-input A controversial bill that aims to diversify and open up decision-making at Pinnacol Assurance, the impressively profitable quasi-governmental workers compensation insurance provider, passed out of the House Judicial Committee Friday on a mostly partisan vote. The hearing highlighted the tensions that define Pinnacol, an entity designed to serve the public but also required to act as a business. Bill sponsor Joe Mikloski, a Denver Democrat, aims to require Pinnacol to include a one-time injured worker and a physician on the directors board and to bring greater transparency to the board decision-making process by inviting the public to attend meetings. The bill would increase the board from nine to eleven members and institute public comment periods at each of the meetings. Meeting agendas would also have to posted seven days in advance. Pinnacol provides workers compensation insurance to nearly 60 percent of workers in Colorado.

Proposals loosen up liquor business | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/proposals_loosen_up_liquor_bus Grand Junction liquor store owner Brandi Fisher—Pollock isn’t at all happy with two bills that could take sales away from her and others in the liquor business. Under two measures working their way through the Colorado Legislature, convenience stores would be able to sell full-strength beer, and grocers could buy out nearby liquor outlets. Though Fisher-Pollock said the bills are better than an unrestricted opening of all liquor sales for convenience and grocery stores, she still is actively opposing them and letting others in the business know they should, too. “If they’re going to do a law trying to restrict the saturation of liquor licenses, they need to do a lot more than that,” said Fisher-Pollock, who’s been meeting with other liquor store owners in Grand Junction about the bills.

Lawmakers tussle over bill that would ease insurance gender discrimination « Colorado Independe

http://coloradoindependent.com/47106/lawmakers-tussle-over-bill-that-would-ease-health-insurance-gender-discrimination A packed hearing Thursday for a bill that seeks to address wide differences in cost based on gender in the individual health insurance market in Colorado saw clashes erupt between male and female members of the committee. House Bill 1008, sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge, seeks to distribute and lower those costs for women who don’t have employer or state health plans. The motion ultimately passed out of committee on an 8 to 2 vote. “Women pay up to 59 percent more than men of the same age with 90 percent of private insurance companies, even though as a whole women tend to have less claims than men, irrespective of maternity coverage.” Mcann told the committee.

House to hear DUI felony bill | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/07/house-to-hear-dui-felony-bill-monday/ A bill that makes a third DUI conviction a felony is scheduled to be heard Monday afternoon by a House committee. House Bill 1184 doesn’t have a fiscal note attached to it yet but several Capitol observors say they believe the price tag will be too prohibitive for the budget-challenged state. The sponsor, Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said he expects to see the fiscal note on Monday. He said during testimony he is going to propose ways to cut the budget and use that savings to be able to incarcerate repeat DUI offenders. His budget-cutting proposals include eliminating a front license plate, which will save around $4 million, and reducing dues and membership fees the state pays to belong to a variety of organizations. “I think it’s important enough to try to find a way to pay for it,” Gardner said. Gardner’s measure is one of seven bills the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled to hear Monday afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. The hearing was moved to the Old Supreme Court chambers because a crowd is expected to testify on a river navigation measure.

Repeat DUI offenders must get jail terms, panel says - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345677 A state criminal-justice commission agreed Friday that repeat DUI offenders in Colorado must go to jail. The commission endorsed a legislative proposal that would mandate a jail term of 10 days to a year for a second drunken-driving offense and 60 days to a year for third or subsequent offenses. In addition, repeat offenders would face two years of supervision by probation officers and the threat of up to an additional year in jail for ignoring conditions of probation. Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, the bill's sponsor, said the lengthened probation and suspended jail provisions are intended to provide a potent incentive for counseling and treatment once an offender gets out of jail. "The year is a deposit that the judge can draw against" if the offender ignores probation requirements, she said. "What we're looking for is participation in alcohol treatment."

Swalm leads defense of men at health insurance hearing | Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47160/swalm-leads-defense-of-men-at-health-insurance-hearing Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial, led the charge Thursday defending the rights of men to continue to pay less as a group on the individual health-insurance market in Colorado. Swalm is a member of the Health and Human Services committee that was weighing a bill aimed to ease wide inequalities in the cost of insurance for men and women in Colorado. The bill was sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge. “Men are having the toughest time finding work, so this is going to make it even harder for them to pay for insurance,” Swalm said. He later told the Colorado Independent that outside of the legislature, he worked as an insurance broker. Swalm energetically engaged committee members as well as people who cam to testify in favor of the bill, including Jerry McElroy, a spokesperson for national health care provider Kaiser Permanente. The only insurance company representative to speak at the hearing, McElroy said his company had decided to end gender discrimination costs in 1969 and that, contrary to the fears being expressed in the current debate, Kaiser had suffered no significant loss of revenue as a result. “We’re doing just fine,” McElroy told the committee.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Bill to extend nurse tuition forgiveness clears another hurdle

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d539096a75477679958.txt A Senate committee on Friday passed Sen. Abel Tapia's bill proposing to extend eligibility for tuition forgiveness to nurses who achieve advanced degrees. Tapia, D-Pueblo, introduced SB58, which would grant eligibility for student loan forgiveness to nurses who earn advanced degrees and teach their craft on a part-time basis. On Friday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill. Last week it had gained approval from the Senate Finance Committee. Currently, the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program overseen by CollegeInvest applies only to nurses who are teaching full-time. Tapia said funding for the extension already exists through CollegeInvest, and no new spending would be required. When the first tuition loan forgiveness program for nurses was adopted by the Legislature in 2006, it didn't sufficiently extend benefits to lure instructors away from their lucrative field, in Tapia's estimation.

New bill would allow students to transfer credits from for-profit colleges - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355221 Metropolitan State College of Denver is so packed with students that officials are spending $24,000 a semester to rent space at a campus movie theater to hold classes. Though enrollment is up at colleges across the state, those serving high-risk students, such as Metro and community colleges, feel the squeeze the most. Enrollment is up 19 percent since the fall of 2008 at 13 community colleges across Colorado, and nearly 60 programs are full and putting students on wait lists. In November, enrollment at the 13 schools totaled almost 83,000, according to the Colorado Community College System.

Water-transfer mitigation bill dies in House | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/watertransfer_mitigation_bill A bill to require water buyers to mitigate large transfers of water from one river basin to another died on the House floor Friday. But that was because Denver Water lobbied hard against the bill and managed to turn some lawmakers to its side, said Rep. Sal Pace, who introduced House Bill 1159. “I had to run it, because every day I waited, I’d lose another vote,” the Pueblo Democrat said immediately after the bill’s demise. “I had a lot of people turn on me, including people who told me this morning (Friday) that they were with me.” The issue is not a new one for the Legislature, but each time it comes up, urban lawmakers along the Front Range and even rural ones on the South Platte River Basin manage to find ways to kill it, Western Slope lawmakers said.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Pace’s water transfer bill dies on House floor

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d459507ef5391244397.txt A bill that would have required mitigation agreements between communities where water transfers originate and their destinations died Friday in the House with strong opposition from urban legislators. Rep. Sal Pace's HB1159 was killed on second reading, with 23 members in support and 36 opposed. Two members were absent, and Pace said they may have voted on his side, but wouldn't have affected the outcome. "I'm surprised by the number of people that flipped on me in the last day," said Pace, D-Pueblo. Pace hurried the bill along this week. He wanted it to move quickly because he said he was losing votes with each passing day as metropolitan water interests lobbied lawmakers against it.

Liquor-sale bills change the game - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350855 Convenience and grocery stores intent on increasing their share of Colorado's liquor market have a new tactic this year: deflate the David- versus-Goliath defense that liquor shops traditionally use to fight off proposals to expand the sale of full-strength beer, wine and liquor. For two years running, lawmakers have been swayed by liquor store owners' predictions that giving competitively advantaged supermarket chains and convenience stores the keys to the liquor cabinet would put their mom-and-pops out of commission. But a bill allowing corner stores to stock full-strength beer, up for a first hearing Wednesday, excludes corporate-controlled grocery stores and instead pits one small- business group against another, advocates say. And a plan grocers introduced Friday allowing themselves to buy out liquor stores and their licenses for five or six figures means a few hundred liquor store owners could hit a jackpot.

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350677 Until a few months ago, J.B. Woods was your standard-issue insurance agent. Auto, home, life. Would you like flood coverage with that? Then, in the middle of 2009, his phone rang: "I need insurance for my medical-marijuana dispensary," the caller said. And since that moment, few of the policies Woods has set up for clients have been standard-issue. Instead, Woods has become the guru of ganja insurance. Property insurance, theft insurance, liability insurance. Woods is now even offering crop insurance, in case a medical-marijuana harvest isn't as bountiful as expected. "They needed an insurance agent who specializes in this area because of all the complexities involved," Woods said.

Windsor struggles to find a resolution | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080324/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Windsor-struggles-to-find-a-resolution Town officials continue to work on a draft ordinance to regulate the sudden growth of medical marijuana dispensaries in Windsor. The Windsor Town Board and Windsor Planning Commission met last week for two hours in a joint session in the Fireside Room at Windsor High School. "It's slow and painful at times, but it's what we have to do to get it right," said Windsor Town Board Trustee Robert Bishop-Cotner. The focus of the meeting was to discuss various definitions of terms as mentioned in Amendment 20, zoning decisions, location issues and signage. The boards discussed at great length how to distinguish between caregiver and commercial caregiver with little resolution. "The definition of caregiver and commercial caregiver might be getting intermingled," said planning commissioner Paul Ehrlich. "Do we want to entertain a definition that can be confusing even though we know they're different?"

Medical marijuana on agenda for Fort Collins officials | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080323/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Medical-marijuana-on-agenda-for-Fort-Collins-officials Medical marijuana caregivers with more than one patient would not be able to grow or distribute products from their homes under regulations proposed by Fort Collins officials. They would not be allowed to grow marijuana outdoors, and their sundry products could only be distributed within city limits. These and a long list of other proposals aimed at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, or MMDs, in Fort Collins are expected to be discussed Tuesday during a City Council work session. Proposed rules for where marijuana dispensaries and "grows" may locate in the city and how they may operate came after researching how other Colorado cities are dealing with the issue and extensive public outreach, said Ginny Sawyer of the city's neighborhood service office.

Northern Colorado expo quietly touts medical marijuana | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070336/1002/Northern-Colorado-expo-quietly-touts-medical-marijuana Tim Gordon wanted to keep his Northern Colorado Medical Cannabis Expo on Saturday as low-key and nonconfrontational as possible. "I'm not trying to step on anybody's feet with this," he said. "I don't want to be aggressive and in-your-face to people who are not interested in medical cannabis." The event assembled dispensaries, legal services and marijuana advocates for a public forum about the state of the medical marijuana community. Speakers included Sensible Colorado, Front Range chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, The Cure Law Office and other political advocates. Gordon is the president of Front Range NORML and co-owner of Medicinal Gardens of Colorado, a medical marijuana dispensary in Fort Collins. He said the quarterly expo is as much for people within the medical marijuana community to come together as it is for the general public. Unity, according to him and others at the expo, is the community's greatest strength.

Man claiming pot card didn’t complete the paperwork | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209801/1001 An officer noticed an open garage door in Gypsum on Jan. 15. Several valuable items were visible and no one was at the house. The officer tried to phone the resident and close the garage door but could not succeed. He drove by the residence several times throughout the day to keep an eye on it. On Jan. 17, he was driving by the same house and noticed vehicles in the driveway. He knocked on the door. A man answered, stepped outside and quickly closed the door. The deputy smelled marijuana. He told the man his garage door had been open all day on the 15th and asked about the marijuana smell. The man said he had a medical marijuana card. The deputy asked to see it and then the man said he didn't have one. He said he was in the process of completing the paperwork due to problems with his knees.

On the Spot: Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/08/on-the-spot-rep-carole-murray-r-castle-rock/ Carole Murray once worked as a newspaper reporter, but her colleagues don’t hold it against her. Her career also has included a stint as a teacher, director of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and two terms as Douglas County’s elected clerk and recorder. Murray, 61, is married to Lisle Gates, principal of Castle View High School in Castle Rock. Between them, they have five children and eight grandchildren.

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Pueblo West leaders want roads funds

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/08/news/local/doc4b6fa4eed8485824670663.txt Roads and money for roads will dominate Monday afternoon's meeting between Pueblo West board members and the Pueblo County commissioners. The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Pueblo West Metropolitan District offices at 109 E. Industrial Blvd. Some Pueblo West board members would like more certainty about $3.5 million the county has promised the district for a roads project. The money comes from a ballot measure passed in 2006 that allows Pueblo County to keep whatever tax money it collected above prior-year limits. The time-out from the state's tax-refunding law was expected to earn the county about $23 million, of which $3.5 million was promised for roads projects in Pueblo West.

Prius’ stuck gas pedal almost killed Colo. woman more than 3 years ago - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350044 Ted James says he tried to blow the whistle on safety issues with Toyota more than three years ago, but no one at Toyota would listen. "I tried everything I could to sound the alarm, and I was ignored. It was so frustrating," James said. He is hoping Congress will listen now. James wants to testify at the congressional hearings later this month about Toyota's problems. He said he notified Toyota there was a defect in the vehicles that could be deadly in August 2006 after an accident nearly killed his wife. The family lives in Eagle. The accident happened as Elizabeth James was driving the family's Toyota Prius east on Interstate 70 past Idaho Springs.

Local vehicle fleet managers gain ‘green’ tips | PostIndependent.com

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100206/VALLEYNEWS/100209915/1001 Converting a government or private vehicle fleet to become more green isn't a move that can be made overnight, according clean energy vehicle technology consultant Michael Ogburn. Instead, there needs to be a clear policy and specific goals, following a plan that can be implemented over a period of time with measurable results, he said. Ogburn works with Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) and the Garfield New Energy Communities Initiative (G-NECI), organizers of the “Vehicle Fleets in the Clean Energy Economy” workshop, held Friday at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. The workshop brought together public and private fleet managers, energy industry representatives and local and state government officials to discuss methods of reducing costs by turning to the use of more energy-efficient vehicles and alternative fuels.

Depths of winter, potholes | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/depths_of_winter_potholes They hide on streets and lurk in parking lots. Unsuspecting drivers may not realize their presence until they’re virtually on top of them. By then, it’s too late to avoid them, and another victim has been claimed. They are potholes, and thanks to a persistent blanket of snow and deep freeze that has locked temperatures below 40 degrees for the better part of the past two months, they’re bigger and more prevalent this winter than in years past. That means busy days for public works crews across the Grand Valley, their repair work a strain on local government budgets already struggling with revenue shortfalls. It also means frustration for motorists who risk an appointment with an auto repair shop every time they venture onto the road.

Pedicabs’ free range curtailed at Pepsi Center, Mile High - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_14345392 To tame the pedicab pandemonium on Denver's streets, two sports venues have worked out some rules of engagement with the pedal pushers. Some drivers say the new rules are cutting into their nightly pay for propelling passengers on the three-wheeled vehicles. But other drivers and officials of the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field at Mile High say that a growing number of aggressive drivers brought the changes upon themselves. "In all honesty, it's chaos out there," said Greg Duran, who has operated a pedicab company and been a driver for half a dozen years. Complaints were mounting about pedicabs flying through parking lots, cutting across grass, careening through crowds on sidewalks and being a bit too zealous in soliciting customers. "I'm sure it was just a few guys, but it created the feeling for change," said Scott Gales, spokesman for Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which owns the Pepsi Center.

Family: Pilot in Boulder mid-air crash ‘experienced,’ ‘made safety a priority’ - Boulder Daily Camer

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14352511 Bob Matthews, a longtime Boulder lawyer, was described as an adventurer and family man by relatives and close friends who mourned him Sunday, a day after he and his brother died in a fiery mid-air collision over north Boulder. "He was your classic great guy," said Neal Cohen, a law partner and friend. "He was the center of gravity for his friends. He was devoted to his family. We're all just incredibly stunned." Matthews, 58, and with his brother, Mark A. Matthews, 56, and Alexander Howard Gilmer, a 25-year-old Evergreen pilot, were killed when their planes collided at 8,000-plus feet over U.S. 36 and Broadway on Saturday afternoon, scattering debris across Boulder County open space.

Probe of plane collision to take more than a year - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14352002 It is likely to be a year, or more, before federal investigators determine what caused Saturday's deadly midair collision of two small planes in north Boulder. In this case, however, investigators will have advantages they often don't have in trying to determine what happened in a crash where everyone on both planes perished. For starters, they will be able to talk to the pilot of a glider who cut loose from the aircraft towing him just as it collided with the other plane. They also will also be able to question two passengers who were riding in the glider, a woman and her 11-year-old son.

Victims of Boulder midair crash identified - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355506 The victims of a fiery plane collision over north Boulder included two brothers — middle-aged family men and professionals — and a young pilot from Evergreen, authorities and family confirmed Sunday. Boulder litigator Bob Matthews, Englewood engineer Mark Matthews and 25-year-old pilot Alexander Gilmer died when the brothers' Cirrus SR20 collided with Gilmer's one-man Piper Pawnee on Saturday afternoon. "Mark and Bob were men who were dearly loved," the Matthews family said in a statement. "Wherever they went, they impacted their community with their integrity, kindness, humor and love." The Gilmer family declined to comment Sunday evening.

Republic Airways will phase out plane that serves Aspen | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100208/NEWS/100209834/1001 The long-term future of what is currently Frontier Airlines service to Aspen was thrown into question last week when Republic Airways announced it would shut down Frontier's Lynx Aviation and phase out the fleet of Bombardier Q400s that Frontier flies to regional markets, including Aspen. Frontier service to Aspen using the Q400 turboprop is, however, apparently secure through the end of the coming summer, according to resort official Bill Tomcich. Republic acquired Lynx when it purchased Frontier Airlines out of bankruptcy last year. Most of the flying done by Lynx will be replaced by regional jets operated by Republic crews, though service to Fargo, N.D., and Tulsa, Okla., will be dropped on April 5, the airline said.

