Headlines — December 13, 2022

December 13, 2022

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Mandatory Recount Confirms Boebert The Winner Of CD3

The mandatory recount of votes in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District is over, and confirms that Republican Lauren Boebert has defeated Democratic challenger Adam Frisch. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold made that announcement Monday evening.

The recount changed four votes, with Boebert losing three and Frisch picking up one. Secretary of State Griswold says bipartisan teams of election judges reviewed ballots and checked those under- or over- voted ballots for voter intent.  Boebert secured her second term with a margin of 546 votes. According to the Colorado Sun, that margin was one of the smallest of any congressional race in the country for this year’s election. 

Colorado’s Congressional District 3 covers 26 counties throughout the Western Slope and includes Pueblo and portions of southeast Colorado. 

Pueblo City Council Votes To Remove Proposed Anti-Abortion Ordinance From Agenda

Pueblo City Council, by a vote of 4 to 3, decided to pull a proposed anti-abortion ordinance from its agenda Monday night. The city clerk said over 100 people signed up to speak during last night’s meeting on the proposed ordinance. 

The proposed ordinance aimed to ban abortion services within the city limits and would have prevented the opening of an abortion clinic that is in the planning stages. The enforcement mechanism of the ordinance also would have allowed citizens to sue abortion providers, similar to a law in Texas. The Pueblo Chieftain reports that the proposed ordinance cites the 1873 federal Comstock law, which prohibits the mailing of abortion related materials.

Prior to last night’s agenda removal, the city’s legal staff did not recommend approval of the ordinance and some council members raised concerns about challenging Colorado’s new law that prohibits restrictions on abortion and other reproductive care. 

Pueblo’s director of public affairs told the Pueblo Chieftain a councilor could reintroduce the same ordinance or write a new one in the near future.

Colorado To Receive Opioid Settlement Funds From CVS And Walgreens

The State of Colorado is expected to receive more than $150 million in settlement funds from two major pharmacy companies that had a role in the opioid crisis. The $150 million dollars is Colorado’s share of a ten billion dollar settlement between the CVS and Walgreens drug store chains, and more than fifteen states.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced the agreement on Monday. He said the companies that helped to create and fuel the opioid crisis need to step up to fix it. Weiser also said that coupled with other national opioid settlements, Colorado will receive more than $700 million dollars, to be used in opioid addiction treatment and recovery.

In this new national settlement, CVS will pay five billion dollars, while Walgreens will pay five-point-seven billion dollars. Settlement funds in Colorado will be distributed according to an August 2021 agreement between state and local governments.

Former Clear Creek County Sheriff Deputies Appear In Court 

Two Former Clear Creek county sheriff deputies appeared in court Monday on charges related to the shooting death of 22 year old Christian Glass.  Police fatally shot Glass last June after law enforcement responded to his 911 call about his car getting stuck in an embankment near Silver Plume. The grand jury said Glass was not a threat to the officers, himself, or the community, while Glass’ mother said her son was experiencing a mental health crisis as officers responded to his call. 

Andrew Buen is facing charges of second-degree murder, official misconduct, and reckless endangerment while Kyle Gould is facing indictments of criminal negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office fired the officers shortly after the November 23rd indictment.

Colorado Agriculture and Wildlife Officials Grappling With Worsening Avian Flu Outbreak

Avian flu outbreak has killed at least four bald eagles and is posing a serious risk to other birds in the wild. The ongoing outbreak of avian influenza has already forced poultry farmers to slaughter over 4 million chickens statewide. The Colorado Sun reports wildlife officials now worry the disease may be linked to a 15% to 20% drop in successful eagle nesting this year. Experts also say the four known fatalities among the  bald eagle population may be an undercount. Centers like the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program in Fort Collins have confirmed receiving raptors sick with the highly infectious virus. Bird experts fear the migratory patterns of waterfowl and other birds are increasing the spread of the flu.

The Colorado Sun reports state officials have confirmed more than 2,000 snow geese died late last month in Morgan and Logan counties, and another 600 last week in Prowers County. Wildlife officials are asking members of the public to report encounters with dead birds or those displaying symptoms of illness.

Colorado Health Foundation Awards Grant For Outdoor Amenities At New North Boulder Library

The Boulder Library Foundation announced Monday that the Colorado Health Foundation has awarded the group a $700,000 grant to build outdoor amenities for the new North Boulder Library. Library officials say work to break ground on the new facility near Broadway and Violet Avenue will begin next month. Planned outdoor amenities include a playground, learning garden, outdoor maker space, and family civic plaza. The design resulted from input gathered during a community engagement process. Because of rising construction costs, library planners cut outdoor amenities from the construction budget for the new library and as a result, the Boulder Library Foundation is undergoing fundraising efforts to restore the cuts. The Boulder Library Foundation says with the Colorado Health grant, it now has raised $915,000 toward its $1.5 million campaign goal. 

Longmont City Council To Hold Study Session On A Waste Diversion Ordinance  

The Longmont City Council will hold a study session this evening to discuss proposed aspects of a Universal Recycling Ordinance that will assist in meeting the council’s new Zero Waste targets passed in September. Longmont’s updated Zero Waste Resolution aims to divert 75% of the city’s trash from the landfill by 2030 and 95% by 2050. Under the council’s consideration is a requirement for businesses to subscribe to a recycling service and provide recycling collection containers.  The ordinance would also require container signs in English and Spanish and for businesses to train their employees on proper sorting.

Councilperson Marcia Martin, who also serves on the city’s Sustainability Advisory Board, told Prairie Mountain Media, that although she supports the concept of universal recycling, she doesn’t want it to be an unreasonable burden on businesses either. 

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