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April 30, 2007
New Immigration Law Frustrates Local Non-Profits by Sarah Hughes
April 30, 2007 7:40 PM
The Catholic Charities based in Glenwood Springs helps newcomers to the United States. One of its programs, the immigrant advocacy project, helps immigrants through tough times...regardless of their legal status.
On a recent afternoon, a soft-spoken man named Eduardo pays a visit to the project. He's lived in the valley over ten years, has a decent job, and is in the process of obtaining legal status.
[LISTEN]
But he tells a Catholic Charities advocate that his family is under great stress:
"Mi esposa...sufrio dolor de cabeza... y le hizo un MRI, y descubrio un tumor en el lado izquierdo...la operaeraron...y yo vengo a ver en que me pueden ayudar, yo tengo aseguranza pero no cubre todo..."
My wife was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, he says. She's been operated on twice.
Eduardo says he has health insurance...but it doesn't cover everything. And the bills are piling up. The bilingual advocate, Jim Coombs says he can help.
"Podemos discutir si esta recibiendo barious biles... averiguard si la aseguranza esta pagando todo eso..."
Coombs says Catholic Charities can review the medical bills, to see if insurance can cover more.
Catholic Charities may also be able to contribute towards the family's next mortgage payment.
Last year, the immigrant advocacy program received funding from Pitkin County. This year it did not.
That's because of a relatively new state immigration law...known as house bill 1023. It bans state and local tax-funded public benefit money from being spent on undocumented immigrants... with some exceptions.
The idea was to prevent immigrants who aren't in the country lawfully from getting public assistance. When Pitkin County took a second look at Catholic Charities immigrant advocacy project under the new state restrictions, it decided the project didn't pass muster. Nan Sundeen is the county's Health and Human Services Director:
"We had to really consider the contribution of Pitkin county funds to their organization. We had to go with how our attorneys interpreted this law because ultimately they are the ones responsible for defending it."
Catholic Charities director Tom Zieman says the loss of a funding is a setback for the program:
"We have a shortfall And so the way that it affects us is that it hampers our ability to do those services, which we think are pretty important, of helping immigrants with the problems they face as immigrants."
Catholic Charities did receive money from Pitkin County for an emergency fund to help immigrants, both documented and undocumented. Some kinds of emergency relief are exempt under the new law.
Other non-profits in the Roaring Fork Valley are facing different challenges with HB 1023.
David Adamson with Mountain Family Health Centers, which provides care to many low-income and uninsured residents, says counties and non-profits have different interpretations of the law. He says that can make drafting health care contracts between counties and non-profits a messy affair.
Adamson says his organization hired its own attorney to hash out a contract with Boulder County:
"We ended up getting an attorney, who had to talk to the county attorney of bolder... we had to get clarification about what exactly we could or could not use their money for..its unusual to have lawyers talking on your behalf with people you've worked with for years...but 1023 did that"
Indeed, some say that many counties and localities are being overzealous in their interpretations of the law. Ed Kahn is with the Colorado Center on Law and Policy:
"The city of longmont has required that shelter programs that get city money to require proof of lawful presence from everyone who comes into the shelter... it's a case where a city has been overly strict in the application of the law"
Kahn says many counties are figuring the law out on their own, because the bill's language is vague, and legal advice from the state scant:
"When the law was passed there was slim guidance issued by the Colorado attorney general's office. Our agency submitted a list of 50 questions to the state attorney generals office hoping they would issue guidance and answer questions about the practical application of the statute"
The questions range from whether or not a non-profit that provides English classes to immigrants is exempt from the ban to the much broader question as to whether non-profits even have the legal authority to document the status of people whom they serve.
The Attorney General's office says it will answer the list of questions by the end of this month.
Produced by Sarah Hughes, originally aired on Aspen Public Radio [LINK].
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 7:40 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Health , Immigration , Latino/a , Legal , Politics
Senate Staff, GAO to Look at Mental Health at Ft. Carson
April 30, 2007 4:42 PM
Congressional staff are coming to Ft. Carson to investigate mental health care for soldiers. Also coming are staff from the Government Accountability Office.
