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Kim Jong Un calls Sen. Cory Gardner a ‘psychopath’ who is ‘mixed in with human dirt’
DENVER – U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner has drawn the attention and ire of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after calling the volatile leader a “whack job” in a TV interview last week.
Gardner made the comments last week on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, when he said “most people agree” that Kim is a “whack job.” Continue reading
In response to Firestone explosion, bill filed to map and track oil and gas facilities in Colorado
DENVER – Two Colorado Democrats on Friday filed a bill aimed at bringing more transparency and state oversight to the oil and gas industry, in light of a recent deadly home explosion caused by an abandoned, uncapped well.
The push comes toward the end of Colorado’s legislative session, which is set to end next Wednesday.
Gov. John Hickenlooper called for more oversight over the industry in a news conference Wednesday, saying the location of the 54,000 Colorado oil and gas wells and lines “should be a matter of public record.” Continue reading
US House passes American Health Care Act onto Senate, 217-213; see how Colorado reps voted
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to pass the American Health Care Act, the bill concocted by House Republicans and President Donald Trump to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act passed under President Barack Obama.
The bill passed narrowly, 217-213, after extensive debate Thursday morning over how the recently-revived and revised bill would affect people with pre-existing conditions. Continue reading
Rep. Mike Coffman says he’s voting ‘no’ on the revived American Health Care Act
DENVER – U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman will vote against passing the American Health Care Act on to the Senate when the House of Representatives votes on the revived bill aimed at replacing Obamacare on Thursday.
“At this time, I cannot support the AHCA with the MacArthur amendment because I’m concerned that a small percentage of those with preexisting conditions may still not be protected,” Coffman said in a statement. Continue reading
Project Unsolved: Decades later, search continues for suspect in CU student Sid Wells’ 1983 murder
One of the most high-profile murders in Colorado’s history remains unsolved after nearly 34 years, but police and prosecutors know who their suspect is and have an active warrant for his arrest.
The only problem is no one has seen Thayne Smika – or called him by that name, at least – since 1986. Continue reading
2 suspects arrested by FBI agents in Chicago in connection to Denver liquor store murder
DENVER – Two people suspected of being connected to an April 21 strip mall shooting in Denver that left one man dead were arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents on April 26 in Chicago, and are in the process of being extradited back to Denver.
Shawntez Kinney, 22, died in the shooting, which happened outside of the Evans Discount Liquor store on West Evans Avenue just after 9 p.m. on April 21. He had a young child. Continue reading
Undocumented Aurora man detained at work released from ICE hold, will get to see daughter graduate
AURORA, Colo. – Arturo Hernandez-Garcia, the undocumented man who was detained at work last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, was released from federal immigration custody late Tuesday and granted a reprieve to go to his daughter’s graduation, according to his lawyer.
Hernandez-Garcia was the first person in Colorado to seek sanctuary from deportation when he did so for nine months in 2014 and 2015 while he faced deportation. Continue reading
Medical marijuana safe from federal crackdown through September, according to near-final budget
DENVER – Colorado’s medical marijuana is safe from a federal crackdown through at least September, after lawmakers worked a rider into the bipartisan budget deal to protect states with medical marijuana programs.
The section of the budget deal pertaining to medical marijuana (pages 230-231) says that the Department of Justice may not use any budgetary funds “to prevent any of [a list of states, districts and territories] from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.” Continue reading
Amid calls for review of Colo. wells following explosion, agencies caution against rush to judgment
DENVER – Officials continue to urge people not to jump conclusions as to why a Colorado oil and gas operator shut in 3,000 of its wells following a home explosion in Firestone that killed two men.
The Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District on Friday said it wouldn’t release any further information about the April 17 explosion until it has determined the final cause and origin. Brothers-in-law Mark Martinez and Joey Irwin died in the explosion, which occurred while the two were installing a hot water heater at the home. Continue reading
Denver police chief allays concern within undocumented community over deportation fears
DENVER – Denver’s mayor praised a federal judge’s decision Tuesday to block an executive order by President Donald Trump that would strip federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities – just around the same time that the city’s police chief tried to calm fears in Denver’s immigrant communities.
Denver Police Chief Robert White laid out the city’s plan on how its officers work with federal immigration officials under the Trump administration at a community meeting Tuesday that brought standing-room-only crowds. He started by noting that there have been an uptick in the number of immigration officers in the city, but told the crowd not to worry. Continue reading