Friday January 25, 2013

A Grand Junction mother and her boyfriend are being held on suspicion of felony child abuse. 28 year old Ashleigh Wallace and 30 year old Jessie Martinez were arrested yesterday.  Martinez was already in custody on an unrelated parole violation.  Wallace's 4-year old son was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital January 13th with multiple injuries. She and Martinez told authorities different stories about how the injuries occurred.

The State Senate Education Committee has passed the Colorado ASSET bill and sent it to the appropriations committee.  The bill would grant in-state tuition to undocumented college students who have attended for three years and graduated from a Colorado High School. Supporters of the bill say by providing affordable higher education for aspiring Americans, the state will see a better return on its K-12 investment.

The VA Medical Center says there's a continued high demand for flu shots so they're making it even easier for vets to get one.  Next Wednesday they're holding a drive-thru clinic at the Center from 4:30 to six.  The drive-thru will be under the drop-off entrance at the main lobby. Veterans need to provide proof of service or a VA Patient ID card.

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is getting part of the take from a woman convicted of operating an interstate prostitution ring. The sheriff's office worked with IRS Criminal Investigators to take down the ring. U-S Attorney John Walsh says more than $1 million were seized as a result of the investigation.

A 35 year old former Marine is being held without bond after authorities found him in possession of several Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs. Richard Sandberg of Morrison was arrested yesterday morning after officers said he offered to trade some of the devices for cash or cocaine. The ATF, US Attorney's office, and several front range law enforcement agencies and bomb squads worked on the bust.

A new Triple-A study says motorists who use cell phones while driving are more likely to engage in additional dangerous behaviors including speeding, driving drowsy, driving without a seat belt and sending texts or emails. More than two thirds of licensed drivers said they used a cell phone while driving in the past month, and 9 in 10 drivers said they believe other drivers using cell phones are a threat to their personal safety. Triple A says it's continuing its drive for a text messaging ban in all 50 states.  Right now, 38 states including Colorado have bans in place.

Officials say an earthquake reported late Wednesday night may have been caused by a deepwell injection project in Paradox Valley.  According to the Daily Sentinel, the Bureau of Reclamation has a Salinity Control Facility there where salt brine is injected into a well 16,000 feet below the surface.  The Bureau says smaller quakes have been recorded in the same area before.

Mesa Developmental Services will continue serving people with developmental and other disabilities, but under a new name.  MDS is now Strive.  The 47 year old organization changed it's name yesterday saying services they offer have outgrown the old name.  Strive Board of Directors President Jeff Parker tells the Daily Sentinel the group represents more than 750 individuals who strive themselves to be independent.