Thursday September 20, 2012

Military planes are making they way into Grand Junction for this weekend's airshow, offering a bit of an early preview. Public lands around the airport are closed as prep work for the show begins.  The Blue Angels team is the headliner for the show and will perform Saturday and Sunday.  The first acts perform tomorrow night with gates opening at 6:00.

Is it much ado about nothing?  Democrat 3rd District challenger Sal Pace is accusing incumbent Scott Tipton of not staying firm on the 2012 Farm Bill, a five year spending plan. Pace says Tipton signed a discharge petition aimed at bringing the bill up for vote, but withdrew his name a day later. According to The Daily Sentinel, Tipton's camp says that's what the congressman did, with assurance from party leadership the vote would be scheduled. Pace says the move shows Tipton caving to party leaders who want to keep the measure from a vote. Tipton says he's firm about bringing the matter to a vote and his stand on the issue is firm.

Arguments are continuing over whether a man who admitted killing four people in Rifle in 2001 should be released from the State Hospital for day trips.  Steven Stagner was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sentenced to the state hospital in 2002. According to the Glenwood Post, Doctors say he wont' get better if he remains confined.  Prosecutors say Stagner's delusions make him too great a risk to the public.  A judge in Glenwood Springs is to issue a written ruling at a later date.

Marcus Bebb-Jones is in custody in Garfield County awaiting trial in November for killing his wife Sabrina, in Grand Junction in 1997. At a hearing yesterday, officers from Grand Junction who initially handled the case defended their actions, questioning Bebb-Jones in Las Vegas where he had attempted suicide after Sabrina went missing.  Yesterday's testimony came in a motions hearing ahead of Bebb-Jones scheduled trial in November.

The Colorado Education Association is endorsing a group in opposition to Amendment 64 that would regulate marijuana in the state like alcohol.  Local governments across the state and Governor John Hickenlooper have come out against the amendment.  Backers of 64 says the CEA opposition makes no sense since the ballot issue calls for dedicating tax revenues form the sale fo marijuana to fund public school buildings. The Daily Sentinel says proponents of 64 plan to announce a number of law enforcment officials and prosecutors who are in favor of the amendmenment.

If you've never been to a wild horse adoption, Saturday is your chance.  The BLM has about 20 mustangs rounded up from herds in Colorado, Wyoming and Oregon, it's making available to the public.  People who want to adopt will meet the horses at the Mesa County Sheriff's Posse grounds tomorrow evening and again Saturday morning with the auction set for 10:00 Saturday.  Potential owners have to meet several requirements for taking in the animals and complete a one year probation.

Another new National Monument in western Colorado.  President Obama is scheduled to designate Chimney Rock in southwestern Colorado, a monument tomorrow.  Colorado Senator Michael Bennet says the monument designation will be an extafordinary bood for the region, preserving and protecting the site and driving tourism.  The designation helps preserve 4,700 acres in the San Juan National Forest, surrounded by the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.

Colorado workers may be seeing some recovery in their incomes as the economy slowly improves.  The Denver Post says the median income fell from a peak of just under $60,000 in 2007 to about $55,000 in 2011, but it appears the year-to-year drops are getting smaller. Denver economist Patty Silverstein says the state is on the road to recovery.  She says no state is doing great, but Colorado is doing better than some.

C-DOT is moving full steam ahead, looking for ideas on how to get high-speed rail, or other technology, installed to transport people from Jefferson County to the Eagle County Airport.  Already, CDOT has gotten inquires from 150 companies around the world interested in the project. Statements of Technology Information are being taken through october 10th.  C-DOT's $1.8 million feasibility study is expected to be complete by about a year from now.