SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Ratko Mladic's genocide trial gets under way"

Mike Corder:
"THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Twenty years after the opening shots of the Bosnian War, former Bosnian Serb military commander Gen. Ratko Mladic went on trial Wednesday at a UN tribunal on 11 charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The ailing 70-year-old Mladic's appearance at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal marks the end of a long wait for justice to survivors of the 1992-95 war that left some 100,000 people dead. The trial is also a landmark for the UN court and international justice — Mladic is the last suspect from the Bosnian war to go on trial here.

Mladic, wearing a suit and tie, gave a thumbs-up and clapped to supporters in the court's public gallery as the trial got under way Wednesday. He occasionally wrote notes and showed no emotion as prosecutors began outlining his alleged crimes.

Munira Subasic, who lost 22 family members in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, was among a group of relatives of war dead heading into the courtroom to face Mladic....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Woman suspected of injecting teen with heroin "

Nick Bonham:
" 41-year-old woman has been arrested for reportedly injecting a teenage boy with drugs and supplying him with syringes of opium.

Diana Larimore was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, contributing to the deliquency of a minor and violating a protection order....."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

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: 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: Pueblo Chieftain "9/11 'mastermind' back before Guantanamo judge"

Ben Fox:
"GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — The self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks and four accused co-conspirators will appear in public for the first time in more than three years Saturday, when U.S. officials start a second attempt at what is likely to be a drawn out legal battle that could lead to the men's executions.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants are to be arraigned at a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay on charges that include that include 2,976 counts of murder for the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Analysis: Obama has 2 narratives on Afghanistan"

ANNE GEARAN and ROBERT BURNS:
"WASHINGTON (AP) — In President Barack Obama's twin narratives, the United States is both leaving Afghanistan and staying there.

The different messages are meant for different audiences, one at home and one away. As Obama's brief, symbolic visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday made clear, the more important audience is American voters fed up with a war that will be in its 12th year on Election Day this fall.

The president flew in secret to sign a long-awaited security compact with Afghanistan. It was after midnight in Kabul when the signing took place, and 4 a.m. there when Obama addressed

Americans in a specially arranged 7:30 p.m. EDT speech on network television. By the time most Afghans woke up, Obama was gone....."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "1 year on from OBL raid, no answers from Pakistan"

ZARAR KHAN and CHRIS BRUMMITT:
"ABBOTTABAD, Pakistan (AP) — One year since U.S. commandos flew into this Pakistani army town and killed Osama bin Laden, Islamabad has failed to answer tough questions over whether its security forces were protecting the world's most wanted terrorist.

Partly as a result, fallout from the raid still poisons relations between Washington and Pakistan, where anti-American sentiment, support for Islamist extremism and anger at the violation of sovereignty in the operation can be summed up by a Twitter hashtag doing the rounds: 02MayBlackDay.

The Pakistani government initially welcomed the raid that killed bin Laden in his three-story compound, but within hours the mood changed as it became clear that Pakistan's army was cut out of the operation. Any discussions over how bin Laden managed to stay undetected in Pakistan were drowned out in anger at what the army portrayed as a treacherous act by a supposed ally.

That bin Laden was living with his family near Pakistan's version of West Point — not in a cave in the mountains as many had guessed — raised eyebrows in the West. The Pakistani army was already accused of playing both sides in the campaign against militancy, providing some support against al-Qaida but keeping the Afghan Taliban as strategic allies.

A week after the raid, President Barack Obama said bin Laden had a "support network" in Pakistan and the country must investigate how he evaded capture.

Pakistan responded by announcing the formation of a committee to investigate bin Laden's presence in Pakistan as well as the circumstances surrounding the U.S. raid..." (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Ariz. migrant case could lead to sweeping changes"

What is this (mostly conservative based) concept of "humane immigration reform"?

Are you aware of the high fatality rates there are in the cess pool that is human trafficking and smuggling?  Do some research, set up regular bulletin notifications from ICE, Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and DEA.  Get informed.

