SandBoxBlogs: KKCO 11 News "Breadwinners Of The Family: Women In The Workforce "

Thomas Jordan:
"The number of women in the work place has grown from forty-percent to forty-five percent. Local moms I spoke with today say it's all about putting food on the table and paying the bills.

"I currently have two jobs because I have two little girls that I have to take care of on my own" says working mother Heather Reynolds.

She has been on her own for awhile, she works as a server at a night club and bartender at a restaurant.

"With this economy and having two children it’s really hard to work only one job and support a family" says Heather.

Heather's not the only woman out there seeking a pay check.

“The percentage of woman that are job seekers in registered in Colorado has gone from forty percent to forty-five percent, so we look at that as a fairly significant increase" says Suzie Miller from the Mesa County Workforce Center.

For Great Harvest Bread Company Co-owner Heidi Ragland, it’s a little different. Since she makes her bread and eats it too.

"I feel so blessed that I have the opportunity to be able to work, but manage our family life. In a comparable way that makes it so I can be there when I need to be there" says Heidi Ragland.

She agrees with Heather, it's still a tough economy.

"Gas is more expensive, milk is more expensive, bread is more expensive, so other people are going to have to contribute to the family income to meet those basic needs" says Heidi....."

(Read more?  Click title)

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SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Yellow"

All credit:  Bob Berwyn (click title)

SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily News "2015 Championships: 1,000 days to go"

"VAIL, Colorado — With today marking 1,000 days to go until the world returns to Vail and Beaver Creek for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, Feb. 3-15, the event's Organizing Committee has provided the Vail Valley community with its charge. The state of Colorado, the United States and the world also have their directive: “Dream it. Live it. Share it.”

“It” refers to the 2015 World Championships, and Vail and Beaver Creek organizers want the world to know that this will be much more than just two weeks of ski racing. These championships will be a many-faceted celebration of not only skiing but an event and a feeling that can and will mean a world of different things on different levels to everyone who is touched by “it”.

While the championships are slightly less than three years away, organizers felt the need to identify a central tagline and theme that will guide much of the planning, preparation and look of the event. The committee wanted a tag that included strong action words that both invited and challenged people to make these championships their own in whatever way they choose.

“If you stop to think about it,” said Ceil Folz, president of the Vail Valley Foundation and the 2015 World Championships organizing committee, “dream, live and share can take on a myriad of different meanings when it comes to the World Championships. A young skier in Nepal can dream about having the chance to race in the championships, just as Lindsey Vonn can dream about winning a medal here.

“At the other end of the spectrum, a child that has never had the opportunity to experience skiing or snowboarding can also have that dream come true through the championships.”

While the members of the organizing committee will obviously live these championships for the coming years leading up to 2015, the international skiing community also will participate in the buildup to the World Championships, watching it grow and evolve in both scope and scale. As for the sharing piece of the equation, that, too, will come in many shapes and forms.

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel/Breaking News "Hickenlooper calls for special session on civil unions"

Charles Ashby:
"DENVER — Gov. John Hickenlooper called state lawmakers into a special session starting as early as Friday in an effort try again on passing a civil unions law for same-sex couples.

The governor, near tears in making the announcement, said the time has come for the state to provide the same legal rights to same-sex couples that married couples have, and he means to help them get it.

“I think it’s an issue about people and their rights,” Hickenlooper said at a well attended press conference, which was attended by numerous supporters of a civil union law. “We can’t control the final resolution, but there is an overwhelming need, not just among Democrats, it’s among independents and Republicans, to have an opportunity to discuss this issue.”

The call for a special session comes on the final day of the 2012 session, a day after GOP leaders in the Colorado House blocked a vote on civil unions even though there was more than enough votes to get it passed....." (Read more? Click title)

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SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel/Breaking News "Retired prof arrested for alleged sex assault on child"

Dennis Webb:
"Authorities in Chaffee County have arrested an 81-year-old author and retired Cornell University professor now living outside Carbondale for alleged sexual assault on a child.

Detectives from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Salida took Paul Eugene Breer into custody at his Eagle County home Monday after obtaining an arrest warrant.

He faces felony charges including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust.

Eagle County deputies assisted in the arrest and Breer was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond in the Eagle County jail pending transfer to Chaffee County....."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Affidavit: 8 pounds of meth hidden in Jeep’s oil pan"

Paul Shockley:
"A California woman faces possible drug-related charges after a search of her Jeep on Tuesday allegedly turned up 8.8 pounds of packaged methamphetamine hidden under the Jeep’s oil pan, according to an arrest affidavit.

Dayana Gutierrez, 21, of Lynwood, Calif., was stopped by a Mesa County Sheriff’s deputy just before 2 p.m. Tuesday headed east on Interstate 70, near milepost 3. A deputy allegedly observed “glare” from a suspected crack in the windshield of Gutierrez’s Jeep, which had Nebraska license plates, according to the affidavit. The deputy also wrote in the affidavit that a GPS unit was in front of the driver, allegedly obstructing vision.

The affidavit alleged Gutierrez said she was coming from a town in Utah, possibly named “Senor,” which she explained is near Moab, where she had been visiting her boyfriend. The deputy was unfamiliar with the town.

A check of records showed Gutierrez crossed the Mexico border around 10:30 p.m. last Friday at the San Yisidro crossing, the affidavit said....." (Read more? Click title)


"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Red State "A Terrible, No Good, Awful Night for Barack Obama "

Erick Erickson:
"One initial point to ponder: if the No-H8 campaign tries to fire up in North Carolina as the No-A1 campaign, people will wonder why they are campaigning against steak sauce. Probably won’t happen.

North Carolina did not pass a ban on gay marriage as the media reports. Rather they refused to allow their definition of marriage to be changed. The marriage definition was put into law years ago, but with an onslaught of judicial activists, the voters in North Carolina decided to shut down any further consideration of the issue.

The most fascinating bit of it all is that time and time again gay marriage polls quite well in the United States.

Time and time again, gay marriage proponents go down to defeat at the actual polls. Said one gay marriage proponent on Twitter last night to me, “It will be a happy day when all hate filled Xians are dead.” Xians is “Christians” in Twitter speak. At first I thought it was a Xenu or Thetans reference.

This was a bad night for Barack Obama. Whoever decided to put the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina should be given a lollipop by the GOP for the intense level of comedic schadenfreude we can all now watch. The Democrats will convene in a proudly right to work state whose state Democratic Party is imploding due to a gay sexual harassment scandal, the state itself just voted for marriage by a margin few statewide candidates in North Carolina get, and twenty percent of Democrats voted against Barack Obama in the North Carolina Democratic Primary.

On the bright side, North Carolina is not West Virginia where a felon in federal prison in Texas locked up 40% of the vote in the Democratic Primary against Barack Obama. The Chain Gang looks to be as popular as the Change Gang.

