Author: Blair Miller
Hickenlooper signs Colorado bill allowing ‘ballot selfies’
DENVER – You’ll be able to take a selfie with your ballot in Colorado next election after Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the so-called “ballot selfie bill” into law Thursday.
House Bill 1014 eliminates the penalty in Colorado for taking a “ballot selfie” – an issue that was heavily litigated ahead of last November’s election.
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that kept the state attorney general and district attorneys from prosecuting people who took or posted a picture of their completed ballot.
The Colorado rule was first written in the 1890s and has been reinterpreted over the past century.
The new bill, signed by the governor, changes one of those modifications, created by the Uniform Election Code of 1965 and Election Code of 1992, by eliminating language that prohibits voters from showing their completed ballot to anyone.
But it still allows county clerks and polling center workers to restrict photography at polling centers. Inducing any voter to show someone how they voted will still be against the law.
The bill underwent significant changes as it made its way through the Legislature.
The House added a provision that creates a new misdemeanor offense that will penalize people for trading votes or offering such.
But the Senate stripped that provision, which led to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office to pull its support for the bill.
“We didn’t think it had enough controls in it,” Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Staiert told Denver7 Friday. “We will seek legislation to specifically prohibit vote trading in the future.”
Six people have overdosed at Denver’s Central Library this year; staff trained for Narcan
DENVER – Staff at Denver’s Central Library is receiving training on how to administer Narcan after six people overdosed at the library since Jan. 1.
The Denver Public Library says it ordered 12 Narcan kits in February, which it received on Feb. 28. It says it used one of the kits to treat an overdose that very day.
“It’s a frightening thing,” said Rachel Fewell, central library administrator for the Denver Public Library. “And it can be scary. But, I’m feeling less scared now that we have a tool that can help keep people alive.”
The library this week received another shipment of 36 kits.
“We see customers in here experiencing all kinds of things,” Fewell said. “We started to notice that we had customers who needed some help.”
The library says that two community resource specialists, a peer navigator and 13 security officers have received training for administering Narcan.
“It was a really quick turn around. We kind of made the decision maybe in early February that yes, we really want to do this,” Fewell said. “It’s a nasal spray. It’s not a scary injectable.”
In simplest terms – Narcan immediately blocks an overdosing person’s brain receptors from receiving opioids.
Each kit costs $75.
The library says the instances in which security officers administered the Narcan resulted in the patient stabilizing and either being released on their own recognizance or being transported to a hospital.
Narcan is a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of an overdose from opioids, including heroin and fentanyl.
The library says it first started tracking overdoses when it first received the Narcan shipments.
A recent report shows that 197 people died across Colorado last year from heroin overdoses, including 31 in Denver. The statewide total is up 756 percent since 2001, and Denver’s overdose numbers are up 933 percent since 2002, when only three heroin overdoses were recorded.
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Authorities: 16 indicted in connection to illegal marijuana distribution raids in Colorado
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. – Sixteen people were indicted on felonies, including drug and organized crime charges, in relation to Thursday’s large-scale marijuana raid that targeted an illegal grow and out-of-state distribution ring operating in Colorado.
The raids happened Thursday in Denver, Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and El Paso counties.
Of the 16 people indicted, 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler said at a joint news conference with DEA and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office authorities Friday afternoon that 15 of them were already in custody.
Read the indictments by clicking here.
Brauchler said the suspects’ ages range from 28 to 63 years old.
He said the investigation started last August in Elbert County, where 2,500 pounds of marijuana were found, but that it “turned into a much longer and broader investigation.”
He said that the group was growing close to 300 pounds of marijuana each month, which was all distributed to states across the country, including Arkansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and possibly Florida and New Mexico, according to Brauchler.
Around 2,000 plants were taken from just one Denver warehouse Thursday during the raid.
Brauchler added that not only was the ring allegedly growing and distributing marijuana flower, but was also making and distributing hash oil. He said many of the transactions took place in broad daylight, including at an Aurora school’s parking lot and at a Castle Rock Starbucks.
The Drug Enforcement Agency’s Barbara Roach said the marijuana was specifically being grown to be sold and distributed out of state, and said she believes that people are coming to Colorado specifically for that reason.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Steve Johnson said that Colorado was fostering the “criminal enterprises,” and that illegal home grows are being found “on a daily basis.”