Joining them for part of the visit are members of the non-profit group Veterans For America. VFA says theyve been contacted by dozens of soldiers from across the country who complain of mistreatment or abuse at the hands of the Army due to their combat related mental health problems. Those issues were given national media attention last year, with the coverage focusing on Ft. Carson. Following that, nine members of congress asked the Governent Accountability Office to look into treatment of mentally ill soldiers.
WHITNEY: But today, members of VFA say that in spite of increased scrutiny and criticism, Ft. Carson has not made an progress in improving the treatment of soldiers complaining of combat related mental health problems like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.
POGANY: Im sadly coming to the conclusion that absolutely nothing has changed.
WHITNEY: Thats Andrew Pogany of Veterans For America. He has been a persistent critic of how Ft. Carson treats soldiers with mental health problems for at least two years. Pogany says that recent measures Ft. Carson cites as examples of how they have improved mental health care are meaningless. Training to help leaders identify, sympathize and help soldiers with PTSD or other mental problems is flawed and not taken seriously, Pogany says,
POGANY: They seem to not understand that there is a link between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the use of drugs.
WHITNEY: Veterans For America contends that scores of soldiers across the country are being improperly disciplined or discharged for behavior, like drug and alcohol abuse, that can be linked to PTSD. They say most leaders would still rather punish bad behavior than help a soldier deal with its root causes.
For its part, Ft. Carson has admitted its leaders need to be more aware of and sympathetic towards soldiers with PTSD. But, post leaders contend they have adequate staff to deal with demand for mental health services from active duty troops. Ft. Carson spokeswoman Karen Linne says the base hasn't been given official notice of the reason for the visit, but that they are ready to show congress and the GAO anything it wants to see.
LINNE: we here at Ft. Carson host senate and house delegations frequently, this is our fourth visit this year, and we are very proud to show them our post.
WHITNEY: The congressional and GAO staff were originally scheduled to visit Ft. Carson this week, but they trip has now been postponed until the week of May 14th. Veterans For America says its because there is growing interest about the visit on capitol hill and at the Pentagon. The group says that so far, only one congressman from Colorado, Republican Representative Doug Lamborn, is sending staff on the Ft. Carson tour. Other than Kit Bond of Missouri, the senators sending staff are all democrats, and include Barak Obama of Illinois, California's Barbara Boxer, and John Kerry of Massachusetts.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:42 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado Springs , Ft. Carson , Health , Military , Politics
April 27, 2007
Bill to Hire More Judges
April 27, 2007 4:11 PM
Counties across Colorado would get more judges under a bill that aims to relieve the states backlogged court system. The measure initially cleared the senate Thursday after its sponsor delayed it for months while he tried to rally support for the bill. It had already passed the house chamber, but was controversial because of how the new positions would be funded. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
[ LISTEN ]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:11 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Legal , Politics
April 26, 2007
ICE Office to Open in Colorado Springs
April 26, 2007 5:13 PM
[LISTEN]
WHITNEY: Colorado Springs is getting an ICE office. ICE being the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Some local elected leaders, including Sheriff Terry Maketa, have been lobbying for a federal Immigration enforcement office here for more than a year. Today Senator Wayne Allard said he received a report from the agency saying it plans to open ICE offices in Colorado Springs and Greeley. Allards office says they could open within months. Steve Wymer, a spokesman for the senator, says the agency will use existing funding to shift resources to the Springs and Greeley.
Read More -->WYMER: Its a puzzle of law enforcement across the state and now the pieces are coming together in a way that specifically address the needs in El Paso and Weld counties. 08
WHITNEY: Senator Allard has been lobbying for the offices at the request of El Paso and Weld County officials. El Paso County Commissioner Jim Bensberg called the announcement good news, as did Weld County District Attorney Kenneth Buck. Bensberg says local law enforcement needs help, and that the focus of the new ICE office wont necessarily be on busting people just for being in the country illegally.
BENSBERG: we see them focusing on folks who have already committed a crime, and were not about trying to seek out illegal aliens, wherever they might be. Our concern is when they cross the line and enter into our county jails, as a result of a criminal act, and thats when we want the federal government to take the custody and authority of these folks and deal with it at a federal level and relieve the county taxpayers of what essentially amounts to an unfunded mandate.