Are you aware of the estimated crime that is committed, yet unreported and failed to prosecute against illegal foreign nationals, especially children, because they cannot come in from the shadows for fear of deportation? Do some digging for your locale and surrounding area.  Get informed.   

Are you aware that the vast majority of conservative politicians, conservative voters, various stages of law enforcement and homeland military are not "evil monsters who want no immigration and want only closed borders"?  If you're not, you are not paying close enough attention to direct source information and listening to media that wishes to drown out the facts.

One of the very best GOP debate exchanges was made by Texas Governor Rick Perry up against the determined liberal heart of Diane Sawyer. 

He absolutely refused to engage with her repeated baiting and taunting of him to give her a firm answer on exactly "how" he would reform immigration policies. 

His point (which clearly won the exchange) was that it was a pointless, fruitless and damaging to all parties conversation until the borders are secured.  First, secure the borders.  Then reform.  It is the only way for humane immigration reform to have a chance.

Think about the concept.

Stop the horrific cost to human life by stopping the human smuggling.  Secure the border so that everyone can be accounted for on both sides.  Amnesty is not an option, but consideration for individual circumstances is.  But first, everyone must come in from the shadows and be accounted for.

How 'humane' is the belief that a porous, highly dangerous to human life border is the best option for illegals?

This news over the past few days that SCOTUS is showing strong favor to upholding Arizona's original  immigration law that would allow for law enforcement to prove legal citizenship is one of the most humane efforts toward illegal immigrants to date.

Congratulations to the State of Arizona for staying the course and at least getting to this point.  We'll keep our fingers crossed on this end.

JACQUES BILLEAUD

"PHOENIX (AP) — The United States could see an official about-face in the coming months in how it confronts illegal immigration if the Supreme Court follows through on its suggestion that it would let local police enforce the most controversial part of Arizona's immigration law.

Over the last several years, states frustrated with America's porous borders, have rejected the long held notion that Washington is responsible for confronting illegal immigration and have passed a flurry of laws to let local police confront illegal immigration. The Supreme Court is poised in the coming months to let the states know whether they haven't crossed the line.

The justices strongly suggested Wednesday that they are ready to let Arizona enforce the most controversial part of its law, a requirement that police officers check the immigration status of people they suspect are in the country illegally. Such a ruling could codify the type of local enforcement that some local authorities in Arizona have carried out over the last six years and open the door to such enforcement in states with similar laws, such as Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah.

"I think you'll see more involvement by local police in immigration enforcement, an involvement that hadn't previously been seen," Kevin Johnson, law school dean at the University of California-Davis and an expert in immigration law, said of the possibility of Arizona's law being upheld.

The most controversial parts of the Arizona law were put on hold by a federal judge shortly before they were to take effect in late July 2010, but the statute has encouraged other states to take up similar legislation and — combined with other state immigration laws and an ailing economy — played a part in 170,000 illegal immigrants leaving Arizona since 2007....."  (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain " High quality Low Ark produce "

Ryan Severance:
"With growing season just beginning, farmers in the Rocky Ford region are focused on gaining consumer confidence back after a deadly listeria outbreak in cantaloupe last year.

"I think there are people who will still be wary of our product and of the listeria outbreak last year, but we haven't had any problems with food safety in Rocky Ford in 120 years and we are all committed to high quality," Brian Knapp, who runs Knapp Farms in Rocky Ford, said..."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
While the contamination occurred many miles away in a packing plant near Granada, farmers in the Lower Arkansas Valley say it's best to be proactive and to assure the public that they are taking all the right steps in food handling safety.

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Candidates weigh in on regional issues "

This is a great example of what I personally find offensive from Sal Pace. I have yet to read a press coverage on him that does not include 'flamers'. 

That tendency could be chalked up to just political stumping if it was not, whenever he is called on the lack of fact, foundation or simply that his statement is disingenuous, if he didn't immediately reverse himself each time and slip-slide away in the other direction.

Just say YES to Congressman Scott Tipton (R-Colorado). 