In Indiana, Rickard Mourdock beat Richard Lugar. Lugar is Barack Obama’s favorite Republican Senator. The Washington, DC Gang of 500 — the political reporters who set the tone for political coverage in America — are still crying in their beer as the sun rises that Indiana’s statewide elected Treasurer beat a Republican incumbent who has never been a threat to the liberal agenda the Gang of 500 agrees with...."
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SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall "Truth Is Major Obstacle to Obama's Re-election"

David Limbaugh:
"President Obama formally kicked off his re-election campaign in Richmond, Va., and Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, and his theme was certainly not, shall we say, "it's morning again in America" -- President Ronald Reagan's optimistic re-election slogan in 1984.

Obama's central message was more like: "Hey, I realize things look bad, and I'm not going to pretend you want four more years of this. But just think how much worse it would have been without me and how much worse it's going to get if you get rid of me."

Interestingly, mainstream media journalists Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake were certain enough that Obama wasn't sufficiently forthcoming in his speech that they co-wrote a piece for The Washington Post "parsing" it. Without a whiff of disapproval, they said, "This being politics, Obama said less than what he meant. But, that's where we come in." The two then set out Obama's "most quotable lines" and followed each with their "translation of the message he was trying to send."

The writers are obviously sympathetic to Obama's agenda and, as fellow liberals, share his end-justifies-the-means sleight of hand -- whatever it takes to keep this federal juggernaut barreling along. Let's look at just a few of the quotes they highlighted.

Obama said: "I don't care how many ways you try to explain it: Corporations aren't people. People are people." The writers said Obama was responding to Mitt Romney's earlier remark that "corporations are people," and they said Obama intended to send this message: "Romney is the business candidate. I am the people's candidate."

Well, Romney is right. Most corporations (excepting holding companies and the like) are owned and operated by people. But Obama must depersonalize them because it makes his attacks on business seem less personal, which brings us to another point. Obama has denied he is anti-business, but everything about him screams otherwise, and even many of his liberal defenders, from these two writers to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to Fareed Zakaria, have been hard-pressed to deny that he either is anti-business or sends unmistakable signals that he is....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Legal Insurrection "Tuesday: one of the busiest election days of 2012"

Anne Sorock:
"Ballotpedia, the “interactive almanac of state politics,” has an excellent run-down of Tuesday’s elections across the country.

While we’ve already reported to you on what’s at stake in Wisconsin and Mourdock’s challenge to Lugar, there are other key elections in Indiana, North Carolina, and West Virginia to note.

According to Ballotpedia:

• There is a same-sex marriage amendment in North Carolina and “ten state executive offices up for election this year…more statewide races than any other state. Of the 20 primary races, 13 are contested and only one – the Republican primary for attorney general - has no candidates.”
• In West Virginia, all but one incumbent is unchallenged: “Five incumbents are seeking re-election and only one, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, faces a primary challenger - Arne Moltis. The state’s current agriculture commissioner, Gus Douglass, is retiring after serving 48 years in office. Five Democrats and one Republican are vying for his seat.”
• They also explain why, in Indiana, you won’t see Mitch Daniels on any ballot – he’s term-limited out of seeking another term for governor. ...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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SandBoxBlogs: Washington Post "France’s Hollande aims anti-austerity message directly at Germany"

Edward Cody:
"PARIS — Francois Hollande said he wanted to make Berlin his first stop as president of France, but he warned that the Franco-German partnership was going to have to change and that Europe’s key word from now on was “growth.”

But while Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would welcome Hollande “with open arms” in the German capital, she made clear that she would not accept his plan to renegotiate the European Union’s controversial austerity treaty or pump E.U. funds into the continent’s stagnant economies....." (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: KKCO 11 News "State trooper gets back pay; now on paid leave"

(See related stories here and here)

Comment ability remains blocked on Trooper Lawyer's news articles.

Brian Schlonsky:
"GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO)-- Colorado State Trooper Ivan “Gene” Lawyer has been reinstated with the state patrol, and now he'll also be paid for the last two years.

KKCO 11 News was the first to break this story, CSP telling us that as soon as the last of the charges were dropped against Lawyer, he was placed on administrative leave with pay.

The last two years, Lawyer was on unpaid administrative leave, and now, he's also getting reimbursed for that time....."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "News in brief"

Disclaimer: "Now that DA Beeson has thrown his hat in the ring for district attorney in the 9th, please take note that there will be no special treatment given to any news press surrounding his race. His articles, if they are SandBox worthy or chosen in the daily agg run-up; will be put up just like anyone else in a political race. What SandBox Commentators will continue to do, is heavily moderate his articles. (We are the only news media that provides the courtesy of moderating commentary from the general public on 9th Judicial District and Mr. Beeson's articles. All 9th Judicial news articles are DA Beeson's articles )" 


Aspen Daily News:
"Laurie Reno, 30, who was also accused of faking the doctor’s name in an attempt to get a prescription drug from Carl’s Pharmacy, quietly pleaded guilty to a felony count of uttering a false or forged order.

Judge Gail Nichols of Pitkin County District Court approved the sentence, which involves one year of unsupervised probation so Reno can go to an inpatient treatment program in California. After a year in the program, she must then contact the Pitkin County probation office for another year of probation that will be supervised.

Reno’s attorney, public defender Tina Fang, said her client pleaded guilty even though there were “factual issues that warranted her having the prescription.”

The case was also “ripe with suppression issues,” Fang said, because Reno, when she was arrested April 4, invoked her right to an attorney and Aspen police officers continued to question her.

“This seems to another case of the Aspen Police Department not understanding 4th and 6th Amendment procedures,” the attorney said. She added that the supposed factual and suppression issues likely factored into the decision by Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin to offer the plea agreement.

But Mordkin said that was not the case...."
(Read more? Click title)


"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Pivotal evidence hearing on Monday in bomb-threat case"

Disclaimer: "Now that DA Beeson has thrown his hat in the ring for district attorney in the 9th, please take note that there will be no special treatment given to any news press surrounding his race. His articles, if they are SandBox worthy or chosen in the daily agg run-up; will be put up just like anyone else in a political race. What SandBox Commentators will continue to do, is heavily moderate his articles. (We are the only news media that provides the courtesy of moderating commentary from the general public on 9th Judicial District and Mr. Beeson's articles. All 9th Judicial news articles are DA Beeson's articles.)

Chad Abraham:
"The judge presiding over a man’s felony case involving an alleged bomb threat concerning a Belly Up concert urged the attorneys for both sides on Tuesday to come to an agreement on pretrial evidence issues.

Otherwise, public defender Tina Fang, representing Asa Robinson, 30, of Glenwood Springs, may call Aspen prosecutor Arnold Mordkin to testify about record-keeping matters in a motion-to-dismiss hearing set for Monday.

