DA: Stabbing was Self-Defense

Morgan County Distinct Attorney Robert Watson said the thinks Rocky Perez's fatal stabbing was self defense. The 25 year old suffered stab wounds to his chest more than a week ago at a house on Meeker Street. Watson said Perez was holding a knife as he assaulted a pregnant woman and threatened to kill her when she wrestled the knife from him and cut him once, but he kept beating her. She then stabbed him one in the heard and a police investigation confirmed the stabbing was a self defense move. Watson has not decided whether any charges will be filed.

Markey's Rep Holds Local Office Hours

Congresswoman Betsy Markey's representative will hold office hours in Sterling this coming Friday. Mac McGraw will be at the Sterling Journal-Advocate meeting room on Friday. The idea, the congresswoman's office said, is to give area residents a chance to get individual help in handling federal issues like Veterans Affairs, Social Security and Medicare. McGraw will be at the newspaper's office from 11 a.m. to noon next Friday.

Arvada Man Allegedly Shoos at Cops

Police in Arvada say a man was arrested after he allegedly fired shots at officers yesterday. Arvada police say William Hernandez was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment and prohibited use of a weapon. They said Hernandez fired several shots outside of Woody's Wood Fired Pizza on Sheridan Boulevard around 1:30 in the morning and fired several more shots as he drove off. Officers believe the man may not have been firing at anyone in particular but did so to impress people from a party he attended.

Colorado Doc Gets Probation

A federal judge has sentenced a doctor who cooperated with drug investigators in Mobile in a steroids probe to a year of probation.
The Press-Register newspaper reports that 55-year-old Scott A. Corliss of Greeley, was sentenced Friday.
Corliss pleaded guilty in January 2008 to withholding information about a conspiracy to write prescriptions for anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances.
His guilty plea led to criminal charges against several others in the investigation of Mobile-based Applied Pharmacy Services. A prosecutor had asked for leniency on his behalf.
As part of his plea bargain, Corliss forfeited $12,000.

El Paso Co Calls for Maes to Drop Out of Race

An El Paso County elected official has urged gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes to drop out of the race. El Paso County clerk and member of the GOP Colorado executive committee Bob Balink sent an e-mail to Maes Saturday saying that if stayed in the gubernatorial race he would kill any chances of a conservative winning the seat. Balink, who attempted to help Maes establish appropriate safeguards for his campaign finances in September, also reportedly accused Maes of walking quote, "away from your responsibilities" when he filed for bankruptcy in 1989. Maes told KRDO-TV that he plans to stay in the race and added quote, "We remain very proud of the fact that we run a shoestring budget."

Colorado, Three Other States Join Health Care Lawsuit AP

Governor Bill Ritter will collaborate with three other Democratic governors in a fight to defend a federal lawsuit that was filed against the country's health care overhaul legislation.
Ritter joined governors in the states of Washington, Pennsylvania and Michigan in an agreement that calls for their offices to share information on the lawsuit. The Denver Post reports the lawsuit will be handled for free on behalf of the governors by law firms in Florida and Washington state.
Attorneys general in 15 states joined a lawsuit opposing the health care legislation, saying its unconstitutional because it requires everyone to buy health insurance. Fourteen of the attorneys general, including Colorado's John Suthers, are Republican.

Miners' Rescuers Return Home

The rescuers returned over the weekend after 33 Chilean miners were pulled to safety and Denver International Airport was the site on Saturday of the heroes homecoming. KMGH TV reports that
Dozens of family members and friends greeted drillers Jeff Hart, Matt Staffel, Jorge Herrera, and Doug Reeves with cheers, claps and warm embraces. The men work for the US Army and were called from their post in Afghanistan to go to Chile to help with the rescue, and Hart said that while it was a tough job, they put the pressure on themselves remembering that there were 33 lives under the ground that depended on them to bring them up safely. He said the drill broke through into the chamber where 33 men awaited rescue, and that drew a few more than 33 cheers. The escape shaft will be closed with a lid signed by Hart's team marking their historic accomplishment..