Nineteen locations were raided Thursday, during which authorities said they also seized 39 weapons.
Though there has been much apprehension over what new Attorney General Jeff Sessions will do when it comes to overseeing federal law enforcement regarding state laws on legal marijuana, the DEA says Thursday’s raids were not part of a new directive.
The Colorado Legislature is currently hashing out at least two bills aimed at cracking down on illegal marijuana grows. One of the bills would limit medical patients to grow only 16 plants – down from the current number of 99 – in an effort to further hamper illegal grows.
Local jurisdictions are allowed under state law to establish grow limits for recreational users, but the state law has capped the limit at six.
But large-scale growers have to have special licenses and oversight and are required to sell their product inside the state.
The 16 people indicted in relation to the raids are as follows:
- Rudy Saenz, 62
- Michael Stonehouse, 53
- Ted Stonehouse, 51
- Tilden Lazaro, 26
- Raciel Martinez, 52
- John Cathey, 63
- Vincent Castillo, 33
- William “Todd” Garner, 58
- Jerram Cathey, 27
- John Mason Cathey, 27
- Myisha Evans, 38
- Vernon Watts, 46
- Jason Jones, 46
- Amy Jones, 28
- John Ramsay, 45
- Jibaro Smith, 45
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office says Jibaro Smith is the one outstanding suspect.
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Projection: 600K Coloradans will lose Medicaid, state will lose $14B by 2030 under AHCA
DENVER – Colorado would lose $340 million in federal funding in 2020 when Medicaid provisions under Obamacare run out under the GOP-sponsored American Health Care Act, and the state stands to lose $14 billion in federal funds by 2030, according to analysis on the proposal released Thursday by the Colorado Health Institute.
The report says the state will have to choose between cutting up to 600,000 Coloradans from Medicaid by 2030 or making cuts to the state budget the nonpartisan CHI says would be “historic.” Continue reading
5 things to know about Thursday’s marijuana raids in Colorado
DENVER – Law enforcement agencies busted a large-scale illegal marijuana grow and distribution operation across Colorado Thursday morning. Here are five things you need to know about the raids:
Where did the raids occur?
The Drug Enforcement Agency, which assisted local law enforcement agencies in the raids, says there were 20 locations in Denver, Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and El Paso counties.
Denver7 crews watched as crews pulled plants out of a warehouse at 37th and Salem in Denver late Thursday morning after prior raids in the 7300 block of Valdi Court in Aurora and at a house in Castle Rock.
How long has operation been under investigation?
The DEA says the investigation of the still-unnamed organization has been ongoing for months, even prior to the transfer to the new administration. It also noted that there have been several other raids on illegal marijuana grows under the Obama administration.
How much marijuana was confiscated?
The court documents in the case are sealed, but it’s likely the raids netted thousands of pounds of marijuana. A Denver7 crew watched as at least 2,000 plants were taken out of a Denver warehouse alone.
Why is this marijuana illegal?
The DEA says that the illegal operations were selling exclusively outside of Colorado, which is a violation of state and federal law.
The Colorado Legislature is currently hashing out at least two bills aimed at cracking down on illegal marijuana grows. One of the bills would limit medical patients to grow only 16 plants – down from the current number of 99 – in an effort to further hamper illegal grows.
Local jurisdictions are allowed under state law to establish grow limits for recreational users, but the state law has capped the limit at six.
But large-scale growers have to have special licenses and oversight and are required to sell their product inside the state.
Were today’s raids part of a federal crackdown
Though there has been much apprehension over what new Attorney General Jeff Sessions will do when it comes to overseeing federal law enforcement regarding state laws on legal marijuana, the DEA says Thursday’s raids were not part of a new directive.
Sessions has made some conflicting statements in recent weeks, both saying that marijuana should be a states’ rights issue and also saying that he believes marijuana use is similar to people using heroin.
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EPA pays out $54K more to Colorado for Gold King Mine reimbursement costs
DENVER – Colorado and some local jurisdictions in the southwestern part of the state are getting fractions of what was initially sought in reimbursement money from the Environmental Protection Agency for the August 2015 Gold King Mine spill, but received another $54,000 Thursday.
