Colorado US Senate

The last major opponent to Rep. Cory Gardner is bowing out of the GOP Senate primary.  State Sen. Owen Hill stepped out of the race yesterday.  That clears the field for Gardner to challenge Democrat Mark Udall.  Gardner shook up the campaign last month with his last-minute entry into the primary. Two other prominent Republicans immediately dropped out and endorsed the congressman.  But Hill accused Gardner of cutting a "backroom deal" and vowed to stay in.  He now says Gardner is the party's best chance to defeat Udall.

Hit and Run Alerts

Emergency alerts for hit-and-run-drivers could be headed to Colorado under a bill that awaits the governor's signature.  The state Senate voted 30-1 today to create an Amber Alert-style notification system when authorities are looking for vehicles that were involved in serious hit-and-run crashes.
The alert system was already approved by the state House and is in place in Denver.  Supporters call them "Medina Alerts," after Jose Medina, who was killed two years ago by a hit-and-run driver while working as a valet.  The bill would expand the hit-and-run alerts statewide in 2015.

Aspen Socialite Murdered

Defense attorneys are battling with prosecutors and authorities over evidence after prosecutors formally filed first-degree murder charges Monday against William Styler III and Nancy Styler in connection with the death of Aspen socialite Nancy Pfister. Attorneys representing the Stylers told Judge Gail Nichols their frustrations in trying to obtain information to assist their clients. The defense attorneys have filed a dozen motions, including some that could be addressed on Tuesday. Authorities have limited access to the home where the slaying occurred. Over the weekend, authorities arrested a third suspect in Pfister's death, 56-year-old Katherine Carpenter. The Stylers rented Pfister's home until she returned home from traveling in Australia last month. Carpenter called police to report finding Pfister's body in a closet in the home on Feb. 26.

New Details in Murder of Colorado Prisons Director

There are new details in the murder of Colorado prisons director Tom Clements. New findings indicate that Ebel didn't act alone and that nearly two dozen people were targeted, as revealed by a hit list found in Ebel's car two days after Clements was killed, March 19, 2013. Those whose names appeared on the hit list remain fearful a year later, implying that Ebel, a parolee who was killed in a shootout with Texas authorities, March 21, may have acted on behalf of a prison gang. So far, only one person has faced prosecution in connection to the murders of Clements and a pizza-delivery driver. Stevie Marie Vigil, a longtime friend of Ebel, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 27 months in prison for giving Ebel the 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun he used to kill both men. The investigation continues, and detectives are vigorously following leads

Revenue Forecasts

Colorado's economy continues to improve, and lawmakers are beginning to talk about constitutionally mandated refunds to taxpayers in the coming years.  The economic figures will play a role when lawmakers debate and vote on next year's budget next month.  The governor's economists projected that general fund revenue for the 2014-2015 fiscal year will be $9.5 billion.  The current fiscal year revenue projection is $8.8 billion. Some of that surplus is already spoken for with the state's savings account for education.  Refunds under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights are not expected next year, but economists say they're possible soon.