Tuesday September 4, 2012

Are you registered to vote? It's easier than ever now by going online with mobile devices. Secretary of State Scott Gessler says voters can complete a number of applications, including registering, requesting and tracking mail ballots, and updating their information. Just go to GoVoteColorado.com.

If you thought gas prices were higher over the weekend, you're right.  ColoradoGasPrices.com says the average price has gone up more than 3 cents a gallon in the past week, to $3.53/gal. A sister website, GasBuddy.com, says prices are expected to stablize and even go down over the next several weeks with the introduction of cheaper-to-produce winter fuels.

Colorado Mesa University is moving ahead with plans for a "body farm", with a new director of the Forensic Investigation Research Station.  The Daily Sentinel says  Melissa Conner is heading up the development of the site near 32 Road and Highway 50. The idea is to study the decomposition of bodies in the high altitude desert for criminal and archeological situations.  Classes are being designed now for a forensic anthropology minor at CMU, to complement law enforcement and archeology degrees.

Stats aren't in for the Colorado State Patrol's final weekend of the Heat Is On drunk driving enforcement, but even before the weeknd, DUI arrests were up 40% compared with last summer.  Trooper Josh Lewis tells the Denver Post, even though there were more drunk-driving arrests this summer than last year, there were fewer deaths caused by drunken drivers.

The family of a Montrose woman who died last week says she died of complications from West Nile virus.  An obituary in the Montrose Daily Press says Dorothy "Irish" Meaker died Wednesday, days before her 87th birthday. The Montrose County Coroner told the paper he couldn't confirm the death was due to West Nile.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has lifted a voluntary ban on fishing in the Yampa River.  The ban lasted more than 2 months as water levels through Steamboat Springs dropped, and tempuratrues in the river climbed. CPW says fishing resumed Saturday with flies and lures only, and all fish returned to the water unharmed.

Delta County Commissioners are holding a public hearing this afternoon on a proposal for two cage-free egg farms.  Neighbors in the area of the farms in Powell Mesa and Redlands Mesa say one farm already in operation is making them sick.  9-News says a judge has turned back an earlier approval by the commissioners, saying additional finding are needed on issues including compatibility with neighborhoods and effects on property values.

Garfield County Commissioenrs today are getting a second look at a plan by Bedrock Resources, an asphalt and paving company, to operate a contractor's yard near an organic farm east of the Garfield County Airport in Rifle.  According to the Glenwood Post, the farm says the operation could hurt its status as Organic...Bedrock says it's changed its plans to reduce the amount of emissions at the site.