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Thursday, February 16, 2006
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Dems and pro-life voters
Bull Moose: "Fortunately, Democrats are now engaging in a serious discussion of how to limit the number of abortions without making it illegal. Hillary Clinton has offered some innovative solutions. And on the political front, the donkey has embraced and supported pro-life candidates - most notably Bob Casey in Pennsylvania. What has been remarkable about the Democratic initiatives to reach out to pro-life voters is that it has encountered little resistance within the party."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
8:37:16 PM 
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Early leaders in presidential race
Political Wire: "Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) 'remains the front-runner for the Democratic nomination amidst a field of relatively well-established political figures,' according to a new Gallup poll. She has 'a better than two-to-one margin" over Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) among Democratic registered voters, 39% to 15%... Essentially tied with Kerry are former Vice President Al Gore and former Sen. John Edwards, receiving 13% and 12% support respectively.'
"On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani (R) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) 'lead a closely contested race among Republican registered voters. Giuliani has a five percentage-point edge over McCain, 33% to 28%, which is within the poll's margin of error. The remaining GOP candidates (mostly lesser-known names) register in the single digits.'"
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
8:32:35 PM
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Bloomberg: No to run
Political Wire: "Quote of the Day: 'Which letter in the word 'no' do you not understand?' -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R), quoted by the New York Daily News, denying rumors that he might be interested in running for president.
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
8:30:13 PM
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Kerry and Allen passing through Denver
Denver Post: "Two potential presidential candidates will be in Colorado next week, indicating the importance of the state in the two upcoming election cycles, political observers say.
"Republican U.S. Sen. George Allen of Virginia will speak Tuesday at the Jefferson County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner and attend a fundraiser for his 2006 re-election campaign, said Dick Wadhams, his chief of staff.
"John Kerry, the junior senator from Massachusetts and the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee, will be in Colorado on Feb. 24 to meet with Ed Perlmutter, a candidate for Congress in the 7th District, Perlmutter's campaign said."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
8:18:03 PM
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Madden Endorses Ritter
Colorado Luis: "A primary that focused on abortion would be a good thing for whichever Democrat won, in my opinion, because the ongoing debate would only highlight that the two Republican candidates are both locked in to the extreme right wing position required by Colorado Springs religious conservatives. And yes, I would have liked the opportunity to support a candidate who doesn't think it is OK to force his own religious dictates on non-believers."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
8:14:34 PM
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Tancredo for president?
Rocky Mountain News: "Rep. Tom Tancredo has asked the Federal Elections Commission to say whether his congressional campaign can give up to $50,000 to a Colorado group behind a proposed constitutional amendment restricting state services for illegal immigrants.
"Tancredo, R-Littleton, is seeking an advisory opinion that could have national implications. It could clarify a gray area of the law and determine how much members of Congress can get involved in state ballot initiatives.
"Campaign treasurer Jon Ponder said Tancredo has not decided exactly how much to contribute to the group, Defend Colorado Now, but proposed the $50,000 figure in hopes of getting clear guidance on what's allowed."
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
8:07:55 PM
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Durango whitewater park?
Durango is moving ahead with their application for water rights for a whitewater park, according to the Durango Herald. From the article, "The Durango City Council has asked a water lawyer to draft an application for recreational water rights on the Animas River.
"Councilors are expected to vote on a resolution Tuesday night supporting the recreational in-channel water diversion application.
"The city will request water to support a white-water park in Smelter Rapid near Santa Rita Park. The city possibly will ask for only 85 cfs of water during some parts of the year and up to 1,400 cfs during the peak boating season - about 15 days in June, said Director of Public Works Jack Rogers.
"Councilors are moving quickly on the application in hopes of filing it before a bill moving through the state Legislature becomes law. The bill, supported by state Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, would limit a municipality's ability to apply for recreational water rights.
"Opponents of the recreational-water application fear that existing and future upstream water users will be adversely affected by the city's proposed new water right. In December, some 30 new upstream water-right applications were filed that seek a total of more than 100 cfs of water.
"But councilors said they have no intention of depriving upstream users. All they are trying to do, they said, is ensure that enough water is in the river for future boating opportunities. The boating park, they say, will be a nice amenity and attract tourists, which will help the economy."
Category: Colorado Water
6:22:14 AM
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Fossil Creek called one of the dirtiest state streams
Fort Collins Coloradoan: "Fossil Creek will be named one of Colorado's dirtiest streams after a naturally occurring element turned up at nearly five times the state standard.