CSU student killed on tracks may have been train-hopping - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14341456 A man found dead along railroad track two miles from Keenesburg has been identified as Devon Arnold, a 22-year-old Colorado State University senior majoring in mechanical engineering. Margie Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Weld County Sheriff's Office, said a relative identified Arnold, of Centennial. Arnold disappeared while attending a Nuggets game at the Pepsi Center with Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers and other CSU students. Arnold left his companions a few times during the game, according to Wynn Smiley, ATO's national executive director. The final time he did not return to his seat.

Snowmobiler dies after collision in Grand County - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355369 A 38-year old snowmobiler has died from injuries he received in an accident Sunday afternoon. Grand County Dispatch received a call just after noon Sunday that there was an accident on the west side of Little Gravel Mountain. The Grand County Sheriff's Department said the victim was involved in a collision with another member of his riding group. CPR was being performed on the victim when emergency crews arrived. Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County EMS and the Grand Lake Fire Department responded to the scene. The victim's name is being withheld until relatives are notified.

Trial begins for man accused of killing two women and boy in ice cream shop - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355370 A man who authorities say caused an accident that killed two women and a 3-year-old boy in an ice cream shop in Aurora in 2008, is on trial this week in Arapahoe County District Court. Francis Hernandez, who is in his 20s, faces 19 charges, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and child abuse resulting in death. On Sept. 4, 2008, Hernandez ran a red light and was driving more than 70 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone on Havana Street when he hit a pickup that was making a turn into a hamburger joint at a strip mall, according to authorities. The impact sent the truck into an ice cream parlor, where 3-year-old Marten Kudlis and others were inside.

Labor department reps offer in-person answers | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100206/NEWS01/2060332/1002/Labor-department-reps-offer-in-person-answers On Friday morning at the Larimer County Workforce Center, Mike Cech, 56, of Fort Collins glanced down at his watch and realized he should move his car to avoid getting a parking ticket. Chech had been waiting patiently for an hour to visit with a Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's Unemployment Insurance Program representative and anticipated being there at least another hour before having a chance to discuss his unemployment benefits. One of hundreds who filtered through the work force center at 200 W. Oak St., Chech was laid off in November after 20 years with Applied Materials, a semiconductor equipment company in California.

Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702984.html In the past six weeks, Americans have witnessed two jarringly different -- but completely accurate -- views of al-Qaeda's terrorist network. One image was that of terrorist leaders being hunted down and killed by satellite-guided, pilotless aircraft. The other was of an agile foe slipping past U.S. defenses and increasingly intent on striking inside the United States. New assessments of al-Qaeda by the top U.S. counterterrorism experts offer grounds for both optimism and concern a year after President Obama took office. Officials say al-Qaeda's ability to wage mass-casualty terrorism has been undercut by relentless U.S. attacks on the network's leadership, finances and training camps. But even in its weakened state, the group has shifted tactics to focus on small-scale operations that are far harder to detect and disrupt, analysts say. The deadly November shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Tex., and the failed Christmas Day attempt to bomb an airliner -- both examples of the low-tech approach -- have raised the fear level in Washington and across the country. Some terrorism experts say the worst could be still to come as a wounded jihadist movement thrashes about in search of a victory.

NRA, onetime ally feud over next big guns case to go before Supreme Court - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702401.html The National Rifle Association was on the outside looking in when the Supreme Court handed gun rights activists a landmark victory in 2008. After the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to gun ownership and that the District's handgun ban was unconstitutional, it was an upstart band of libertarian lawyers that celebrated on the marble steps and received the glory for the breakthrough decision. The NRA, the nation's premier and most powerful gun rights group, has worked hard not to be in that position again. And because of an unusual intervention recently by the justices, its attorney will be in the mix when the court considers the next big guns case next month. The case is McDonald v. Chicago, a challenge of gun laws in Chicago and its suburbs that are strikingly similar to the Washington handgun ban. It asks the court to decide something left unsettled in its landmark ruling in Heller v. District of Columbia: whether the Second Amendment offers protection against actions by state and local governments, not just the federal government and its enclaves.

8 in Congress urge Obama to halt talks over Cuba’s arrest of contractor | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83864.html Eight congressional Republicans on Friday alleged the Obama administration is trying to "appease"' the Cuban government after the arrest in Havana of a Washington subcontractor, and called for the cancellation of bilateral migration talks now set for Feb. 19. "We are greatly concerned about the manner in which the administration is handling the arrest of Alan Gross'' and its impact on the U.S. government's pro-democracy programs in Cuba, they wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Gross, a Maryland subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been jailed in Havana since his Dec. 4 arrest after delivering sophisticated communications equipment to Jewish groups on the island. The letter to Clinton noted that after Gross' arrest, USAID strongly discouraged recipients of U.S. pro-democracy funds from traveling to Cuba, and that nongovernmental organizations "have been informed that the administration is considering taking democracy assistance funding in a `new direction.'''

Tebow ad falls short of the hype - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-tebow-abortion8-2010feb08,0,1153376.story Boy tackles mom. That was about it. The ad that made former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, the unintended stars of Super Bowl XLIV was not a screed against abortion. Nor was it a heartwarming story about a mother ignoring doctors' advice and having her baby. It was, instead, a lighthearted take on a mother-son relationship. In the ad, Pam Tebow holds a baby photo of Tim, now 22. "I call him my miracle baby," she says. "He almost didn't make it into this world. . . . you know, with all our family's been through, we have to be tough." Suddenly, she appears to be tackled and flies off-screen. "Timmy!" she scolds, popping back up. "I'm trying to tell our story here!"

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Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702984.html In the past six weeks, Americans have witnessed two jarringly different -- but completely accurate -- views of al-Qaeda's terrorist network. One image was that of terrorist leaders being hunted down and killed by satellite-guided, pilotless aircraft. The other was of an agile foe slipping past U.S. defenses and increasingly intent on striking inside the United States. New assessments of al-Qaeda by the top U.S. counterterrorism experts offer grounds for both optimism and concern a year after President Obama took office. Officials say al-Qaeda's ability to wage mass-casualty terrorism has been undercut by relentless U.S. attacks on the network's leadership, finances and training camps. But even in its weakened state, the group has shifted tactics to focus on small-scale operations that are far harder to detect and disrupt, analysts say. The deadly November shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Tex., and the failed Christmas Day attempt to bomb an airliner -- both examples of the low-tech approach -- have raised the fear level in Washington and across the country. Some terrorism experts say the worst could be still to come as a wounded jihadist movement thrashes about in search of a victory.

NRA, onetime ally feud over next big guns case to go before Supreme Court - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702401.html The National Rifle Association was on the outside looking in when the Supreme Court handed gun rights activists a landmark victory in 2008. After the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to gun ownership and that the District's handgun ban was unconstitutional, it was an upstart band of libertarian lawyers that celebrated on the marble steps and received the glory for the breakthrough decision. The NRA, the nation's premier and most powerful gun rights group, has worked hard not to be in that position again. And because of an unusual intervention recently by the justices, its attorney will be in the mix when the court considers the next big guns case next month. The case is McDonald v. Chicago, a challenge of gun laws in Chicago and its suburbs that are strikingly similar to the Washington handgun ban. It asks the court to decide something left unsettled in its landmark ruling in Heller v. District of Columbia: whether the Second Amendment offers protection against actions by state and local governments, not just the federal government and its enclaves.

In a Message to Democrats, Wall St. Sends Cash to G.O.P. - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08lobby.html?ref=politics The shift reflects the hard political edge to the industry’s campaign to thwart Mr. Obama’s proposals for tighter financial regulations. Just two years after Mr. Obama helped his party pull in record Wall Street contributions — $89 million from the securities and investment business, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics — some of his biggest supporters, like Mr. Dimon, have become the industry’s chief lobbyists against his regulatory agenda. Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner: Global bank reform still needed - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602297.html Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Saturday that the recovery in the global economy has not caused major economies to ease up on their commitment to stiffen the rules for banks. "We all share a deep commitment to try to move forward and reach agreement on a strong, comprehensive set of financial reforms on the timetable we all committed to last September," he said at a news conference after a meeting of Group of Seven finance chiefs in Iqaluit, Canada. "That means agreement on . . . a new set of capital requirements for large global institutions by the end of this year," he added, playing down the possibility that the United States might be headed in a different direction from the G-7. President Obama has proposed additional rules that would limit proprietary trading by banks, put them out of the hedge fund and private equity business and limit their future growth through a new market share cap.

No one complains about bank bonuses in Greenwich, Conn. | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/83718.html After one of the leanest years in memory, life in this upper-crust enclave is slowly returning to normal. The Greenwich version of normal, anyway. Caterers' cell phones are ringing again. Luxury car dealers are sending the Porsches out for test drives. An architect is booking multimillion-dollar jobs for his "masters of the universe" clients, titans of Wall Street who've made this leafy Connecticut suburb of New York one of the wealthiest towns in the country. When the financial industry tumbled, Greenwich's fortunes fell with it. Now, as the federal bailout has helped lift investment banks to surprisingly robust profits, the news that major financial firms will dole out billions of dollars in salaries and bonuses this year came as welcome relief here, even though the rest of the country is still grappling with 10 percent unemployment. Discreetly, Greenwich is starting to spend money again, and spending here — where the median household earns $126,549, almost two-and-a-half times the national median, based on 2008 census estimates — isn't quite like spending anywhere else.

Beverage industry douses tax on soft drinks - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-soda-tax7-2010feb07,0,282916.story Employing a broad-based lobbying effort, the soft drink industry has smothered a plan to tax sugared beverages -- a plan advocates said would have reduced obesity and helped finance healthcare reform. Only months ago, public health advocates thought the tax would be a natural for congressional Democrats looking for revenue to fund expanded health insurance coverage. The soaring costs of treating ailments related to excess weight -- including diabetes and heart disease -- added urgency to the issue. But the White House staff reviewing funding options never embraced the idea even after President Obama expressed interest last summer. A key congressional committee, after initially seeming receptive, ended up refusing to consider it. Several minority advocacy groups, including some committed to fighting obesity, lined up against the tax after years of receiving financial support from the industry. There is no sign that First Lady Michelle Obama will mention taxes Tuesday when she unveils her new healthy-eating initiative, which had input from fast food and soft drink representatives.

After Buying Spree, China Owns Stakes in Top U.S. Firms - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/business/global/09invest.html?ref=business Flush with cash despite the global economic downturn, China’s sovereign wealth fund quietly snapped up more than $9 billion worth of shares last year in some of the biggest American corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup.

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Welfare back as a campaign issue for GOP in California | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83956.html Ronald Reagan singled out what he called a "welfare queen" for abusing government aid. Newt Gingrich pushed welfare reform as part of his Contract With America. Now, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, the top Republican candidates for California governor, are bringing back welfare as a key issue in their quest for primary votes. Welfare's high-profile role in the race became clear last month when Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, unveiled her first issue-specific radio ad. "Some people worry that we're creating a welfare state," Whitman says at the start of the spot. "The fact is, California is the welfare state." Poizner, another ultra-wealthy former Silicon Valley CEO, has made tightening welfare rules a key part of his plan to balance the state budget. Like Whitman, Poizner proposes cutting lifetime welfare limits to two years from five.

Homeland’s crisis strains Haitian families in region - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/08/homelands_crisis_strains_haitian_families_in_region/ In the aftermath of the devastating quake, Haitians in Massachusetts and beyond are facing intense pressure to pay for medical care, food, and shelter for loved ones in Haiti - and even to find ways to bring them here. But for many local Haitians, the new demands are sorely straining families struggling to make ends meet. Haitian immigrants and their children are a diverse mix of professionals and laborers, but they are hurting more in the recession than average state residents, according to recent census data. About 13.5 percent of Haitians fell under the poverty line, nearly double the state average, while their per capita income was $18,000, compared with $33,800 statewide. Still, immigrants and others are digging into their savings and wiring what they can to Haiti from money-transfer kiosks set up in bakeries, minimarts, and storefronts across Massachusetts. Carlo Jean Michel of Boston, a 56-year-old parking valet, sent money to a friend who lost several relatives and her house. But he also sent her bus fare so that she could travel from the town of Merger to Port-au-Prince to locate Michel’s missing daughter.

Haitians prepare for boat journey to Florida - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-haiti-boats7-2010feb07,0,3603449.story An orphaned teen is one of two dozen Haitians on a vessel awaiting their time to leave. Some are further enticed by news that Haitians in the U.S. have 'temporary protected status' after the quake.

Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702984.html In the past six weeks, Americans have witnessed two jarringly different -- but completely accurate -- views of al-Qaeda's terrorist network. One image was that of terrorist leaders being hunted down and killed by satellite-guided, pilotless aircraft. The other was of an agile foe slipping past U.S. defenses and increasingly intent on striking inside the United States. New assessments of al-Qaeda by the top U.S. counterterrorism experts offer grounds for both optimism and concern a year after President Obama took office. Officials say al-Qaeda's ability to wage mass-casualty terrorism has been undercut by relentless U.S. attacks on the network's leadership, finances and training camps. But even in its weakened state, the group has shifted tactics to focus on small-scale operations that are far harder to detect and disrupt, analysts say. The deadly November shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Tex., and the failed Christmas Day attempt to bomb an airliner -- both examples of the low-tech approach -- have raised the fear level in Washington and across the country. Some terrorism experts say the worst could be still to come as a wounded jihadist movement thrashes about in search of a victory.

Some Democrats seek change in filibuster rules, but others are wary - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702403.html A growing number of Democrats, from senatorial veterans such as Vice President Biden to freshman Sen. Tom Udall (N.M.), are calling for a rules change that would transform the culture of long and sometimes tedious debate in the world's greatest deliberative body. But these nascent efforts to curb the use of filibuster face resistance from Senate elders with long memories, who know that political winds can take today's large majority and create tomorrow's minority. Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has not scheduled any debate on the issue. First in 1917 and then in 1975, the Senate formally set up rules for "cloture motions," the name given to the parliamentary device to shut down debate. It requires the affirmative votes of 60 sitting senators. The Constitution cites only five requirements for Senate supermajorities, including impeachment convictions of presidents, but allows the House and Senate to set their own rules. Under long-standing resolutions, the Senate considers itself to be a "continuing body" whose parliamentary rules remain in effect unless a two-thirds supermajority votes to change them.

The Fix - White House moves to make the filibuster a campaign issue

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/making-the-filibuster-a-campai.html Over the past week, President Obama and his senior aides have repeatedly cited Republicans' filibuster threats as the primary reason for the lack of progress on big ticket legislative items, an early sign that Democrats will seek to use this bit of legislative arcana against the GOP in the coming midterm election. At a meeting -- televised, natch -- with Senate Democrats last week, Obama harped on the GOP's willingness to invoke the filibuster, noting that Democrats had taken more cloture votes to end debate and force votes in 2009 than they did in the 1950s and 1960s combined.

Obama to invite GOP to healthcare summit - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-health8-2010feb08,0,845183.story In a high-stakes bid to revive his healthcare overhaul, President Obama announced during a pre-Super Bowl television interview that he would convene a bipartisan summit in which Republicans and Democrats would try to forge a compromise while a national TV audience watched. Republican leaders indicated they would attend the Feb. 25 gathering, but said they want to start over -- tossing out the measures that passed the Senate and House last year. Speaking to Katie Couric of CBS, Obama said: "What I want to do is ask them to put their ideas on the table and then after the recess . . . to come back and have a large meeting -- Republicans and Democrats -- to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward." The half-day summit would be held at Blair House, across the street from the White House, after Congress' recess next week. Obama telegraphed his plans at a fundraiser Thursday night. "What I'd like to do is have a meeting whereby I'm sitting with the Republicans, sitting with the Democrats, sitting with healthcare experts, and let's just go through these bills . . . in a methodical way so that the American people can see and compare what makes the most sense," he said.

Obama tries to rally Democrats, defends healthcare overhaul - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-dnc7-2010feb07,0,4756598.story Attempting to rouse a party shaken by electoral setbacks, President Obama told fellow Democrats on Saturday that he would press ahead with his healthcare proposal and other pieces of his ambitious agenda, rejecting suggestions that a more cautious approach might minimize losses in the upcoming midterm elections. Obama, who left the White House during a blizzard, sought to rally Democratic National Committee members in a speech that was part pep talk and part prescription for what the party must do to overcome problems reflected by the loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat held by the late Democratic icon Edward M. Kennedy. Trimming goals and postponing hard choices are the wrong approach, the president said. In an emotional high point of his 20-minute address, Obama acknowledged that the public wonders whether elected officials can overcome the immense power of lobbyists and special interests and "confront the real problems that touch their lives."

In a Message to Democrats, Wall St. Sends Cash to G.O.P. - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08lobby.html?ref=politics The shift reflects the hard political edge to the industry’s campaign to thwart Mr. Obama’s proposals for tighter financial regulations. Just two years after Mr. Obama helped his party pull in record Wall Street contributions — $89 million from the securities and investment business, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics — some of his biggest supporters, like Mr. Dimon, have become the industry’s chief lobbyists against his regulatory agenda. Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner: Global bank reform still needed - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602297.html Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Saturday that the recovery in the global economy has not caused major economies to ease up on their commitment to stiffen the rules for banks. "We all share a deep commitment to try to move forward and reach agreement on a strong, comprehensive set of financial reforms on the timetable we all committed to last September," he said at a news conference after a meeting of Group of Seven finance chiefs in Iqaluit, Canada. "That means agreement on . . . a new set of capital requirements for large global institutions by the end of this year," he added, playing down the possibility that the United States might be headed in a different direction from the G-7. President Obama has proposed additional rules that would limit proprietary trading by banks, put them out of the hedge fund and private equity business and limit their future growth through a new market share cap.

No one complains about bank bonuses in Greenwich, Conn. | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/83718.html After one of the leanest years in memory, life in this upper-crust enclave is slowly returning to normal. The Greenwich version of normal, anyway. Caterers' cell phones are ringing again. Luxury car dealers are sending the Porsches out for test drives. An architect is booking multimillion-dollar jobs for his "masters of the universe" clients, titans of Wall Street who've made this leafy Connecticut suburb of New York one of the wealthiest towns in the country. When the financial industry tumbled, Greenwich's fortunes fell with it. Now, as the federal bailout has helped lift investment banks to surprisingly robust profits, the news that major financial firms will dole out billions of dollars in salaries and bonuses this year came as welcome relief here, even though the rest of the country is still grappling with 10 percent unemployment. Discreetly, Greenwich is starting to spend money again, and spending here — where the median household earns $126,549, almost two-and-a-half times the national median, based on 2008 census estimates — isn't quite like spending anywhere else.

