Friday, October 7, 2005

Colorado Springs Fined Colorado Springs has been fined for polluting Fountain Creek, according to the Denver Post [October 7, 2005, "Springs Utilities hit with work order, fine"]. From the article, "The state health department fined Colorado Springs Utilities $110,470 and ordered it to perform a complete inspection of its sewage system after a series of spills sent 377,000 gallons of raw wastewater charging into Fountain Creek this spring. The penalty, issued Thursday, covers a total of 21 sewer overflows and two releases from electrical transformers that occurred between Jan. 1, 2004, and Oct. 4, 2005. The fine was part of an enforcement order requiring the utility to undertake a laundry list of improvements designed to eliminate sewer leaks...Pueblo County District Attorney Bill Thiebaut will decide next week whether to make good on a threat to sue Colorado Springs over the pollution. State health officials also announced they are preparing a second notice of violation against the utility for repeated spills of highly chlorinated reclaimed water meant for industrial use." Category: Colorado Water 6:10:49 AM

Chaput on Referendum C Bishop Charles Chaput is urging voters to pass Referendums C and D in and opinion piece in today's Rocky Mountain News [October 7, 2005, "Speakout: Refs C, D a boon to poor, afflicted"]. He writes, "Colorado is a wealthy state in a wealthy country. We enjoy a good quality of life. We're a uniquely fortunate people. But for several years, and especially during the most recent recession, not all Coloradans have shared in that quality of life. Colorado now ranks 44th among the nation's 50 states in immunization rates for children 3 years old and younger. We're 48th in our percentage of low-income children with health insurance. Our national ranking for access to prenatal care dropped from 23rd in 1990 to 48th in 2004. Colorado ranks 50th in the nation for poor high school students who manage to attend college, even for one day." Opponents of Referendums C and D have filed a lawsuit challenging the wording in the states Blue book, according to the Denver Post [October 7, 2005, "Ground laid for post-vote fight"]. From the article, "Opponents of the budget measures on November's ballot have filed a lawsuit against Referendum D, laying the groundwork for further legal challenges should the measures pass...Jon Caldara, Vote No's chairman, said the group also is readying arguments against Referendum C should it pass November 1...since the book has already been shipped to voters, the plaintiffs would like to see the court: order a supplemental blue book be sent out, delay the election or, if the measure passes, invalidate the results and order a new election, said Vote No attorney Rob Corry." The Denver Post editorial staff is blasting the opponents of Referendum C for their use of out of state money [October 7, 2005, "'C' campaign: out of state, out of mind"]. They write, "The Independence Institute doesn't want Colorado voters to know who's footing the bill for its anti-Referendum C ads. It's no wonder. There's an out-of-state stench to the money sources we do know about in the various 'no on C' campaigns." Category: Denver November 2005 Election 5:56:37 AM

Allard on McCain Amendment The Rocky Mountain News has an article this morning giving Senator Allard's side with respect to the McCain anti-torture amendment [October 7, 2005, "Allard rejects anti-torture rules"]. Here's what the Senator has to say, "In fact, all it does is tie the hands of the Department of Defense at a time when maximum flexibility within the boundaries of the U.S. law is needed." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 5:51:59 AM

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