Completion of a playground at the Merino elementary School is on hold while the company that built it, and the school, is being investigated after another school the company built was shut down. the Neenan Company of Fort Collins is under the microscope after the one year old Meeker School in Fort Collins was closed over safety issues. Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies started the investigation last week because of a code to which the Meeker school was built that was for barns and sheds, not schools. Now the Neenan Company says it wants to make sure the grading at Merino Elementary playground is correct, making it safe for students. Published reports indicate that an engineer for the Fort Collins school and the one in Merino was operating without a license for nearly two years, and has now been fired by Neenan.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Report: Christmas Retail Sales Should Be Up In CO
(Denver, CO) -- Retail stores in Colorado could be set for a very happy Christmas shopping season. The "Denver Post" reports that holiday sales are forecast to be up by nearly three-percent this season, and that's better than the estimate nationally. The National Retail Federation says 152-million people intend to shop in person or online this coming weekend in the U.S. In Colorado, we're expected to fare well because unemployment is lower in here than around the country.
Occupy Denver Holds 'Children's March'
(Denver, CO) -- Occupy Denver protesters held a "Children's March" Saturday. "The Denver Post" reports some 40 children were among the approximately 500 demonstrators that marched down the 16th Street Mall. In front of the World Trade Center, a half-dozen pre-teens reportedly spoke out against corporate greed and encouraged the crowd to put their money in credit unions.
Snow Headed For Colorado This Week
(Denver, CO) -- After Denver enjoys highs in the low 60s today, light snow is expected tonight on parts of the Front Range. The National Weather Service says a stronger storm will hit Wednesday night with a 50-percent chance of snow in the metro area. Colorado's ski resorts in Summit, Grand, Pitkin and Routt counties will have a 20- to 30-percent chance of snow from that storm. The snowpack statewide is at 93-percent of its 30-year average.
Family Rescued After Christmas Tree Search
(Jefferson County, CO) -- Jefferson County authorities are saying they rescued a family of four after they got lost while searching for a Christmas tree. The family called for help from the Buffalo Creek area at around 2:30 yesterday afternoon. A search party located them and walked them out to their car after 6 p.m.
Three U.S. Students Held In Cairo Return Home
(Undated) -- Three American University students arrested amid clashes in the Egyptian capital a week ago are back on American soil. Derrik Sweeney says the time they spent in jail was a nightmare.
He said, "We spent about six hours that first night in nearly fetal positions, sort of, with our hands behind our backs in the dark, and they were behind us and it was very scary."
Sweeney, Gregory Porter and Luke Gates all arrived back in the U.S. over the weekend after a judge released them Friday. The three were being held in Cairo on charges of throwing Molotov cocktails at Egyptian security forces during mass protests in the city. All three maintain they are innocent.
He said, "We spent about six hours that first night in nearly fetal positions, sort of, with our hands behind our backs in the dark, and they were behind us and it was very scary."
Sweeney, Gregory Porter and Luke Gates all arrived back in the U.S. over the weekend after a judge released them Friday. The three were being held in Cairo on charges of throwing Molotov cocktails at Egyptian security forces during mass protests in the city. All three maintain they are innocent.
2 stabbed, 2 shot in assaults at Brighton home
BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — Brighton police investigating a melee that left two people shot and two stabbed have arrested a 40-year-old man, teenage girl and teenage boy in the case.
The Denver Post reports officers responded to shots fired at a home early Sunday and found two men, ages 20 and 19, who had been shot and wounded. A 17-year-old girl and 22-year-old man had suffered stab wounds.
Police say Kevin Taylor, the 15-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy were arrested in the assaults Sunday afternoon at another home. They face multiple felonies.
The victims' names and conditions have not been released.
Police spokesman John Bradley says the relationships between the victims and their attackers had not yet been determined.
The Denver Post reports officers responded to shots fired at a home early Sunday and found two men, ages 20 and 19, who had been shot and wounded. A 17-year-old girl and 22-year-old man had suffered stab wounds.
Police say Kevin Taylor, the 15-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy were arrested in the assaults Sunday afternoon at another home. They face multiple felonies.
The victims' names and conditions have not been released.
Police spokesman John Bradley says the relationships between the victims and their attackers had not yet been determined.
Colo. school incentive program awaits more funds
DENVER (AP) — A pilot program to improve college readiness among Colorado teens produced more high scores on students' Advanced Placement tests — and paid $69,500 to teachers as a reward.
Now the National Math and Science Initiative is trying to expand the program to more Colorado schools.
The program, which originated in Dallas, aims to expand access to tough AP classes to underrepresented students and help them pass AP tests by using teacher training, open enrollment in AP classes, and $100 for teachers and students for each passing score.
The Colorado Legacy Foundation wasn't able to fully implement the program when Colorado lost out on federal Race to the Top funds, but seven Colorado schools that tried the program in 2010-2011 did boost enrollment in AP classes and numbers of high scores.
Now the National Math and Science Initiative is trying to expand the program to more Colorado schools.
The program, which originated in Dallas, aims to expand access to tough AP classes to underrepresented students and help them pass AP tests by using teacher training, open enrollment in AP classes, and $100 for teachers and students for each passing score.
The Colorado Legacy Foundation wasn't able to fully implement the program when Colorado lost out on federal Race to the Top funds, but seven Colorado schools that tried the program in 2010-2011 did boost enrollment in AP classes and numbers of high scores.
NCAR working to collect weather data from cars
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research are examining ways to collect weather data from onboard computers on automobiles.
The Boulder Daily Camera reports that aside from onboard thermometers, researchers are interested in other data that provides information about weather and road conditions. Those include activation of windshield wipers, headlights flipped on during daylight hours and engagement of vehicle antilock brake systems.
Researchers conducted a trial run in Detroit in 2009 and expanding that this year to include snowplows and other vehicles owned by the departments of transportation in Nevada and Minnesota.
The idea is to eventually have data sampling of all cars on the road. Researchers are working out the logistics of adding communication devices to vehicles.
The Boulder Daily Camera reports that aside from onboard thermometers, researchers are interested in other data that provides information about weather and road conditions. Those include activation of windshield wipers, headlights flipped on during daylight hours and engagement of vehicle antilock brake systems.
Researchers conducted a trial run in Detroit in 2009 and expanding that this year to include snowplows and other vehicles owned by the departments of transportation in Nevada and Minnesota.
The idea is to eventually have data sampling of all cars on the road. Researchers are working out the logistics of adding communication devices to vehicles.
200 stranded by winds at Keystone restaurant
KEYSTONE, Colo. (AP) — About 200 people spent a night at a Keystone Resort mountain restaurant after wind gusts prevented the gondolas from operating and poor visibility prevented vehicles from being sent up to bring the patrons down.
KUSA-TV reports that the group was stuck overnight Friday at the Outpost restaurant on top of North Peak. Patrons told the station some people tried sleeping on chairs and on the floors with blankets handed out by the resort.
Stranded patron Carolina Vega-Neff says her children passed some of the time playing board games and talking to people.
Winds died down about 6 a.m. Saturday, allowing the resort to operate the gondolas.
Keystone says patrons were given food, water and blankets and issued a statement apologizing and thanking patrons for their patience.
KUSA-TV reports that the group was stuck overnight Friday at the Outpost restaurant on top of North Peak. Patrons told the station some people tried sleeping on chairs and on the floors with blankets handed out by the resort.
Stranded patron Carolina Vega-Neff says her children passed some of the time playing board games and talking to people.
Winds died down about 6 a.m. Saturday, allowing the resort to operate the gondolas.
Keystone says patrons were given food, water and blankets and issued a statement apologizing and thanking patrons for their patience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