WHITNEY: Its unclear where criminal aliens would be locked up once theyre arrested. Bensberg says the county jail already has near crisis levels of inmates who are in the country illegally. There is a federal holding facility in Aurora, but it is often too full to take inmates off the hands of local law enforcement. Bensberg says an ICE office in Colorado Springs is just the first step to solving that problem.
BENSBERG: It will force the feds to realize they need to expand the number of holding facilities, and this is just the first part in the equation.
WHITNEY: Attempts to reach immigrant rights groups in Colorado for comment on the potential impact of new federal immigration enforcement offices in Colorado Springs and Greeley were unsuccessful as of our deadline. Likewise, the regional ICE office said they have not yet been given any information on when the new offices might open, how many agents might staff them, or what their budgets might be.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:13 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Agriculture/Ranching , Business/Labor , Colorado Springs , Crime , Immigration , Latino/a , Legal Affairs
Severance Tax Study
April 26, 2007 3:56 PM
The state may not be giving communities affected by oil and gas drilling enough money to offset the impacts of Colorado's energy development boom. To find out, lawmakers created a new committee that will study the issue over the summer. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 3:56 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Energy , Politics
Secrets of the Comix/'Zine Trade
April 26, 2007 11:17 AM
One of Americas leading underground comics artists is speaking tonight at Colorado College. John Porcellino has been self-publishing comics and zines since 1982. Now, he has a new book out published by Canadian publisher Drawn and Quarterly, its called King-Cat Clasix. Porcellino lives in Denver and earlier this week spoke with Noel Black.
Porcellino will speak, give a slide presentation and sign books at Tutt Library, 1021 N. Cascade Ave. 7pm, this event is free and open to the public.
To listen to our 5 minute interview with John Porcellino, click below:
[LISTEN]
To listen to an extended interview with John Porcellino, click below:
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:17 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Arts & Culture , Entertainment , Literature , Visiting CC
April 25, 2007
Springs Culture Cast, Edition 10 (Parts 2 & 3)
April 25, 2007 9:05 PM
New installments of Springs Culture Cast. More at their website [Springs Culture Cast].
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 9:05 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Arts & Culture
Mental Health Parity Bill Advances
April 25, 2007 5:20 PM
When it comes to health care coverage in Colorado, not all illnesses are treated equally. A bill to expand health care coverage to include more mental health problems initially cleared the senate chamber Monday. Several Republicans opposed the measure saying it would drive up health insurance costs. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:20 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Health
Oil and Gas Commission Bill Moves Forward
April 25, 2007 5:07 PM
Negotiations between lawmakers and the energy industry on a controversial bill seemed to have paid off. Senators voted unanimously to initially pass a measure that would change how the state regulates oil and gas development. The bill faced fierce Republican opposition when it cleared the House chamber. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:07 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Energy , Environment , Health
Governor Creates Education Council
April 25, 2007 4:57 PM
Nearly thirty percent of students in Colorado drop out before they graduate from high school, that's according to state figures. On Tuesday Governor Bill Ritter created a council to examine how the state can lower the drop out rate and close the achievement gap between students of different races, gender and economic backgrounds. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:57 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Children & Youth , Education
Religion in the Military Debate at Air Force Academy
April 25, 2007 8:55 AM
Air Force Academy critic Mikey Weinstein debated evangelical Lawyer Jay Sekulow at the Academy on April 24th, 2007.
Click the link below to hear the entire debate.
Wienstein, who is an academy graduate is the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. He has sued the Academy over what he says is officially sanctioned proselytizing of non-Christian cadets. Last October a federal judge threw the suit out. Wienstein has promised to appeal.
Jay Sekulow is the Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, originally founded by Pat Robertson. The Christian Post Newspaper has named him one of the "ten most influential kingmakers for the Republican party.
Sekulow and Weinstein debated the appropriate balance between religious freedom and official neutrality in the military.
