School Finance Restructuring Will be on the November Ballot

The proposed school finance restructuring known as Initiative 22 will be on the November ballot, but under the title Amendment 66. Today, Secretary of State Scott Gessler announced the initiative, which would raise $950 million in additional taxes for education, passed the threshold of valid signatures required to bring the measure before voters. Backer of the initiative have been moving ahead to promote Amendment 66, which would create a two-tiered state income tax and also change the way the state delivers funding to individual districts. The Denver Post reports the proposal would add funding for school programs including expanded full-day kindergarten and half-day preschool, while also targeting money for at-risk students and English-language learners.

No Fracking Vote in November in Loveland

Voters in Loveland probably won't be able to vote on whether to ban fracking in the city in November. City councilors narrowly voted against putting the citizens' initiative on the ballot last night because a resident has filed a lawsuit challenging the petition's signatures. The Loveland Reporter-Herald reports that five councilors didn't want to take action until Larry Sarner's appeal was resolved. But Mayor Cecil Gutierrez and three other council members voted in favor of putting the measure on the ballot now with the understanding that it could be removed if the appeal is successful. If the appeal fails, a special election could be called to vote on it.

Does the University of Colorado Have a Liberal Bias Problem?

The University of Colorado Regents will consider amending their policies to bar discrimination on the basis of political affiliation wen they meet September 16th and 17th. The Boulder Daily Camera reports the proposal stems from concern among some regents that the university has a liberal bias, especially the Boulder campus. A subcommittee of the Regents has endorsed the proposal. The nine-member board is elected and currently has a Republican majority. Allegations of liberal bias are occasionally raised against the university. In June, regents approved a survey to determine whether the system respects diversity, including in political views.

District 2 candidate withdrawing from the contest

Spending more time with her family was the reason District 2 candidate, Denise Bradshaw, offered after withdrawing from the contest at Tuesday's board of education meeting. Bradshaw announced via social media that she is dropping out of the race that has already received seven verified petitions for candidacy in the November board of education election. Bradsahw went on to endorse her District 2 competitor, William Ball, for the District 2 directorship.
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RE-1 Valley graduates are beating the odds

RE-1 Valley graduates are beating the odds. Data released by the Colorado Department of Higher Education recently, showed 2011 graduates had a higher GPA than students statewide who attend colleges and universities in Colorado, all while battling a higher poverty rate. The RE-1 Valley schools have a higher rate of free and reduced meal eligible students statewide, but that hasn't slowed their successes, with 96.2% of RE-1 students staying the course at four-year colleges and universities compared to the statewide student retention. RE-1 Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Jan DeLay said these reports show the good work that both Sterling and Caliche High School are doing. To see the complete data for districts and high schools visit highered.colorado.gov
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The last suspect charged in the August 2012 Atwood Sinclair shooting, was sentenced Thursday

The last suspect charged in the August 2012 Atwood Sinclair shooting, was sentenced Thursday. Andrew Capps pleaded guilty in May for his role in the crime, and was charged with giving a ride to co-defendents Monica Baray and Leticia Hernandez after the shooting, and lying to the police when they questioned him. Capps has spent 30 days in jail, and also underwent a two-week in-patient treatment program, and during testimony witnesses said they believe Capps is trying to turn his life around. That could have motivated the judge's ruling, who stated that because Capps played no direct role in the shooting, and appears to want to turn a new leaf, he felt a sentence of three years probation was appropriate, noting that it could be extended if Capps gets into anymore trouble.
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Relatives of those killed in the Aurora theater and Newtown shooting plan to campaign in Colorado Springs

Relatives of those killed in the Aurora theater and Newtown shooting plan to campaign in Colorado Springs, Wednesday, for Sen. John Morse, one of the two state senators being challenged for passing stricter gun laws. Colorado was the only state outside the East Coast to tighten its gun laws after last year's mass shootings.
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The NRA is standing their ground

The NRA is standing their ground. The gun proponents are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the recall campaign of two Colorado Democratic lawmakers who voted for new gun restrictions this year. A campaign finance report released yesterday shows the organization's total contribution toward the ousters so far is about $361,700. Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and Pueblo Sen. Angela Giron (Hiron) are facing recalls next Tuesday.
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One year of probation and 60 days of house arrest was the plea bargain one of two former Boulder police officers copped

One year of probation and 60 days of house arrest was the plea bargain one of two former Boulder police officers copped. The two are accused in the illegal killing of a trophy elk on New Year's Day. Brent Curnow accepted the deal yesterday afternoon. Fellow officer Sam Carter has pleaded not guilty.
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A judge has ordered Colorado to pay $1.2 million to a man who served 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit

A judge has ordered Colorado to pay $1.2 million to a man who served 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Robert Dewey will receive $100,000 a year, after new evidence showed he was wrongfully convicted in the 1996 murder and rape of a western Colorado woman, for which he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was freed in April 2012, and had been living in poverty, but a bill was recently passed that compensates people who have been falsely imprisoned.
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Improperly prescribing drugs landed one Craig doctor behind bars

Improperly prescribing drugs landed one Craig doctor behind bars. Joel Miller is accused of dispensing medication that led to the deaths of two patients. He appeared in federal court in Grand Junction, yesterday, where a judge denied his request to get out on bond. The U.S. Magistrate said that Miller is a flight risk, and will remain in jail.
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Labor Day fun turned fatal

Labor Day fun turned fatal. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office says two teens were rushed to Colorado Plains Medical Center after swimming at a private pond northeast of the Fort Morgan City limits Monday afternoon. 16-year old Andres Rodriguez was pronounced dead about an hour later. Seventeen-year old Ramiro Bayardo of Fort Morgan, was listed in stable condition. Police are continuing to investigate.
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