Trooper finds pot

A Friday traffic stop leads a Colorado State Patrol trooper to more than 5 pounds of marijuana. The trooper stopped a vehicle for several traffic violations on eastbound I-76 and smelled the odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle. Brian Berry of Minden, Nebraska, was found to have 2 knives and a set of brass knuckles in his front pockets. The marijuana was found in a duffle bag in the rear of the car.

Woman faces charges

The Colorado State Patrol reports a trooper arrested a 42 year old Fort Morgan woman last week for a series of charges. Originally, Julie Degenhart was stopped for speeding, but the trooper reports she failed a roadside sobriety test, was found to have warrants and didn’t have paperwork on the vehicle she was driving or any proof of insurance.

Police look for Vandals

Fort Morgan police are trying to track down some vandals who may have done as much as 16 hundred dollars worth of damage. Graffiti has been spray painted on the walls of government buildings and private property on the north side of town. At least nine vehicles were painted on the drivers side doors. The graffiti included gang symbols and threats toward police. It all happened between Friday night and Saturday morning. Any one with information should call Fort Morgan police at 867-5678 or Crimestoppers at 542-3411.

Anti-Meth Bill Hearing Thursday

A bill in the state Senate would make drugs that contain pseudo ephedrine unavailable without a prescription. Those in favor of the bill, including law enforcement, say it would help curb the number of meth labs since those who cook the illegal drug would have more trouble getting its main ingredient. The main ingredient in methamphetamine is pseudoephedrine. Right now, those who want to buy the cold remedy have to show ID, and its handed to them, it cannot be picked up from a drugstore aisle. Police say meth cookers have IDs and that's how they're getting their supplies of the drug. Those against the bill say it would put an undue cost on law abiding people. They'd have to pay for a doctor's visit to get pseudoephedrine, which used to be available over the counter. SB11-196 is set for a hearing on Thursday in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Becker Credited With Re-Exempting Ag Items

Representative John Becker of Fort Morgan got some ag items again exempted, which was lifted last year. Becker saw to it that things like pesticides, ag compounds and bull semen were again exempted. The exemptions were part of the overall 2011-2012 budget balancing bill introduced last week. Becker is also credited with an agreement that would save about ten million dollars or more for water projects by lowering a cash transfer from a severance tax fund.

initial approval to Bill to facilitate meetings between victims and their offenders gets initial approval

House lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill that facilitates meetings between victims and their offenders in some cases and emphasizes sentencing options that favor restitution over imprisonment. Colorado law already allows the sentencing alternative known as "restorative justice" for juveniles, but this bill would expand the option to adults. The proposal faces another vote before it heads to the Senate.

Taxpayer Bill Writer Arrested for Allegedly Not Paying Taxes

Colorado anti-tax crusader Doug Bruce has been arrested on allegations he failed to pay his taxes. Bruce was arrested today at a Colorado Springs post office and booked into the El Paso County jail. He couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Bruce wrote the Colorado Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, a constitutional amendment voters passed in 1992 that limits government spending and taxing.