With Federal Stimulus Money Gone, Many Schools Face Budget Gaps - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/education/08educ.html?ref=politics Federal stimulus money has helped avoid drastic cuts at public schools in most parts of the nation, at least so far. But with the federal money running out, many of the nation’s schools are approaching what officials are calling a “funding cliff.” Congress included about $100 billion for education in the stimulus law last year to cushion the recession’s impact on schools and to help fuel an economic recovery. New studies show that many states will spend all or nearly all that is left between now and the end of this school term. With state and local tax revenues still in decline, the end of the federal money will leave big holes in education budgets from Massachusetts and Florida to California and Washington, experts said. “States are going to face a huge problem because they’ll have to find some way to replace these billions, either with cuts to their K-12 systems or by finding alternative revenues,” said Bruce Baker, an education professor at Rutgers University.

Beverage industry douses tax on soft drinks - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-soda-tax7-2010feb07,0,282916.story Employing a broad-based lobbying effort, the soft drink industry has smothered a plan to tax sugared beverages -- a plan advocates said would have reduced obesity and helped finance healthcare reform. Only months ago, public health advocates thought the tax would be a natural for congressional Democrats looking for revenue to fund expanded health insurance coverage. The soaring costs of treating ailments related to excess weight -- including diabetes and heart disease -- added urgency to the issue. But the White House staff reviewing funding options never embraced the idea even after President Obama expressed interest last summer. A key congressional committee, after initially seeming receptive, ended up refusing to consider it. Several minority advocacy groups, including some committed to fighting obesity, lined up against the tax after years of receiving financial support from the industry. There is no sign that First Lady Michelle Obama will mention taxes Tuesday when she unveils her new healthy-eating initiative, which had input from fast food and soft drink representatives.

Iraqi protests target Saddam loyalists - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2010/02/08/iraqi_protests_target_saddam_loyalists/ Hundreds of protesters denounced Iraqis still loyal to Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Party yesterday as tensions soared over the decision to blacklist suspected Baathists from next month’s election. Protesters chanted and carried signs that said, “No, No to Ba’ath Party!’’ and “The return of the Ba’ath Party is a return to mass graves.’’ Shi’ite officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his political allies, are trying to purge all high-level posts of Iraqis with ties to the Ba’ath party, which was outlawed in Iraq in 2003. A decision to ban about 450 candidates from March 7 parliamentary elections because of suspected ties to Hussein’s regime has threatened to reopen wounds between once-dominant Sunnis and the Shi’ite majority. The ban is widely seen as targeting Sunnis, though Shi’ites are on the blacklist as well.

NRA, onetime ally feud over next big guns case to go before Supreme Court - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702401.html The National Rifle Association was on the outside looking in when the Supreme Court handed gun rights activists a landmark victory in 2008. After the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to gun ownership and that the District's handgun ban was unconstitutional, it was an upstart band of libertarian lawyers that celebrated on the marble steps and received the glory for the breakthrough decision. The NRA, the nation's premier and most powerful gun rights group, has worked hard not to be in that position again. And because of an unusual intervention recently by the justices, its attorney will be in the mix when the court considers the next big guns case next month. The case is McDonald v. Chicago, a challenge of gun laws in Chicago and its suburbs that are strikingly similar to the Washington handgun ban. It asks the court to decide something left unsettled in its landmark ruling in Heller v. District of Columbia: whether the Second Amendment offers protection against actions by state and local governments, not just the federal government and its enclaves.

Twin bombings kill at least 22 in Pakistan - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-pakistan-blasts6-2010feb06,0,3221782.story A bus filled with Shiite Muslims was attacked, then a second blast occurred at a hospital where victims of the first explosion were taken.

Why are U.S., allies telling Taliban about coming offensive? | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83858.html Thousands of U.S., British and Afghan troops are poised to launch the biggest offensive of the war in Afghanistan in a test of the Obama administration's new counterinsurgency strategy. Military operations usually are intended to catch the enemy off guard, but for weeks U.S. and allied officials have been telling reporters about their forthcoming assault on Marjah, a Taliban-held town of 80,000 and drug-trafficking hub in southern poppy-growing Helmand province. Senior NATO commanders and top Afghan officials have openly discussed the approximate time of Operation Moshtarak — the Dari language word for "together" — the size of the force and their objectives in news conferences, interviews and press releases that have been disseminated around the world and posted on government Web sites. Leaflets have been airdropped on the town. Though the exact time of the kickoff hasn't been disclosed, a "news article" posted Thursday on the British Ministry of Defense's site announced that operations involving "elements of the Royal Welsh, Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards" and Afghan forces "in preparation" for the Marjah attack had been underway for 36 hours.

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Report: ‘No strategic value’ to Afghan outpost where 8 died | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83843.html A U.S. military investigation into a battle last October in eastern Afghanistan that cost eight American soldiers their lives has concluded that the small outpost was worthless, the troops there didn't understand their mission, and intelligence and air support were tied up elsewhere in the province. According to an unclassified executive summary of the report that was released to McClatchy and other news organizations Friday, "There were inadequate measures taken by the chain of command, resulting in an attractive target for enemy fighters." A statement accompanying the summary said that the report, called an AR 15-6, suggests sanctions on higher-ranking officers and "also recommended administrative actions for some members of the chain of command to improve command oversight."

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Afghan force faces crucial test in Marja - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-army7-2010feb07,0,6823905.story As doubts increase about the Afghan security force's ability to take over security next year, soldiers' participation in a Marine offensive in Helmand will serve as a measure of readiness.

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NATO arrests Afghan police official accused of aiding insurgents - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-arrest8-2010feb08,0,4683092.story NATO forces swooped down on the home of a senior Afghan police official, arrested him and accused him of helping insurgents make and plant roadside bombs, Western military officials said Sunday. The incident, which took place last week in Kapisa province in eastern Afghanistan, is likely to raise tensions between foreign forces and the national police. That partnership is considered a crucial element of plans by the Obama administration to draw down American forces starting next year. Before any large-scale Western pullout occurs, Afghan security forces are supposed to take on more responsibility for safeguarding the country.

Iran’s Nuclear Move Prompts New Calls for Sanctions - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/world/middleeast/09iran.html?ref=world Officials from the United States, France and Russia called Monday for stronger measures against Tehran after Iran told the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency that it would begin enriching its stockpile of uranium for a medical reactor in Tehran as early as Tuesday. In Paris, the visiting United States defense secretary, Robert M. Gates, said the Obama administration and the other nations had reached out sincerely to reassure Iran and entice it to negotiate an end to its nuclear program. “All of these initiatives have been rejected,” Mr. Gates said. While “we must still try and find a peaceful way to resolve this issue,” he said, “the only path that is left to us at this point, it seems to me, is that pressure track. But it will require all of the international community to work together.” Separately, the French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, said, “The only thing we can do, alas, is apply sanctions given that negotiations are impossible.” In Moscow, Konstantin I. Kosachyov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of the Russian Parliament, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as urging the international community to prepare “serious measures.”

Israel says it’s willing to talk peace with Syria - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2010/02/08/israel_says_its_willing_to_talk_peace_with_syria/ Israel’s prime minister attempted to end a war of words with Syria yesterday, saying his country is open to peace talks with its longtime enemy. Israeli and Syrian officials have traded threats over the past week, raising concerns of an escalation between countries that have officially been at war for more than 60 years. Israel desires peace agreements with “all of its neighbors,’’ Benjamin Netanyahu told his weekly Cabinet meeting. “We did it with Egypt and Jordan, and we want to achieve similar agreements with the Palestinians and the Syrians,’’ he said. “I hope that we are on the brink of renewing negotiations with the Palestinians, and we are open to renewing the process with the Syrians as well.’’ Netanyahu’s comments came after an ominous exchange between officials in the countries.

8 in Congress urge Obama to halt talks over Cuba’s arrest of contractor | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83864.html Eight congressional Republicans on Friday alleged the Obama administration is trying to "appease"' the Cuban government after the arrest in Havana of a Washington subcontractor, and called for the cancellation of bilateral migration talks now set for Feb. 19. "We are greatly concerned about the manner in which the administration is handling the arrest of Alan Gross'' and its impact on the U.S. government's pro-democracy programs in Cuba, they wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Gross, a Maryland subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been jailed in Havana since his Dec. 4 arrest after delivering sophisticated communications equipment to Jewish groups on the island. The letter to Clinton noted that after Gross' arrest, USAID strongly discouraged recipients of U.S. pro-democracy funds from traveling to Cuba, and that nongovernmental organizations "have been informed that the administration is considering taking democracy assistance funding in a `new direction.'''

Toyota to recall and repair brakes on new Priuses sold in Japan - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020700758.html Toyota's quality woes mounted over the weekend, with a reported decision in its home market to recall and repair the brakes on its latest model of the Prius, the hybrid that last year was the best-selling new car in Japan. Company sources told dealers and the Japanese media that at least 170,000 of the cars in Japan would be subject to the recall, which will fix a software glitch in antilock brakes. Owners have complained that the car's brakes sometimes fail briefly on bumpy roads. Toyota also intends to begin recalls or voluntary repairs for more than 300,000 of the new Prius models, which have been sold in about 60 countries, company sources told local media. About 103,000 of the newest Prius models have been sold in the United States since May, and Toyota has told dealers that it is preparing a plan to repair the brakes on those. A Toyota executive, in a message to U.S. dealers, said the plan will be announced this week.

Mass. wind farm that Obama administration might support meets strong resistance - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702965.html Interior Secretary Ken Salazar journeyed out into Nantucket Sound on a Coast Guard vessel last week to signal the Obama administration's readiness to put some muscle behind wind energy. To do that, Salazar has to resolve a battle over building a wind farm on 25 square miles of open water that has driven a rift between environmentalists, infuriated local Native Americans and threatened one of the administration's cherished priorities.

NOAA reorganization would provide more info on global warming - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020801696.html The initiative, modeled loosely on the 140-year-old National Weather Service, will provide forecasts to farmers, regional water managers and business operators affected by changing climate conditions. But it comes at a time when climate skeptics have become increasingly effective in attacking the credibility of global warming forecasts. NOAA, along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ranks as one of the federal government's key agencies for monitoring the climate and conducting climate research. "We currently respond to millions of annual requests for climate information, and we expect those requests to grow exponentially," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco in an interview, adding that in light of recent scientific advances, "the models will continue to improve, and we will be able to provide more and more information." The move does not come with a designated boost in funding, but it will bring NOAA's climate research arm together with its more consumer-oriented services so they can operate, in Lubchenco's words, "cheek by jowl."

Obama official accuses GOP of using terrorism as ‘political football’ - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-brennan-abdulmutallab8-2010feb08,0,133448.story President Obama's deputy national security advisor accused Republicans on Sunday of using national security as a "political football" and of being disingenuous in criticizing the treatment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day airliner attack. On NBC's "Meet the Press," John Brennan was asked about GOP criticism that the Obama administration was treating the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane as a routine criminal case rather than a terrorist plot. Brennan said he was "tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as a political football. They are going out there. . . unknowing of the facts, and they're making charges and allegations that are not anchored in reality." Republicans have said that Abdulmutallab, 23, should have been treated as an enemy combatant.

Anti-terrorism chief rebukes politicians who use cases as talking points - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702772.html President Obama's senior counterterrorism adviser on Sunday criticized politicians for using terrorism situations such as the Detroit bombing case as a "political football." But leaders of the Republican Party, among the harshest critics of the handling of the Detroit incident, on Sunday disputed John O. Brennan's remarks. Republican House and Senate members have questioned why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day bombing attempt, was not treated as an enemy combatant instead of being questioned for 50 minutes by the FBI and later given his Miranda rights. Former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in her speech Saturday night before the Tea Party convention, said the Obama administration sees "no downsides or upsides to treating terrorists like civilian criminal defendants. But a lot of us would beg to differ."

Palin in 2012? She Says Run Is Possible - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08palin.html?ref=politics “It would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country,” Ms. Palin told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” in an interview recorded a few hours before she gave the keynote address at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. “I won’t close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future.” Those words were buttressed by the response she received at the convention on Saturday night. As Ms. Palin left the stage, the crowd erupted into chants of “Run, Sarah, Run.” Ms. Palin gave the Tea Party crowd exactly what it wanted, declaring the primacy of the Tenth Amendment in limiting government powers, complaining about the bailouts and the “generational theft” of rising deficits and urging the audience to back conservative challengers in contested primaries. “America is ready for another revolution!” she told the crowd, prompting the first of several standing ovations.

Palin says she might run in 2012, that Obama can be beat | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83934.html Sarah Palin said Sunday she might run for president in 2012 if she decides it's good for her family and country. Fresh from a speech to conservative activists at a "tea party" gathering in Nashville, the former Alaska governor said President Barack Obama could be defeated in 2012, that she's boning up on foreign and national policy and that she would run if it felt right. "I would," she said on Fox News, where she's a paid contributor. "I would if I believed that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family. Certainly, I would do so." Palin added: "I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country. I don't know if it's going to be ever seeking a title, though. It may be just doing a darn good job as a reporter or covering some of the current events."

Enthusiastic Republicans crowding many primary races - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-republicans7-2010feb07,0,1980043.story As the Republican Party's chances of success in the fall elections increase week by week, so too has the number of Republican candidates jumping into primaries across the country. Party officials claim to welcome the enthusiasm, but in many places it's the sort of welcome reserved for an uninvited guest. Or eight uninvited guests, as is the case in Arkansas, where the lineup of candidates wanting to challenge Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln has swelled to nine. An open seat in Tennessee has four Republicans vying for the nomination, and one erstwhile Republican running as an independent. Two competitive districts in Virginia have drawn out 11 hopefuls between them. Races in Nevada, New Hampshire and California also are crowding fast. In cases such as Arkansas', a surplus of candidates is evidence of an eagerness to take on a politically weak Democrat. Lincoln's approval ratings are among the lowest in the Senate. In other cases, it's a result of internal strife between the party's establishment and the often more-conservative newcomers. Experts say that those primaries promise to deliver very public and expensive displays of division that could undercut GOP efforts to win seats in November.

After Buying Spree, China Owns Stakes in Top U.S. Firms - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/business/global/09invest.html?ref=business Flush with cash despite the global economic downturn, China’s sovereign wealth fund quietly snapped up more than $9 billion worth of shares last year in some of the biggest American corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup.

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David Plouffe advising White House on 2010 midterm elections - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702402.html Ask David Plouffe how Democrats can recover from their electoral setbacks over the past few months and he has a simple answer: Republicans. "Politics is a comparative exercise," Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, told the Fix in his first extended interview since he took on a broadened political role for the White House in advance of the midterm elections. "This isn't just a referendum on Democrats or our party. It's a choice." That choice was made explicit far too late in last month's special Senate election in Massachusetts between then-state Sen. Scott Brown (R) and state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), Plouffe noted. "Everyone would agree that the definition of Brown should have happened a lot sooner and a lot more clearly," he said. The Democratic defeat, which meant the loss of a filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority, served as something of a wake-up call for the White House -- making clear the need to step up its efforts (and ability) to effectively monitor what is expected to be a large playing field this fall.

Cry for Self-Rule by Tamils Is Muffled by Reality - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/world/asia/08lanka.html?ref=world After 26 years of war that ended with a decisive government assault last May, Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority seems no closer to winning a measure of autonomy in a Sinhalese-dominated nation, and Tamil nationalism, the cri de coeur of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, seems all but dead. “All of this armed struggle, so many dead and wounded, for what?” said P. Balasundarampillai, who leads the Citizen Committee in this city on the claw-shaped peninsula of the northern Tamil heartland. “In many spheres of public life our role is very much reduced. Economically we are weak, and politically we are weak.” Just how little power Tamils have was made plain in last month’s presidential election. Though the Tamil Tigers’ war for a separate homeland in the north and east of this island nation has dominated life in Sri Lanka for nearly three decades, the question of how to address the root causes of the conflict — perceived discrimination by the Sinhalese majority against the Tamils — barely figured in the campaign.

Mid-Atlantic slowly digs out from massive snowstorm - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/02/08/mid_atlantic_slowly_digs_out_from_massive_snowstorm/ Planes were grounded, trains stood still and Greyhound buses weren’t rolling in the Mid-Atlantic yesterday, leaving stranded travelers wondering when they would be able to escape the icy, gray mess created by a major snowstorm. Federal agencies will be closed today in Washington as the region continues to dig out from the weekend storm that dumped 2 to 3 feet of snow in some areas. The federal shutdown affects about 230,000 government employees who work inside the Washington Beltway. It costs the government approximately $100 million to close for the day. Essential services will continue and emergency employees will be required to report to work. Hundreds of thousands of homes were without power with temperatures below freezing all day, and utilities warned that it could be days before all service is restored. Plows had scraped down to bare pavement on some main thoroughfares while not touching streets in many areas.

Paul Krugman - America Is Not Yet Lost - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08krugman.html?ref=opinion We’ve always known that America’s reign as the world’s greatest nation would eventually end. But most of us imagined that our downfall, when it came, would be something grand and tragic. What we’re getting instead is less a tragedy than a deadly farce. Instead of fraying under the strain of imperial overstretch, we’re paralyzed by procedure. Instead of re-enacting the decline and fall of Rome, we’re re-enacting the dissolution of 18th-century Poland. A brief history lesson: In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Polish legislature, the Sejm, operated on the unanimity principle: any member could nullify legislation by shouting “I do not allow!” This made the nation largely ungovernable, and neighboring regimes began hacking off pieces of its territory. By 1795 Poland had disappeared, not to re-emerge for more than a century. Today, the U.S. Senate seems determined to make the Sejm look good by comparison. Last week, after nine months, the Senate finally approved Martha Johnson to head the General Services Administration, which runs government buildings and purchases supplies. It’s an essentially nonpolitical position, and nobody questioned Ms. Johnson’s qualifications: she was approved by a vote of 94 to 2. But Senator Christopher Bond, Republican of Missouri, had put a “hold” on her appointment to pressure the government into approving a building project in Kansas City.