[LISTEN]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 8:55 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado Springs , Education , Legal Affairs , Military , Religion
April 24, 2007
News Release from the Office of Gov. Ritter: STRANDED BUSES RESCUED FROM HIGHWAY 94
April 24, 2007 9:46 PM
NEWS RELEASE - OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007
Colorado National Guard troops and local emergency crews have safely rescued four stranded school buses from tonight's storm along Highway 94 in eastern El Paso County. The buses were stranded around 3:30 p.m. today.
Sixty-two children, from elementary through high school, are all safely sheltered in private homes in the area, where they are expected to remain until morning. Another 115 people are in shelters in El Paso County.
El Paso County sheriff's officials, El Paso Search and Rescue teams and Colorado National Guard troops estimate another 30 vehicles are still stranded near the town of Yoder. But many of those motorists are beginning to resume travel on their own as extreme weather conditions moderate.
There are no known injuries from the storm.
Here are the current highway closures from the Colorado Department of Transportation:
Closures
The ramp from northbound I-25 to westbound US 6 is closed for pipe cleaning due to flooding (no estimated time for reopening)
US 285 is closed in both directions between the Morrison exit and Conifer due to a rock in the road (crews have completed the blasting and are now cleaning up. The estimated time for reopening is 10 p.m. tonight.)
US 40 Berthoud Pass is closed and will remain closed overnight
US 6 Loveland Pass is closed and will remain closed overnight
US 24 is closed from Colorado Springs to Limon is closed due to low visibility (opening dependent upon weather conditions)
State Highway 86 is closed from Franktown to Limon (opening dependent upon weather conditions)
State Highway 83 is closed from Franktown to Colorado Springs (opening dependent upon weather conditions)
State Highway 94 is closed from Colorado Springs to Punkin Center (opening dependent upon weather conditions)
Now open
Southbound I-25 from Lincoln to Colorado Springs
I-70 east of the Eisenhower Tunnel in both directions
###
CONTACTS:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
Mindy Crane (CDOT), 303.880.2136
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 9:46 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Regional , Transportation
Springs Council Votes Unanimously For Diversity
April 24, 2007 4:05 PM
Colorado Springs city council voted unanimously today (Tue., April 24) to support a festival celebrating diversity.
The vote came two weeks after a pair of council members expressed concern that city sponsorship of a downtown cultural festival this summer could be seen as the city endorsing groups lobbying for pro-homosexual causes.
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:05 PM| Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business , Colorado Springs , Gay & Lesbian , Politics
Iraq Study Group Member Speaks at CC
April 24, 2007 9:34 AM
The war in Iraq and the changing political landscape in the American west are two topics very much in the headlines lately. Tonight (Tue., 4/24) an expert on both topics speaks at Colorado College. Alan Simpson served 18 years as a U.S. senator from Wyoming, and remains a respected voice in the Republican party. He also was a member of the Iraq Study Group, which in December issued its report, which became a best seller and is influencing the debate in Washington about the war.
We had a chance to talk to Simpson earlier this week about the Iraq study group, and his views on the recent successes of the Democratic party in the American West.
[ LISTEN ]
Simpson speaks tonight at 7:30 at Colorado College in Olin, 1030 N. Nevada Ave.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 9:34 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Elections , Military , Politics , Visiting CC
April 23, 2007
Council to Debate Diversity
April 23, 2007 5:27 PM
Colorado Springs' city council will vote tomorrow (Tue., April 24) on whether to support a downtown cultural festival this summer. At least two members of council have expressed distaste for sponsoring an event where gay groups might be given a forum to express political views.
Two weeks ago the Springs Gazette quoted councilmember Daryl Glenn questioning whether the festival would give voice to pro-gay marriage views, and councilmember Margaret Radford was quoted as saying, "When a large portion of this community does not support gay and lesbian viewpoints, I don't see us putting tax dollars into supporting that direction."
A group called the Colorado Springs Diversity Forum is sponsoring the event, scheduled for August 18. Its intention is to celebrate the many cultures, talents, tastes and traditions in the city. And the forum is asking the City Council to sponsor the event, in part because that would free it from paying the approximately $4,700 in fees the city charges to provide services to non-city sponsored events. The city staff has recommended sponsoring the event and waiving the fees.
