Headlines — June 9, 2022

June 9, 2022

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Calving Season To Blame After Colorado Couple Charged By Moose During Hike

Moose calving season is underway and hikers are encouraged to exercise caution and awareness when walking in nature. Moose are very protective of their young and can become aggressive if they perceive a threat. 

A couple and their dog had an encounter with a moose and its calf on Wednesday morning with deadly consequences for the parent moose. The encounter happened in Nederland near the West Magnolia Trailhead, where the moose ended up charging them and knocking them down. 

The Boulder Daily Camera reports the man sustained serious injuries while the woman and their dog only had minor injuries. Shortly after, Boulder County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene.

After multiple attempts to scare the animal away with bean bag shots, it returned to the trailhead where it was fatally shot by a Boulder Sheriff’s Deputy. 

Also this week, a moose yearling wandered through Boulder along the creek and creek side bikeway. It is believed to be the same moose yearling sighted in Erie and eventually tranquilized and captured yesterday in Thorton.

Colorado Enacts New “Towing Bill Of Rights”

If your car gets towed in Colorado, you no longer have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to get it back according to a new bill that Gov. Jared Polis signed into law Tuesday. 

The new law creates a new “towing bill of rights,” and requires towing companies to return your car if you pay at least 15 percent of the fees capped at $60 dollars according to the Denver Post. 

The new law also puts a slew of new requirements on towing companies, forbidding predatory practices like removing a car without notice from apartment or mobile home parking lots or towing a car for expired license plate tags.

Starbucks Workers At Garden Of The Gods Location Win NLRB Election, Join National Movement

A group of workers at the Starbucks location at 4465 Centennial Boulevard near Garden of the Gods voted 12-4 in support of unionizing.  The store has become the sixth Starbucks in the entire state of Colorado to unionize and one of over 200 Starbucks across the country that have elected representation from the Workers United International Union. 

Secretary Haaland Issues Order To Phase Out Single-Use Plastics, Protect Public Lands And Waters

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland yesterday issued an order to reduce and phase out single use plastic materials on public lands. This includes food containers, beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery and disposable plastic bags. The order also entails that the Interior Department aids in finding, producing, and distributing alternative materials that are considered to be non-hazardous. 

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, less than 10 percent of the plastic ever produced has been recycled.The primary goal of the order is to phase out these materials by 2032 in favor of materials that are better for the environment. 

This order works in unison with President Biden’s Executive Order 14057. The order pushes for federal agencies to reduce waste and support different markets for recycled or alternative materials.

Local Governments Express Disappointment In Veto Of Electric Vehicles Bill

39 of Colorado’s local government members and Colorado Community for Climate Actions, or CC4CA, expressed disappointment yesterday over Gov Jared Polis’s veto of bill HB22-1218. The bill would have required the outfitting of large-scale commercial developments with parking spaces and charging stations for electric vehicles.

The President of the CC4CA and the Clear Creek County Commissioner, George Marlin, spoke about his disappointment and his optimism in a press release when he stated, “Although the veto is a disappointment, the Legislature adopted a wide range of important climate and energy bills that will reduce pollution, protect Colorado’s quality of life, and save money for Coloradans and Colorado businesses.”

Comment Period Opens For St. Vrain Forest Health Project

The Forest service is asking the public to review their plans to make forests across the St. Vrain Valley more resilient to wildfire. According to the press release, officials from the Roosevelt National Forest Ranger District are looking for any suggested modifications, corrections to the research, missing information and even new proposals.

The district has published documents with scientific research, maps, and outlines to help different fire districts, agencies, towns, and community representatives to collaborate in their efforts. 

The public has until July 8, to share their thoughts on the plan to improve forest ecosystems, water quality, and overall benefit of the community.

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