Custodians of evidence in the Aspen Police Department and the Aspen office of the 9th Judicial District Attorney may also be called to the stand. Judge Gail Nichols of Pitkin County District Court said that, in order for her to rule on the motion, she needs to rely on statements that are only made under oath unless Fang and Mordkin can agree on matters involving certain evidence.....

....Fang’s motion says the district attorney’s office didn’t turn over a copy of the interview until March 22, which the defense attorney says is another example of miscues involving pretrial evidence, or discovery, committed by the Aspen prosecutor’s office.

Nichols last summer sanctioned Mordkin for similar missteps in five cases, ordering that he could not use key evidence in a motor-vehicle theft case. Mordkin soon after filed to have the case dismissed, saying he could not expect a successful prosecution without that evidence.

But he and District Attorney Martin Beeson have appealed Nichols’ ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals, where it is pending, and defended the Aspen office’s handling of discovery. Nichols’ ruling cites a handful of cases in which prosecutorial discovery errors were made out of the nearly 2,700 that the Aspen office handled between 2008 and 2011, meaning the vast majority of cases were handled correctly, the appeal says. Mordkin has also said in court motions that his office and evidence custodians of the local law enforcement agencies have rectified the issues that led to the mistakes.

But for the latest alleged infraction, Nichols “should make it clear that the blame rests with [Mordkin] and his office — alone,” Fang wrote. Dismissing Robinson’s case is the only way the court can be assured that its authority to enforce procedural rules will be respected, the motion says......"
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SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "PitCo ups budget for fighting court cases"

Andrew Travers:
"Pitkin County will have an extra $200,000 in the budget this year for litigation, in case simmering matters related to oil and gas drilling flare up, or other legal challenges arise, commissioners agreed at a meeting Tuesday.

The public money comes in addition to $75,845 in already-approved litigation funds for 2012.

In 2011, the county far outspent its legal budget fighting criminal and civil charges against government officials accused of wrongdoing in the poisoning deaths, by carbon monoxide, of a family of four. The cases related to the deaths of the Lofgren family of Denver were dropped last year. Prosecutors had accused local building inspectors of negligence for failing to catch glitches in the snowmelt system of a luxury home the family was renting in 2008. 

The county and city of Aspen spent a total of nearly $260,000 last year on lawyers and court costs in those cases.

County attorney John Ely told the commissioners Tuesday that he had reduced the litigation budget in recent years. It had been between $200,000 and $300,000 in years past......"
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SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily "Friday night felonies"

Once again our K-9 heroes come through!  Good boy, 'Tucker' !!  Thanks so much for your service.

Look what Tucker found (Click title to read the story):

Photo Credit:

Justin McCarty | Special to the Daily

"Avon Police Lt. Greg Daly, right, Eagle County Sheriff's Office Deputy Tim Comroe, left, and his German shepherd, Tucker, talk about their big drug bust Tuesday morning at the Avon Police Department. Police say they found the drugs in a truck they pulled over on Interstate 70 near Wolcott."

Photo Credit: Justin McCarty | Special to the Daily

Randy Wyrick:
"Tucker performed what is called a “positive alert,” indicating he'd found some drugs. He scratches the area where the drugs are when he finds them.

A dog's nose is 1,000 times more sensitive than a human's, and Comroe has trained Tucker to recognize the odors of six different drugs: marijuana, mushrooms, XTC, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Police say Fruth was hauling the Tucker trifecta.

Fruth was hauling about 13 pounds of high-grade marijuana, 6 ounces of black tar heroine, a bunch of pills, paraphernalia, vacuum-sealing machines and recloseable plastic bags, police say.

It appears it was grown in a hydroponics operation — no seeds or stems and very high potency, said Avon police chief Bob Ticer.

The ditch weed grown outside in most places is worth about $500 a pound. This marijuana is worth about $3,000 a pound; $300-$600 an ounce if you break it down that way, Ticer said.

The marijuana seized on Friday is estimated with a street value between $20,000 and $30,000. The heroin is worth between $6,000 and $10,000.

It comes into the U.S. either through Mexico or a West Coast seaport and is trucked along Interstate 70 to major cities on the East Coast or Midwest.

Drug traffickers use America's east/west interstate highways as a major part of their distribution system. The further east drugs go the more they're worth, Ticer said.

The drugs go east, the money comes back west to drug cartels, then the cycle begins again.

“The money goes right back to the cartels to fund organized crime and terrorist organizations,” Ticer said. “When people think of marijuana, or medical marijuana, they don't think of cartels, but the cartels certainly do think of them....” (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "No jail sought for Aspen cocaine defendant"

The only member of the Aspen drug trafficking ring busted by the DEA last year that SandBox would like to say thanks to is Jack Fellner.  This sentence sounds like justice would be served rather than only technical law.  We hope the judge agrees.

Rick Carroll:
"DENVER — An Aspen man arrested last year as part of a federal drug sweep is looking at no prison time.

According to a motion filed Monday in the U.S. District Court of Denver, federal prosecutors are requesting that Jack Fellner spend no time behind bars and be sentenced to three years of supervised release and nine months of home detention. The motion notes Fellner's cooperation with authorities as part of the probe.

“Mr. Fellner was interviewed by law enforcement officers assigned to this investigation, and he provided truthful information as to his involvement with this offense and the involvement of others,” the motion says. “(Fellner's) information was significant and helpful to the government's ongoing investigations of criminal activities in the District of Colorado and elsewhere.”

Fellner's sentencing hearing is set May 21 in Denver.

In February, Fellner, 62, pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally distributing and possessing cocaine...."
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SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "CBIG, CCSF Law Enforcement Authorities Seize 154 kilos of Cocaine off the North Coast of Puerto Rico; Two Aliens Arrested"

"San Juan, Puerto Rico – Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) law enforcement authorities, working in support of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF), arrested 2 smugglers, seizing a boat and a drug shipment of approximately 154 kilos (339.5 pounds) of cocaine during a maritime interdiction early Friday evening off the northern coast of Dorado, Puerto Rico.

 

The estimated street value is over $3.7 million.

 

Near midnight Thursday evening, a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) marine patrol aircraft detected a suspicious22’ single-engine “yola” type vessel traveling east without navigational lights about 10 nautical miles north off the coast of Dorado, Puerto Rico.

 

The CBP marine patrol aircraft contacted Puerto Rico Police Department Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA, for its Spanish Acronym) marine units, patrolling with a CBP Border Patrol agent onboard, to interdict the suspect vessel.

 

Upon noticing their detection and a FURA Police unit starting pursuit, the individuals on the suspect vessel started to throw bales to the water, landing in a beach within the municipalityof Dorado.

 

CBP Border Patrol Agents and FURA Police agents searched the Dorado beach and arrested 2 individuals, who claimed to be citizens of the Dominican Republic.

 

A FURA Police marine unit recovered 6 bales containing an undetermined number of bricks of suspected narcotics. A field test proved positive for cocaine.