But after city council members questioned whether the city should sponsor the cultural festival over gay issues, a spirited debate erupted in local newspapers' op-ed sections, and at least one local non-profit group, the Citizens Project, is encouraging its members to come to tomorrow's city council meeting to lobby for city sponsorship of the event. Newly elected city council member Jan Martin is a member of the Citizens Project board.
The Springs City Council is scheduled to take up the cultural festival issue tomorrow at 1:00pm.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:27 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado Springs , Gay & Lesbian , Politics
Weinstein, Sekulow Debate at Academy
April 23, 2007 4:48 PM
Air Force Academy critic Mikey Weinstein will debate Evangelical Lawyer Jay Sekulow at the Academy tomorrow.
Wienstein, who is an academy graduate is the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. He has sued the Academy over what he says is officially sanctioned proselytizing of non-Christian cadets. Last October a federal judge threw the suit out. Wienstein has promised to appeal.
Jay Sekulow is the Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, originally founded by Pat Robertson. The Christian Post Newspaper has named him one of the Ten most influential Kingmakers for the Republican party.
Sekulow and Weinstein will debate the appropriate balance between religious freedom and official neutrality in the military. The debate, which is open to the public, happens at 5:00 tomorrow afternoon in Arnold Hall at the Academy.
Because of limited parking and seating, those planning to attend should arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. The general public is encouraged to enter via the Academys North Entrance (I-25 Exit 156-B) and park at the Cadet Field House. Shuttle bus transportation will be provided to and from the debate venue.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:48 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Military , Politics , Religion
School Finance Preview
April 23, 2007 4:14 PM
This week lawmakers will debate Governor Bill Ritter's plan to freeze property taxes to help fund public schools. Republicans call it a tax hike because property taxes are scheduled to go down next year, and even some Democrats aren't sold on the idea. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:14 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Education , Politics
Springs Composer Celebrates 30 Years of Bowed Piano
April 23, 2007 2:17 PM
For the past 30 years, Stephen Scott, a professor at Colorado College, has been composing and performing some of the most innovative contemporary classical music in the world. Tomorrow night in Packard Hall on the CC campus, Scott and his Bowed Piano Ensemble will perform a variety of pieces in celebration of the anniversary. Noel Black has more.
[ LISTEN ]
Monday, April 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Film: Beyond the Keyboard: The Bowed Piano Ensemble in and on Film
Two visiting filmmakers, Peter Savage, from London, and Lane Hall '78, from Milwaukee, will discuss and screen their films involving the work of the Bowed Piano Ensemble and its director, composer and CC Music Professor Stephen Scott. Also shown will be clips from the ensemble’s film and television appearances. The Bowed Piano Ensemble at Thirty, a retrospective concert by the ensemble with soprano Victoria Hansen, will take place the following evening as part of the Bowed Piano Ensemble's 30th anniversary celebration. Sponsored by CC's music department.
Location: Packard Hall, Room 9
Tickets: free
This event is open to the general public.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Concert: Retrospective 30th Anniversary Concert of the Bowed Piano Ensemble
Under the direction of CC Music Professor Stephen Scott, the ensemble will perform Scott’s "The Deep Spaces," premiered by Hansen and the ensemble in the medieval town hall in Tallinn, Estonia, in March 2005; excerpts from Scott’s Vikings of the Sunrise, premiered by the ensemble in Norway in 1995; and Crossover, a new composition by ensemble alumnus and manager Bernie Brink '06. The ensemble made its first public appearance as a sub-group of the CC New Music Ensemble on April 24, 1977; it has evolved to attain what John Kennedy of the Spoleto Festival USA calls "legendary" status. Sponsored by the CC music department.
Location: Packard Hall, 5 W. Cache La Poudre St. (map)
Tickets: free; tickets at Worner Campus Center, 902 N. Cascade Ave.
This event is open to the general public.
More infomation is at CC's Events Calendar --> Click here.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 2:17 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Arts & Culture , Colorado Springs , Visiting CC
Springs Culture Cast, Edition 10 (Part 1)
April 23, 2007 12:37 PM
New installment of Springs Culture Cast. More at their website [Springs Culture Cast].
