Transportation Meeting in Ft. Morgan Monday

KSIR-032212-State Transportation Commissioner in Ft. Morgan Monday - FM


Colorado State Transportation Commissioner Kathy Gilliland is set to meet with elected officials, agency staffs and business representatives Monday afternoon at the Morgan County Administration Building. It s the latest in a series of such gatherings the commissioner has been hosting in her district, which includes Morgan, Weld and Larimer Counties. The meeting, which runs from 4:30 til 6, is a chance to discuss local transportation issues, including projects scheduled for Morgan County and the surrounding area.

School District Health Insurance Costs Could Skyrocket

KSIR-032212-School District Employee Insurance Costs Skyrocket-ST


Depending on which healthcare option The RE-1 Valley School district decides to go with, their costs could increase anywhere from 115-thousand to 235-thousand dollars. Insurance analysts say the increase is due to high usage by district employees. The School Districts Health Insurance Committee requested proposals from 6 potential insurers to see if there was a better deal available, but five declined to submit a quote citing inability to offer competitve rates because the employees are considered a high risk group. Under the district's current plan, premiums will increase between 19 and 23 percent for employees. And even with that, the district could face a revenue loss of nearly 1-point-6 million dollars.

Udall to Testify on Colorado Wilderness Bill

DENVER (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mark Udall is testifying about a bill that would preserve about 61,000 acres of Colorado wilderness.

The Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee is hearing a bill Thursday that would designate 33,000 acres in the San Miguel, Ouray, and San Juan counties as wilderness.

It would also protect 28,000 acres on Sheep Mountain and Naturita Canyon with other special designations.

Congress Investigating Drug Shortages

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado pharmacy is among dozens of drug outlets being investigated by Congress over drug shortages.

According to KCNC-TV (http://cbsloc.al/GEP0fe ), Superior Medical Supply Inc. is being investigated by a congressional committee for possible price gouging of life-saving medications, including a cancer drug.

The Westminster-based company said it got a letter from Congress about the investigation and denied the allegations.

Members of Congress investigating shortages of crucial drugs are targeting nearly two dozen pharmacies allegedly set up solely to buy and resell the drugs at huge markups.

Students Suspended for Pepper Spray Incident

NIWOT, Colo. (AP) — Four students at Niwot High School in Colorado have been suspended after pepper spray forced a school evacuation.

Four adults and 45 students were treated by paramedics for respiratory problems and skin irritation after the pepper spray got into a ventilation system.

According to KMGH-TV (http://bit.ly/GFmbxU ), the suspended students could be charged with criminal use of a noxious substance if they fail to complete a justice program.

Mountain View firefighters decontaminated the building before students returned inside.

Niwot is between Boulder and Longmont.

Military Barbers on Strike

DENVER (AP) — Some military personnel at Buckley Air Force Base outside Denver may have to go elsewhere for their buzz cuts because eight of the nine barbers at the base are on strike against the private company they work for.

The barbers began walking a picket line outside a base entrance on Thursday, saying Gino Morena Enterprises wants to cut their commissions at a time when the company is profitable.

The San Francisco-based company didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Mark Belkin, a spokesman for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, says the barbers earn between $12,000 and $32,000 a year, depending on whether they work full- or part-time.

Buckley has only one barber shop. Workers at a separate beauty shop aren't involved in the strike.

Colorado 5th Best State to 'Make a Living'

According to a new report, Colorado is the fifth best state in the country to live and work. Richard Barrington, senior finance analyst with moneyrates.com says there were two factors that make Colorado a great place to make a living...






TAG: Moneyrates.com's "Best and Worst States to Make a Living" feature looks at four different factors including unemployment rate, average income, cost of living and state tax rates.