March 2011 Colorado Outlook: Economic and Fiscal Review Presented Last Week

Governor John Hickenlooper’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting last week presented the “March 2011 Colorado Outlook: Economic and Fiscal Review” to the Joint Budget Committee.

Henry Sobanet, executive director of the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting said, “A faster-than-expected rebound of income tax is expected to bring an additional $161.3 million into state coffers this fiscal year. Because we believe much of this increase is from one-time sources from capital gains and higher profits, these funds may mitigate some budget cuts but a lot of tough work remains to close our structural gap. Governor Hickenlooper’s first choice for scaling back reductions would be in K-12 education.”

No decisions have been made about how the $161.3 million will be spent. Until then, a recent law change requires the money go to the State Education Fund, which has been close to insolvency during the economic downturn. Important next steps include the JBC’s final decisions on key program budgets as well as other bills that are required for budget balancing. This process will continue next week.

“The forecast indicates that Colorado’s economy is expected to continue to grow,” Sobanet said. “However, global conditions such as the earthquake in Japan, rising food and energy prices and political unrest in the Middle East create heightened risks for unfavorable economic conditions in the coming months. We are continuing to monitor all economic indicators.”

Crocs kicks off lightweight sneaker line for men

Crocs Inc. stepped out of its element when it launched a brand of high heels and other women's shoes that looked nothing like its iconic bright, lightweight clogs.

Now it's doing it again, with sneakers for men.

Crocs' chief marketing officer Andrew Davison says the Niwot, Colo.-based company has no intention of abandoning its signature clogs. But it's pushing to become a shoe brand for all seasons and buyers.

This summer Crocs plans to extend the sneakers to women and offer women's shoes made with more translucent materials, all while maintaining its ideals of lightweight, odor-resistant, fun, casual footwear.

Marketing professor Steven Hartley of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver says the key for Crocs will be maintaining its trademark attributes in its new offerings.

Greeley businesses get assist from UNC basketball

The University of Northern Colorado's unprecedented run to the NCAA men's basketball tournament has given Greeley businesses a boost.

The men's team won its first Big Sky Conference title at home this year to make the NCAA tournament. The Greeley Tribune reports that the Big Sky semifinals and finals in Greeley, followed closely by the state Class 1A high school basketball tournament, helped restaurants and hotels meet or beat March 2010 sales figures within the first 10 days of this month.

Kim Parker of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce says that between the two events, the Greeley-Evans area reaped an estimated $350,000 economic impact.

Restaurants and bars say they were busy again on St. Patrick's Day, when the Bears played San Diego State University in their first NCAA postseason game.

Baby left in bathroom sink at Denver church

Denver police are trying to determine who left a newborn boy in a bathroom sink at a church in northwest Denver.

Children attending a Friday night service at St. Dominic church found the baby wrapped in a T-shirt. The Rev. Clint Honokomp says no one knows who the mother could be.

The baby was taken to a hospital. Police spokeswoman Leslie Branch-Wise says doctors estimate the baby was left at the church within four hours of birth.

Police consider the baby to be abandoned. It is not a crime in Colorado to leave a baby with a fire station or at a hospital within three days of birth, but churches are not included as safe havens under state law.

Lawmakers Cracking Down On Prostitution

Colorado lawmakers will start looking at how to crack down on prostitution around the state. They're expected to begin working on a bill that would add a class for first-time offenders designed to dissuade so-called "johns" from soliciting sex. The programs would work much like the "scared straight" classes that bring young people to prisons to literally scare them from wanting to commit crimes.

Glider Pilot Crashes, Dies In Larimer

The pilot of a glider plane is dead after his craft crashed into a ravine in Wellington yesterday afternoon. Larimer County Sheriff's officials say the male pilot, believed to be in his early 80s, was found amongst the wreckage of his fixed-wing plane near a home north of town. The pilot was the only person on board and no one else was injured in the accident. Officials said the plane took off from Owl Canyon Gliderport in the afternoon hours and went down about a half-mile away from its departure site.

Clean Up Week is March 25 to April 3

As part of Fort Morgan's Beautification Campaign, March 25 through April 3, 2011 has been designated Clean Up Week. The Street and Sanitation Departments will issue FREE pickup of items of which you want to dispose. But there are exceptions. You cannot dispose of computers, copy machines, tires, cans of paint or hazardous chemicals including motor oil, railroad ties, refrigerators, freezers or air conditioners.
• Items must be placed in alley and clearly marked.
• Areas without alley access place items by curb.
• Place tree branches in a separate pile.
• Place metal items in a separate pile.
• Batteries can be disposed of by taking them to either Central Auto Parts or The Auto Zone.
• Used oil disposal can be taken to either Central Auto Parts or The Auto Zone.
• Crews will NOT go on private property.
• No charge to Fort Morgan residents in the City Limits.
• This service ends April 3. Nothing is to be placed in the alleys after April 3, 2011. After April 3, customers will be charged for service.

If you have any questions, please contact the Sanitation Department at (970) 542-3985.

Contractors are prohibited from Clean Up.

Arrest Made In Shooting Death Of UNH Football Player

Twenty-two-year-old Kevin Michael McGregor of Longmont, Colorado will be arraigned today on several charges, including first-degree murder, in the shooting death of 20-year-old University of New Hampshire football player Todd Walker. Police say McGregor shot Walker during a botched holdup as the UNH athlete and a female companion walked home from a party early Friday morning. McGregor was arrested Friday night at the sandwich shop where he worked in Boulder.