 

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents took custody of the narcotics for further investigation.

 

The two aliens will be charged with violation of Title 8 United States Code, Section 1326 for re- entering after being previously removed.

 

This is the second incident near the coast of Dorado in a 30 day period where Federal and State authorities prevent a smuggling event. On the evening hours of Thursday April 12, CBIG law enforcement arrested six Dominican smugglers and seized 322 pounds of cocaine and 19 pounds of heroin off the northern coast of Dorado, Puerto Rico.

 

Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF) is an initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office created to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations operating in the Caribbean. CCSF is a part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) that investigates South American-based drug trafficking organizations responsible for the movement of multi-kilogram quantities of narcotics utilizing the Caribbean as a transshipment point for further distribution to the United States. The initiative is composed by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, ICE HSI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Coast Guard and PRPD’s FURA.

 

CBIG was formally created to unify efforts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the United States Attorney ‘ s Office, District of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid action (FURA) in their common goal of securing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal maritime traffic and gaining control of our nation’s Caribbean borders.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws."

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Canon City Daily Record "City Interim Administrator Doug Dotson: Cañon City Police Department investigation ongoing "

Carie Canterbury:
"The Cañon City Council heard an update from City Interim Administrator Doug Dotson on Monday night regarding the ongoing investigation regarding performance of management and personnel issues within the Cañon City Police Department.

 

"We going to try to push forward on that as fast as we possibly can," he said. "Certainly, it's going to take several weeks to do that and maybe a little bit longer."

 

Police Chief Duane McNeill was placed on paid administrative leave April 10 pending an investigation into several statements made during a management audit of the department. Several citizens spoke out in favor of the chief during the April 16 council meeting.

 

"We are trying to look into ways to improve some cost-effectiveness in similar operations, and we are also looking at trying to move forward a short-term plan for moving the department forward," Dotson said.

He anticipates a presentation to the council and the community during a future meeting....."

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SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Double agent hands al-Qaida its 3rd failed bombing"

Here's to the spooks of the CIA.  God bless my America.  Great job!  Well done.

(almost feels like Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders....only using underwear technology instead of air/sea moxy...)

EILEEN SULLIVAN, MATT APUZZO and ADAM GOLDMAN:

"WASHINGTON (AP) — Over the past three years, al-Qaida bomb makers in Yemen have developed three fiendishly clever devices in hopes of attacking airplanes in the skies above the United States.

First, there was the underwear bomb that fizzled over Detroit on Christmas 2009. Next, terrorists hid bombs inside printer cartridges and got them on board cargo planes in 2010, only to watch authorities find and defuse them in the nick of time.

Then last month, officials say, al-Qaida completed a sophisticated new, nonmetallic underwear bomb — and unwittingly handed it over to the CIA.

The would-be suicide bomber, the man al-Qaida entrusted with its latest device, actually was a double agent working with the CIA and Saudi intelligence agencies, officials said Tuesday. Instead of sneaking onto a plane in his underwear, he delivered it to the U.S. government and handed al-Qaida its latest setback.

The extraordinary intelligence operation was confirmed by U.S. and Yemeni officials who were briefed on the plot but spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it....."

(Read more?  Click title.  If you know a CIA spy, hug one today!)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Civil unions bill dies in House"

House Speaker Frank McNulty (R) should be ashamed of himself.  What a huge disappointment this is to many Colorado conservatives.

NO to same sex marriage.

YES to the business arrangement/contractual arrangement of civil unions.

Governor Hickenlooper most certainly should haul them all back in for a special session.  Enough is enough.

Patrick Malone:
"DENVER — Civil unions in Colorado died on the calendar Tuesday along with more than 30 other bills before a crowded House gallery that booed House Speaker Frank McNulty as he exited after the announcement.

Theatrical political maneuvering sealed the fate of SB2 to create civil unions. It needed to pass by midnight and did not.

“It is unfortunate that there will be items that do not receive consideration by the House tonight because of this impasse,” said McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. He acknowledged that his caucus stopped action on the House floor that led to the bill’s demise.

“Senate Bill 2 is not going to make it through the (House) chamber,” said bill sponsor Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.

The possibility still exists that Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who has expressed support for civil unions, could call for a special session...." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Times Union "Letter: Hydrofracking success stories"

John Krohn, Washington D.C.:
"In "Fracking hazardous to New Yorkers' health" (April 24). Sandra Steingraber makes some extreme claims about hydraulic fracturing.

The author declares hydraulic fracturing will ruin our air for pregnant mothers, children and innocent grandparents without citing a single source.

On the same day Ms. Steingraber made these claims, the American Lung Association released a report on our nation's air quality. The study found North Dakota's air quality among the nation's best. The state is home to more than 6,500 oil and natural gas wells developed and fractured in just the past few years.

Ms. Steingraber also referenced a Colorado School of Public Health study that used flawed assumptions and committed gross errors in reaching its findings. One example: The study relied on samples taken a mile from a major interstate. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that automobiles are one of the largest sources of harmful emissions such as benzene. As a result, the study was criticized by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and scuttled by the Garfield County Board of Commissioners.

Contrary to Ms. Steingraber's claims, a recent Bloomberg article noted greenhouse-gas emissions are expected to decline through the end of the decade thanks to natural gas use in power generation. This is helping achieve the goals of recent ill-fated cap-and-trade legislation. This is an environmental success story, not the horror story Steingraber is hoping to promote..."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Random bits?"

All credit Bob  Berwyn (click title):
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Today’s photo essay features some funky in-between weather and few random shots squeezed off during dog-walking sessions, highlighting my efforts to find interesting photos in the everyday spots that I visit on a regular basis...."

SandBoxBlogs: ElectAd "RNC Ad: Hype and Blame"

SandBoxBlogs: Red State "Tax Code Tweak Might Make CNG for Vehicles More Available "

'Steve Maley':
"Rep. William Cassidy (R-LA) common-sense approach to increasing the role of natural gas as a vehicle fuel, without the grandiose involvement of the Federal government. Unlike the Pickens Plan, this plan does not rely on massive government subsidies or direct payments for vehicle conversion. Instead, it would change the definition of “independent producer” in the tax code, to get around their current prohibition from making retail sales exceeding $5 million per year....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: The Hill "Tea Party sees gains in Senate"

Alexander Bolton:
"Conservative activists say a victory by Richard Mourdock in the Indiana Republican primary Tuesday would be a significant step toward a Tea Party takeover of the Senate GOP agenda.

Mourdock’s anticipated win over Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) would be a huge boost to the Tea Party movement, which earlier this year was said to be losing steam and viability.

Mourdock is one of a half-dozen Tea Party-allied candidates in Republican primaries who could change the balance of power among Senate Republicans...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Durango Telegraph "Captain of her own destiny"

Stew Mosberg:
"There are many former military personnel in Durango. However, there is only one who retired as the highest ranking female African-American officer in United States’ naval history; that would be Captain Gail Harris.