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Welfare back as a campaign issue for GOP in California | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83956.html Ronald Reagan singled out what he called a "welfare queen" for abusing government aid. Newt Gingrich pushed welfare reform as part of his Contract With America. Now, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, the top Republican candidates for California governor, are bringing back welfare as a key issue in their quest for primary votes. Welfare's high-profile role in the race became clear last month when Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, unveiled her first issue-specific radio ad. "Some people worry that we're creating a welfare state," Whitman says at the start of the spot. "The fact is, California is the welfare state." Poizner, another ultra-wealthy former Silicon Valley CEO, has made tightening welfare rules a key part of his plan to balance the state budget. Like Whitman, Poizner proposes cutting lifetime welfare limits to two years from five.

Researchers target humpback whales in herring loss study - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/02/08/researchers_target_humpback_whales_in_herring_loss_study/ Something is holding down the herring population of Prince William Sound, and marine scientists are tailing some rather large suspects: humpback whales. Humpbacks, once hunted to near extinction, are thriving in waters fouled 21 years ago by the Exxon Valdez, the supertanker that ran aground and leaked nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil. The herring population crashed after the spill but should have rebounded by now. One hypothesis is that humpbacks, traditionally summer residents in the sound, are taking a big bite out of vast herring schools that form in the deep water of the sound’s fjords each autumn. Jan Straley, a marine biology professor at the University of Alaska Southeast, and other researchers have studied whales the last two winters with surprising results. Humpbacks are showing up in significant numbers, even in winter. When summer resident whales leave, others humpbacks move in. Some summer residents are even skipping their annual transoceanic mating and birthing trips to Hawaii and Mexico in favor of icy Alaska waters.

Tebow ad falls short of the hype - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-tebow-abortion8-2010feb08,0,1153376.story Boy tackles mom. That was about it. The ad that made former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, the unintended stars of Super Bowl XLIV was not a screed against abortion. Nor was it a heartwarming story about a mother ignoring doctors' advice and having her baby. It was, instead, a lighthearted take on a mother-son relationship. In the ad, Pam Tebow holds a baby photo of Tim, now 22. "I call him my miracle baby," she says. "He almost didn't make it into this world. . . . you know, with all our family's been through, we have to be tough." Suddenly, she appears to be tackled and flies off-screen. "Timmy!" she scolds, popping back up. "I'm trying to tell our story here!"

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Editorial - The Truth About the Deficit - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/opinion/07sun1.html When the White House released its new budget last week, including more spending to create desperately needed jobs, Republican leaders in Congress denounced President Obama for driving up the deficit and demanded that the Democrats halt their “reckless” ways. The deficit numbers — a projected $1.3 trillion in fiscal 2011 alone — are breathtaking. What is even more breathtaking is the Republicans’ cynical refusal to acknowledge that the country would never have gotten into so deep a hole if President George W. Bush and the Republican-led Congress had not spent years slashing taxes — mainly on the wealthy — and spending with far too little restraint. Unfortunately, the problem does not stop there. The Republican amnesia and posturing are playing well on the hustings, where Americans are deeply anxious about the economy and fearful of losing their jobs and homes. Far too many Democratic lawmakers are losing their nerve.

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A fracking quandary for EPA - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/07/a_fracking_quandary_for_epa/ IF THE United States is going to curb its greenhouse gas emissions, it desperately needs a replacement for the high-carbon coal that fuels almost half the nation’s electricity. Unfortunately, there are downsides to all the alternatives, from nuclear power, which carries a high cost and emits toxic waste with no place to store it, to wind turbines, which also have a high cost and require extensive transmission lines to link windy areas with cities. Now new deposits of natural gas previously locked in shale formations are making that fuel look like a possible transition to a low-carbon future. Federal and state regulators have to ensure, however, that the rush to exploit this new source of gas does not cause severe environmental damage. The US Environmental Protection Agency could have been an effective referee over this process. Yet the gas industry managed to slip into the 2005 energy bill an exemption from EPA review of the special drilling that shale formations require. Congress should repeal that provision.

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Ezra Klein - The six Republican ideas already in the health-care reform bill

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/five_compronises_in_health_car.html At this point, I don't think it's well understood how many of the GOP's central health-care policy ideas have already been included as compromises in the health-care bill. But one good way is to look at the GOP's "Solutions for America" homepage, which lays out its health-care plan in some detail. It has four planks. All of them -- yes, you read that right -- are in the Senate health-care bill.

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In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story The Republican governor is 'eager to get started,' and the state's Democratic senators are urging the Obama administration to begin selling leases next year. The plan has raised concern from NASA.

A family left behind by the H1N1 virus - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-sci-flu-death8-2010feb08,0,1053278.story Virginia Romo was pregnant with her sixth child when she caught the swine flu. Her husband and children, raising the baby on their own, are still stunned at how swiftly the disease took her from them.

E.J. Dionne Jr. - On health care: ‘Finish the kitchen’ - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020701787.html If President Obama gets to sign a health-reform bill, as I believe he will, one reason may be Rep. Jay Inslee's difficult experience renovating his kitchen. He told his kitchen story at a House Democratic caucus after Republican Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts sent Inslee's colleagues into paroxysms of dismay, chaos and fear. Brown's triumph reduced the Democrats' majority in the Senate to "only" 59, and this led many in both houses to want to give up on health reform altogether. Even Obama was sounding an uncertain trumpet. This made no sense to Inslee, a Democrat from Washington state. First elected to the House in 1992, he was swept out of office in the 1994 Republican landslide that followed the collapse of Bill Clinton's health-care efforts. Four years later, Inslee returned to Congress.

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Put health costs on a diet - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/08/put_health_costs_on_a_diet/ PAYING FOR health care on a fee-for-service basis is an engine for inflation. Last year, a state reform commission came up with a better proposal: pay doctors and hospitals a fixed annual amount for treating each patient’s particular condition, with quality safeguards. But for such a “global’’ system to hold down costs, that annual amount has to go on a diet, with each year’s increase ratcheted downward. Only in this way will patients and the doctors supervising their treatment have incentives to provide high-quality care in cost-efficient settings.

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General-aviation security proposal is being scaled back - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602077.html Citing industry objections, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing to scale back a controversial plan to expand aviation security rules for the first time to thousands of private planes. TSA officials said this week they expect to issue a revised plan this fall that will significantly reduce from 15,000 the number of U.S.-registered general-aviation aircraft subjected to tougher rules. Also, instead of mandating that all passengers aboard private planes be checked against terrorist watch lists, name checks in many cases could be left to the discretion of pilots, they said. The shifts would mark significant rollbacks of security changes that supporters called overdue and essential to preventing terrorists from using small planes to smuggle dangerous weapons or carry out suicide attacks. Opponents, however, called the measures unwarranted, poorly thought out and overly burdensome on aircraft owners and manufacturers.

The case for clear standards on holding the worst of the detainees - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020503729.html NO LAWS specify the procedures and standards that should govern the indefinite detention of terrorism suspects. Now that an Obama administration task force has determined that some 50 detainees at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are too dangerous to release but not eligible for prosecution or transfer, that legal vacuum needs to be filled. The administration, like the Bush administration before it, argues that the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) gives it the right to use "all necessary and appropriate force" -- including indefinite detention -- against al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorism suspects responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. This approach is at once too broad and too narrow.

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Derrick Z. Jackson - The double standard at CBS - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/06/the_double_standard_at_cbs/ THERE ARE already at least two Christian broadcasting channels, so there is no need for CBS to be a right-wing revival tent for the Super Bowl. Now, before all the knees start jerking, I want to be clear that this pro-choicer has no problem in the abstract with CBS’s decision to air an ad featuring Florida football star Tim Tebow. The ad, funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, features the decision by Tebow’s mother to reject the advice of doctors to have an abortion when she was very sick while the future Heisman Trophy winner was in her womb. That story is an unqualified, beautiful individual testament to faith and love. But Focus on the Family wants to twist the free choice of this mother into a political vehicle to eliminate choice for all other women. But not even that ultimately offends me. Where CBS bears false witness is the fact that they accepted that ad while rejecting a Super Bowl ad for a gay dating service. The ad starts with one man in a Green Bay Packers jersey and the other in a Minnesota Vikings shirt cheering against each other. It ends with them making out on the couch.

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Protected by the justice system, a would-be bomber still talks - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/07/protected_by_the_justice_system_a_would_be_bomber_still_talks/ THE NEWS that the would-be airplane bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has resumed cooperation with the FBI validates the Justice Department’s decision to charge him in federal court rather than a military commission. And the creative methods employed by the FBI to obtain his cooperation refute the notion - advanced with much tub-thumping anger on talk radio - that a defendant in the criminal justice system is somehow off limits to interrogators seeking information about terrorist plots. The FBI shrewdly sought out relatives of Abdulmutallab in Nigeria who were willing to come to the United States and prevail on him to tell what he knows about Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Using family members to turn the defendant into a cooperative informant highlighted a crucial element of the interrogator’s craft: the need to establish trust between a questioner and a prisoner. The flipping of Abdulmutallab proved what intelligence professionals know well: that psychological methods of interrogation are almost always more effective than the rough stuff seen in the movies.

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James Carroll - Political prayer breakfasts are bad religion - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/02/08/political_prayer_breakfasts_are_bad_religion/ THERE ARE only three things wrong with the National Prayer Breakfast: the past, the present, and the future. Last week, President Obama presided at the annual Washington event before what the New York Times called “a bipartisan array’’ of national and international figures. “I assure you,’’ he told them, “I’m praying a lot these days.’’ The president went with the flow of public piety, singing prayer’s praises as a source of calm, strength, and civility. It “can touch our hearts with humility,’’ he said. That had the ring of truth, since the prayer breakfast confronts the president with how little personal freedom he has. He could no more boycott the toe-curling display of religiosity than he could remove that flag pin from his lapel. Religion is not supposed to be coercive in this country, but the prayer breakfast is the ultimate command performance, and that is only part of the problem.

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DNA and justice - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-dna6-2010feb06,0,3083796.story Thirty-three years after he was convicted of raping a neighbor in Rochester, N.Y., Frederick Peacock became the 250th American to be exonerated by DNA evidence. Peacock, now 60, was paroled from prison decades ago, but he continued to insist that he had been wrongly convicted, and in 2002 the New York-based Innocence Project took up his case. This week, DNA testing that wasn't available either at the time of his conviction in 1976 or his parole in 1982 confirmed that he was not guilty of the rape for which he had served six years in prison. But Peacock's case is more than just another example of a life damaged by wrongful conviction. The sheer length of time it took for him to clear his name highlights not only the need for broad access to DNA testing, but the importance of preserving evidence, even long after a case appears to be over.

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Haiti is a reminder of how we can help other quake-prone areas - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-hough8-2010feb08,0,207101.story The time to act is before disaster strikes, by preparing hospitals and other specialized teams to plan for the inevitable.

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Editorial - Lobbyists and Students - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon2.html?ref=opinion The private lending companies that earn billions of dollars in undeserved profits from the federal student loan program are working overtime to kill a bill that would stop their gravy train once and for all — and should have been enacted long ago. The House stood up to the powerful lending lobby last fall and passed a student loan reform bill. The White House has been pushing the Senate, but it is having trouble finding its spine and has yet to introduce a bill. The House version phases out the wasteful part of the federal college lending program that pays private lenders a rich subsidy to make risk-free loans that are guaranteed by the government. The bill also expands another, more reliable and less expensive federal loan program that permits students to borrow directly from the government through their colleges. The arguments for moving in this direction are irrefutable. The subsidized program, for example, was supposed to keep loans flowing during recessions. But the loans dried up in the last credit crunch, forcing the government to rescue the program. The direct program, by contrast, suffered no such disruption. In addition to being more reliable, the direct program costs less. The Congressional Budget Office estimated last year that the country could save about $80 billion over the next decade by ending the private system and moving to the direct one.

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Gregory Rodriguez - It started with King George III - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rodriguez8-2010feb08,0,5446611.column Let me get straight to the point: Americans' profound distrust of government is neurotic -- irrational, defensive and born of emotional trauma. That doesn't mean I discount other sources of our disabling distrust of Washington. I believe the scholars who cite watershed events like Watergate and Vietnam as having undermined our belief in governing institutions. But such recent-history rationales for our distrust don't fully explain the emotional depth of our disaffection. They don't properly take into account how these events triggered the anti-government strain already in our national DNA, in the same way that, say, environmental factors can trigger a genetic predisposition or a childhood trauma can create anxiety in an adult. If Americans were to seek help for their neurosis, any good therapist would try to dig down to the root of the outsized distrust. Maybe he or she would let us beat around the bush for a few sessions. We'd recount incidents of government corruption, overreach. Then there was slavery, Jim Crow, internment camps and poorly planned wars. But eventually, we'd have to discuss our national birth trauma, our violent revolt against our "father," King George III, which gave us our independence in the first place.

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Erin Aubry Kaplan - The term ‘Negro’? Color it obsolete - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kaplan8-2010feb08,0,7157375.story When a website pointed out that 'Negro' was going to appear once more on the 2010 census, many blacks reacted with shock and distaste. They see it as a relic of the bad old days of segregation.

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Editorial - Pay Up - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon3.html?ref=opinion Claimants are still looking for their money, more than a decade after the federal Department of Agriculture reached a landmark settlement for having cheated generations of black farmers through “indifference and blatant discrimination.” The 1999 agreement on what is known as the Pigford class-action lawsuit was hailed as the biggest civil rights settlement in American history. The judge estimated a swift $2 billion payout — or $60,000 each — for victimized black farmers. It has not worked out that way, as the White House’s new budget confirms with a request for $1.15 billion to pay still-pending claims from black farmers. The same amount was requested last year but did not survive the self-interested knives and elbows of the Congressional budget scrum. The class-action suit detailed how eligible black farmers traditionally were denied loans by the agriculture agency while their white peers went to the head of the line for growing-season wherewithal and homestead improvements.

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New Orleans elects Mitch Landrieu mayor - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-orleans-mayor7-2010feb07,0,3073458.story Louisiana's lieutenant governor will be the first white city leader since his father, 'Moon' Landrieu, left office in 1978.

Five myths about how to create jobs - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020501445.html With the unemployment rate in the United States lingering just below 10 percent and the midterm elections just nine months away, job creation has become the top priority in Washington. President Obama has called for transferring $30 billion in repaid bank bailout money to a small-business lending fund, saying, "Jobs will be our number one focus in 2010, and we're going to start where most new jobs do, with small business." The fund is among several measures -- tax incentives, infrastructure projects, efforts to increase exports -- that the White House has proposed to help boost employment. As Americans consider the various approaches, we must have realistic expectations. We need to debunk some myths about what it takes to stimulate job growth.

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‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ ended my military career, but not my service - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/05/AR2010020501444.html I knew I was done hiding behind the "don't ask, don't tell" policy after four months flying missions to Iraq as a loadmaster with the 37th Airlift Squadron. It was my second tour -- one I'd picked because of the long hours and irregular schedule, a lifestyle that I thought would make it easier to keep my personal life private. But lying about who you are, especially to people you are serving with, is never easy.

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Back and forth with Beijing - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-china7-2010feb07,0,2603153.story Walk softly and carry a message of mutual respect. That was the Obama administration's initial approach to China, part of a broad policy of seeking dialogue on difficult issues with friends and enemies alike. In that spirit, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the People's Republic on her first trip abroad and avoided public expressions of concern about Chinese human rights abuses. President Obama put off meeting China's nemesis, the Tibetan Dalai Lama, ahead of his own foray to China, hoping to focus attention on core U.S. concerns such as nuclear proliferation in Iran and North Korea, trade relations and climate change. He held his tongue when his hosts carefully stage-managed the trip to eliminate all opportunities for dissent, and the two sides issued such a cooperative communique that political analysts began to speculate about a "G-2" era in which the powers would address global problems together.

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Traffic fines as cash cow - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-fines6-2010feb06,0,1021103.story Raising traffic fines has become attractive to politicians because, unlike hiking taxes, it seldom attracts much opposition. That's OK by us, but it's possible to raise fines to the point that they're grossly disproportionate to the infraction. We're getting perilously close to that level in L.A., and in some cases have probably exceeded it. As a matter of principle, it's usually smart to tax socially destructive behavior such as bad driving; not only are there social benefits (fewer accidents), but public services get an important source of funding, and people who object to paying can avoid doing so simply by driving more responsibly. But when punishments don't fit the crime, it encourages public cynicism and lawless behavior. For a low-income driver, a $500 traffic fine -- the cost of running a red light in L.A. when traffic school is factored in -- is a devastating expense. Some people will break more laws to avoid paying it. There's some evidence that red-light cameras improve safety at intersections, so we're not bothered by plans to put up more. And if the city can collar parking ticket scofflaws and raise needed funds by booting cars more often, then boot away. Planners should think carefully, though, before imposing outrageous fines for relatively minor traffic violations.

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Howard Kurtz - White House press corps feels bypassed by Obama - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702693.html Six months ago, network executives were complaining that the White House was costing them tens of millions of dollars by pressing them to carry presidential news conferences in prime time. Problem solved: President Obama hasn't held a full-scale news conference since July. Instead, he answered a dozen people's questions last week on YouTube, most of them easily finessed and -- extra bonus! -- no annoying follow-ups of the kind posed by real, live journalists. It would be hard -- impossible, actually -- to argue that Obama hasn't been accessible to the media, not with his constant television interviews. The man has even done color commentary at a Georgetown basketball game. But the decision to bypass the White House press corps is no accident. "It's a source of great frustration here," says Chip Reid, CBS's White House correspondent. "It's important for us to hold the president's feet to the fire."

