Colorado Gets "No Child Left Behind" Waiver

KSIR - 020912 Colorado Gets "No Child Left Behind Waiver - BOTH


Colorado is one of 10 states freed from the strict requirements of the Federal No Child Left Behind Education Law. President Obama issued the order earlier today. The waiver comes in exchange for a promise to imporve the way schools teach and evaluate students. Observers say it also indicates that the laws main goal of getting all American students up to par in reading and math by 2014 is not realistic.

Major Colorado Coke Ring Busted

KSIR - 020912 More Than 100 People Nabbed in Denver Drug Bust - both




SWAT Teams from a variety of local and federal law enforcement agencies dismantled a massive Denver cocaine ring this morning. The city-wide drug bust rounded up approximately 100 suspects, including local gang members and international drug cartel members operating in Los Angeles and Mexico...this according to the US Attorney's office. The SWAT teams struck early this morning, invading dozens of neighborhood homes across the Denver Metro and Adams County area.
Sources close to the investigation say multiple branches of cocaine operators were taken down.

Community Health Fair Coming to Fort Morgan

The 10th Annual Fort Morgan Community Health Fair is this weekend. Sandy Engle with the Colorado Plains Medical Center says northeast Colorado residents will have an opportunity to get a number of vital health screenings for free or at a discount...






TAG: The Community Health Fair is being held Saturday morning from 7-to-11 at Fort Morgan High School. For more information, you can call Sandy at 542-3346.

Logan Co Commissioners Tun Down Chamber Idea

The Logan County Chamber of Commerce will not be operating the Logan County Tourist Information Center. The chamber proposed doing so for about 55 thousand dollars a year, and brought the idea to county commissioners. Commissioners decided against accepting the proposal at this week's work session. Commissioners cited the concept that the information center would become a branch of the chamber, that it should be something totally different than what the chamber does.

RE-1 Holds Off on Race to the Top Decision

The RE-1 Valley Board of Education says its holding off on a vote to participate in Race to the Top, the program that could bring lots of dollars in education funding to the school district. Board members said at their meeting this week that they have concerns about the program and want to think about it before voting on participating or not. The board says it will vote on Race to the Top at its next meeting on February 21.

More Colorado High School Grads Not Ready For College

(Denver, CO) -- The number of Colorado high school graduates that are not prepared for college is going up again. The Colorado Commission on Higher Education released its annual remediation report this week, saying 31-point-eight percent of 2011 Colorado graduates tested below college level and had to enroll in remedial courses. That number was up more than three-percent from 2010.

Colorado Springs 2nd Safest City in the Country

(Colorado Springs, CO) -- Colorado Springs is the second safest city in the country according to a new study provided by InsuranceProviders.com. The rating was based on crime rates, natural disaster risk, and driver safety. Arizona and Colorado account for five of the ten safest cities. The safest city in the country is Mesa, Arizona.

DIA To Test Less-Invasive Screening Procedures

(Washington, DC) -- Denver International Airport will be testing less-invasive screening procedures. The government said yesterday the new screening program is being expanded to 28 more airports by the end of this year after being tested in seven other airports. Eligible passengers would no longer be required to remove their shoes and belts before they board flights.

House Speaker Blasted For Bradford Ethics Inquiry

(Denver, CO) -- Representative Laura Bradford's attorney is saying the ethics complaint against her has no basis because there is no evidence she was driving drunk or impaired. Colorado Speaker Frank McNulty has empaneled a House ethics committee to investigate the events of January 25th. Denver police stopped her that night and sent her home in a taxi.

Debit Card With Tax Refund Target Of Scam

(Denver, CO) -- Colorado residents are being warned about a scam message targeting H and R Block tax refund debit cards called Emerald cards.






But it was a scam. That woman had her taxes done in Evans, and got her prepaid debit card and that's when she got the email asking for the personal information. She was able to get her 18-hundred dollars back. H and R Block says it does not send messages asking for sensitive information. If you get a message like that don't respond.

Denver area to get up to 11 Dunkin' Donuts stores

DENVER (AP) — Dunkin' Donuts plans to add 11 stores in the Denver area, with the first opening as early as this year.

The company said Wednesday it has signed a deal for a subsidiary of the restaurant management firm Sizzling Platter LLC to open 11 new restaurants in the Denver area and eight in El Paso, Texas.

Sizzling Platter general counsel Mitchell Lowe told The Denver Post that in Colorado, his group is searching for sites north of Interstate 70 in areas such as Arvada, Westminster, Northglenn, Thornton, Boulder, Broomfield, Brighton and Longmont.

