Headlines — October 5, 2022

October 5, 2022

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Conservation Groups Win Appeal In Challenge To Expansion Of Colorado’s Gross Dam

 Conservation groups have won an appeal to stop the expansion of Colorado’s Gross Dam. 

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit passed the appeal Friday. It overturned the U.S. District Court’s dismissal of an earlier challenge to the Clean Water Act permit that is required for the expansion of the Moffat Collection System and Gross Dam in Colorado. 

The proposed Gross Reservoir Expansion Project wanted to add an extra 900,000 feet of concrete to the Gross dam, which would’ve tripled the size of the reservoir. If successful the Gross Dam would’ve become the tallest dam in Colorado. 

The Colorado River Basin, the main water source for communities across Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and Mexico, is in a crisis of increased demand and reduced supply,

Their lawsuit claimed the permit went against the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. 

Initially, Colorado’s District Court had dismissed the groups’ complaint on the grounds that a challenge to the Army Corps permits needed to be brought to the Court of Appeals. 

However, on Friday, the Court of Appeals disagreed, and came to the conclusion that based on the plain language of the Federal Power Act, the groups correctly brought their case to the District Court. 

The Court of Appeals remanded the matter to the District Court for further proceedings.

Boulder Police Make Arrest In Overnight Gunfire

Boulder Police officers arrested 22-year-old Jacob Derolf on Monday after officers responded to multiple calls of gunshots in downtown Boulder around 7th and Walnut.  

Boulder police charged Derolf with a misdemeanor, citing prohibited use of weapons, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, and reckless driving.”

The investigation is still ongoing. 

Rep. Neguse Announces Over $6 Million For Rural And Mountain Communities Across Colorado’s 2nd District

Congressman Joe Neguse announced Tuesday the allocation of more than $6 million dollars in federal funding to counties across Colorado’s Second Congressional District. The funding comes from the Local Consistency and Tribal Assistance Fund. The money will go towards supporting eligible rural, mountain, and tribal communities to meet the needs of their jurisdiction.

In a press release announcing the funding allocation, Congressman Neguse said, “Colorado counties can utilize these resources to fund local schools, improve road maintenance, and support emergency response operations.” He also urged entities eligible for the funding to not miss application deadlines.

Revenue-sharing counties have to request funding just before midnight on January 31st.

The Colorado Department Of Agriculture Has Detected A Japanese Beetle On The Western Slope

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is working to eliminate the invasive Japanese Beetle population after they were discovered in Grand Junction this last summer. The CDA is working in collaboration with Mesa County’s Noxious Weed and Pest Management programs to find ways of eradicating the pest and with the Colorado State University Tri-River Extension Office to make sure the public is educated on how to identify and stop these beetles from spreading to other parts of the state. As of this week, a quarantine is currently in place along the Western Slope in order to prevent further infestation.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture and other organizations say they will create a plan to combat the beetles that they hope will be ready for the spring season when these beetles become more prominent.   

Boulder’s Preparing For Winter Weather With Plow Driving Training

The city of Boulder has already begun training new snowplow drivers for the up and coming winter season. 

Spokesperson Julie Causa told The Daily Camera that Boulder has 47 drivers, and almost half of them are new. The city has 19 vehicles for snow and ice control. The first of their training began with in-cab training and then a driving course at the Boulder airport. 

According to The Daily Camera, two fleet technicians, a dispatcher, and a supervisor work each snow shift.

Police Have Identified Two Suspects Involved In This Weekend’s Shooting On University Hill

Around 1:30 AM on Sunday, October 2, officers responded to calls about a gun disturbance near the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. The Police arrived at the scene to find armed individuals firing gunshots. Further investigation shows the incident involved at least three different types of firearms. 

One officer shot at – and wounded – a 22-year-old man later identified as Zakiyy Lucas. Witnesses say Lucas had fired on men who were beating him up. Emergency crews later took Lucas to the hospital for non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

Lucas was discharged from the hospital and charged with felony attempt murder in the first degree-extreme indifference, felony attempt murder in the first degree-after deliberation, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct-discharge firearm. 

The Boulder Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a photographed person of interest in the same crime. Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Cantu at 303-441-4328 reference case 22-09880.

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