Now that the bill to restore the tax exemptions on ag products is on its way to the full House, some state legislators are asking how Colorado will make up the nearly four million dollars in lost revenue over the next two fiscal years from HB 11-1005. Bill sponsor, Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, the Republican from Sterling said the money will be made up through millions of dollars in revenue that left the state when the tax was imposed on agriculture related products. Many in the farming industry opted to spend their money out of state to avoid paying taxes on those products, but Sonnenberg says with the bill's passage, the money will come back to Colorado.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Colorado Legislature Still Not Decided on Phys. Ed.
A physical activity requirement in elementary schools is still in limbo at the Colorado Legislature.
Lawmakers put off until Monday a meeting to try to hammer out a compromise on a bill mandating 30 minutes a day of physical activity for most kids in elementary school. The delay came after Democratic Sen. Irene Aguilar was delayed by a morning car accident. The senator was uninjured, but the meeting was rescheduled.
The House and Senate have both approved the exercise requirement, but in different forms. Lawmakers must agree legislation before it can become law.
Supporters of the bill say students need time to exercise during school to combat rising obesity rates. They say physical activity also improves students' academic performance. Some school officials have complained it would be an unfunded mandate.
Lawmakers put off until Monday a meeting to try to hammer out a compromise on a bill mandating 30 minutes a day of physical activity for most kids in elementary school. The delay came after Democratic Sen. Irene Aguilar was delayed by a morning car accident. The senator was uninjured, but the meeting was rescheduled.
The House and Senate have both approved the exercise requirement, but in different forms. Lawmakers must agree legislation before it can become law.
Supporters of the bill say students need time to exercise during school to combat rising obesity rates. They say physical activity also improves students' academic performance. Some school officials have complained it would be an unfunded mandate.
Teen convicted of sex assault against missing girl
A 19-year-old has been convicted of sexual assault for having sex with a 12-year-old Greeley girl who later disappeared.
The jury returned the verdict against Robert Montoya on Friday.
The defense rested its case against Montoya on Thursday. The Greeley Tribune reported that Montoya's defense chose not to put any witnesses on the stand Friday and went straight to closing arguments.
Montoya, who is an adult, is accused of having sex with Kayleah Wilson.
Montoya's lawyer said he's innocent because he said the two had sex when Montoya was still a juvenile.
The girl's murder remains unsolved.
The jury returned the verdict against Robert Montoya on Friday.
The defense rested its case against Montoya on Thursday. The Greeley Tribune reported that Montoya's defense chose not to put any witnesses on the stand Friday and went straight to closing arguments.
Montoya, who is an adult, is accused of having sex with Kayleah Wilson.
Montoya's lawyer said he's innocent because he said the two had sex when Montoya was still a juvenile.
The girl's murder remains unsolved.
E-cigarette age limit signed into law in Colorado
Electronic cigarettes are now illegal for minors in Colorado.
Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the age restriction into law Friday, making e-cigarettes off-limits for people under 18. E-cigarettes are battery-operated nicotine inhalers advertised as cessation aids. Anti-smoking activists say the e-cigarettes appeal to youths with exotic flavors and shouldn't be permitted for kids.
The new law lists e-cigarettes as a "tobacco product" off-limits to minors. E-cigarettes are available at mall kiosks and some gas stations. Manufacturers didn't oppose the change because they say they already don't sell to minors.
Colorado becomes the second state, after New Jersey, to limit e-cigarettes for minors. Arizona lawmakers are also considering an age limit this year.
Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the age restriction into law Friday, making e-cigarettes off-limits for people under 18. E-cigarettes are battery-operated nicotine inhalers advertised as cessation aids. Anti-smoking activists say the e-cigarettes appeal to youths with exotic flavors and shouldn't be permitted for kids.
The new law lists e-cigarettes as a "tobacco product" off-limits to minors. E-cigarettes are available at mall kiosks and some gas stations. Manufacturers didn't oppose the change because they say they already don't sell to minors.
Colorado becomes the second state, after New Jersey, to limit e-cigarettes for minors. Arizona lawmakers are also considering an age limit this year.
Big fines for prostitute customers approved in CO
A bill tacking on much bigger penalties for soliciting a prostitute has won initial backing in the Colorado Senate.
Lawmakers supported the change Friday with no debate.
The measure adds a minimum $5,000 fine for the crime of buying sex, up to a maximum of $10,000. The money would go to so-called "john schools" to teach men about human trafficking.
Anti-prostitution advocates say Colorado should raise fines, which are usually levied by cities and can be as low as $75. That's less than littering in some cases.
The higher fines would be used for scared straight-type programs for johns. John schools are in place in several large cities and have been credited for reducing recidivism, though no Colorado city currently has a john school.
The bill faces a more formal Senate vote before it can move to the House.
Lawmakers supported the change Friday with no debate.
The measure adds a minimum $5,000 fine for the crime of buying sex, up to a maximum of $10,000. The money would go to so-called "john schools" to teach men about human trafficking.
Anti-prostitution advocates say Colorado should raise fines, which are usually levied by cities and can be as low as $75. That's less than littering in some cases.
The higher fines would be used for scared straight-type programs for johns. John schools are in place in several large cities and have been credited for reducing recidivism, though no Colorado city currently has a john school.
The bill faces a more formal Senate vote before it can move to the House.
Two accused in Colorado of $30 million Ponzi schemes
Regulators have filed civil suits in Denver alleging two men bilked nearly 200 people of almost $30 million in separate Ponzi schemes.
The Denver Post reports the Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuits in federal court accuse 64-year-old Richard Dalton of Golden of taking almost $20 million from 130 people.
Forty-six-year-old Larry Michael Parrish of Walkersville, Md., is accused of bilking 70 investors of almost $10 million.
No one answered a call by The Associated Press to a phone listed for Dalton Friday. No listing could be found for Parrish.
The Post reports an arrest warrant was issued for Parrish when he failed to surrender his passport in court.
The lawsuits say investors were told their money would be kept in an escrow account and used to obtain loans and credit for investments.
The Denver Post reports the Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuits in federal court accuse 64-year-old Richard Dalton of Golden of taking almost $20 million from 130 people.
Forty-six-year-old Larry Michael Parrish of Walkersville, Md., is accused of bilking 70 investors of almost $10 million.
No one answered a call by The Associated Press to a phone listed for Dalton Friday. No listing could be found for Parrish.
The Post reports an arrest warrant was issued for Parrish when he failed to surrender his passport in court.
The lawsuits say investors were told their money would be kept in an escrow account and used to obtain loans and credit for investments.
State Will Get More Snow Today
Moisture will continue to hit Colorado overnight as a steady stream of systems out of the west pass over the state. Widespread light snow and freezing drizzle was seen from Sterling to Burlington last night. Areas south of I-70 could see over a foot of new snow by tomorrow morning. By Wednesday, the storms should be gone and expect war, dry conditions the rest of the week.
Number Of Unemployed Rises In Colorado
Colorado's unemployment rate set a new high in February. Those out of work here rose two-tenths of a percent to nine-point-three-percent. But the U.S. Department of Labor said 27 other states saw a decrease in the number of unemployed, suggesting an overall strengthening in the nation's labor market. The national unemployment rate last month fell to eight-point-nine-percent.
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