Health Care Fines

Coloradans without health insurance are more likely to ignore the federal mandate than get coverage and avoid penalties. That's according to a legislative analysis prepared for an unsuccessful attempt by Republicans to reimburse residents fined next year for not buying insurance.  This is the first state projection on how many will pay fines rather than get private coverage or Medicaid.  The federal health overhaul requires coverage by March 31 to avoid fines.  The legislative analysis projects about 254,000 adults here would pay fines next year for no coverage, more than the 249,000 projected to enroll in either Medicaid or private health insurance.

PD Investigated

Berthoud's board of trustees is recommending that the town contract police services from the Larimer County Sheriff's Office for the next two years because of a scandal involving a former officer and police chief.   The proposal isn't final because the town's still looking for funding.   Berthoud police officer Jeremy Yachik was arrested on child abuse charges last year after video surfaced of him allegedly beating his daughter. Berthoud Police Chief Glenn Johnson was accused of covering up the incident. Yachik was fired by the town not long after the arrest, and Johnson resigned in mid-December. Yachik's denied the allegations.

Recreational Pot Ads

High Times and Westwood have filed a lawsuit challenging Colorado rules banning recreational marijuana businesses from advertising in most publications. The Denver Post reports the legal action was filed in federal court Monday and argues that the rules violate free speech. The Colorado attorney general's office is reviewing the suit and declined comment.  State regulations only allow recreational pot shops to advertise in publications believed to have no more than 30% of readers under 21. There are no restrictions on medical marijuana advertising.

Road Work

Major work on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) US 6 Bridges Design-Build Project begins Valentines day. This Friday, Feb. 14, US 6 from I-25 to Sheridan Boulevard will be closed. This work, originally scheduled last weekend (February 7 – 10), was postponed due to winter weather. The highway will be closed starting at 9 p.m. Friday night, February 14 until 5 a.m. Monday morning, Feb. 17.

Teacher Accused of Sexual Harassment

A Fruita junior high teacher accused of asking female students to send him topless photos has resigned. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports police arrested 58-year-old Randy Majors Dec. 31 on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child.

Same Sex Marriage

The Democrats' candidate for Colorado attorney general says the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitutional rights of gay couples and that the law shouldn't be defended.  Don Quick says that if a law is unconstitutional, "the attorney general has an obligation to say so."  The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule whether state bans on gay marriage are unconstitutional.  Current Attorney General John Suthers, joined nine states that filed arguments in support of Utah's gay-marriage ban.  GOP candidates Rep. Mark Waller and Cynthia Coffman, say the attorney general's office should defend Colorado's ban, like it defends other laws, unless they're ruled unconstitutional.

Arm Teachers

Colorado's public schools would be allowed to permit teachers to carry concealed weapons under a bill up for discussion in the Legislature today.  The Republican proposal has been made before without success, but the suggestion has additional resonance after last year's Arapahoe High School shootings, in which a student targeted a teacher.  The hearing also comes a week after a poll showed Coloradans narrowly say public school teachers should be armed. The Quinnipiac University Poll found that voters favored arming teachers to prevent violence in schools by a 50-45 margin. Democrats say the proposal is a bad idea and that school security should be left to armed officers, not teachers.

National Park Jobs

The Colorado company that operates lodges, restaurants and gift shops in such places as Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Canyon national parks says fewer people applying for jobs.  Xanterra (zan-TER'-uh) Parks & Resorts vice-president Jim McCaleb says the slowing of job applications this year could be the result of an improving economy.  The Denver Post reports the company needs 4,000 seasonal employees to fill jobs in Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Canyon national parks among other places.  McCaleb says Yellowstone alone has 600 to 700 openings.

Parent Institute

School safety and bullying were the focus at a Parent Institute, held by RE-1 Valley School District, Saturday. Who gets bullied and what can be done to prevent bullying took up much of the of the institute, held at Campbell Elementary, with a presentation from the Delaware State Police, who described two types of bullying, direct and indirect. During the presentation, tips to avoid future bullying were also given, and Superintendent, Jan DeLay also addressed school safety. DeLay said making sure students feel safe at school is part of her safety plan. IN ADDITION - District officials also talked about the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP). Superintendent Dr. Jan DeLay noted this year will be the last year of the TCAP. The state will start administering the Colorado Measure of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments on the new Colorado standards, which include the Common Core Standards in math and literacy.