Weld Commissioners Call for Dismissal of Setback Ruling

Submitted by Jennifer Finch, Information Specialist, Weld County Office of County Commissioners

Thursday, January 17th, 2013, 5:02pm

The Weld County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, calling upon the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to dismiss its recent decision to increase setbacks for oil and gas facilities and to convene “a meaningful stakeholder process that will consider the need for a close working and coordinating relationship between local governments and the COGCC…”

The resolution cities numerous issues with the COGCC rule-making process including: the lack of stakeholder outreach by the COGCC to the Local Governmental Designees (LGD’s) of three of the highest producing counties in the state, including Weld County; the violation of C.R.S. 24-4-103(4)(a) regarding the rule-making process of the COGCC ruling; and the underestimation of the comparison of the probable costs and benefits of the proposed rule to the probable costs and benefits of inaction as is also required by Colorado Revised Statue (C.R.S.

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Civil unions introduced on first day of Democrat-led legislature

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013, 11:16am

DENVER — State lawmakers went back to work Wednesday morning on a historic morning at the Capitol.

Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, became Colorado’s first openly gay Speaker of the House and was officially handed the gavel by Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.

It was a moment ripe with symbolism, coming seven months after McNulty killed Ferrandino’s civil unions legislation on the session’s penultimate day.

With Ferrandino’s elevation and the new 37-member Democratic House majority, Democrats no control both legislative chambers on the Capitol’s second floor, with Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper presiding one floor below.

The session could be a challenge for Hickenlooper if Democrats send a stream of increasingly partisan legislation to the moderate governor’s desk.

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New recreational marijuana industry needs regulations in less than 2 months

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Thursday, January 3rd, 2013, 11:10pm

Story by: Hendrik Sybrandy

DENVER — One new industry to regulate and less than two months to do it. That’s the challenge facing the task force charged with drafting new rules for recreational marijuana in Colorado.

The November passage of Amendment 64 has now made those regulations necessary.

On Thursday, two of the task force’s five subgroups met to sort through some of the complex issues involved.

Deb Palm-Egle, a medical marijuana patient, was among those who attended.

“I want to know why I should ever get a license again and get on a public register,” Palm-Egle said.

“I want to know what the benefits are going be for a medical marijuana patient compared to somebody off the street, and I want to know what they’re going to do.”

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Fort Lupton and Kersey CNG Stations Open in Weld County

Submitted by Jennifer Finch, Information Specialist, Weld County Office of County Commissioners

Thursday, December 20th, 2012, 5:35pm

Fort Lupton and Kersey CNG Stations Open in Weld County

The total number of public Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations located in Weld County reached four this week with station openings in Fort Lupton and in Kersey.

On Tuesday, December 18, 2012, The North Station, located at 7984 U.S. 85 in Fort Lupton, opened its CNG fueling station. Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton and Councilmember Zo Hubbard attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and fueled Fort Lupton’s first CNG vehicle.

On Thursday, December 20, 2012, Kramer’s Wedge Store, located at 103 Hill St. in Kersey, became the fourth public CNG station in the county. Both stations are owned by Zeit Energy and mark a milestone for the Weld County Smart Energy program.

The other two CNG stations, located in Firestone and Greeley, are owned by SkyBlu.

“With stations now located in Firestone, Fort Lupton, Kersey and Greeley, drivers will be able to fuel with CNG throughout the county,” said Kirkmeyer.

Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton and Fort Lupton City Council Member Zo Hubbard at the opening celebration of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station located at the North Station, 7984 U.S. 85 in Fort Lupton. The station is the third public CNG station to open in Weld County this year.

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Thief posing as Marine stealing Toys for Tots bins

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012, 4:14pm

DENVER – A man posing as a U.S. Marine is stealing Toys for Tots bins across Colorado.

According to the Denver Post, the man identifies himself as Gunnery Sgt. Mix and simply walks up to donation bins and stakes the entire box.

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. David Bull said police were notified Tuesday when he went to pick up a donation box and discovered it was already gone.

The thief is being described as a black man between 40 and 50 years old. As many as six locations from Aurora to Boulder have been hit.

The man wears a Marine uniform when he takes the toys. He does not check-in with the store owners nor show credentials.

The Post reported the thefts are especially worrisome because the Colorado branch of Toys for Tots is still about 45,000 toys short of their goal this year.

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Smartphone apps for more successful weight loss

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012, 11:41am

DENVER — You may want to think twice about leaving your cell phone in your locker when you hit the gym. Research shows taking advantage of fitness apps you can download to your smartphone can keep you slim and trim.

Busy sales representative Angela Toney works out six times a week and uses an app called My Fitness Pal to keep track of how many calories she’s burning as well as how many she’s taking in.

“It is mobile so wherever I am whatever I’m eating I can just put it in right there,” Toney said.

The app is free and also allows you to join a chat room where you can seek support.

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows those who use fitness apps lose about 15 pounds more weight on average, but the key is to combine the app with a human personal trainer.

Matrix Fitness sports and nutrition specialist Emilee Jones said fitness apps can be especially helpful for people just starting a plan.

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Marijuana legalization task force meets for first time Monday

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Monday, December 17th, 2012, 12:25pm

DENVER – The task force formed by Gov. John Hickenlooper to figure out how to mesh Colorado laws with the pot-legalizing Amendment 64 met for the first time Monday.

The Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force met at noon at the Department of Revenue’s building. The meeting was open to the public.

The task force – a group of 24 including marijuana activists, lobbyists, state lawmakers and state officials – will create regulations for the state’s new recreational marijuana industry.

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