 

Born the eldest of three children into an impoverished but nurturing Newark, N. J., family, Harris knew from age 5 that she wanted to be a military officer. The catalyst for that early revelation came while watching a movie on TV with her dad.

 

As Harris relates it, in one scene from 1944’s “On a Wing and a Prayer,” actor Don Ameche briefs his WWII flight crew about their mission in the Battle of Midway, America’s turning point in the war against Japan. Pointing toward Ameche, the younger Harris cried out, “Daddy, that’s what I want to do when I grow up!” Rather than snicker or attempt to dissuade his precocious daughter, James Harris encouraged the bright, introverted youngster to follow her heart. She never let go of that dream and eventually left graduate studies in 1972 to enlist for what would become an illustrious 28-year career in naval intelligence....."

(Read more?  Click title)

 

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Yahoo News "Border Patrol chief unveils new plan to address illegal immigration"

Liz Goodwin:
"Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher said at a House Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing Tuesday that the country's 21,000 Border Patrol agents will refocus on information and intelligence gathering in the agency's new four-year strategy. The agency will also try to develop a better measurement for whether it is successfully keeping the border safe. Right now, the Border Patrol relies on how many people it has caught trying to cross the border as its main measure of success, but Fisher conceded that this "apprehension" figure doesn't show how many people are crossing undetected.

Fisher said the agents will more proactively communicate with people who live on the border, teaching them how to spot suspicious activity and potential drug runners. The Border Patrol will also increase the use of unmanned aircraft and helicopter flights to help it spot illegal activity...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: CBS Atlanta "US targets 2 sons of Sinaloa cartel leader"

"MEXICO CITY (AP) - The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions Tuesday against two sons of Sinaloa cartel drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico said the Treasury Department designated Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Ovidio Guzman Lopez under Kingpin Act, which prohibits people in the U.S. from conducting businesses with them and freezes their U.S. assets. El Chapo Guzman was put on the list in 2001.

The department said Ovidio Guzman Lopez plays a significant role in his father's drug trafficking activities, and that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar was detained on money laundering charges in Mexico in 2005, but was later released.

The department also named two other alleged high-ranking Sinaloa cartel figures to the list. Both Noel Salgueiro Nevarez and Ovidio Limon Sanchez were detained in Mexico in 2011 and remain in custody.

On Monday, authorities in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon announced they had captured the female leader of a local cell of the violent Zetas drug cartel who is suspected of ordering or participating in at least 20 murders in or around the northern city of Monterrey.

One of the gang's alleged victims was a police detective killed March 2 in a suburb of Monterrey....."
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SandBoxBlogs: Denver Channel "Denver Lawyer With Pot Clients Loses Liability Insurance"

"DENVER -- A Denver lawyer has lost her liability insurance because part of her practice involves representing medical-marijuana businesses.


The Denver Post reports the Hanover Insurance Group told Ann Toney last month it wouldn't renew her malpractice coverage. It sent a notice saying Toney's practice doesn't meet current underwriting guidelines because she has an area of practice involving medical marijuana, which it said was a risk factor.

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "What's the use of background checks?"

Gregory Johnson:
"Apparently our business community no longer needs to do background checks on its employees, according to the May 5 Post Independent article, “Residents rally against local's deportation.”

Morality and legality do not coincide with each other. I thought the reason for the background checks was to decide if a person was good enough morally to work for the company. Apparently that is not the case. This can save businesses large sums of money for these background checks....."
(Read more?  Click title)

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SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Sister worried about gang colors at Strawberry Days"

Comment ability on this post is wide open.

Debbie Centeno:
"With Strawberry Days upon us next month, I'm wondering what would be deemed appropriate attire by government officials for such an event.....

....So what would be the best way to show that you are just a normal person, at a normal carnival, just having a fun time with your kids?.........

.......Another reason why I would want to wear the most neutral “non-gang” colors is in case I see my nephews — the same nephews that saw their father arrested and loaded up on an immigration bus. I wouldn't want them to get more traumatized with also seeing their aunt get questioned or probably arrested because she wore a color that, in some big city, actual gang members wear.

How about for training purposes the sheriff's office spends my tax dollars going to, say, Denver or Los Angeles to see what an actual gang member dresses like and how he or she behaves? I would most certainly feel much safer when the sheriff's office has had actual experience with a real gang member, and thereby can distinguish the difference between a true criminal and a sports fan. It seems like not a hard thing to do. But unfortunately our sheriff's office has had no real experience with this issue, so we can't expect them to know how to act in such a case...." 
(Read more?  Click title)

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SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "San Luis CBP Officers Seize Nearly $400,000 in Cocaine, Methamphetamine"

"San Luis, Ariz. — A 19-year-old Mexican national attempting to smuggle nearly 21 pounds of cocaine and almost 13 pounds of methamphetamine into the United States was arrested Sunday by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the San Luis Port.

 

Officers referred the man for a secondary inspection of his PT Cruiser after a CBP canine alerted to the presence of drugs. During the secondary inspection, officers located eight packages of cocaine, valued in excess of $180,000, and 12 packages of methamphetamine worth roughly $200,000.

 

The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure. The subject was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI).

 

Individuals arrested may be charged by complaint, the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

SandBoxBlogs: Human Events "Mining permit backlog leaves U.S. dependent on China for widely used rare minerals "

Audrey Hudson:
"Strategic minerals that are essential components in green and high technology such as hybrid cars, iPods and solar panels are readily available in the U.S. but efforts to mine the elements are being stalled by bureaucrats for years, industry officials say.

“The United States is heavily reliant on foreign countries such as China for critical minerals that are the building blocks of our economy and imperative to renewable energy development, military technology and the manufacturing of nearly all of our electronic devices,” said Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), chairman of the House Resources Committee.

There are 15 such rare earth minerals worth more than $6 trillion, including terbium, yttrium and dysprosium that are found throughout the U.S.
 To increase access, Republican lawmakers are supporting legislation called the Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act that they say tackles the highest hurdle of getting the needed permits to begin mining operations.

Hall Quinn, president of the National Mining Association, said at a recent House hearing on the bill that it often takes 10 years to get a mining permit. “The length, complexity and uncertainty of the permitting process are the primary reasons investors give for not investing in U.S. minerals mining,” Quinn said.

“Delaying permits for mining projects is not a new problem. What is new is the growing awareness of its implications for our nation, particularly in a highly competitive world economy in which the demand for minerals continues to grow, especially in fast growing economies led by China and India,” Quinn said.

The bill authored by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) would reverse a 30-year trend of increased reliance on foreign countries and fierce competition to gain access to the needed resources. “In the 2012 ranking of countries for mining investment, the United States ranked last, tied with Papua New Guinea, in permitting delays,” Amodei said....."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Controversial land exchange moves forward"

Andrew Travers:
"A proposed land exchange involving hundreds of acres near Mount Sopris that could become public has cleared a key hurdle with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the agency is now seeking public comment on it.

