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12_04_2024amheadlines Jackie Sedley
Magnus White trial postponed
Boulder County Court officials have postponed the trial of the woman accused of killing 17-year-old Boulder cyclist Magnus White. has had her trial postponed until March.
Yeva Smilianska, 24, was originally scheduled to begin her five-day trial on Dec. 16. But due to the absence of an essential witness, the trial will now start in late March of next year.
On July 29th 2023, White was riding his bike along Colo. 119 south of the 63rd Street intersection when he was hit by Smilianska as she crossed from the right hand lane into the shoulder of the highway. Following the crash, White was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. He was just about to race in mountain bike World Championships in Scotland. Authorities believe Smilianska may have been asleep at the time of the crash, though she told authorities at the time that her car was experiencing mechanical issues.
According to The Daily Camera, Smilianska pleaded not guilty to one count of reckless vehicular homicide back in May.
Colorado regulators consider utility rate increase
Black Hills Energy, a utility provider in Southern Colorado, has requested to raise its residential electric rates in Colorado by almost 14%.
The company hasn’t raised rates in eight years, and cut its initial request down from a 32% increase.
According to The Denver Post, elected officials and residents across the company’s territory are urging the state Public Utilities Commission to shut down not to approve the proposal.
The decision will affect those in Pueblo and Fremont counties. The Pueblo Utilities Commision will hear arguments evidence in the case, as well as take public comment, this Thursday from 4-7 p.m.
Other utilities advocates and community members are urging the PUC to reconsider rate increases based on previous hikes.
Officials close McDonalds E. Coli investigation
The U.S. government has closed its investigation into the E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers.
Yesterday, officials announced there’s no longer a risk of exposure to the bacteria.
The outbreak began in October, affecting 30 people in Colorado – one of which died after eating at a McDonald’s in Mesa County. Four people developed a potentially life-threatening kidney disease complication, according to The Denver Post.
The Food and Drug Administration, alongside other state and federal health departments, linked the outbreak to yellow onions.
Distributed by California-based Taylor Farms, the onions were served raw in Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming, among other states.
Taylor Farms put forth a voluntary recall of yellow onions on Oct. 22.
Colorado breaks Fentanyl seizure record
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Rocky Mountain Field Division has seized nearly 2.7 million fentanyl pills in the state so far this year, surpassing the record set last year.
Fentanyl is an incredibly potent synthetic opioid often found in other drugs.
The division confiscated both fake and counterfeit fentanyl pills. Most recently, Boulder police arrested a woman this past Sunday who had almost 300 counterfeit fentanyl pills.
Through lab testing, the DEA found that five out of every 10 pills they analyzed contained a likely-fatal dose of fentanyl for first-time users.
According to CBS News Colorado, 2024 pill seizure Division numbers will likely be released in late January 2025.
The DEA says the vast majority of fake pills coming to Colorado look like Oxycodone pills, or “blues” – counterfeit “M30s” – with an “M” stamped on one side” and a “30” for milligrams on the other.
The DEA’s concerns are also growing for Carfentanil, an animal tranquilizer used to sedate or put down animals the size of elephants and rhinoceroses. 250,000 pills found contained the drug, which can be about 100 times more potent than already lethal fentanyl.
Lafayette Library celebrates 100 years
The Lafayette Public Library is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Established in 1924, the library has a long history of community support.
This year, library workers are partnering with the Colorado Gives Foundation nonprofit group to hold a fundraiser. The campaign aims to provide build funding for community library services for the community that aren’t already paid for with taxpayer funds.
According to The Daily Camera, the library relies on donations from private parties, as well as the Friends of the Lafayette Library Foundation nonprofit group, to provide all their community services.
Until Dec. 10, every donation received will be boosted through a $1 million incentive fund by FirstBank and the Colorado Gives Foundation. Each nonprofit will receive a portion of the funds, and the Colorado Gives group will match donations for anyone who sets up a monthly contribution.
To donate, listeners can go to https://www.coloradogives.org and contribute to Friends of the Lafayette Library.
KGNU is also participating in Colorado Gives. Head to https://coloradogives.org/kgnu to contribute.