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 12:37 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Arts & Culture
April 21, 2007
GLOBAL PREMIER: "The Big Something"
April 21, 2007 10:11 AM
Somehow area smartypants Noel Black obtained the keys to KRCC and made this show. We don't know what it means.
Among the things Noel brings us this week:
Goat slaughter, chocolate bacon and an episode of Microbe World dealing with hospital acquired diarrhea. There's a million dollar phone call to the 14th century.
Oh, and a commentary on scrota.
Enjoy!
The Big Something premieres on KRCC Sunday, April 29th at 10:30am, right after Western Skies.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 10:11 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Arts & Culture , KRCC Programs
Governor Signs Sudan Divestment Bill
April 21, 2007 1:12 AM
Colorado is joining a growing number of states that are dropping investments with companies they say contribute to the genocide in Darfur. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Delaney Utterback at 1:12 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Politics
April 20, 2007
Cold Case Unit Bill Dies
April 20, 2007 12:53 AM
Lawmakers struck down a bill that would have created a statewide cold case unit to investigate unsolved crimes. The bill failed in the house despite significant changes from it's introduction. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Delaney Utterback at 12:53 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Crime
Columbine Anniversary
April 20, 2007 12:37 AM
Friday marks the eighth anniversary of the Columbine High school shootings in Littleton. Colorado lawmakers say the killings at Virginia Tech earlier in the week make this year's anniversary especially difficult. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Delaney Utterback at 12:37 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Children & Youth , Crime , Legal , Memorial
April 19, 2007
Carson Soldiers Hurry to Prepare For Long Tour
April 19, 2007 5:35 PM
Ft. Carson's 3rd Bridade Combat Team returned from Iraq in November. Now, they're preparing to head back as early as August, three months ahead of schedule. And, they face the prospect of staying in Iraq for an extra 90 days, too. We talk to a couple of the brigade's officers about the challenges they're facing.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:35 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado Springs , Ft. Carson , Military
April 18, 2007
Massive Bee Die-off Threatens Colorado Agriculture
April 18, 2007 5:38 PM
As spring flowers begin to emerge it's time for bees to start getting busy, but nationwide, beekeepers are reporting a die off of the insects beyond anything they've seen before. It's being called colony collapse disorder, and it's proving a significant threat to agriculture in Colorado. From KUNC in Greeley, Brian Larson reports.
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:38 PM| Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Agriculture/Ranching , Colorado , Environment , Science
Anti-Piñon Canyon Bill Headed for Governor's Desk
April 18, 2007 10:25 AM
Lawmakers say the army's plans to expand the Piñon Canyon training facility in southeast Colorado would devastate the state's agriculture industry and heritage. A bill to try and stop the army from using eminent domain powers to seize ranches passed the senate Wednesday. Governor Bill Ritter would not say whether he would sign the measure. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 10:25 AM| Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Agriculture/Ranching , Business , Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Colorado Springs , Environment , Legal Affairs , Politics
April 17, 2007
Governor Ritter Interview
April 17, 2007 5:20 PM
Gov. RitterIn his first 100 days in office, Governor Ritter has dealt with issues from school funding to water disputes, and union issues continue to simmer. Ritter vetoed a pro-union bill just days after taking office, and some union leaders are threatening to make a mess of next year's Democratic National Convention in Denver. He talks his first 100 days over with KCFR's Dan Meyers.
To hear the interview, [ click here ]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 5:20 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Education , Elections , Military , Politics
Reform of Oil and Gas Commission Sailing Through Senate
April 17, 2007 4:09 PM
A bill to expand the commission that regulates Colorado's Oil and Gas industry is moving smoothly through the senate after facing stiff opposition in the house. The industry and some Republicans previously fought expanding the regulatory body, and it's mission, but negotiations appeared to have smoothed things over. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
To hear this report, click below: [ LISTEN ]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:09 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Energy
Greening State Government
April 17, 2007 4:07 PM
State workers will have to think twice before they print documents, and throw paper into the trash. Governor Bill Ritter signed an executive order Monday that requires the state to use less paper and to use environmentally friendly products. The executive order is one of several new laws on energy efficiency. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:07 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Environment , Politics
April 16, 2007
Springs Art Scene at a "Tipping Point"
April 16, 2007 6:38 PM
The arts scene in Colorado Springs is poised for great change - it's either going to get a lot better, or....
