Headlines — January 31, 2023

January 31, 2023

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Cold Weather Continues, Adding To A Snowy And Frigid January

It’s still bitterly cold across the Northern Front Range this morning, but temperatures could reach a high near thirty degrees later in the day.

Yesterday’s temperatures plunged to a low of twelve degrees below zero with wind chill factored in according to The National Weather Service .

Meteorologists say this is one of the coldest and snowiest Januaries on record. There’s been just over 12 inches of snow this month, nearly twice the usual average.

The weather contributed to more than 500 flight delays at Denver International Airport, and more than two hundred cancellations, according to FlightAware.com.

I-70 Closed Monday Following Two Motorist Accidents

1-70 reopened to traffic late last night following two separate accidents that closed lanes in both directions throughout the day. KGNU’s Alyssa Palazzo has more.

The accidents closed eastbound and westbound lanes between Dotsero and West Glenwood Springs and westbound lanes between Silverthorne and Loveland. 

The first accident involved a semi-truck which ended up on its side, with its trailer blocking westbound interstate westbound lanes while its tractor unit hung over the guardrail blocking eastbound lanes. 

Colorado State Patrol told The Denver Post the truck driver was not injured. 

The alternate routes suggested by the Colorado Department of Transportation, or otherwise known as CDOT, added several hours of travel time on snow-packed and icy roads. 

Another crash near the Eisenhower Tunnel closed a second portion of the interstate yesterday between Loveland and Silverthorne . 

CDOT encouraged drivers to stay put as they cleared the roads yesterday and urged motorists to gather information about potentially hazardous weather conditions before returning to the roads.

For KGNU, I’m Alyssa Palazzo

Provisional Colorado River Water Deal Reached

Six out of seven western states have reached a tentative deal on Colorado River water use ahead of a federal deadline.

California is the only state that hasn’t agreed to the water use model. They are expected to release their own plan ahead of the Feb. 1st deadline.

Deputies Indicted In Christian Glass Death Seek Dismissal Of Charges

One of the former Clear Creek Deputies indicted in the killing of a Boulder man last summer is asking for the dismissal of charges.

A lawyer representing former Sergeant Kyle Gould says there isn’t enough evidence to charge him with negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. Gould was off-duty at the time of the killing, but authorized officers on the scene to use force to get Christian Glass out of his car.

Glass, who was 22 years old, called 911 after crashing his car in Silver Plume. He reportedly experienced a mental health crisis and refused to get out of his car after deputies reached the scene. Prosecutors say the deputies called former Sergeant Gould, who authorized them to force Glass from the vehicle.

When they did, Glass allegedly swung a knife at them. That’s when former deputy Andrew Buen fatally shot him. In November, a grand jury found that Glass acted in self-defense.

Former deputy Buen is charged with second-degree murder, official misconduct and reckless endangerment.

Buen and Gould were both fired after their indictment.

RTD May Ban Passengers From Riding With Nowhere To Go 

The Regional Transportation District is considering rules changes that would keep people from riding its system unless they have a specific destination. Steve Miller has more.

The Denverite reports that RTD may change its rules soon to prevent people from riding for an infinite amount of time.

 Other changes include what RTD calls undesirable behaviors, such as smoking, riding without paying and putting one’s feet on a seat. They would also call users customers instead of passengers.

 The possible changes are part of an effort to make using RTD buses, trains and stations safer and to increase ridership, which dropped sharply during the pandemic. Currently ridership is around 60% of pre-pandemic levels.

But the rules changes are being criticized by at least one RTD Board member, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union. These critics say the proposed changes are too broad, and unfairly target unhoused people.

Rules are enforced by RTD’s own police force and contracted security. First-time violators are given a warning, chronic offenders can lead to a permanent suspension from RTD’s system and eventually criminal prosecution.

 The RTD Board of Directors will meet in February to decide whether to approve the proposed rule changes.

Two Workforce Bills Pass State House Committes

Two bills to support Colorado workers have made it through State House committees.

House Bill 23-1094 boosts pay for agricultural workers –  while House Bill 23-1072 ensures emergency response workers are compensated for time working a disaster.

Democrat Meghan Lukens of Steamboat Springs said HB23-1094, which she sponsored, would benefit the next generation of agricultural workers in Colorado with hands-on internships and training.

Glenwood Springs Democrat Elizabeth Velasco, sponsor of HB23-1072, said that volunteer first responders are ready at a moment’s notice to help during a disaster, and should be paid for their work.

Postal Service Career Fairs Happening This Week

The U.S. Postal Service is hosting two career fairs in the Denver area this week to hire for rural and metro area carrier services. 

The first one is tomorrow, Feb. 1, at the Jefferson County Workforce Center in Golden.

The second will be on Thursday in Adams County. 

Postal workers pay range between 19.33 and almost $25 an hour and includes paid time off and health care benefits.

Rude Rec Center Reopens

The Rude Recreation Center in Denver is serving the public as a rec center again.

The center was one of several used for emergency housing to shelter some of the more than four thousand migrants, who began arriving in Denver in early December.

Earlier this month, the number of migrants coming to Denver began to decline. Mayor Michael Hancock ordered the city to decommission the Rude Center and a second rec center as emergency shelter.

Now, after maintenance and cleaning, the Rude Rec Center is open on normal hours Monday through Saturday, but will be closed on Sundays until further notice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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