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Editorial - A Welcome Retraction - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06sat3.html For a decade, many parents have worried that vaccines might somehow be causing autism in children. Repeated assurances from respected experts that there is no link have failed to quiet those fears. Now The Lancet, a prestigious British medical journal that published the paper that first gave wide credence to those fears, has retracted it, saying that the paper’s authors had made false claims about how the study was conducted. The journal acted after a British medical panel had found the lead author, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, guilty of dishonesty and flouting medical ethics. The original paper, published in 1998, was based on only 12 children. It nevertheless drew an inferential link between an autismlike disorder and the triple-vaccine used to prevent measles, mumps and rubella. Although that paper stopped short of claiming the combination vaccine caused the disorder, Dr. Wakefield suggested at a press conference that parents would be wise to use single vaccines for each of the diseases.

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Crime: Shame has its purposes - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/02/06/crime_shame_has_its_purposes/ Public shame has been a controversial punishment since well before “The Scarlet Letter,’’ the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel in which Massachusetts moralists punished alleged sins of the flesh by trying to humiliate the perpetrators. Yet shame has its beneficial uses, and the US attorney’s office in Boston has hit upon one of them. In several recent plea deals, prosecutors have forced businesses that admit to breaking environmental laws to take out ads publicizing their own guilt. One ad declared, “I towed my fishing boat, the Nicole Renee, offshore and I sank it.’’ Another proclaimed, “It would have been a lot cheaper to obey the law!’’

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Congress left to pick up health care pieces | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/congress_left_to_pick_up_healt Congress seems ready to take on a piecemeal approach to changing the nation’s health care system, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo, said. If the one-plan approach fails in Congress as President Obama now fears it will, Salazar said, he hopes to see Medicare given the ability to negotiate prices with drug companies, as well as eliminate antitrust exemptions for the health care industry. Drug-price negotiations by Medicare would be “a good idea,” Rocky Mountain Health Plans President Steve ErkenBrack said. “Getting drug costs ratcheted down by allowing negotiations would be a definite help.” Congress, however, should be careful that eliminating health care exemptions from antitrust provisions doesn’t boomerang and damage systems such as the one in Grand Junction, ErkenBrack said.

Romanoff complains about Obama’s campaign visit | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209771/1006 President Barack Obama's visit to Denver later this month has some Democrats upset. The president is headed to Denver Feb. 18 to raise money for Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. Bennet's primary challenger, former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, says the state party should insist the president hold an event for Romanoff supporters, too. "Many of my supporters were among the most active organizers for President Obama during the 2008 campaign and they remain staunchly behind the president," Romanoff wrote in a letter Friday to state party chairwoman Pat Waak. "Unfortunately, the current plan of events during the president's visit has sent a clear message: 'Support the appointed incumbent Senator or do not be part of the president's visit to Colorado," Romanoff wrote. Romanoff proposed that a separate event for Romanoff be scheduled. Romanoff said he would give all proceeds to the Democratic party.

Durango Herald News, Romanoff stumps in Durango

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/08/Romanoff_stumps_in_Durango/ Andrew Romanoff, who is fighting for the Democratic Party's nomination for U.S. Senate, brought his “Main Street tour" to Southwest Colorado over the weekend with a message of curtailing special interests' influence in Washington. Romanoff is challenging U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who was appointed to the seat after Ken Salazar resigned to become Interior secretary. Romanoff, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, was on the short list for the appointment but was passed over in favor of Bennet, former superintendent of Denver Public Schools and virtually unknown in the world of politics. Romanoff, in an interview Sunday at The Durango Herald, said he's not afraid to stand up to special interests or even his own party, “which is what I'm doing with this campaign, by definition."

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Romanoff brings Senate campaign to valley

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d583816e68967651058.txt Andrew Romanoff brought his U.S. Senate campaign to the San Luis Valley, where he received a bipartisan greeting Friday and heard about the demand for jobs and balancing local concerns on federal lands. The former speaker of the state House of Representatives, who is trying to unseat Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic nomination, made his first stop in the valley since declaring his candidacy in September. "You get a pretty clear sense, I think, from this conversation that folks feel like they get the back end of the deal on economic development efforts," he said. He told the dozen people gathered for lunch at a local restaurant that jobs would be the first plank in his platform. And although the state is unable to offer the economic incentives that others might, Romanoff said the outlook for jobs could improve by focusing on education and infrastructure development. Conejos County Commissioner Joe Mestas said he'd like to see a way for local counties to secure more benefits from federal energy development.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Senate candidate rails against insiders

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5593296b1951324547.txt It was hard to tell which was steaming more — Tom Wiens or his cup of coffee. The 57-year-old Republican from Castle Rock is one of five GOP candidates for U.S. Senate. A former state representative, senator, the small-business owner and rancher campaigned Saturday in Pueblo. Discussing points of his platform over a cup of java at Solar Roast Coffee, 226 N. Main St., Wiens made it quite clear he's steamed about the nation's political system and that if elected, he'll work to correct it, along with advocating for small business and middle America. "I'm definitely not the insider's candidate. I'm sure the Washington and Denver insiders prefer I don't even run. In Washington, all they care about is special interests, if you're at the top and if you're on Wall Street. It makes me so angry. I want to get people energized that this is about a republic. I want to go to Washington to provide effective representation for the forgotten Americans," Wiens said.

Norton has 14-point lead over Bennet in latest Rasmussen survey | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/norton-has-14-point-lead-over-bennet-in-latest-rasmussen-survey/ Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton cracks the 50-percent-support mark for the first time and leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet by 14 points in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll of Colorado’s U.S. Senate race. Norton, considered the Republican front-runner, leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent in the poll of 500 likely voters conducted Feb. 2. It has a margin of error of 4.5 percent. “This poll reflects exactly what I’m seeing as I travel around this great state,” Norton said in a release. “People want a Senator who will stand up for Colorado values, not an ideologue to rubber-stamp the President’s Big Government policies.” Democrats are skeptical of Rasmussen Reports polls.

Poll: Buck leads over Democratic rivals | Greeley Tribune

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20100206/NEWS/100209799/1002 Weld District Attorney Ken Buck leads Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet 45 percent to 41 percent, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday. Republican front runner former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton leads Bennet 51 percent to 37 percent, according to the telephone survey of 500 likely Colorado voters conducted this week. The margin of error for the survey is 4.5 percentage points. The margins in both hypothetical races were only slightly changed from a January poll that showed Buck topping Bennet by 5 percentage points and Norton winning by 12 percentage points. Buck, Norton and former state Sen. Tom Wiens are the three most prominent candidates for the Republican nomination. The poll shows Wiens topping Bennet 44 percent to 40 percent. On the Democratic side, Bennet faces a primary challenge from former Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff. While the poll does not show Romanoff beating any of the three Republican contenders, he does fare better than Bennet against Norton, trailing 45 percent to 38 percent. Romanoff also fares better than Bennet against Wiens, trailing 42 percent to 40 percent. Buck, however, does better against Romanoff than Bennet, leading 45 percent to 39 percent.

Polis spreading the wealth among his Democratic colleagues - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_14355357 During his first year in Congress, Boulder`s Jared Polis showed he could raise money like a House veteran, writing checks for fellow freshmen representatives at a rate that rivals the fundraising clout of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Polis` political committee last year doled out more than $400,000 to Democratic members of Congress in swing districts and national political campaign groups. By the end of 2009, the freshman congressman`s fundraising on behalf of Democrats was close to that by Pelosi and other top Democrats. Polis has hosted Pelosi at one of his Colorado fundraisers and traveled to Chicago and New Mexico to raise money and bolster congressmen facing tough re-election campaigns.

Tancredo blasted for poll test idea - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345675 Former congressman Tom Tancredo took heat Friday for remarks at the national Tea Party convention that critics viewed as calling for a return to Jim Crow laws. But Tancredo said he wasn't targeting a specific group when he suggested in Nashville there should be a "civics-literacy" test before someone could vote. "People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House," Tancredo said in his opening-day speech Thursday. "His name is Barack Hussein Obama." Tests were used to prevent blacks from voting during segregation and were banned by the Voting Rights Act in 1964.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Treasurer candidate touts schooling, background

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5541d446f783604323.txt Greenwood Village Republican Walker Stapleton said he's the best choice for state treasurer based on his education and professional background. The grandson of historic Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton and cousin to former President George W. Bush made a campaign stop at Pueblo County Republican headquarters Saturday. As treasurer, Stapleton said he'd wisely manage state funds for the Public Employees' Retirement Association and be an advocate for taxpayers. "I'm proud to say I've never been part of inside politics. I've been involved with building a successful business," the 35-year-old told the small crowd. "Nobody (running for treasurer) has my education background or work experience. I'll be an independent advocate for the taxpayers of Colorado and will build a business-friendly tax environment."

Den Post: Colo. GOP lawmakers heavy on rhetoric light on specifics « Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47137/den-post-colo-gop-lawmakers-heavy-on-rhetoric-light-on-specifics The Denver Post today poked straight-faced fun at state Republican lawmakers this morning, mocking a big budget plan GOP legislative leaders unveiled yesterday. The proposed plan of attack in the ongoing battle over a budget that is short billions in revenue is to cut a lot of programs– and they want Democrats to decide what programs to cut. You can’t give the people behind this plan even a single point for subtlety. You can, however, award lots of points for election-year foolery and comic passing of the buck. The Post story conjures images of Wiley Coyote hauling out one of his ridiculous oversize Road Runner-catching contraptions: We’re for cuts! That is, we’re for you making cuts and us later criticizing the cuts you make!

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tough times, tough week dominate lawmakers’ talk

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5939911ff248335483.txt It wasn't the easiest meal to swallow and the digestion problems had nothing to do with the food. There were no complaints about the chile con juevos at the Pueblo Convention Center on Saturday, but breakfast is never quite appetizing when it's served with talks of balancing a state budget in an economic recession, possible program cuts and legislative defeats. About 130 people turned up for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Breakfast, the first of many chamber-hosted breakfasts throughout the legislative session. The meals are designed to let elected officials divulge their work at the state capitol and answer questions from the community.

Senate Democrats : GOP math “fairy tale” | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/05/senate-democrats-gop-math-fairy-tale/ “After reading the Republican budget fix, it is quite clear that they can’t add or subtract,” said Senate Minority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs. “The budget shortfall is $1 billion. The Republicans proposed a reckless ‘off the cuff’ idea to fire state employees to save $17.8 million: $17.8 million in cuts to solve a $1 billion shortfall. “Now they just need to come up with 50 more plans so the math will add up. The problem is their plan doesn’t even identify the first $17.8 million.” Republicans Thursday proposed cutting payroll in the current year by 0.25 percent in order to generate $17.8 million in revenue and thus offset the need for accelerating the demise of seven tax exemptions by March to generate a roughly equal amount. But Morse said the math is way off. The correct payroll figure is $3.2 billion, and thus 0.25 percent of that would be only $8 million, not $17.8 million, Morse said. But even that math doesn’t take into account the fact that the year is 7/12ths over, and hence the savings would only be $3.3 million, he said.

Durango Herald News, ‘Amazon tax’ roils Colorado retailers

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2010/02/07/Amazon_tax_roils_Colorado_retailers/ The list price for Dan Brown's latest Masonic mystery, “The Lost Symbol," is $29.95. At a Colorado bookstore, buyers can expect to pay another 86 cents in state sales tax, plus local taxes. On Amazon.com, “The Lost Symbol" sells for $12 plus shipping costs. Tax free. And it's the tax-free part that's not fair, said Peter Schertz, co-owner of Maria's Bookshop in Durango. “What we're asking for as a very small bookstore is just a level playing field," Schertz said. He is willing to compete with Amazon and other Internet sites, and Maria's has its own Web site, so customers don't even need to visit the downtown Durango store. But people who buy from Maria's online have to pay sales tax.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tax bill affecting steel mill progresses

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d4c7b2d253717183772.txt A bill that representatives of Pueblo's steel mill say would cost the plant $2 million annually continued to move through the Legislature on Friday as part of a package of proposed tax-break repeals. On Thursday, over the objections of the United Steelworkers of America and management at Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, the Senate Finance Committee passed HB1190, which proposes to lift the tax exemption on energy used in manufacturing. Friday morning, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill, clearing the way for debate on the Senate floor. The bill was not heard Friday afternoon in the Senate. It got there along with eight others that would lift or suspend tax exemptions on everything from candy to online purchases and bull semen, and the Senate managed to heard debate on just the first.

Opposition warns tax hikes in state may mean layoffs - Boulder Daily Camera

http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_14345819 Steel workers and Coke and Pepsi bottlers have lined up to oppose a package of tax hikes to balance the state budget, saying the cuts will lead to layoffs. Also worried about their livelihoods are farmers on tight margins who would have to pay sales tax on pesticides, and small home-based Internet businesses that link people to online retailers like Amazon. Meanwhile, education groups and advocates for the developmentally disabled and low-income people who rely on government programs are urging lawmakers to pass the tax increases -- which the full Senate began debating Friday -- and avoid teacher layoffs and cuts to safety net spending. In the middle are lawmakers who must find a way to close a $1.5 billion shortfall in this year and next year`s budget, and Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided on how to do that. Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter proposed ending or suspending 13 tax credits and sales tax exemptions to raise about $125 million next year, and majority Democrats have been backing that plan in the Legislature. Republicans say they want Ritter to cut more, pointing out that most of the budget balancing during the recession has involved one-time fixes rather than reduced spending.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Cuts cast bleak outlook for some programs

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/07/news/local/doc4b6e5ae645b0f153436999.txt The state Legislature's Joint Budget Committee calls it the "ugly list." To some state employees, it translates into unemployment, and for citizens, it means reduced government services. The JBC holds the purse strings for state spending, and for the present fiscal year (ending June 30) it must come up with $20 million to remedy a shortfall in the state's $7 billion budget, which the Colorado Constitution requires to be balanced. So as certain as the sun rises each morning, the JBC reconciles the bottom line by the fiscal year's end. This year has been trickier than most because of the national economic downturn of the past few years, and more challenging times could lie ahead in the not too distant future, according to JBC member Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo. Consequently, some of Pueblo's traditionally most viable employers and sacrosanct institutions could be on the chopping block for funding in the years just ahead.

Footing the bill for bills | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/footing_the_bill_for_bills With a $1.5 billion fault line preparing to level any attempts to add costs to the 2010-11 state budget, passing a bill with a large fiscal note could prove a difficult task this spring. But that won’t stop bills from appearing with fiscal notes. Already, 101 bills have been introduced that carry a fiscal note that include an expenditure increase or reduction and/or a revenue increase or reduction. Here are the most and least pricey bills suggested so far. All prices apply to 2010-11 and expenditures do not account for revenue adjustments in the bills or vice versa.

Doomed bills return to Colorado lawmakers year after year | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

http://www.gazette.com/articles/legislature-93800-bill-role.html Every year, El Paso County lawmakers lead legislative lambs to the slaughter: bills so unlikely to pass that they’re considered all but dead upon introduction. The flock has only grown as the mostly-Republican delegation has fallen deeply into the General Assembly’s minority. Many of the measures they offer up as sacrifices on the political altar have changed little, having been introduced for years at every session. The exact number is hard to pin down, but lawmakers from here have penned about a dozen legislative proposals, knowing they will be killed by legislative committees long before reaching a floor vote. Last week, in one example, Republican Rep. Kent Lambert offered up his plan to have the state guarantee some of its savings accounts by buying gold bars. His bill would have required the gold to be stored at the state Capitol.

Pinnacol workers comp resists lawmaker efforts to increase public input | Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47103/profitable-pinnacol-workers-comp-resists-lawmaker-efforts-to-increase-public-input A controversial bill that aims to diversify and open up decision-making at Pinnacol Assurance, the impressively profitable quasi-governmental workers compensation insurance provider, passed out of the House Judicial Committee Friday on a mostly partisan vote. The hearing highlighted the tensions that define Pinnacol, an entity designed to serve the public but also required to act as a business. Bill sponsor Joe Mikloski, a Denver Democrat, aims to require Pinnacol to include a one-time injured worker and a physician on the directors board and to bring greater transparency to the board decision-making process by inviting the public to attend meetings. The bill would increase the board from nine to eleven members and institute public comment periods at each of the meetings. Meeting agendas would also have to posted seven days in advance. Pinnacol provides workers compensation insurance to nearly 60 percent of workers in Colorado.

Proposals loosen up liquor business | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/proposals_loosen_up_liquor_bus Grand Junction liquor store owner Brandi Fisher—Pollock isn’t at all happy with two bills that could take sales away from her and others in the liquor business. Under two measures working their way through the Colorado Legislature, convenience stores would be able to sell full-strength beer, and grocers could buy out nearby liquor outlets. Though Fisher-Pollock said the bills are better than an unrestricted opening of all liquor sales for convenience and grocery stores, she still is actively opposing them and letting others in the business know they should, too. “If they’re going to do a law trying to restrict the saturation of liquor licenses, they need to do a lot more than that,” said Fisher-Pollock, who’s been meeting with other liquor store owners in Grand Junction about the bills.

Lawmakers tussle over bill that would ease insurance gender discrimination « Colorado Independe

http://coloradoindependent.com/47106/lawmakers-tussle-over-bill-that-would-ease-health-insurance-gender-discrimination A packed hearing Thursday for a bill that seeks to address wide differences in cost based on gender in the individual health insurance market in Colorado saw clashes erupt between male and female members of the committee. House Bill 1008, sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge, seeks to distribute and lower those costs for women who don’t have employer or state health plans. The motion ultimately passed out of committee on an 8 to 2 vote. “Women pay up to 59 percent more than men of the same age with 90 percent of private insurance companies, even though as a whole women tend to have less claims than men, irrespective of maternity coverage.” Mcann told the committee.

House to hear DUI felony bill | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/07/house-to-hear-dui-felony-bill-monday/ A bill that makes a third DUI conviction a felony is scheduled to be heard Monday afternoon by a House committee. House Bill 1184 doesn’t have a fiscal note attached to it yet but several Capitol observors say they believe the price tag will be too prohibitive for the budget-challenged state. The sponsor, Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said he expects to see the fiscal note on Monday. He said during testimony he is going to propose ways to cut the budget and use that savings to be able to incarcerate repeat DUI offenders. His budget-cutting proposals include eliminating a front license plate, which will save around $4 million, and reducing dues and membership fees the state pays to belong to a variety of organizations. “I think it’s important enough to try to find a way to pay for it,” Gardner said. Gardner’s measure is one of seven bills the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled to hear Monday afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. The hearing was moved to the Old Supreme Court chambers because a crowd is expected to testify on a river navigation measure.

