Greeley Lawyers Question 51st State Weld Commissioner Actions

Three Greeley attorneys are challenging whether Weld County commissioners have the authority to initiate the 51st state movement. The three, Robert Ruyle, Stow Witwer and Chuck Dickson have sent a letter to County Council Chair Don Mueller, saying the state constitution grants individual citizens the authority to alter their form of government, but there's no such power granted to county commissioners.

Denver's Mayor Going for No Pot in Parks

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock wants to ban the city's huge April 20 marijuana smoke outs as well as free joint handouts in city parks. Hancock tells Colorado Public Radio that he and City Councilman Chris Nevitt will introduce an ordinance on Monday that would better define the city's ban on public consumption of marijuana. The ordinance would say that all Denver city parks are drug-free zones.
Public consumption already is outlawed under Colorado's law legalizing recreational marijuana. Tens of thousands have attended the annual marijuana celebrations at Civic Center Park.

Stevie Vigil Expected to Plead Guilty in Gun Case

The woman accused of giving Evan Ebel a gun that was used to kill the Colorado corrections chief Tom Clements will plead guilty. Stevie Marie Vigil (VEE'-hil) attorney in a court filing says she intends to plead guilty to giving a firearm to a felon without any concessions from federal prosecutors. Daniel Smith says he can't discuss why she's changing her plea. A guilty plea could help Vigil gain a lighter sentence. The 22-year-old faces up to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors haven't indicated what kind of sentence they're going to request from the judge.

It was a murder mystery at the Overland Trail Museum

It was a murder mystery at the Overland Trail Museum. There were at least two dozen youngsters and a handful of parents who braved the darkness to become the first visitors welcomed on the grounds of the museum since it closed due to flooding last month. The museum remains closed to the public, but already scheduled events like Saturday's Another Night at the Museum are being held, with some changes. Due to fears about contamination from the South Platte flood, visitors, hunting for clues to solve the mystery, were confined to the east side of the grounds. When the museum will reopen to the public is still a mystery, but officials said they are hoping to be back to normal by December, adding that holiday events, including A Child's Christmas on the Prairie, Dec. 7 and three open house nights, will go forward as scheduled.
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Helping flood victims was the topic of discussion at Tuesday night's Sterling City Council meeting

Helping flood victims was the topic of discussion at Tuesday night's Sterling City Council meeting. Members got their first official look at the proposed 2014 budget, and noted that with the declaration of a disaster due to the flood, the city has had to use the insurance fund, which includes a 3 percent emergency appropriations, to cover any flood-related expenses. Officials said that a large portion of those costs will be reimbursed by insurance, or FEMA. The council approved first reading of an ordinance for additional appropriations of $735,889 in expenses for the year, and increased their revenue by $98,231. A public hearing has been set for Oct. 22.
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Denver police are looking for a sex offender who escaped

Denver police are looking for a sex offender who escaped after being arrested for failing to register with authorities. Police say 48-year-old Eugene Martinez was chained to a bench at police headquarters but managed to slip out of his handcuffs and get away. He escaped just after noon. Police are offering a $2,000 reward for help finding him.
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An expert says four Colorado boys who were found undernourished and unable to speak face a long path to recovery, but there is hope

An expert says four Colorado boys who were found undernourished and unable to speak face a long path to recovery, but there is hope. The brothers, ages 2 to 6, were removed from a filthy Denver apartment last month and placed in state custody. A University of Colorado pediatrician says the boys will need a healing relationship that teaches them they can trust adult caregivers.
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Pueblo County officials have agreed to allow recreational marijuana sales next year

Pueblo County officials have agreed to allow recreational marijuana sales next year. The Pueblo Chieftain reports that County commissioners voted Wednesday in favor of marijuana regulations that set the framework for licenses, enforcement and fees, but limited the number of dispensaries that can transfer from medical to recreational next year. No more than 10 dispensaries will be able to transition into Pueblo's new market in 2014. Pueblo currently has six dispensaries in business and four more in the various stages of applying.
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Money could run out for more than 90,000 Colorado veterans

Money could run out for more than 90,000 Colorado veterans. If the federal government doesn't reopen in the next few weeks, veterans might not get their pension and education checks on the first, because the cash is not there without additional appropriations from Congress. The good news is, veterans will still be able to receive medical services because the costs — about $650 million a year to Coloradans alone — have been prepaid. But members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee — including Rep. Mike Coffman — are so worried about the harmful effects on veterans, they met with VA Secretary Eric Shin-seki on Capitol Hill, Wednesday to press him for answers. Staffers on the veterans committee say their greatest fear is that the Nov. 1 deposits will be delayed if the government remains partially shuttered for another week or two. The money will not be in the bank to make the payments. Colorado veterans receive more than $1 billion a year in compensation and pension benefits and another $284 million in education reimbursements.
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