The deal would make public the 557-acre Sutey Ranch, just outside Carbondale, and privatize more than 1,200 acres of public land on the flanks of Mount Sopris. The BLM has been evaluating the proposal for more than 14 months, and announced Monday it was moving forward...."
(Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Greeley Tribune "A look at the numbers: London Olympic tourism"

via Greeley Tribune:

"Some numbers illustrating the demand for accommodation during the 2012 London Olympics, which run from July 27 to Aug. 12.
- Typical number of tourists visiting London in August: 1.5 million

- Estimated additional 2012 Olympic visitors from abroad: 294,000

- Estimated additional Olympic visitors from elsewhere in the UK: 587,000

- Total London hotel rooms: About 110,000

- Hotel rooms allocated to Olympic staff, affiliates and media: About 40,000

- Average hotel room rate in central London for Olympic period: 213 pounds ($341)

---Source: London and Partners, British Hospitality Association, Hotels.com"

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: KREX News 5 "Hickenlooper Vetoes Bill to Provide Tax Incentives for Tourism"

Kristina Kuestner:
"DENVER- Gov. John Hickenlooper vetoed a bill Friday that would have impacted multiple cities throughout the state, including Montrose.

SB 124 would have expanded tax incentive programs for tourism projects across the state

Hickenlooper said that his decision was made because the bill would have replaced the 2009 Regional Tourism Act, which allows two large scale tourism projects a year for over three years.

The Colorado Regional Tourism Act would have allowed all six projects to be funded at once.

According to the Denver Post, Hickenlooper said allowing more than two projects to be considered per year could be risky and could increase the chances for mistakes....."
(Watch the news release?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Stein picked to head Re-1 schools"

Again, the congratulations for a new era in the RE1 school district goes to the voices that finally banded together in all kinds of ways and just said NO MORE.

From the sounds of things and a little easy research, Dr. Stein looks like an excellent replacement.

We have far more serious issues in our schools than ever get reported in our local newspaper.  Turning blind eyes and ears to serious concerns is never a constructive path.

Stein appears to have the leadership skills that the school district needs. 

John Stroud:
"Stein, 52, is a 1978 graduate of Manual High School in Denver. He taught at CRMS, an independent college preparatory school in Carbondale, in the 1980s and now serves on the CRMS board of trustees.

Five years ago, he left his position as headmaster at Graland Country Day School, a prestigious private school in Denver, to rebuild his alma mater after Manual had been closed due to persistent low test scores.

During his stint as principal at Manual from 2007 to 2010, the school employed a model similar to ones used in successful charter schools to re-establish Manual as a top performer within the Denver Public Schools system.

Since 2010, Stein has been working as a consultant for two national education programs, Get Smart Schools, where he worked to design a principal training program, and Expeditionary Learning, where he implemented a new school development strategy.

“The entire board felt like Rob brought a wealth of experience to our district,” Re-1 board president Hamilton said. “Either of the two finalists could lead from day one, and we were fortunate to have two phenomenal candidates.”

Stein's understanding and involvement in Colorado's changing public education system gave him the edge, Hamilton said.

“Rob brings a deep passion for education to our district, while being focused on ensuring all kids leave our schools with skills to be successful,” he said. “The board looks forward to working with Rob as we build one of Colorado's most respected public school systems."

While teaching at CRMS, Stein married his wife, Mariah Dickson. They now have two children, Eliza, who is a high school junior, and Max, who is in the seventh grade.

“We had always talked about returning to the Roaring Fork Valley if the opportunity presented itself,” Stein said Monday. “This seems like the right challenge for me. It's a good district that is performing well, and also has some particular challenges that fit with my own interests....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Study suggests link between solar cycles and climate"

Bob Berwyn:
"— European scientists say they’ve used a detailed analysis of distinct sediment layers in a German lake to link a drop in solar activity with an increase in humidity and windiness about 2,800 years ago.

The researchers from the German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ in collaboration with Swedish and Dutch colleagues, claim their study provides evidence for a direct solar-climate linkage.

Many other studies have shown that the changes in solar radiation have minimum effect on climate, but this newest research effort suggests that incoming UV radiation could have an effect on stratosphere that trickles down to tropospheric wind patterns.

The sediment samples came from the Lake Meerfelder Maar, in the Eifel region and helped determine annual variations in climate proxies and solar activity. The study was published online this week in Nature Geoscience....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Steamboat Today "Jimmy Westlake: ‘Super moon’ or super hype?"

Could our favorite astronomer, Jimmy Westlake have missed the real point??

That the stir amongst the folks over the 'supermoon' was because of its beauty?

That they can't remember a previous 'supermoon' that looked so close to the earth?

He's entitled to a miss just like anyone else.  Today's morning photo is Westlake's not so pretty but the most interesting shot of last weekend's 'supermoon'.

Jimmy Westlake:
"I can’t help but chuckle a little when the news media pick up on a rather mundane celestial event and blow it way out of proportion. Such was the case with this past weekend’s so-called “super moon.” I heard one TV talking head announce that the moon would look 60 percent larger than normal in our sky. Let me see if

I can help set the record straight.

Of course, we have a full moon once every month, so nothing is unusual about that. Occasionally, two full moons will fall into one calendar month, and this non-event is dubbed by some as a “blue moon.” Unusual?

Yes, but nothing to get all that excited about. And because of the moon’s non-circular orbit around the Earth, it swings in to its perigee, or closest point to Earth, once per month, then swings out to its apogee, or farthest point from Earth, also every month. Happens every month, so nothing unusual about that, either....." (Read more?  Click title)

Photo Credit:  Jimmy Westlake

SandBoxBlogs: Greeley Tribune "Putin sworn in as Russia's president for 6 years"

Lynn Berry:
"Putin's inauguration came a day after an opposition protest drew more than 20,000 people, fewer than the mass demonstrations in the months that preceded his March election but still a sign that the anger over Putin's return to the Kremlin has not faded.

Sunday's protest turned violent when some demonstrators tried to march toward the Kremlin and riot police beat back the crowds with batons and detained more than 400 people. The use of force after the winter's peaceful rallies indicate that Putin may take a harder line toward the protesters now that he is once again president.

After taking the oath of office with his hand on a red copy of Russia's constitution, Putin stated his commitment to democracy.

"We want to live and we will live in a democratic country where everyone has the freedom and opportunity to apply their talent and labor, their energy. We want to live and we will live in a successful Russia, which is respected in the world as a reliable, open, honest and predictable partner."

During his time in office, Putin has overseen dramatic economic growth and restored a sense of national pride after the instability and humiliations that followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. He also has retreated from the democratic achievements of the 1990s and imposed a political system that has stifled dissent.