Repeat DUI offenders must get jail terms, panel says - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14345677 A state criminal-justice commission agreed Friday that repeat DUI offenders in Colorado must go to jail. The commission endorsed a legislative proposal that would mandate a jail term of 10 days to a year for a second drunken-driving offense and 60 days to a year for third or subsequent offenses. In addition, repeat offenders would face two years of supervision by probation officers and the threat of up to an additional year in jail for ignoring conditions of probation. Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, the bill's sponsor, said the lengthened probation and suspended jail provisions are intended to provide a potent incentive for counseling and treatment once an offender gets out of jail. "The year is a deposit that the judge can draw against" if the offender ignores probation requirements, she said. "What we're looking for is participation in alcohol treatment."

Swalm leads defense of men at health insurance hearing | Colorado Independent

http://coloradoindependent.com/47160/swalm-leads-defense-of-men-at-health-insurance-hearing Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial, led the charge Thursday defending the rights of men to continue to pay less as a group on the individual health-insurance market in Colorado. Swalm is a member of the Health and Human Services committee that was weighing a bill aimed to ease wide inequalities in the cost of insurance for men and women in Colorado. The bill was sponsored by Reps Beth McCann, D-Denver, and Sue Schafer, D-Wheat Ridge. “Men are having the toughest time finding work, so this is going to make it even harder for them to pay for insurance,” Swalm said. He later told the Colorado Independent that outside of the legislature, he worked as an insurance broker. Swalm energetically engaged committee members as well as people who cam to testify in favor of the bill, including Jerry McElroy, a spokesperson for national health care provider Kaiser Permanente. The only insurance company representative to speak at the hearing, McElroy said his company had decided to end gender discrimination costs in 1969 and that, contrary to the fears being expressed in the current debate, Kaiser had suffered no significant loss of revenue as a result. “We’re doing just fine,” McElroy told the committee.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Bill to extend nurse tuition forgiveness clears another hurdle

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d539096a75477679958.txt A Senate committee on Friday passed Sen. Abel Tapia's bill proposing to extend eligibility for tuition forgiveness to nurses who achieve advanced degrees. Tapia, D-Pueblo, introduced SB58, which would grant eligibility for student loan forgiveness to nurses who earn advanced degrees and teach their craft on a part-time basis. On Friday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill. Last week it had gained approval from the Senate Finance Committee. Currently, the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program overseen by CollegeInvest applies only to nurses who are teaching full-time. Tapia said funding for the extension already exists through CollegeInvest, and no new spending would be required. When the first tuition loan forgiveness program for nurses was adopted by the Legislature in 2006, it didn't sufficiently extend benefits to lure instructors away from their lucrative field, in Tapia's estimation.

New bill would allow students to transfer credits from for-profit colleges - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14355221 Metropolitan State College of Denver is so packed with students that officials are spending $24,000 a semester to rent space at a campus movie theater to hold classes. Though enrollment is up at colleges across the state, those serving high-risk students, such as Metro and community colleges, feel the squeeze the most. Enrollment is up 19 percent since the fall of 2008 at 13 community colleges across Colorado, and nearly 60 programs are full and putting students on wait lists. In November, enrollment at the 13 schools totaled almost 83,000, according to the Colorado Community College System.

Water-transfer mitigation bill dies in House | GJSentinel.com

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/watertransfer_mitigation_bill A bill to require water buyers to mitigate large transfers of water from one river basin to another died on the House floor Friday. But that was because Denver Water lobbied hard against the bill and managed to turn some lawmakers to its side, said Rep. Sal Pace, who introduced House Bill 1159. “I had to run it, because every day I waited, I’d lose another vote,” the Pueblo Democrat said immediately after the bill’s demise. “I had a lot of people turn on me, including people who told me this morning (Friday) that they were with me.” The issue is not a new one for the Legislature, but each time it comes up, urban lawmakers along the Front Range and even rural ones on the South Platte River Basin manage to find ways to kill it, Western Slope lawmakers said.

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Pace’s water transfer bill dies on House floor

http://chieftain.com/articles/2010/02/06/news/local/doc4b6d459507ef5391244397.txt A bill that would have required mitigation agreements between communities where water transfers originate and their destinations died Friday in the House with strong opposition from urban legislators. Rep. Sal Pace's HB1159 was killed on second reading, with 23 members in support and 36 opposed. Two members were absent, and Pace said they may have voted on his side, but wouldn't have affected the outcome. "I'm surprised by the number of people that flipped on me in the last day," said Pace, D-Pueblo. Pace hurried the bill along this week. He wanted it to move quickly because he said he was losing votes with each passing day as metropolitan water interests lobbied lawmakers against it.

Liquor-sale bills change the game - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350855 Convenience and grocery stores intent on increasing their share of Colorado's liquor market have a new tactic this year: deflate the David- versus-Goliath defense that liquor shops traditionally use to fight off proposals to expand the sale of full-strength beer, wine and liquor. For two years running, lawmakers have been swayed by liquor store owners' predictions that giving competitively advantaged supermarket chains and convenience stores the keys to the liquor cabinet would put their mom-and-pops out of commission. But a bill allowing corner stores to stock full-strength beer, up for a first hearing Wednesday, excludes corporate-controlled grocery stores and instead pits one small- business group against another, advocates say. And a plan grocers introduced Friday allowing themselves to buy out liquor stores and their licenses for five or six figures means a few hundred liquor store owners could hit a jackpot.

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_14350677 Until a few months ago, J.B. Woods was your standard-issue insurance agent. Auto, home, life. Would you like flood coverage with that? Then, in the middle of 2009, his phone rang: "I need insurance for my medical-marijuana dispensary," the caller said. And since that moment, few of the policies Woods has set up for clients have been standard-issue. Instead, Woods has become the guru of ganja insurance. Property insurance, theft insurance, liability insurance. Woods is now even offering crop insurance, in case a medical-marijuana harvest isn't as bountiful as expected. "They needed an insurance agent who specializes in this area because of all the complexities involved," Woods said.

Windsor struggles to find a resolution | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080324/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Windsor-struggles-to-find-a-resolution Town officials continue to work on a draft ordinance to regulate the sudden growth of medical marijuana dispensaries in Windsor. The Windsor Town Board and Windsor Planning Commission met last week for two hours in a joint session in the Fireside Room at Windsor High School. "It's slow and painful at times, but it's what we have to do to get it right," said Windsor Town Board Trustee Robert Bishop-Cotner. The focus of the meeting was to discuss various definitions of terms as mentioned in Amendment 20, zoning decisions, location issues and signage. The boards discussed at great length how to distinguish between caregiver and commercial caregiver with little resolution. "The definition of caregiver and commercial caregiver might be getting intermingled," said planning commissioner Paul Ehrlich. "Do we want to entertain a definition that can be confusing even though we know they're different?"

Medical marijuana on agenda for Fort Collins officials | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100208/NEWS01/2080323/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Medical-marijuana-on-agenda-for-Fort-Collins-officials Medical marijuana caregivers with more than one patient would not be able to grow or distribute products from their homes under regulations proposed by Fort Collins officials. They would not be allowed to grow marijuana outdoors, and their sundry products could only be distributed within city limits. These and a long list of other proposals aimed at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, or MMDs, in Fort Collins are expected to be discussed Tuesday during a City Council work session. Proposed rules for where marijuana dispensaries and "grows" may locate in the city and how they may operate came after researching how other Colorado cities are dealing with the issue and extensive public outreach, said Ginny Sawyer of the city's neighborhood service office.

Northern Colorado expo quietly touts medical marijuana | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100207/NEWS01/2070336/1002/Northern-Colorado-expo-quietly-touts-medical-marijuana Tim Gordon wanted to keep his Northern Colorado Medical Cannabis Expo on Saturday as low-key and nonconfrontational as possible. "I'm not trying to step on anybody's feet with this," he said. "I don't want to be aggressive and in-your-face to people who are not interested in medical cannabis." The event assembled dispensaries, legal services and marijuana advocates for a public forum about the state of the medical marijuana community. Speakers included Sensible Colorado, Front Range chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, The Cure Law Office and other political advocates. Gordon is the president of Front Range NORML and co-owner of Medicinal Gardens of Colorado, a medical marijuana dispensary in Fort Collins. He said the quarterly expo is as much for people within the medical marijuana community to come together as it is for the general public. Unity, according to him and others at the expo, is the community's greatest strength.

Man claiming pot card didn’t complete the paperwork | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20100207/NEWS/100209801/1001 An officer noticed an open garage door in Gypsum on Jan. 15. Several valuable items were visible and no one was at the house. The officer tried to phone the resident and close the garage door but could not succeed. He drove by the residence several times throughout the day to keep an eye on it. On Jan. 17, he was driving by the same house and noticed vehicles in the driveway. He knocked on the door. A man answered, stepped outside and quickly closed the door. The deputy smelled marijuana. He told the man his garage door had been open all day on the 15th and asked about the marijuana smell. The man said he had a medical marijuana card. The deputy asked to see it and then the man said he didn't have one. He said he was in the process of completing the paperwork due to problems with his knees.

On the Spot: Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock | The Spot

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2010/02/08/on-the-spot-rep-carole-murray-r-castle-rock/ Carole Murray once worked as a newspaper reporter, but her colleagues don’t hold it against her. Her career also has included a stint as a teacher, director of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and two terms as Douglas County’s elected clerk and recorder. Murray, 61, is married to Lisle Gates, principal of Castle View High School in Castle Rock. Between them, they have five children and eight grandchildren.

Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702984.html In the past six weeks, Americans have witnessed two jarringly different -- but completely accurate -- views of al-Qaeda's terrorist network. One image was that of terrorist leaders being hunted down and killed by satellite-guided, pilotless aircraft. The other was of an agile foe slipping past U.S. defenses and increasingly intent on striking inside the United States. New assessments of al-Qaeda by the top U.S. counterterrorism experts offer grounds for both optimism and concern a year after President Obama took office. Officials say al-Qaeda's ability to wage mass-casualty terrorism has been undercut by relentless U.S. attacks on the network's leadership, finances and training camps. But even in its weakened state, the group has shifted tactics to focus on small-scale operations that are far harder to detect and disrupt, analysts say. The deadly November shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Tex., and the failed Christmas Day attempt to bomb an airliner -- both examples of the low-tech approach -- have raised the fear level in Washington and across the country. Some terrorism experts say the worst could be still to come as a wounded jihadist movement thrashes about in search of a victory.

The Fix - White House moves to make the filibuster a campaign issue

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/making-the-filibuster-a-campai.html Over the past week, President Obama and his senior aides have repeatedly cited Republicans' filibuster threats as the primary reason for the lack of progress on big ticket legislative items, an early sign that Democrats will seek to use this bit of legislative arcana against the GOP in the coming midterm election. At a meeting -- televised, natch -- with Senate Democrats last week, Obama harped on the GOP's willingness to invoke the filibuster, noting that Democrats had taken more cloture votes to end debate and force votes in 2009 than they did in the 1950s and 1960s combined.

Obama tries to rally Democrats, defends healthcare overhaul - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-dnc7-2010feb07,0,4756598.story Attempting to rouse a party shaken by electoral setbacks, President Obama told fellow Democrats on Saturday that he would press ahead with his healthcare proposal and other pieces of his ambitious agenda, rejecting suggestions that a more cautious approach might minimize losses in the upcoming midterm elections. Obama, who left the White House during a blizzard, sought to rally Democratic National Committee members in a speech that was part pep talk and part prescription for what the party must do to overcome problems reflected by the loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat held by the late Democratic icon Edward M. Kennedy. Trimming goals and postponing hard choices are the wrong approach, the president said. In an emotional high point of his 20-minute address, Obama acknowledged that the public wonders whether elected officials can overcome the immense power of lobbyists and special interests and "confront the real problems that touch their lives."

In a Message to Democrats, Wall St. Sends Cash to G.O.P. - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08lobby.html?ref=politics The shift reflects the hard political edge to the industry’s campaign to thwart Mr. Obama’s proposals for tighter financial regulations. Just two years after Mr. Obama helped his party pull in record Wall Street contributions — $89 million from the securities and investment business, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics — some of his biggest supporters, like Mr. Dimon, have become the industry’s chief lobbyists against his regulatory agenda. Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner: Global bank reform still needed - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602297.html Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Saturday that the recovery in the global economy has not caused major economies to ease up on their commitment to stiffen the rules for banks. "We all share a deep commitment to try to move forward and reach agreement on a strong, comprehensive set of financial reforms on the timetable we all committed to last September," he said at a news conference after a meeting of Group of Seven finance chiefs in Iqaluit, Canada. "That means agreement on . . . a new set of capital requirements for large global institutions by the end of this year," he added, playing down the possibility that the United States might be headed in a different direction from the G-7. President Obama has proposed additional rules that would limit proprietary trading by banks, put them out of the hedge fund and private equity business and limit their future growth through a new market share cap.

No one complains about bank bonuses in Greenwich, Conn. | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/83718.html After one of the leanest years in memory, life in this upper-crust enclave is slowly returning to normal. The Greenwich version of normal, anyway. Caterers' cell phones are ringing again. Luxury car dealers are sending the Porsches out for test drives. An architect is booking multimillion-dollar jobs for his "masters of the universe" clients, titans of Wall Street who've made this leafy Connecticut suburb of New York one of the wealthiest towns in the country. When the financial industry tumbled, Greenwich's fortunes fell with it. Now, as the federal bailout has helped lift investment banks to surprisingly robust profits, the news that major financial firms will dole out billions of dollars in salaries and bonuses this year came as welcome relief here, even though the rest of the country is still grappling with 10 percent unemployment. Discreetly, Greenwich is starting to spend money again, and spending here — where the median household earns $126,549, almost two-and-a-half times the national median, based on 2008 census estimates — isn't quite like spending anywhere else.

Beverage industry douses tax on soft drinks - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-soda-tax7-2010feb07,0,282916.story Employing a broad-based lobbying effort, the soft drink industry has smothered a plan to tax sugared beverages -- a plan advocates said would have reduced obesity and helped finance healthcare reform. Only months ago, public health advocates thought the tax would be a natural for congressional Democrats looking for revenue to fund expanded health insurance coverage. The soaring costs of treating ailments related to excess weight -- including diabetes and heart disease -- added urgency to the issue. But the White House staff reviewing funding options never embraced the idea even after President Obama expressed interest last summer. A key congressional committee, after initially seeming receptive, ended up refusing to consider it. Several minority advocacy groups, including some committed to fighting obesity, lined up against the tax after years of receiving financial support from the industry. There is no sign that First Lady Michelle Obama will mention taxes Tuesday when she unveils her new healthy-eating initiative, which had input from fast food and soft drink representatives.

NRA, onetime ally feud over next big guns case to go before Supreme Court - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702401.html The National Rifle Association was on the outside looking in when the Supreme Court handed gun rights activists a landmark victory in 2008. After the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to gun ownership and that the District's handgun ban was unconstitutional, it was an upstart band of libertarian lawyers that celebrated on the marble steps and received the glory for the breakthrough decision. The NRA, the nation's premier and most powerful gun rights group, has worked hard not to be in that position again. And because of an unusual intervention recently by the justices, its attorney will be in the mix when the court considers the next big guns case next month. The case is McDonald v. Chicago, a challenge of gun laws in Chicago and its suburbs that are strikingly similar to the Washington handgun ban. It asks the court to decide something left unsettled in its landmark ruling in Heller v. District of Columbia: whether the Second Amendment offers protection against actions by state and local governments, not just the federal government and its enclaves.

8 in Congress urge Obama to halt talks over Cuba’s arrest of contractor | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83864.html Eight congressional Republicans on Friday alleged the Obama administration is trying to "appease"' the Cuban government after the arrest in Havana of a Washington subcontractor, and called for the cancellation of bilateral migration talks now set for Feb. 19. "We are greatly concerned about the manner in which the administration is handling the arrest of Alan Gross'' and its impact on the U.S. government's pro-democracy programs in Cuba, they wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Gross, a Maryland subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been jailed in Havana since his Dec. 4 arrest after delivering sophisticated communications equipment to Jewish groups on the island. The letter to Clinton noted that after Gross' arrest, USAID strongly discouraged recipients of U.S. pro-democracy funds from traveling to Cuba, and that nongovernmental organizations "have been informed that the administration is considering taking democracy assistance funding in a `new direction.'''

Mass. wind farm that Obama administration might support meets strong resistance - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702965.html Interior Secretary Ken Salazar journeyed out into Nantucket Sound on a Coast Guard vessel last week to signal the Obama administration's readiness to put some muscle behind wind energy. To do that, Salazar has to resolve a battle over building a wind farm on 25 square miles of open water that has driven a rift between environmentalists, infuriated local Native Americans and threatened one of the administration's cherished priorities.

NOAA reorganization would provide more info on global warming - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020801696.html The initiative, modeled loosely on the 140-year-old National Weather Service, will provide forecasts to farmers, regional water managers and business operators affected by changing climate conditions. But it comes at a time when climate skeptics have become increasingly effective in attacking the credibility of global warming forecasts. NOAA, along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ranks as one of the federal government's key agencies for monitoring the climate and conducting climate research. "We currently respond to millions of annual requests for climate information, and we expect those requests to grow exponentially," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco in an interview, adding that in light of recent scientific advances, "the models will continue to improve, and we will be able to provide more and more information." The move does not come with a designated boost in funding, but it will bring NOAA's climate research arm together with its more consumer-oriented services so they can operate, in Lubchenco's words, "cheek by jowl."