That's what a group of local arts professionals talked over last Thursday in the first of a series of panel discussions at UCCS. The Gallery of Contemporary Art there what it's calling it "Incubator" series. Noel Black reports.
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 6:38 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Arts & Culture , Colorado Springs , Media
Open Space Survey
April 16, 2007 4:15 PM
A comprehensive survey of how much open space is protected in Colorado was released today.
Read More -->
The survey, by Colorado State University and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), says that some 30 million acres of open space are protected by governmental agencies or private conservation organizations. In addition, 1.8 million more acres are protected by local or city governments.
CSU and GOCO say the inventory will help focus conservation efforts in Colorado by providing accurate and up-to-date information on open spaces across the state. GOCO Executive Director John Swartout says it will also benefit local governments, state agencies, citizens and land trusts, by helping them understand environmental trends, and better asses the conservation needs of remaining open lands.
Researchers put the survey together by collecting information from 450 agencies in Colorado, including federal, state and local governments and nonprofit organizations.
The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board provided Lottery funds for the inventory and the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State University conducted the research.
To view the survey, Click Here.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:15 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Environment
Religious Rally for Global Warming
April 16, 2007 4:07 PM
Over the weekend thousands of people rallied across the country to raise awareness about climate change. In Colorado, there were at least 35 events across the state. Among them was a rally by religious groups in Denver. It's part of an effort to create a moral dialogue around global warming and get more churches talking about the environment. Bente Birkeland reports.
To hear the complete story, click below:
[ LISTEN ]
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:07 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Environment , Religion
Springs Culture Cast, Edition 9 (parts one and two)
April 16, 2007 8:00 AM
New installments of Springs Culture Cast. More at their website [Springs Culture Cast].
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 8:00 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Arts & Culture , Colorado Springs
April 13, 2007
Graduation Standards
April 13, 2007 8:28 PM
High school students would face tougher graduation requirements under a bill that initially cleared the senate Wednesday. Colorado is one of a handful of states without minimum high school graduation standards. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Delaney Utterback at 8:28 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Children & Youth , Education
Democratic Convention Meeting
April 13, 2007 8:14 PM
Howard Dean came to Denver Thursday to promote the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and meet with state and national labor leaders. It was Dean's first trip to the city since Denver won the bid to host the convention. Some labor groups say Denver is a bad choice because Colorado is not union friendly. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Delaney Utterback at 8:14 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Capitol Coverage , Politics
Death in the Energy Fields
April 13, 2007 1:03 PM
The energy boom in the American West is proving dangerous and deadly for its workforce. Ray Ring, editor at High Country News, wrote a cover story about the danger of natural gas industry jobs, he talks to Aspen Public Radio's Kirk Siegler.
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:03 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Energy , Interview
New Urbanist: Sprawl Makes You Fat
April 13, 2007 12:13 PM
Fat, isolated and out of touch with your community.
Peter Calthorpe is a leading sprawl-fighter. An architect and urban planner, he wrapped up this year's State of the Rockies conference at Colorado College with some advice for sprawling cities like Colorado Springs on how we can slim down and start engaging with our neighbors again.
To hear CC Student Tay Wiles' report, click below
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To hear all of Peter Calthorpe's speech click below:
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 12:13 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Visiting CC
April 12, 2007
Governor Makes Roadless Decision
April 12, 2007 7:51 PM
Governor Bill Ritter petitioned the federal government to protect 4 million acres of roadless areas in Colorado. Ritter made changes to a petition former Governor Bill Owens submitted last year. But some environmentalists say Ritter's petition doesn't go far enough. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Delaney Utterback at 7:51 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Colorado , Environment , Transportation
State Money for Communities Affected by the Bark Beetle
April 12, 2007 6:57 PM
A bill that would allocate state money to mountain communities that are near forests affected by the bark beetle epidemic is garnering widespread support. You can listen to Aspen Public Radio's Kirk Siegler report: [ LISTEN ].