"The creek, which runs east through Larimer County and south Fort Collins, violated the state standard for selenium during testing in 2002 and 2003.
"The levels could cause long-term damage to fish and aquatic life - though fish in other parts of the state survive under worse conditions - but are not a threat to drinking water, a state official said.
"The samples were taken near U.S. Highway 287 south of Fort Collins.
"Selenium occurs naturally in bedrock shale. Water runoff - including irrigation from farms and city lawns - can transport selenium to groundwater, which percolates up to rivers and streams.
"The element has caused problems on the Western Slope because it contaminates rivers where four species of endangered fish live.
"The state selenium standard is 4.6 parts per billion for aquatic life. Samples from Fossil Creek measured 25 parts per billion, or about 25 drops of water in a gasoline tanker truck."
Category: Colorado Water
6:17:05 AM
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March for Migrants
Merco Press: "The 'March for Migrants' arrived Wednesday in Washington to lobby for the defeat of pending legislation that will allow the construction of a double fence along the US/Mexico border in an attempt to stem the flow of illegal Latinamerican immigration to the US."
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
6:08:17 AM
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Invasive Species Forecasting System
NASA Satellite imagery is being used to fight invasive species, in particular Tamarisk. From the article, "Products based on NASA Earth observations and a new Internet-based decision tool are providing information to help land and water managers combat tamarisk (saltcedar), an invasive plant species damaging precious water supplies in the western United States.
"This decision tool, called the Invasive Species Forecasting System (ISFS), is being used at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Institute of Invasive Species Science in Fort Collins, Colo. It is the result of combining USGS science and NASA Earth observations, software engineering and high- performance computing expertise...
"The ISFS was successfully tested when the pink-flowered saltcedar bloomed last summer in Colorado. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently identified saltcedar as one of the most harmful invasive species in the United States, because the plant's long roots tap into underground aquifers. Its groundwater absorbing qualities may be adding to the severity of the drought in the western United States. Saltcedar also increases the salt concentration of the soil and degrades habitats for native species along river systems...
"The ISFS uses observations and science data products from NASA's Terra, Aqua and Earth Observing-1 satellites and the USGS-operated Landsat satellites, together with field data from government and non-government contributors. The satellites observe and measure sunlight reflected by plants and their environments. The satellites lock in on unique aspects of the reflected light to determine saltcedar's locations and habitats vulnerable to invasion.
"During the plant's blooming season, ISFS-generated maps predicting locations match observations of it in the field. These predictive maps are an important new tool for land managers involved with saltcedar-related control and restoration efforts...
"The ISFS uses invasive species occurrence and abundance data from the Global Organism Detection and Monitoring System developed by the USGS Fort Collins Science Center and Colorado State University. This monitoring system is an on-line database that allows people to report sightings of saltcedar or other invasive species to USGS scientists, who then review the observations and incorporate validated data into ISFS map products."
Category: Colorado Water
6:05:06 AM
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Fountain Creek management
The Pueblo Chieftain is running an in-depth article looking at the future management of Fountain Creek and water consultant Ray Petros' plan that would add a new dam for wastewater for reuse by Colorado Springs. From the article, "Ditch companies are urging caution on a proposal to control effluent discharge and floodwater with a reservoir on Fountain Creek...
"In October, [Ray] Petros asked the Bureau of Reclamation to consider a plan that combines flood control and recycling wastewater to its environmental review of the Southern Delivery System, a plan to build a pipeline from Pueblo Dam to Colorado Springs.
"Petros maintains his plan would require Colorado Springs to reuse water directly, rather than through exchanges, and would delay the need for a pipeline or even reduce the size of pipeline needed...
"The ditch companies this week apparently sent a letter questioning Petros' plan to area conservancy districts, congressmen, state officials and counties throughout the region.
"The letter is signed by the entire Fort Lyon Canal board, and the presidents of the Amity Ditch, Holbrook Canal and District 67 Irrigating Canals Association. Copies of the letter also were mailed to The Pueblo Chieftain.
"The ditch companies are concerned that the construction of a dam on Fountain Creek, a major tributary of the Arkansas River, could restrict or change the timing of flows on the river itself. The river already is overappropriated and changing the flows could complicate river issues with Kansas under the Arkansas River Compact."
Category: Colorado Water
5:47:21 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 8:01:25 PM.
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