MCC Soring Shopping Expo is Saturday

From Morgan Community College, spring shopping at its best is the goal of the Phi Beta Lambda shopping expo that's planned for Saturday, April 16 at MCC. The expo features home-based businesses and opens at 9:00 A.M. in Founders. It closes at 2:00 P.M. As you shop, you could even get a massage!

Spring shopping expo vendors include Creative Memories, Scentsy, Krazie Ladies Krafts, Mary Kay, Miche Bag, Kaye Foster Quilts, Savvy Faire, Premier Jewelry, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Signature HomeStyles, Stampin' Up, Tastefully Simple, and Uppercase Living. Making the shopping even more enjoyable, MCC PTA students will be offering chair massages.

PBL, a student business organization, is promoting the expo as a fund raising activity for the organization. Other fund raising has come from selling hot lunch items at the college and Little Caesar's pizza.

MCC faculty adviser Lorrie Morris says the funds help offset travel expenses for PBL participants who attend state and national PBL conferences. Speakers, seminars and competitions showcase and strengthen their business and leadership skills.

Frontier Airlines cuts fee for changing tickets

Frontier Airlines is cutting in half the fees its customers pay to change their tickets and is offering a $5 discount for passengers that check their bags online.

For tickets purchased on or after Wednesday, Frontier will charge a $50 change fee for alterations to coach class tickets, down from a previous $100. Customers who check a bag online will pay $15, down from the standard $20.

The Denver airline also announced Wednesday it will form Frontier Express, a brand that will operate all the airline's smaller jets. Frontier said service and amenities will be different on those flights compared with those on its bigger planes, but it didn't say what will be limited. All major airlines have "express" brands that operate smaller planes on regional flights. The models were designed as a way to cut costs.

Colo. governor signs scrap metal crackdown

A crackdown on scrap metal sellers and buyers has been signed into law in Colorado.

Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill Tuesday setting up stricter controls on scrap metal sales to try to prevent thefts. High prices for copper and other metals have led to a rash of metal thefts at construction sites, power grid stations and other locations.

The new law requires sellers to show photo IDs. Scrap metal buyers would have to set commodity metals aside for five days to give police more time to track metals reported as stolen.

The bill also makes it illegal for scrap buyers to pay cash for metal purchases over $300. The bill doesn't apply to silver, gold or platinum.

CO Senate backs moving primaries, House gets bill

A bill moving Colorado's primaries to June has won final approval in the Senate and now heads to the House.

The Senate voted 32-2 to back moving primaries to the last Tuesday in June, instead of waiting until the second Tuesday in August. Sponsors say the change is needed so Colorado complies with a new federal voting law aimed at giving military and overseas voters more time to cast their ballots.

Two Democrats voted against the change. Democratic Sen. Evie Hudak of Westminster said during a preliminary debate that earlier primaries give incumbent lawmakers less time to campaign.

However, most Democrats supported the change without debate. The measure won final approval 32-2 and now heads to the House. The change would take effect in 2012.

First Lady Honors Military Families At Rockies Game

First Lady Michelle Obama and the wife of Vice President Joe Biden were in Colorado yesterday to honor families of military personnel. Obama, Jill Biden and 300 specially-invited military families from around the state attended yesterday's Rockies-Mets game at Coors Field. Governor Hickenlooper also attended the afternoon ceremonies, as part of the Obama administration's new initiative called "Joining Forces." The initiative supports service members and their families through employment and education, and raises awareness of their needs.

Colorado Congressman Pushes For Oil Drilling Off Alaska

Colorado Congressman Cory Gardner is trying to make it easier for oil companies to drill off Alaska's coast. The freshman Republican told the "Denver Post" it would be part of a venture that could eventually pump one-million more barrels per day to the United States. He says it could provide more jobs, lower gas prices and someday decrease the nation's dependence on foreign oil. Oil executives yesterday told him they've waited five years to obtain the needed permits from the EPA to start drilling in the two Alaskan seas.

Federal Budget Deal Could Leave Colorado Wild Land Unprotected

Millions of acres of land the Bureau of Land Management manages in the state could lose protection as wilderness. A federal budget compromise deal that the U.S. Senate will likely vote on today has a provision that would prevent any new land from getting the "wild" designation. It would keep the BLM from spending any funds to carry out wilderness policy. Around seven-point-three million of the eight-point-three-million acres that BLM runs in Colorado could possibly get federal wilderness protection.

State House Gives Budget Initial Approval

A state budget is likely to face a recorded vote in the House today after it got initial approval yesterday. State House Republicans are pleased with the budget that brings back retailers' tax rebate for collecting sales taxes. Democrats yesterday criticized the spending plan, pitching several amendments to try to boost funding for education and health-care. The House still debating late yesterday bills that are a needed part of the budget of around 18-billion dollars for 2011-12.