The work is just beginning on a newly adopted citywide master plan

The work is just beginning on a newly adopted citywide master plan. Sterling city officials were busy at two community meetings Monday, gathering input on parks, open space and trails, and recreation systems, as it works on updating its own master plan.
In order to provide an updated plan, a needs assessments will have to be completed, as well as inventory, analysis, and various surveys, including about 3,000 that will be sent to randomly selected households. They will then provide recommendations and an action plan. The project is expected to be finished in February 2014. Organizers encouraged people to follow along with the process, and said they will probably be coming back to Sterling in mid-October for a findings presentation.
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To secede or not to secede?

To secede or not to secede? That is the question Weld County wants to put before the voters on the November ballots. The quest to add "North Colorado" to the United States was met with loud approval Monday night in southwest Weld, where about 75 people gathered to add their voices to the debate over whether to create the 51st state. Under the Constitution, statehood requires approval by both the Legislature and Congress, so this initial vote would be advisory. If it's not approved, Weld County could ask voters to put a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot requiring the Legislature to petition Congress. Weld County will hold another public comment session, tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Ault Fire Department.
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Colorado lawmakers are looking at what kind of legal representation juvenile offenders are getting in the state judicial system

Colorado lawmakers are looking at what kind of legal representation juvenile offenders are getting in the state judicial system. The Colorado Juvenile Defender Coalition says about half of the juveniles in the system don't get defense attorneys. A legislative committee begins studying the issue today in the first of several meetings that could prompt policy changes next year.
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The last big blast of the Twin Tunnels widening project on Interstate-70 near Idaho Springs is over

The last big blast of the Twin Tunnels widening project on Interstate-70 near Idaho Springs is over. Since April 19, crews have set 70 charges in the 635-foot-long tunnel in a project to add an eastbound lane between East Idaho Springs and U.S. Highway 6.
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Residents in the Four Corners area are heating up

Residents in the Four Corners area are heating up. Customers are upset with electricity price hikes for wholesale electricity by Tri-State Generation and Transmission. La Plata Electric Association, Empire Electric Association, White River Electric Association and some of their biggest customers, say the new rates are unfair, and they want the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to do something. Tri-State says the utilities commission has no jurisdiction over its rates, which are set by a company board that includes representatives from the protesting co-ops.
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Colorado's general assembly got an earful of concerns during a listening tour stop in Fort Morgan

Colorado's general assembly got an earful of concerns during a listening tour stop in Fort Morgan last week. Members of the Transportation Legislation Review Committee heard from state transportation officials, Morgan County, and the city of Fort Morgan about the transit needs for northeast Colorado residents who need to get to a job, and even more so get to needed health care services, especially the aging population in rural areas. Officials also pointed out that while there is the County Express bus system that offers some transit services, its operational costs are underfunded, forcing it to run on a limited schedule.
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A one car crash claimed the life of a Fort Morgan teen

A one car crash claimed the life of a Fort Morgan teen Saturday night. Two teens lost control of their vehicle just south of Morgan County Road, before overturning, forcing the vehicle to skid and go off the east edge of the road. The 17-year-old was the passenger in the vehicle driven by his 18-year-old friend from Fort Morgan.The driver was thrown from the vehicle, and walked from the scene to seek help. The 17-year-old passenger was declared dead at the scene, and the 18-year-old was transported to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland with serious injuries.
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