Dmitry Medvedev, who served as Russia's president for the past four years as Putin's junior partner, wrapped up his term with a short speech at the inauguration ceremony.

"I worked as I promised in taking the oath of office: openly and honestly in the interests of the people, doing everything I could so that they would be free and would look toward the future with confidence," Medvedev said.

Putin was expected to formally nominate Medvedev as his prime minister on Tuesday...."
(Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: KDVR "Schwarzenegger reminds GOP of Reagan tax increase"

Gregory Wallace:
"(CNN) — Were Ronald Reagan in office today, some Republicans would “start looking for a ‘real’ conservative to challenge him in a primary,” Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote in an op-ed published Saturday evening.

The former California governor said that the man who held that office 30 years before him — before becoming president — is becoming more a distant memory than a model to some Republicans on the “extreme right.” They are playing the role of “ideological enforcers” rather than seeking inclusion and solutions, wrote Schwarzenegger, himself a Republican.

“What’s important is our shared belief in the broad Republican principles of free enterprise and small government,” he said in the op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times. “If we continue to fight one another without being willing to compromise, we will keep losing to big-government advocates.”

Schwarzenegger encouraged his party to embrace a “big tent” mentality rather than exclude Republicans who are willing to compromise and, like Reagan and others, occasionally “buck their party....”
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SandBoxBlogs: Stars and Stripes "GOP plan boosts Pentagon, cuts social programs"

Andrew Taylor:
"WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Republicans who control the House are using cuts to food aid, health care and social services like Meals on Wheels to protect the Pentagon from a crippling wave of budget cuts come January.

The reductions, while controversial, are but a fraction of what Republicans called for in the broader, nonbinding budget plan they passed in March. Totaling a little more than $300 billion over a decade, the new cuts are aimed less at tackling $1 trillion-plus government deficits and more at preventing cuts to troop levels and military modernization.

The House Budget Committee meets Monday to officially act on the measure, the product of six separate House panels. It faces a likely floor vote Thursday....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Loveland Reporter Herald "Loveland men among 122 veterans aboard 2012 Honor Flight Northern Colorado"

Madeline Novey:
"Bob Castor of Loveland was one of those soldiers, an infantryman drafted into the Army in 1943. That moment and the war of which it was a part are forever captured in his memory; though, some of the details are a little hazy almost 70 years later...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Daily Caller "Anti-gun group downplays ‘Operation Fast and Furious’ death toll"

Matthew Boyle:
"A spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, a left-wing anti-gun group based in Washington, D.C., told The Daily Caller his organization doesn’t believe firearms trafficked to Mexico in Operation Fast and Furious have killed hundreds of civilians in that country. That those guns have been used often to kill Mexicans is a position articulated by both Attorney General Eric Holder and Mexican authorities...."
(Read more? Click title)

Photo Credit:  "ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2011 AND THEREAFTER - In this Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 picture, a hearse containing the body of U.S. Border Patrol officer and former U.S. Marine Brian Terry drives past a line of law enforcement officers from various departments lined up along Seven Mile Road outside Greater Grace Temple in northwest Detroit after Terry's funeral service. The ATF is under fire over a Phoenix-based gun-trafficking investigation called "Fast and Furious," in which agents allowed hundreds of guns into the hands of straw purchasers in hopes of making a bigger case. Two of those weapons were found in December at the fatal shooting of the Border Patrol agent, igniting a scandal that has resulted in a congressional investigation and review by the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General. (AP Photo/The Detroit News, John T. Greilick)"

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Arson suspected in car fire; gang elements present "

Anthony A. Mestes:
"Police are investigating arson after a car was set on fire Friday in an alley behind a home on the 500 block of Gaylord Avenue.
Police reported that a call stating a car was on fire came in at about 6:30 p.m.

Officer Jonathan Post responded to the alley. He said in an affidavit that he saw a maroon Toyota Avalon in the alley, facing south, with smoke billowing out of the windows.

He said there was a word spray-painted on the passenger side of the vehicle that is derogatory for the Latin Aces gang....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "City prosecutor grapples with recidivism issue"

Chad Abraham:
"Aspen’s new assistant city attorney, who also serves as municipal prosecutor, said Friday she is reaching out to other officials in the areas of law enforcement and substance abuse treatment to try to reduce the number of repeat offenders appearing in court.

Debbie Quinn said she has spoken with the heads of The Right Door counseling center, the Pitkin County Jail and the county’s health and human services department about the recidivism issue. Her  determination so far is that there are no quick fixes.

“It’s an issue in every community, dealing with the homeless, the mentally ill,” Quinn said, adding a sobering statistic that Colorado ranks 48th in the nation in funding for mental health care. “I don’t think we’re unusual, but it’s a dilemma.”

Brooke Peterson, an Aspen attorney and the city’s chief municipal judge, recently presided over a case involving a man whom the judge said has been in court every month for six months. On Wednesday, Peterson heard from Vince Savage, the director of the Aspen Homeless Shelter, about a woman who has been repeatedly arrested for trespassing. The Savage verdict: Aspen simply does not have the resources, such as a home for the mentally ill, that would best serve the woman...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Who needs Siskel and Ebert"

"When the power is greater, the responsibility becomes greater."

Johnny Boyd has a powerful voice that he cultivates.

If Johnny Boyd had all the facts and only the facts minus third-party perception, I trust that he is reputable enough to have never made comments regarding Related Cos. 'default' on the original loan as he does today in the Aspen Daily News.

His voice is far too powerful to sway gossip and I trust that my high opinion and respect for Johnny Boyd's voice is not in vain.

Johnny Boyd:
"....Thumbs up: Related Companies has managed to purchase the Base Village from the German banks. Finally, the company that reneged on its loan to the German banks is able to pay less to get the same property back. After you walk away from a mortgage I have to wonder: Where do you get the credit to ever buy anything again? Can I just walk away from mine and turn around and buy my house back for pennies on the dollar? This is another example of no respect for the rules, because you make them...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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SandBoxBlogs: Eagle County Times "Willy Weighs In at the ECT"

(See related story and public comments here)

Willy Powell:
"At the request of EagleCountyTimes I am writing this article to offer information objectively concerning the Eagle River Station Planned Unit Development project, proposed in Eagle. The project is a mixed use commercial and residential apartment PUD on 88 acres and consisting of up to 732,500 square feet of commercial space and 550 apartment units....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "City earmarking $10,000 to gather affordable housing data for summit"

This is amazing news out of the City of Aspen and Pitkin County.

A near 180 degree shift into the world of the common man and into reality.

The very idea that councilman, mayors and commissioners would even be aware that there are growing numbers of homeless and hungry in the community and an entire majority of next step up from that status citizens who look on the outside like they have more than they really do; is astounding in itself.

But for them to move forward so quickly after becoming aware and work toward righting wrongs is not only wonderful, it is commendable.