Obama official accuses GOP of using terrorism as ‘political football’ - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-brennan-abdulmutallab8-2010feb08,0,133448.story President Obama's deputy national security advisor accused Republicans on Sunday of using national security as a "political football" and of being disingenuous in criticizing the treatment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day airliner attack. On NBC's "Meet the Press," John Brennan was asked about GOP criticism that the Obama administration was treating the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane as a routine criminal case rather than a terrorist plot. Brennan said he was "tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as a political football. They are going out there. . . unknowing of the facts, and they're making charges and allegations that are not anchored in reality." Republicans have said that Abdulmutallab, 23, should have been treated as an enemy combatant.

Anti-terrorism chief rebukes politicians who use cases as talking points - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702772.html President Obama's senior counterterrorism adviser on Sunday criticized politicians for using terrorism situations such as the Detroit bombing case as a "political football." But leaders of the Republican Party, among the harshest critics of the handling of the Detroit incident, on Sunday disputed John O. Brennan's remarks. Republican House and Senate members have questioned why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day bombing attempt, was not treated as an enemy combatant instead of being questioned for 50 minutes by the FBI and later given his Miranda rights. Former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in her speech Saturday night before the Tea Party convention, said the Obama administration sees "no downsides or upsides to treating terrorists like civilian criminal defendants. But a lot of us would beg to differ."

Palin in 2012? She Says Run Is Possible - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08palin.html?ref=politics “It would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country,” Ms. Palin told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” in an interview recorded a few hours before she gave the keynote address at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. “I won’t close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future.” Those words were buttressed by the response she received at the convention on Saturday night. As Ms. Palin left the stage, the crowd erupted into chants of “Run, Sarah, Run.” Ms. Palin gave the Tea Party crowd exactly what it wanted, declaring the primacy of the Tenth Amendment in limiting government powers, complaining about the bailouts and the “generational theft” of rising deficits and urging the audience to back conservative challengers in contested primaries. “America is ready for another revolution!” she told the crowd, prompting the first of several standing ovations.

Palin says she might run in 2012, that Obama can be beat | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83934.html Sarah Palin said Sunday she might run for president in 2012 if she decides it's good for her family and country. Fresh from a speech to conservative activists at a "tea party" gathering in Nashville, the former Alaska governor said President Barack Obama could be defeated in 2012, that she's boning up on foreign and national policy and that she would run if it felt right. "I would," she said on Fox News, where she's a paid contributor. "I would if I believed that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family. Certainly, I would do so." Palin added: "I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country. I don't know if it's going to be ever seeking a title, though. It may be just doing a darn good job as a reporter or covering some of the current events."

Enthusiastic Republicans crowding many primary races - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-republicans7-2010feb07,0,1980043.story As the Republican Party's chances of success in the fall elections increase week by week, so too has the number of Republican candidates jumping into primaries across the country. Party officials claim to welcome the enthusiasm, but in many places it's the sort of welcome reserved for an uninvited guest. Or eight uninvited guests, as is the case in Arkansas, where the lineup of candidates wanting to challenge Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln has swelled to nine. An open seat in Tennessee has four Republicans vying for the nomination, and one erstwhile Republican running as an independent. Two competitive districts in Virginia have drawn out 11 hopefuls between them. Races in Nevada, New Hampshire and California also are crowding fast. In cases such as Arkansas', a surplus of candidates is evidence of an eagerness to take on a politically weak Democrat. Lincoln's approval ratings are among the lowest in the Senate. In other cases, it's a result of internal strife between the party's establishment and the often more-conservative newcomers. Experts say that those primaries promise to deliver very public and expensive displays of division that could undercut GOP efforts to win seats in November.

David Plouffe advising White House on 2010 midterm elections - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702402.html Ask David Plouffe how Democrats can recover from their electoral setbacks over the past few months and he has a simple answer: Republicans. "Politics is a comparative exercise," Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, told the Fix in his first extended interview since he took on a broadened political role for the White House in advance of the midterm elections. "This isn't just a referendum on Democrats or our party. It's a choice." That choice was made explicit far too late in last month's special Senate election in Massachusetts between then-state Sen. Scott Brown (R) and state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), Plouffe noted. "Everyone would agree that the definition of Brown should have happened a lot sooner and a lot more clearly," he said. The Democratic defeat, which meant the loss of a filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority, served as something of a wake-up call for the White House -- making clear the need to step up its efforts (and ability) to effectively monitor what is expected to be a large playing field this fall.

Welfare back as a campaign issue for GOP in California | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83956.html Ronald Reagan singled out what he called a "welfare queen" for abusing government aid. Newt Gingrich pushed welfare reform as part of his Contract With America. Now, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, the top Republican candidates for California governor, are bringing back welfare as a key issue in their quest for primary votes. Welfare's high-profile role in the race became clear last month when Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, unveiled her first issue-specific radio ad. "Some people worry that we're creating a welfare state," Whitman says at the start of the spot. "The fact is, California is the welfare state." Poizner, another ultra-wealthy former Silicon Valley CEO, has made tightening welfare rules a key part of his plan to balance the state budget. Like Whitman, Poizner proposes cutting lifetime welfare limits to two years from five.

In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story The Republican governor is 'eager to get started,' and the state's Democratic senators are urging the Obama administration to begin selling leases next year. The plan has raised concern from NASA.

General-aviation security proposal is being scaled back - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602077.html Citing industry objections, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing to scale back a controversial plan to expand aviation security rules for the first time to thousands of private planes. TSA officials said this week they expect to issue a revised plan this fall that will significantly reduce from 15,000 the number of U.S.-registered general-aviation aircraft subjected to tougher rules. Also, instead of mandating that all passengers aboard private planes be checked against terrorist watch lists, name checks in many cases could be left to the discretion of pilots, they said. The shifts would mark significant rollbacks of security changes that supporters called overdue and essential to preventing terrorists from using small planes to smuggle dangerous weapons or carry out suicide attacks. Opponents, however, called the measures unwarranted, poorly thought out and overly burdensome on aircraft owners and manufacturers.

New Orleans elects Mitch Landrieu mayor - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-orleans-mayor7-2010feb07,0,3073458.story Louisiana's lieutenant governor will be the first white city leader since his father, 'Moon' Landrieu, left office in 1978.

The Fix - White House moves to make the filibuster a campaign issue

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/making-the-filibuster-a-campai.html Over the past week, President Obama and his senior aides have repeatedly cited Republicans' filibuster threats as the primary reason for the lack of progress on big ticket legislative items, an early sign that Democrats will seek to use this bit of legislative arcana against the GOP in the coming midterm election. At a meeting -- televised, natch -- with Senate Democrats last week, Obama harped on the GOP's willingness to invoke the filibuster, noting that Democrats had taken more cloture votes to end debate and force votes in 2009 than they did in the 1950s and 1960s combined.

In a Message to Democrats, Wall St. Sends Cash to G.O.P. - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08lobby.html?ref=politics The shift reflects the hard political edge to the industry’s campaign to thwart Mr. Obama’s proposals for tighter financial regulations. Just two years after Mr. Obama helped his party pull in record Wall Street contributions — $89 million from the securities and investment business, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics — some of his biggest supporters, like Mr. Dimon, have become the industry’s chief lobbyists against his regulatory agenda. Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

Obama official accuses GOP of using terrorism as ‘political football’ - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-brennan-abdulmutallab8-2010feb08,0,133448.story President Obama's deputy national security advisor accused Republicans on Sunday of using national security as a "political football" and of being disingenuous in criticizing the treatment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day airliner attack. On NBC's "Meet the Press," John Brennan was asked about GOP criticism that the Obama administration was treating the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane as a routine criminal case rather than a terrorist plot. Brennan said he was "tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as a political football. They are going out there. . . unknowing of the facts, and they're making charges and allegations that are not anchored in reality." Republicans have said that Abdulmutallab, 23, should have been treated as an enemy combatant.

Anti-terrorism chief rebukes politicians who use cases as talking points - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702772.html President Obama's senior counterterrorism adviser on Sunday criticized politicians for using terrorism situations such as the Detroit bombing case as a "political football." But leaders of the Republican Party, among the harshest critics of the handling of the Detroit incident, on Sunday disputed John O. Brennan's remarks. Republican House and Senate members have questioned why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day bombing attempt, was not treated as an enemy combatant instead of being questioned for 50 minutes by the FBI and later given his Miranda rights. Former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in her speech Saturday night before the Tea Party convention, said the Obama administration sees "no downsides or upsides to treating terrorists like civilian criminal defendants. But a lot of us would beg to differ."

Palin in 2012? She Says Run Is Possible - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/us/politics/08palin.html?ref=politics “It would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country,” Ms. Palin told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” in an interview recorded a few hours before she gave the keynote address at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. “I won’t close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future.” Those words were buttressed by the response she received at the convention on Saturday night. As Ms. Palin left the stage, the crowd erupted into chants of “Run, Sarah, Run.” Ms. Palin gave the Tea Party crowd exactly what it wanted, declaring the primacy of the Tenth Amendment in limiting government powers, complaining about the bailouts and the “generational theft” of rising deficits and urging the audience to back conservative challengers in contested primaries. “America is ready for another revolution!” she told the crowd, prompting the first of several standing ovations.

Palin says she might run in 2012, that Obama can be beat | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83934.html Sarah Palin said Sunday she might run for president in 2012 if she decides it's good for her family and country. Fresh from a speech to conservative activists at a "tea party" gathering in Nashville, the former Alaska governor said President Barack Obama could be defeated in 2012, that she's boning up on foreign and national policy and that she would run if it felt right. "I would," she said on Fox News, where she's a paid contributor. "I would if I believed that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family. Certainly, I would do so." Palin added: "I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country. I don't know if it's going to be ever seeking a title, though. It may be just doing a darn good job as a reporter or covering some of the current events."

Enthusiastic Republicans crowding many primary races - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-republicans7-2010feb07,0,1980043.story As the Republican Party's chances of success in the fall elections increase week by week, so too has the number of Republican candidates jumping into primaries across the country. Party officials claim to welcome the enthusiasm, but in many places it's the sort of welcome reserved for an uninvited guest. Or eight uninvited guests, as is the case in Arkansas, where the lineup of candidates wanting to challenge Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln has swelled to nine. An open seat in Tennessee has four Republicans vying for the nomination, and one erstwhile Republican running as an independent. Two competitive districts in Virginia have drawn out 11 hopefuls between them. Races in Nevada, New Hampshire and California also are crowding fast. In cases such as Arkansas', a surplus of candidates is evidence of an eagerness to take on a politically weak Democrat. Lincoln's approval ratings are among the lowest in the Senate. In other cases, it's a result of internal strife between the party's establishment and the often more-conservative newcomers. Experts say that those primaries promise to deliver very public and expensive displays of division that could undercut GOP efforts to win seats in November.

David Plouffe advising White House on 2010 midterm elections - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702402.html Ask David Plouffe how Democrats can recover from their electoral setbacks over the past few months and he has a simple answer: Republicans. "Politics is a comparative exercise," Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, told the Fix in his first extended interview since he took on a broadened political role for the White House in advance of the midterm elections. "This isn't just a referendum on Democrats or our party. It's a choice." That choice was made explicit far too late in last month's special Senate election in Massachusetts between then-state Sen. Scott Brown (R) and state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), Plouffe noted. "Everyone would agree that the definition of Brown should have happened a lot sooner and a lot more clearly," he said. The Democratic defeat, which meant the loss of a filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority, served as something of a wake-up call for the White House -- making clear the need to step up its efforts (and ability) to effectively monitor what is expected to be a large playing field this fall.

Welfare back as a campaign issue for GOP in California | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/83956.html Ronald Reagan singled out what he called a "welfare queen" for abusing government aid. Newt Gingrich pushed welfare reform as part of his Contract With America. Now, Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, the top Republican candidates for California governor, are bringing back welfare as a key issue in their quest for primary votes. Welfare's high-profile role in the race became clear last month when Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, unveiled her first issue-specific radio ad. "Some people worry that we're creating a welfare state," Whitman says at the start of the spot. "The fact is, California is the welfare state." Poizner, another ultra-wealthy former Silicon Valley CEO, has made tightening welfare rules a key part of his plan to balance the state budget. Like Whitman, Poizner proposes cutting lifetime welfare limits to two years from five.

New Orleans elects Mitch Landrieu mayor - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-orleans-mayor7-2010feb07,0,3073458.story Louisiana's lieutenant governor will be the first white city leader since his father, 'Moon' Landrieu, left office in 1978.

Mass. wind farm that Obama administration might support meets strong resistance - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702965.html Interior Secretary Ken Salazar journeyed out into Nantucket Sound on a Coast Guard vessel last week to signal the Obama administration's readiness to put some muscle behind wind energy. To do that, Salazar has to resolve a battle over building a wind farm on 25 square miles of open water that has driven a rift between environmentalists, infuriated local Native Americans and threatened one of the administration's cherished priorities.

In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story The Republican governor is 'eager to get started,' and the state's Democratic senators are urging the Obama administration to begin selling leases next year. The plan has raised concern from NASA.

Mass. wind farm that Obama administration might support meets strong resistance - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702965.html Interior Secretary Ken Salazar journeyed out into Nantucket Sound on a Coast Guard vessel last week to signal the Obama administration's readiness to put some muscle behind wind energy. To do that, Salazar has to resolve a battle over building a wind farm on 25 square miles of open water that has driven a rift between environmentalists, infuriated local Native Americans and threatened one of the administration's cherished priorities.

NOAA reorganization would provide more info on global warming - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020801696.html The initiative, modeled loosely on the 140-year-old National Weather Service, will provide forecasts to farmers, regional water managers and business operators affected by changing climate conditions. But it comes at a time when climate skeptics have become increasingly effective in attacking the credibility of global warming forecasts. NOAA, along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, ranks as one of the federal government's key agencies for monitoring the climate and conducting climate research. "We currently respond to millions of annual requests for climate information, and we expect those requests to grow exponentially," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco in an interview, adding that in light of recent scientific advances, "the models will continue to improve, and we will be able to provide more and more information." The move does not come with a designated boost in funding, but it will bring NOAA's climate research arm together with its more consumer-oriented services so they can operate, in Lubchenco's words, "cheek by jowl."

Mid-Atlantic slowly digs out from massive snowstorm - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/02/08/mid_atlantic_slowly_digs_out_from_massive_snowstorm/ Planes were grounded, trains stood still and Greyhound buses weren’t rolling in the Mid-Atlantic yesterday, leaving stranded travelers wondering when they would be able to escape the icy, gray mess created by a major snowstorm. Federal agencies will be closed today in Washington as the region continues to dig out from the weekend storm that dumped 2 to 3 feet of snow in some areas. The federal shutdown affects about 230,000 government employees who work inside the Washington Beltway. It costs the government approximately $100 million to close for the day. Essential services will continue and emergency employees will be required to report to work. Hundreds of thousands of homes were without power with temperatures below freezing all day, and utilities warned that it could be days before all service is restored. Plows had scraped down to bare pavement on some main thoroughfares while not touching streets in many areas.

Researchers target humpback whales in herring loss study - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/02/08/researchers_target_humpback_whales_in_herring_loss_study/ Something is holding down the herring population of Prince William Sound, and marine scientists are tailing some rather large suspects: humpback whales. Humpbacks, once hunted to near extinction, are thriving in waters fouled 21 years ago by the Exxon Valdez, the supertanker that ran aground and leaked nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil. The herring population crashed after the spill but should have rebounded by now. One hypothesis is that humpbacks, traditionally summer residents in the sound, are taking a big bite out of vast herring schools that form in the deep water of the sound’s fjords each autumn. Jan Straley, a marine biology professor at the University of Alaska Southeast, and other researchers have studied whales the last two winters with surprising results. Humpbacks are showing up in significant numbers, even in winter. When summer resident whales leave, others humpbacks move in. Some summer residents are even skipping their annual transoceanic mating and birthing trips to Hawaii and Mexico in favor of icy Alaska waters.

In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story The Republican governor is 'eager to get started,' and the state's Democratic senators are urging the Obama administration to begin selling leases next year. The plan has raised concern from NASA.

Homeland’s crisis strains Haitian families in region - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/08/homelands_crisis_strains_haitian_families_in_region/ In the aftermath of the devastating quake, Haitians in Massachusetts and beyond are facing intense pressure to pay for medical care, food, and shelter for loved ones in Haiti - and even to find ways to bring them here. But for many local Haitians, the new demands are sorely straining families struggling to make ends meet. Haitian immigrants and their children are a diverse mix of professionals and laborers, but they are hurting more in the recession than average state residents, according to recent census data. About 13.5 percent of Haitians fell under the poverty line, nearly double the state average, while their per capita income was $18,000, compared with $33,800 statewide. Still, immigrants and others are digging into their savings and wiring what they can to Haiti from money-transfer kiosks set up in bakeries, minimarts, and storefronts across Massachusetts. Carlo Jean Michel of Boston, a 56-year-old parking valet, sent money to a friend who lost several relatives and her house. But he also sent her bus fare so that she could travel from the town of Merger to Port-au-Prince to locate Michel’s missing daughter.

Haitians prepare for boat journey to Florida - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-haiti-boats7-2010feb07,0,3603449.story An orphaned teen is one of two dozen Haitians on a vessel awaiting their time to leave. Some are further enticed by news that Haitians in the U.S. have 'temporary protected status' after the quake.

Al-Qaeda is a wounded but dangerous enemy - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702984.html In the past six weeks, Americans have witnessed two jarringly different -- but completely accurate -- views of al-Qaeda's terrorist network. One image was that of terrorist leaders being hunted down and killed by satellite-guided, pilotless aircraft. The other was of an agile foe slipping past U.S. defenses and increasingly intent on striking inside the United States. New assessments of al-Qaeda by the top U.S. counterterrorism experts offer grounds for both optimism and concern a year after President Obama took office. Officials say al-Qaeda's ability to wage mass-casualty terrorism has been undercut by relentless U.S. attacks on the network's leadership, finances and training camps. But even in its weakened state, the group has shifted tactics to focus on small-scale operations that are far harder to detect and disrupt, analysts say. The deadly November shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Tex., and the failed Christmas Day attempt to bomb an airliner -- both examples of the low-tech approach -- have raised the fear level in Washington and across the country. Some terrorism experts say the worst could be still to come as a wounded jihadist movement thrashes about in search of a victory.