Patrick Malone:
Tipton also said his pledge against funding projects specific to his district, shared by many in Congress, is an obstacle to the project.

“We have a rule in the House of Representatives for no earmarks,” he said.

Tipton explained that any project that stands alone is an earmark, but those that can be conducted nationwide are not.

“The definition of an earmark is one specific locale,” he said. “It has to be available across the nation, so that you’ve got to have an instance of more than one.”

The asbestos project in Pueblo undoubtedly would be an earmark, Tipton said.

Pace said he doesn’t care how the demolition gets done, as long as it does.

“I think the feds and the state are both to blame,” he said. “We should quit trying to pass the buck and we should all put aside our bickering and figure out a way to get it done. I don’t care if the state does it or the feds do it.

“If the feds do it and Scott Tipton takes the lead, I’m personally going to give him credit, because it’s not about who gets credit. It’s about making sure that kids in Pueblo aren’t breathing air laden with asbestos.”..." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain " Shades of red: Unified identity eludes GOP "

Excellent piece from Patrick Malone. Up, down and way over on the Pueblo Chieftain.

Patrick Malone:
"DENVER — Most every face at the Colorado Republican State Assembly and Convention that concluded on Saturday tells the story of a party in search of itself.
If not the face, then at least the T-shirt, the sign, or the moments that Republicans picked to cheer, remain silent or boo placed them squarely in one of two camps — Mitt Romney’s or somebody else’s.
Most often, the alternative Republican presidential candidate to Romney throughout the assembly and convention was Texas Congressman Ron Paul. His backers tended to be younger, more vocal and more prevalently represented among the delegates selected to represent the state's congressional districts at the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August..."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Drug case closes "

Robert Boczkiewicz:
"DENVER — The leader of one of the  world's largest drug-trafficking organizations — toppled due to a tip a decade ago to Pueblo Crime Stoppers — was sentenced Friday to prison for 22 years.
Arriola ran his organization from Mexico, smuggling tons of cocaine monthly from there to a ranch at Peyton in El Paso County that served as a distribution center. Its tentacles stretched to 17 states, including New York, Illinois and Georgia.

A dozen of Arriola's many subordinates lived in Pueblo, agent Paul Roach of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, told The Pueblo Chieftain on Friday. He was the lead investigator.

Investigators previously said Pueblo was among numerous centers in the United States that Arriola's organization used to distribute cocaine and launder the money from it.

Blackburn said the organization garnered $1 billion in revenue and ruined thousands of lives....

......."The most significant international drug trafficking organization ever to operate in the state of Colorado ended with the sentencing of its leader, Oscar Arriola," said Barbra Roach, agent in charge of the DEA's operations in Colorado."  (Read more?  Click title)

The kingpin, Oscar Arriola, was "a clear and present danger to this country and its citizens," U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn said.

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Comments sought on geothermal leases"

Matt Hildner:
"MONTE VISTA — The Bureau of Land Management has extended the comment period on a draft study of leasing policies for geothermal energy in the San Luis Valley.  
The comment period has been extended to April 24.

The draft environmental assessment identifies public lands in the valley with the potential for geothermal development.

It also lists the stipulations that would be tied to any leases issued by the agency...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Man arrested with 3 1/2 kilos of coke "

(See related to post comment story here)

Gosh...wonder which source access he uses.  A Mexican drug cartel or Hezbollah?  Or (shudders...gasps...dare she say it?)  Americans? 

"A  man was arrested Friday in possession of 3 1/2 kilograms of cocaine, police said.

Louis P. Figueroa, 32, was arrested after trying to hide from police on a roof in the 2200 block of East Evans Avenue.

The cocaine Figueroa reportedly had is worth more than $663,000, an affidavit by narcotic Detective Mark Bravo said.

Police on Friday had been surveilling Figueroa's home, located in the 2100 block of Wyoming Avenue, when they saw him leave with a brown duffle bag.

The affidavit said narcotic detectives were walking up to talk to him when he fled in a car, nearly hitting Detective John Guerrero, who responded by firing a shot at the car.