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 6:57 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Environment , Forest Plans
April 11, 2007
Vegas: The Shape of Things to Come in the West
April 11, 2007 4:30 PM
If there's one defining characteristic of the American West, its aridity, dryness of climate. The continuing challenge of dealing with aridity is a big theme at this year's State of the Rockies conference at Colorado College. And perhaps no city in the Rocky Mountain West faces greater challenges in meeting its water needs than Las Vegas. It may be just down the road from Lake Mead, but it doesn't have the rights to use much of the water in that reservoir, so its had to be very creative about acquiring it from elsewhere.
To hear the four minute report aired on KRCC click below:
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To hear all of Kay Brother's speech click below:
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Read More -->BROTHERS : Anything from bringing water down in ships from Alaska,
anything, its tried to look at.
WHITNEY : Kay Brothers has a lot to do with keeping the taps flowing
in the Las Vegas valley. She's the deputy manager of the Southern
Nevada Water Authority. That agency is trying to keep up with ten
percent annual population growth in one of the driest places in
the West. Many look to Vegas as a model for how other western cities
can meet their needs as populations continue to grow, while at the
same time climate change looks to be reducing the overall amount of
water available in our region.
BROTHERS : We have a train coming at us if people continue to move to
the West as they are.
WHITNEY : Brothers was the State of the Rockies keynote speaker Monday
night. She said Las Vegas didn't really start making progress in
augmenting its water supply until the various cities, counties and
other government entities in the Las Vegas Valley stopped competing
for water and started cooperating. In the late 1980s they held a big
conference to try and work out solutions.
BROTHERS : You can imagine, everybody brought their attorney. Well,
the attorneys could come, they were welcome, but they had to sit
along the wall and shut up.
WHITNEY : Once the governments in the Las Vegas area got together,
they could start negotiating as a team with other states in the
Colorado River basin. Due to an agreement drawn up in the early
1900s, Nevada gets far less water from the Colorado than other states
in the basin, and Vegas has had to be very creative about accessing
every drop it has a right to.
BROTHERS : Its very interesting being a water manager in the West.
And I think flexibility and planning, and trying to work together to
meet these needs, is going to be the way of the West.If we continue to allow everyone moving here, and not just in Las Vegas in all the Western cities, if we continue to do that we hav a lot of working together to do and a lot of
conservation and a lot of flexibility that we have to put in.
WHITNEY : After marveling at how creative and collaborative Las Vegas
has been in finding water where there appears to be none, someone in
the audience asked Brothers if, eventually, the city, and by
extension the West, will hit a wall, when simply no more water is
available.
BROTHERS : Isnt there going to be a day of reckoning? That's probably
true. If people continue to move here, you can be efficient, you can trade water, you can share water, you can take it and bank it, and all that but, there will be a day, especially if climate change is, well we know it's true but how quickly it changes and whatever, there's going to be a day of reckoning so we better start looking now at long term augmentation if we're still going to allow the West to grow.
WHITNEY :The long-term augmentation Las Vegas is looking at includes
pulling seawater from the Pacific ocean and running it through a huge
de-salting plant that will consume prodigious amounts of energy.
That's after it completes a $2 billion pipeline to bring water 200
miles south from northern Nevada. An old joke says that in the West
water flows uphill towards money, Vegas isnt running short of that
commodity, but Brothers says water users there might one day see an
additional charge on their water bills to pay for the energy to de-
salt their water and pump it across great distances.
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:30 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Environment , Visiting CC
Blind Commission
April 11, 2007 3:38 PM
The blind would be stealing money from the deaf. So say opponents of a bill that would use money slated for the deaf community to create a commission for the blind. The commission would recommend changes to state services for the blind and visually impaired. The bill recently passed a senate committee on a party line vote and has already cleared the house chamber. Supporters deny claims that the measure would take money away from deaf people. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Posted by Delaney Utterback at 3:38 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Health
St. Patrick's Parade Arrestees Arraigned
April 11, 2007 12:24 PM
The seven people arrested at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Colorado Springs appeared in court for the first time Tuesday and chose to plead their cases before a jury.
Charged with failure to disperse when arrested,