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner: Global bank reform still needed - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/06/AR2010020602297.html Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Saturday that the recovery in the global economy has not caused major economies to ease up on their commitment to stiffen the rules for banks. "We all share a deep commitment to try to move forward and reach agreement on a strong, comprehensive set of financial reforms on the timetable we all committed to last September," he said at a news conference after a meeting of Group of Seven finance chiefs in Iqaluit, Canada. "That means agreement on . . . a new set of capital requirements for large global institutions by the end of this year," he added, playing down the possibility that the United States might be headed in a different direction from the G-7. President Obama has proposed additional rules that would limit proprietary trading by banks, put them out of the hedge fund and private equity business and limit their future growth through a new market share cap.

Iraqi protests target Saddam loyalists - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2010/02/08/iraqi_protests_target_saddam_loyalists/ Hundreds of protesters denounced Iraqis still loyal to Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Party yesterday as tensions soared over the decision to blacklist suspected Baathists from next month’s election. Protesters chanted and carried signs that said, “No, No to Ba’ath Party!’’ and “The return of the Ba’ath Party is a return to mass graves.’’ Shi’ite officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his political allies, are trying to purge all high-level posts of Iraqis with ties to the Ba’ath party, which was outlawed in Iraq in 2003. A decision to ban about 450 candidates from March 7 parliamentary elections because of suspected ties to Hussein’s regime has threatened to reopen wounds between once-dominant Sunnis and the Shi’ite majority. The ban is widely seen as targeting Sunnis, though Shi’ites are on the blacklist as well.

Twin bombings kill at least 22 in Pakistan - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-pakistan-blasts6-2010feb06,0,3221782.story A bus filled with Shiite Muslims was attacked, then a second blast occurred at a hospital where victims of the first explosion were taken.

Why are U.S., allies telling Taliban about coming offensive? | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83858.html Thousands of U.S., British and Afghan troops are poised to launch the biggest offensive of the war in Afghanistan in a test of the Obama administration's new counterinsurgency strategy. Military operations usually are intended to catch the enemy off guard, but for weeks U.S. and allied officials have been telling reporters about their forthcoming assault on Marjah, a Taliban-held town of 80,000 and drug-trafficking hub in southern poppy-growing Helmand province. Senior NATO commanders and top Afghan officials have openly discussed the approximate time of Operation Moshtarak — the Dari language word for "together" — the size of the force and their objectives in news conferences, interviews and press releases that have been disseminated around the world and posted on government Web sites. Leaflets have been airdropped on the town. Though the exact time of the kickoff hasn't been disclosed, a "news article" posted Thursday on the British Ministry of Defense's site announced that operations involving "elements of the Royal Welsh, Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards" and Afghan forces "in preparation" for the Marjah attack had been underway for 36 hours.

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Afghan force faces crucial test in Marja - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-army7-2010feb07,0,6823905.story As doubts increase about the Afghan security force's ability to take over security next year, soldiers' participation in a Marine offensive in Helmand will serve as a measure of readiness.

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NATO arrests Afghan police official accused of aiding insurgents - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-arrest8-2010feb08,0,4683092.story NATO forces swooped down on the home of a senior Afghan police official, arrested him and accused him of helping insurgents make and plant roadside bombs, Western military officials said Sunday. The incident, which took place last week in Kapisa province in eastern Afghanistan, is likely to raise tensions between foreign forces and the national police. That partnership is considered a crucial element of plans by the Obama administration to draw down American forces starting next year. Before any large-scale Western pullout occurs, Afghan security forces are supposed to take on more responsibility for safeguarding the country.

Iran’s Nuclear Move Prompts New Calls for Sanctions - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/world/middleeast/09iran.html?ref=world Officials from the United States, France and Russia called Monday for stronger measures against Tehran after Iran told the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency that it would begin enriching its stockpile of uranium for a medical reactor in Tehran as early as Tuesday. In Paris, the visiting United States defense secretary, Robert M. Gates, said the Obama administration and the other nations had reached out sincerely to reassure Iran and entice it to negotiate an end to its nuclear program. “All of these initiatives have been rejected,” Mr. Gates said. While “we must still try and find a peaceful way to resolve this issue,” he said, “the only path that is left to us at this point, it seems to me, is that pressure track. But it will require all of the international community to work together.” Separately, the French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, said, “The only thing we can do, alas, is apply sanctions given that negotiations are impossible.” In Moscow, Konstantin I. Kosachyov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of the Russian Parliament, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as urging the international community to prepare “serious measures.”

Israel says it’s willing to talk peace with Syria - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2010/02/08/israel_says_its_willing_to_talk_peace_with_syria/ Israel’s prime minister attempted to end a war of words with Syria yesterday, saying his country is open to peace talks with its longtime enemy. Israeli and Syrian officials have traded threats over the past week, raising concerns of an escalation between countries that have officially been at war for more than 60 years. Israel desires peace agreements with “all of its neighbors,’’ Benjamin Netanyahu told his weekly Cabinet meeting. “We did it with Egypt and Jordan, and we want to achieve similar agreements with the Palestinians and the Syrians,’’ he said. “I hope that we are on the brink of renewing negotiations with the Palestinians, and we are open to renewing the process with the Syrians as well.’’ Netanyahu’s comments came after an ominous exchange between officials in the countries.

8 in Congress urge Obama to halt talks over Cuba’s arrest of contractor | McClatchy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/83864.html Eight congressional Republicans on Friday alleged the Obama administration is trying to "appease"' the Cuban government after the arrest in Havana of a Washington subcontractor, and called for the cancellation of bilateral migration talks now set for Feb. 19. "We are greatly concerned about the manner in which the administration is handling the arrest of Alan Gross'' and its impact on the U.S. government's pro-democracy programs in Cuba, they wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Gross, a Maryland subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has been jailed in Havana since his Dec. 4 arrest after delivering sophisticated communications equipment to Jewish groups on the island. The letter to Clinton noted that after Gross' arrest, USAID strongly discouraged recipients of U.S. pro-democracy funds from traveling to Cuba, and that nongovernmental organizations "have been informed that the administration is considering taking democracy assistance funding in a `new direction.'''

Obama official accuses GOP of using terrorism as ‘political football’ - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-brennan-abdulmutallab8-2010feb08,0,133448.story President Obama's deputy national security advisor accused Republicans on Sunday of using national security as a "political football" and of being disingenuous in criticizing the treatment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day airliner attack. On NBC's "Meet the Press," John Brennan was asked about GOP criticism that the Obama administration was treating the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane as a routine criminal case rather than a terrorist plot. Brennan said he was "tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as a political football. They are going out there. . . unknowing of the facts, and they're making charges and allegations that are not anchored in reality." Republicans have said that Abdulmutallab, 23, should have been treated as an enemy combatant.

Anti-terrorism chief rebukes politicians who use cases as talking points - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702772.html President Obama's senior counterterrorism adviser on Sunday criticized politicians for using terrorism situations such as the Detroit bombing case as a "political football." But leaders of the Republican Party, among the harshest critics of the handling of the Detroit incident, on Sunday disputed John O. Brennan's remarks. Republican House and Senate members have questioned why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day bombing attempt, was not treated as an enemy combatant instead of being questioned for 50 minutes by the FBI and later given his Miranda rights. Former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in her speech Saturday night before the Tea Party convention, said the Obama administration sees "no downsides or upsides to treating terrorists like civilian criminal defendants. But a lot of us would beg to differ."

After Buying Spree, China Owns Stakes in Top U.S. Firms - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/business/global/09invest.html?ref=business Flush with cash despite the global economic downturn, China’s sovereign wealth fund quietly snapped up more than $9 billion worth of shares last year in some of the biggest American corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup.

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Cry for Self-Rule by Tamils Is Muffled by Reality - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/world/asia/08lanka.html?ref=world After 26 years of war that ended with a decisive government assault last May, Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority seems no closer to winning a measure of autonomy in a Sinhalese-dominated nation, and Tamil nationalism, the cri de coeur of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, seems all but dead. “All of this armed struggle, so many dead and wounded, for what?” said P. Balasundarampillai, who leads the Citizen Committee in this city on the claw-shaped peninsula of the northern Tamil heartland. “In many spheres of public life our role is very much reduced. Economically we are weak, and politically we are weak.” Just how little power Tamils have was made plain in last month’s presidential election. Though the Tamil Tigers’ war for a separate homeland in the north and east of this island nation has dominated life in Sri Lanka for nearly three decades, the question of how to address the root causes of the conflict — perceived discrimination by the Sinhalese majority against the Tamils — barely figured in the campaign.

Homeland’s crisis strains Haitian families in region - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/08/homelands_crisis_strains_haitian_families_in_region/ In the aftermath of the devastating quake, Haitians in Massachusetts and beyond are facing intense pressure to pay for medical care, food, and shelter for loved ones in Haiti - and even to find ways to bring them here. But for many local Haitians, the new demands are sorely straining families struggling to make ends meet. Haitian immigrants and their children are a diverse mix of professionals and laborers, but they are hurting more in the recession than average state residents, according to recent census data. About 13.5 percent of Haitians fell under the poverty line, nearly double the state average, while their per capita income was $18,000, compared with $33,800 statewide. Still, immigrants and others are digging into their savings and wiring what they can to Haiti from money-transfer kiosks set up in bakeries, minimarts, and storefronts across Massachusetts. Carlo Jean Michel of Boston, a 56-year-old parking valet, sent money to a friend who lost several relatives and her house. But he also sent her bus fare so that she could travel from the town of Merger to Port-au-Prince to locate Michel’s missing daughter.

Haitians prepare for boat journey to Florida - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-haiti-boats7-2010feb07,0,3603449.story An orphaned teen is one of two dozen Haitians on a vessel awaiting their time to leave. Some are further enticed by news that Haitians in the U.S. have 'temporary protected status' after the quake.

Obama tries to rally Democrats, defends healthcare overhaul - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-dnc7-2010feb07,0,4756598.story Attempting to rouse a party shaken by electoral setbacks, President Obama told fellow Democrats on Saturday that he would press ahead with his healthcare proposal and other pieces of his ambitious agenda, rejecting suggestions that a more cautious approach might minimize losses in the upcoming midterm elections. Obama, who left the White House during a blizzard, sought to rally Democratic National Committee members in a speech that was part pep talk and part prescription for what the party must do to overcome problems reflected by the loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat held by the late Democratic icon Edward M. Kennedy. Trimming goals and postponing hard choices are the wrong approach, the president said. In an emotional high point of his 20-minute address, Obama acknowledged that the public wonders whether elected officials can overcome the immense power of lobbyists and special interests and "confront the real problems that touch their lives."

Beverage industry douses tax on soft drinks - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-soda-tax7-2010feb07,0,282916.story Employing a broad-based lobbying effort, the soft drink industry has smothered a plan to tax sugared beverages -- a plan advocates said would have reduced obesity and helped finance healthcare reform. Only months ago, public health advocates thought the tax would be a natural for congressional Democrats looking for revenue to fund expanded health insurance coverage. The soaring costs of treating ailments related to excess weight -- including diabetes and heart disease -- added urgency to the issue. But the White House staff reviewing funding options never embraced the idea even after President Obama expressed interest last summer. A key congressional committee, after initially seeming receptive, ended up refusing to consider it. Several minority advocacy groups, including some committed to fighting obesity, lined up against the tax after years of receiving financial support from the industry. There is no sign that First Lady Michelle Obama will mention taxes Tuesday when she unveils her new healthy-eating initiative, which had input from fast food and soft drink representatives.

Toyota to recall and repair brakes on new Priuses sold in Japan - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020700758.html Toyota's quality woes mounted over the weekend, with a reported decision in its home market to recall and repair the brakes on its latest model of the Prius, the hybrid that last year was the best-selling new car in Japan. Company sources told dealers and the Japanese media that at least 170,000 of the cars in Japan would be subject to the recall, which will fix a software glitch in antilock brakes. Owners have complained that the car's brakes sometimes fail briefly on bumpy roads. Toyota also intends to begin recalls or voluntary repairs for more than 300,000 of the new Prius models, which have been sold in about 60 countries, company sources told local media. About 103,000 of the newest Prius models have been sold in the United States since May, and Toyota has told dealers that it is preparing a plan to repair the brakes on those. A Toyota executive, in a message to U.S. dealers, said the plan will be announced this week.

Obama official accuses GOP of using terrorism as ‘political football’ - latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-brennan-abdulmutallab8-2010feb08,0,133448.story President Obama's deputy national security advisor accused Republicans on Sunday of using national security as a "political football" and of being disingenuous in criticizing the treatment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day airliner attack. On NBC's "Meet the Press," John Brennan was asked about GOP criticism that the Obama administration was treating the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane as a routine criminal case rather than a terrorist plot. Brennan said he was "tiring of politicians using national security issues such as terrorism as a political football. They are going out there. . . unknowing of the facts, and they're making charges and allegations that are not anchored in reality." Republicans have said that Abdulmutallab, 23, should have been treated as an enemy combatant.

Anti-terrorism chief rebukes politicians who use cases as talking points - washingtonpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702772.html President Obama's senior counterterrorism adviser on Sunday criticized politicians for using terrorism situations such as the Detroit bombing case as a "political football." But leaders of the Republican Party, among the harshest critics of the handling of the Detroit incident, on Sunday disputed John O. Brennan's remarks. Republican House and Senate members have questioned why Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the Christmas Day bombing attempt, was not treated as an enemy combatant instead of being questioned for 50 minutes by the FBI and later given his Miranda rights. Former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in her speech Saturday night before the Tea Party convention, said the Obama administration sees "no downsides or upsides to treating terrorists like civilian criminal defendants. But a lot of us would beg to differ."

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Daily News Digest for 2/8/2010

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National News

Some Democrats seek change in filibuster rules, but others are wary - washingtonpost.com

Obama to invite GOP to healthcare summit - latimes.com

With Federal Stimulus Money Gone, Many Schools Face Budget Gaps - NYTimes.com

Report: ‘No strategic value’ to Afghan outpost where 8 died | McClatchy

Colorado News

Congress left to pick up health care pieces | GJSentinel.com

Romanoff complains about Obama’s campaign visit | VailDaily.com

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Senate candidate rails against insiders

Tancredo blasted for poll test idea - The Denver Post

Senate Democrats : GOP math “fairy tale” | The Spot

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Cuts cast bleak outlook for some programs

Doomed bills return to Colorado lawmakers year after year | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Pinnacol workers comp resists lawmaker efforts to increase public input | Colorado Independent

Swalm leads defense of men at health insurance hearing | Colorado Independent

Water-transfer mitigation bill dies in House | GJSentinel.com

Liquor-sale bills change the game - The Denver Post

Feds put $424 million into FasTracks, Union Station - The Denver Post

CU budget the topic at town hall meeting - Boulder Daily Camera

Conservationist: Colorado sees climate change effects | AspenTimes.com

Hot Springs Community Clashes With Hot Energy Source in Colo. - NYTimes.com

Courts to decide whether First Amendment protects lies about being a war hero - washingtonpost.com

Telluride Daily Planet - An anti-gay group plans a Gay Ski Week protest

News by Category

Colorado News

Civil Liberties and Equality

Lawmakers tussle over bill that would ease insurance gender discrimination « Colorado Independe

Arapahoe County to use iris scans to ID suspects - The Denver Post

‘Swift Justice’ documentary to show in Greeley | Greeley Tribune

Motel worker with keys to every room was sex offender - The Denver Post

Crime and Penal Reform

House to hear DUI felony bill | The Spot

Repeat DUI offenders must get jail terms, panel says - The Denver Post

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

Windsor struggles to find a resolution | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

Medical marijuana on agenda for Fort Collins officials | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

Northern Colorado expo quietly touts medical marijuana | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

Man claiming pot card didn’t complete the paperwork | VailDaily.com

Arapahoe County DA’s office accused of blacklisting therapist - The Denver Post

County faults state in release of felon who killed mother | GJSentinel.com

Arapahoe County to use iris scans to ID suspects - The Denver Post

Deputy struck by car, suspect shot during DUI stop in Castle Rock - The Denver Post

Fruita police building’s needs taking a back seat — for now | GJSentinel.com

News : IRS on high alert for fraudulent returns, warn of likely scams (Montrose, CO)

Vail Valley philanthropist Vilar gets 9 years - The Denver Post

Family upset after police shoot dog. - The Denver Post

Sheriff Braudis back home from hospital | AspenTimes.com

Trial begins for man accused of killing two women and boy in ice cream shop - The Denver Post

Nederland preschool could get approval to reopen Monday - Boulder Daily Camera

Hospital tech in Hep C saga lets guilty plea stand - The Denver Post

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Ianne matter hangs in limbo

Former Morrison principal found not guilty in sex-assault case - The Denver Post

Police: Woman head-butted Avon officer | VailDaily.com

Loveland’s first baby of 2010 dead; mother in jail - The Denver Post

Motel worker with keys to every room was sex offender - The Denver Post

Fears of hantavirus hinder cold-case probe - The Denver Post

Telluride Daily Planet - Local man charged in helping to defraud three banks of $290m

Landscaping contractor jailed, accused of fraud | Greeley Tribune

The Pueblo Chieftain :: Local area contractor arrested

Handcuffed burglary suspect escapes from Aurora police car - The Denver Post

Gas siphoning and shooting may be related, Springs police say | Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Report: Owners tried to hide pit bull from authorities after attack | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoa

Economy

Den Post: Colo. GOP lawmakers heavy on rhetoric light on specifics « Colorado Independent

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tough times, tough week dominate lawmakers’ talk

Durango Herald News, ‘Amazon tax’ roils Colorado retailers

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: Tax bill affecting steel mill progresses

Opposition warns tax hikes in state may mean layoffs - Boulder Daily Camera

Proposals loosen up liquor business | GJSentinel.com

Pot-dispensary boom has affiliated businesses buzzing - The Denver Post

Labor department reps offer in-person answers | coloradoan.com | The Coloradoan

Vice President Biden visits Beaver Creek | PostIndependent.com

Rifle gas wholesaler sees expanded business in compressed natural gas | GJSentinel.com