Headlines — April 6, 2022

Headlines April 6, 2022

Listen:

[Download Audio]

CU Boulder’s Conference Of World Affairs Begins Today

CU’s Conference of World Affairs begins today. The conference features a hundred speakers discussing  topics ranging from art to activism. The 2022 conference will have in-person and virtual, live streamed discussions.

Mental health advocate Victoria Garrick, who gave the popular TED Talk “The Hidden Opponent,” is scheduled to give the keynote speech Wednesday night. A second keynote speech on Thursday night will be made by Akhil Amar, a professor of Law and Political Science from Yale University. 

Boulder Valley School District Recognized For The Efficient And Healthy Schools Campaign

The White House has chosen Boulder Valley School District and Adams 12 Five Star School District in Denver to take part in the first round of a new grant program geared toward making schools more energy efficient. The administration hopes to include 5,000 schools by the end of the year.

According to the White House, schools spend more money on energy bills than any other expense aside from teacher salaries. Across the nation, school energy bills total around $8 billion a year. 

Through the Department of Energy and the Infrastructure Investment Act, the White House has allocated $500 million in grant money to to the program, which officials said, will also create cleaner, healthier air filtration systems for student. Along with funding, the program will consult with schools as they purchase new electric buses, more energy efficient HVAC systems, install solar panels, and conduct energy audits and feasibility studies.

Boulder Plans To Launch Pilot Program For Guaranteed Income By End Of Year 

In March, the city of Boulder set aside $250,000 to pilot a guaranteed income program that is expected to begin by the end of the year. The program will give specific residents of the city cash to supplement living costs. 

Similar programs have grown in popularity across the U.S. including one in Denver, where the Mile High Basic Income Project launched about a year ago. 

To pay for a pilot program, Boulder has requested $3 million in federal funding. In the next few weeks, it plans to create a community task force to study similar plans and put together a Boulder model. 

 Workplace Harassment Reform Collapses Again

For the second time since June, a bill to defeat harassment in the workplace has died. Sponsors of the Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights act, also known as the POWR Act, spoke with The Denver Post saying that they are abandoning their current bill which eliminated specific language that, they said, discouraged many from reporting harassment. 

Creating a new definition of harassment has been a challenge within the Colorado legal system for decades. Currently, the law requires accusers to prove that the harassment they are reporting is “severe and pervasive.”

The POWR Act would have dropped this language. Despite consecutive losses, Democratic representatives say they will continue to push for reform. 

Victim Of Boulder Vehicular Homicide Case Was Living With Suspect In A Car Together 

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a hit-and-run last week that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Zachary Taggart. 

Early Friday morning, an employee at Harvest Hope Food Pantry at 4800 Pearl Street called to report a man laying in the parking lot who appeared to be dead. Police determined Taggart had died in a hit-and-run. 

With help from video surveillance, authorities have charged 21-year-old Alan Moody with vehicular homicide. According to The Daily Camera, the victim and Moody were reportedly living in the same car that police said was involved in the incident. 

Moody is being held at the Boulder County Jail on $20,000 bond.  

Podcast: Play in new window | Download