Patrol officers soon located Figueroa on Evans Avenue hiding on a roof.

Two houses down, police located the brown bag, which contained the bricks of coke.

The affidavit said police found $9,000 in cash in Figueroa's car and a 20-ton hydraulic press in his basement that is believed to be used in packaging kilos of cocaine.

Figueroa was being held in Pueblo County jail without bail pending a court appearance."

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain " Police chief placed on leave "

Tracy Harmon:
McNeill took over the department in December 2009. Canon City Mayor Tony Greer said he and former City Administrator Steve Rabe requested the audit and it was approved by City Council.
"When the audit report came back, there were quite a few allegations that were not very flattering," Greer said. "We now need to have an independent investigation because some of the allegations are pretty serious."

Greer said the allegations included retaliation and coercion that are alleged against "Not only the chief, but also some of the officers."...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"CANON CITY — Police Chief Duane McNeill was placed on paid administrative leave late Tuesday following the release of an independent audit of the department.

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain " Dust Bowl was nation’s worst environmental disaster "

Dan Gordon:
" Black Sunday, April 14, 1935, was the worst day of all.
A dust storm carried twice as much dirt off the southern plains as was dug from the earth to create the Panama Canal. In Southeastern Colorado, down by Lamar and Springfield and Walsh, day became night.The environmental impact of the Dust Bowl is a distant memory now, especially as Japan is still reeling after a catastrophic tsunami last year and the U.S. Gulf Coast recovers from the BP oil spill.

But Black Sunday and the impact of the Dust Bowl have been largely forgotten even in our own country, where the environmental catastrophes we remember most today are the most recent: Hurricane Katrina and the Deep Horizon oil spill. Each has been called our nation’s worst environmental disaster in one forum or another.

It’s hard to see, however, how either Katrina or the BP oil spill can top the Dust Bowl in the pantheon of American environmental disasters.

Although no cable news or websites existed to chronicle it, the Dust Bowl has been rated the No. 1 weather event of the 20th century by American meteorologists...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Adult charges against juvies put in judges' hands "

Patrick Malone:
"DENVER — Juveniles will get court hearings in most cases before being charged with crimes as adults, if Gov. John Hickenlooper is on board.
On Thursday, the Colorado Senate gave final approval to a Pueblo lawmaker’s bill that limits prosecutors’ authority to directly file adult charges against juveniles.
A 22-13 vote passing the measure followed hours of debate and failed attempts to amend HB1271, sponsored by Sens. Angela Giron, D-Pueblo, and Tim Neville, R-Littleton.

Giron characterized the bill as a step to assure that decisions that can set the course for the rest of a young person’s life are appropriate..."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain " First female Pueblo chief judge named "

Jeff Tucker:
"With the impeding departure of Chief Judge Dennis Maes from the 10th Judicial District, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Bender made two appointments to fill roles Maes is vacating in June.Gov. John Hickenlooper also will have 15 days to choose a new district court judge to fill Maes' vacancy.Maes is retiring at the end of May.

The Colorado Judicial Branch announced Wednesday that District Judge Deborah Eyler has been appointed to serve as chief judge in Pueblo's judicial district. It is believed that Eyler is the first woman named to the post in Pueblo history. That job will commence June 1.

Eyler was appointed to the bench by Gov. Bill Ritter in August 2008 and has served since December of that year.

Eyler had presided over dependency and neglect cases as well as domestic relations and truancy cases...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "More colorful, appealing paper is on its way "

We know we love the online edition changes.  Great news that the paper edition of the icon known as the Chieftain is also getting a whole new look.  Kudos to the Chieftain staff for stepping up their game.

Steve Henson:
" If you own a Porsche, you don't keep it under 20 mph.
But in some ways, that's what we've been doing at The Chieftain. Tuesday, that will change. This coming week, we will open the throttle on our newspaper.
The Chieftain's content always has been tops in Southern Colorado. If you really want to know what's going on in our city and region — and understand why things are happening — you read The Chieftain...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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