He says the goal is to get a store open this year.

2 Colorado tribes receive $2.5 million from HUD

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding $2.5 million in Indian Housing Block Grant allocations to two tribes in Colorado for work on affordable housing.

The Southern Ute Housing Authority in Ignacio will receive about $1.16 million and the Ute Mountain Housing Authority in Towaoc will receive about $1.3 million.

The money announced Wednesday is part of about $404 million the department is allocating to nearly 300 tribes in 27 states.

Sales tax holiday considered in Colorado

DENVER (AP) — Clothing and school supplies would be tax-free during an annual Colorado "sales tax holiday" that cleared its first hurdle in the state House Wednesday.

The House Finance Committee voted 8-5 in favor of waiving sales taxes on back-to-school items for a short period each August. But the committee put a big condition on the idea — the sales tax holiday would happen only if the state comes up with $6 million or so to pay for it.

That's how much legislative analysts predict consumers would save each year on sales taxes. The measure now heads to the Finance Committee, with no recommended source of funding. That gives the tax holiday long odds of becoming law.

Colorado lawmakers have considered similar proposals in previous sessions.

CO bill dealing with fetal homicide fails again

DENVER (AP) — Senate lawmakers rejected legislation seeking to criminalize killing a pregnant woman's baby amid disagreement from both sides of the abortion debate.

A Senate committee voted down the proposal Wednesday. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed interest in creating a new criminal felony offense for when a woman's unborn baby is killed. Supporters say creating the criminal offense is warranted because current statutes don't address the issue or dole out appropriate punishment when someone attacks a pregnant woman.

But lawmakers have been unable to craft legislation that satisfies groups on both sides of the abortion issue. Abortion rights groups worry that the legislation will criminalize women's rights to abortion and anti-abortion groups worry the bill gives deference to legalized abortion.

Similar legislation failed last year.

Denver TV anchor bitten by rescued dog

DENVER (AP) — A veteran Denver television anchor is in fair condition and being evaluated at a hospital after she was bitten in the face by a dog during a live broadcast.

KUSA-TV's Kyle Dyer was interviewing the dog's owner and a firefighter who rescued the 85-pound Argentine mastiff from an icy pond when the dog bit her.

KUSA-TV said firefighters, paramedics and animal control were called to the station after the attack Wednesday morning. A hospital spokeswoman said Dyer was awake and visiting with family.

The station showed video of Dyer petting the dog, named Max, but said they would not show the attack. A station spokeswoman did not return a call seeking comment.

A Denver Environmental Health Department spokeswoman said no decision has been made on what will happen to the dog.

Man tries to throw glitter at Romney in Denver

DENVER (AP) — Denver police have filed charges against a 20-year-old man who tried to throw glitter on Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney as he greeted supporters in Denver following Colorado's caucuses.

Police said Wednesday they issued a summons charging Peter Smith with causing a disturbance, throwing a missile and unlawful acts at the Auraria campus, where the event was held. Smith is a student at the University of Colorado Denver, which is one of the schools on the campus.

Security pulled Romney back from the crowd and the man was immediately whisked away Tuesday night.

Smith told Denver television stations it was worth it, though he worries he could be expelled from school.

"Glitter bombing" has been used by some activists to protest a politician's opposition to same-sex marriage.

Lee Grace Dougherty to appear in court Thursday

WALSENBURG, Colo. (AP) — One of the three Dougherty siblings accused in a multi-state crime spree is scheduled to enter a plea deal in court.

Colorado court officials say a deal has been reached between prosecutors and 29-year-old Lee Grace Dougherty, who is scheduled to be in court Thursday morning. Prosecutors and her attorney aren't commenting, citing a judge imposed gag order.

Prosecutors last week dropped attempted-murder charges against Lee Grace and instead charged her with eight felony first-degree assault and menacing charges. Each charge corresponds to an officer involved in a high-speed chase Aug. 10 in southern Colorado.

The Dougherty siblings — Lee Grace, 26-year-old Dylan Stanley, and 21-year-old Ryan — are accused of shooting at a police officer in Florida, as well as robbing a Georgia bank.

Ethics Commission: Avoid Conflits of Interest

The Ethics Commission says Logan County Commissioner Jim Edwards should avoid any future conflicts of interest, but did not discipline or judge Edwards for past deeds when Edwards himself called for an investigation into his business and official dealings. Edwards owns Edwards Electronics Store, and some said it was curious that it looked like Edwards was getting sweet deals when the county chose his business over his competitors. The commission withheld any judgment since no formal complaints had been filed against Edwards.