The EPA said in January that it would not fully repay the 73 claims from both governments and private entities worth $1.2 billion for the spill, which was caused by EPA contractors and hampered communities in southwest Colorado, northwest New Mexico and southeast Utah for months. Continue reading
Coffman-Carroll competition for 6th Colo. House seat was among few close races nationwide
DENVER – Not only did Colorado have the fourth-highest voter turnout of any state in last year’s election, but one of our House races was among just a handful with a margin of victory within 10 percentage points in an election that was largely a landslide for congressional seats nationwide.
The U.S. Elections Project and Nonprofit VOTE released a report titled “America Goes to the Polls 2016” that details voter turnout and voting data from the 2016 election on Thursday. Continue reading
Colorado undocumented immigrant student supports bill expanding license, ID program in state
DENVER – Colorado’s undocumented community and immigrants’ rights groups say the program allowing undocumented people to get IDs and driver’s licenses is immensely helpful, and say they are supporting a new bill that would expand the program.
House Bill 1206 is set for its first committee hearing Wednesday in the House Local Government Committee. Continue reading
AG Sessions: Idea medical pot can remedy opioid addiction is ‘stupid’ and ‘hyped’
DENVER – U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday said the idea that medical marijuana could be used as a remedy to heroin and opioid addiction is “stupid” in his latest statements questioning the legitimacy of medical and recreational marijuana programs in states like Colorado.
Speaking to law enforcement agencies in Virginia, Sessions said he and his office “may rethink” some of the policies regarding federal enforcement of marijuana laws in states that have legalized recreational and medical marijuana, according to The Washington Post.
“Medical marijuana has been hyped, maybe too much,” Sessions said.
The Post reports that Sessions also said after his speech that he was “dubious” of medical marijuana and research that points to it being an alternative painkiller and treatment option for opioid addicts.
“I’ve heard people say we could solve our heroin problem with marijuana. How stupid is that? Give me a break,” he said during his speech, which again lumped together drug use and an uptick last year in violent crime.
Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana sales, but medical marijuana is legal in 28 states and D.C.
In recent weeks, Sessions has said he’s “not a fan” of marijuana use but has said that states “can pass the laws they choose,” though he maintained that federal law trumps state law when it comes to marijuana enforcement.
Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman responded to Sessions’ prior comments by inviting him to Colorado to see its program firsthand.
“I’d like to be able to share what we have learned and where we have put in place a good framework for marijuana regulations,” she said. “Now for the federal government to say we’re doing things wrong, or we’re going to come in and take this regulation away from you without having first looked to see what we’re doing is precipitous.”
During Wednesday’s speech, Sessions also said that the country has “too much tolerance for drug use,” and went back to citing Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign as a means for combating drug use, according to The Post.
Colorado’s medical and recreational businesses sold more than $1 billion worth of pot last year. Industry leaders have said the dismantling of the state’s industry could cause a recession.
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Sen. Michael Bennet to host five town halls across Colorado this week, his first in two years
DENVER – Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet is hosting five town hall meetings this week across the state.
As many of Colorado’s members of Congress hold both in-person and telephone town hall meetings with constituents, these five will be among the first hosted by Bennet in two years.
His fellow senator from Colorado, Cory Gardner, was lambasted for not appearing at in-person town halls organized by others in recent months, but Bennet has largely avoided criticism from Democrats for not hosting his own. Gardner has been hosting tele-town halls in recent weeks.
Rep. Jared Polis hosted two in-person town hall meetings in northern Colorado over the weekend. Rep. Mike Coffman is also hosting a telephone town hall Wednesday evening.
Bennet is set to appear at town halls in Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Alamosa on Thursday before hosting two more, in Durango and Grand Junction, on Friday. The details for each can be found below:
- Colorado Springs – Thursday, March 16 – 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. – Tesla Education Center, 2560 International Circle
- Pueblo – Thursday, March 16 – 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Pueblo Union Depot, 132 West B Street
- Alamosa – Thursday, March 16 – 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Rio Grande Water Conservation District, 8805 Independence Way
- Durango – Friday, March 17 – 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. – Double Tree Hotel, 501 Camino Del Rio
- Grand Junction — Friday, March 17 — 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. — Colorado Mesa University, South Ballroom, 1455 N 12th Street
His office is encouraging people to come early to ensure they get a seat.
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