Thank you so much to the City of Aspen and Pitkin County for taking the reins.

Now, how can all those falling through the cracks or barely above water help make this resource work?  By no longer being silent.  Speak in anonymity if what you have to say goes against big money somewhere or puts you in harm's way.  Just don't be silent and give them the chance to get accurate data.

Appoint a spokesperson who will keep you shielded, ask authorities for a means of anonymous communication to them.  Just speak up.

Dorothy Atkins:
"The city has earmarked $10,000 to come up with statistical models that asses local affordable housing demand.

The study is being done in preparation for a housing summit that will take place this fall and will include public officials from the city and county.

The study will seek to answer what percentage of the population lives in Pitkin County and works in adjacent counties; what the income distribution is of workers in the county and how it compares to the supply of affordable housing units, and finally, how the increase of retirees leaving the workforce affects the supply of available units. The study also will look at what percentage of the local workforce actually wants to live in affordable housing units.

“This is the kind of information we’ve begun to prepare,” said Barry Crook, assistant city manager. “And part of that is we want to get [officials] to hone in on what they want the summit to accomplish.....”
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Schafer named as new publisher of Post Independent, Citizen Telegram"

What is your impression of her photo?  This new publisher of the PI and Telegram?

Does she look like the type of person who will finally have the courage to buck the cronyism and good 'ol boys and girls club in Glenwood Springs?

The kind of person who won't sell her newspaper's soul for contracts in advertising?

The kind of person who has the courage to adhere to high journalistic standards and reap the rewards of returned subscribers and respect from her communities she will be serving?

The kind of person who will hold a payroll of reporters who actually go out and report all the news?

The kind of person who believes that her publisher duties include honesty and integrity in reporting all stories including the stories that are not favorable to the powerful?  Possibly releasing all previous crony bonds and really living up to the 'Independent' in her employer's brand name?

What do you think Stephanie Schafer looks like as the next publisher of the PI and Telegram?

I am blocking your comment ability on this post so that y'all can have time to think about what you want in a potentially new era at the PI (and) to give Ms. Schafer a chance to show us all who she really is and how effective she will be in servicing the entire scope of the PI and the Telegram.

Glenwood Springs Post Independent:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Stephanie Schafer has been named publisher of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent and The Citizen Telegram and will begin work on Wednesday, May 23.

She succeeds Jenna Weatherred, who left the newspapers May 4 to head the nonprofit Children's Health Foundation in Aspen.

Schafer was advertising and marketing director of the Greeley Tribune from 2006 through 2009. For the past three years she has been the key accounts sales leader at the Fort Collins Coloradoan. In all, she brings more than 20 years experience in the newspaper industry to her new role.

The Greeley Tribune, like the Post Independent and Citizen Telegram, is part of Swift Communications.

“We're delighted to have someone of Stephanie's capabilities take the leadership role at the Glenwood Springs and Rifle newspapers,” said Jim Morgan, general manager of Colorado Mountain News Media, of which the Post Independent and Citizen Telegram are part....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "Change is in the air"

It's because of the 'Red Ant'.

Seriously.

That somewhat infamous 'Aspen Blogger' aka the 'Red Ant is the catalyst of the new dawn for conservatives in the Roaring Fork Valley. 

A 'new age' where conservative commentary and opinion is not only freely and widely expressed but also receiving higher popularity rankings than any liberal talking head in the area.

Sparking tweets that zip around the world, fellow conservative bloggers and writers, conservative activism and those previously elusive conservatives in the closet coming out in full force through every available medium they can get their hands on. 

There truly is strength in numbers and 'change is in the air'.

Maurice Emmer:
"Dear Editor:

Charlie Leonard claims that President Obama has no plan to fix Social Security and Medicare (“President's math doesn't add up,” Opinion, April 3, The Aspen Times). Why be so negative, Charlie? Who are you to question the smartest president in the history of this nation?

The president's plan is obvious. It is embodied in Obamacare. In a nutshell, the president's plan is that Obamacare will survive the challenge in the Supreme Court and wreck our health care system.....

......Where's your hope, Charlie? Change is coming.."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "Bearing it all at Conundrum"

Paul Anderson:
"Visitation at Conundrum Hot Springs is going to spike this summer as black bears flock to the wilderness, where half a dozen cows were fast-frozen last winter in their own walk-in cooler.

Raw beef and hot pools: That's the definition of a bear spa if I ever heard one. Those lucky omnivores can dine and dip to their hearts' content as they gather for a smorgasbord luring every bruin within range of smell.

But first a crew of hangdog cowhands had to remove the hibernal Herefords from their timberline tomb, slice and dice them into bite-size pieces and scatter the foul and bloody remains.

Stephen King can popularize the operation in a grisly novel. Hollywood studios can pitch the idea to hungry producers: “It's the Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets cattle mutilations meets Butcher Class 101! Think of the product spinoffs!”

Aspen won't have a bear problem this summer, but Conundrum Hot Springs sure will. Once a free feed is put on, bears are not likely to forget it. The potential for bear/human encounters will be epic for years to come. Where else will you be able to share a hot spring with a real live bear? The marketing possibilities are endless: “Get bear at Conundrum!....”  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice/Bob Berwyn "Opinion: Roadless spin machine in high gear"

Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — The spin machine for Colorado’s new national forest roadless rule cranked into high gear last week, as state and federal leaders sought to convince the public that the watered-down protections for some of the state’s most valuable lands are equal to, or better than the original national rule.
In a way, the establishment has it easy, because it’s been tough to follow all the twists and turns in the roadless saga — but it’s important to understand some of the background and nuance to make a valid comparison.

You certainly can’t rely on the Forest Service to for the real story in this situation. The agency’s follow-up press release to the roadless announcement touted “widespread support” for rule from conservation groups and quoted snippets of press releases selectively, using sections that praised parts of the rule while leaving out language that finds fault with the Colorado version and calls for additional protections.

It would have been questionable for the national agency to reject the Colorado petition; far better had the state backed away from its rule gracefully, perhaps keeping it in reserve, when you this far down a planning road, it’s hard to put it in reverse.

To give the Forest Service credit, it has provided a detailed and very accessible public online record of the rule-making and its history. All the information is there if you care to look.

Colorado’s newspaper of record, the Denver Post, gave up on trying to delve into some of those nuances in its Sunday editorial on the roadless rule, basically just saying saying, “It’s complicated, but trust us, this is a good thing,” without really ever explaining why. To its credit, the Post did include a link to previous coverage that helps explain the convoluted history.

But the Post also fell hook, line and sinker for one of the key talking points for the new rule — that it gives some of Colorado’s roadless areas more protection than the national rule. This myth of “greater protection” is clearly aimed at deflection attention from the fact that the majority of the national forest roadless areas in the state will get less protection than they would under the national rule....."
(Read the rest? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Best of April

All credit to Bob Berwyn (Click title):