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07_17_2024amheadlines Greta Kerkhoff
Rocky Flats Trail dispute
A last-ditch effort has been initiated to stop construction of a bridge and underpass associated with the new Rocky Mountain Greenway link through plutonium-contaminated Rocky Flats.
The Rocky Mountain Greenway link will eventually connect Rocky Mountain National Park by trails with three national wildlife refuges along the Front Range: Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Two Ponds, and Rocky Flats. But opponents of the planned trail portion across Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge say the plutonium levels there remain unsafe, according to the Denver Post.
The site formerly housed a nuclear weapons manufacturing plant, which was shut down in 1992 and designated a superfund site. It took a $7 billion dollars of remediation effort to open the parkland in 2005.
Opponents of the trail pressed their public safety concerns at Westminster City Hall on Monday, trying to derail the city’s planned $220,000 contribution for a new pedestrian bridge and underpass for the Rocky Flats portion of the Rocky Mountain Greenway link. The Federal Lands Access Program has already committed $4.7 million to the regional project. The Westminster City Council will decide whether or not to commit the funds at a future meeting. Trail construction is slated to begin in two months.
You’ll hear more about that Westminster City Hall meeting later on in today’s Mag.
Trial begins in lawsuit challenging Colorado’s campaign contribution limits
A federal lawsuit against limiting Colorado campaign contributions goes to trial today.
The trial will take place over the next two weeks, brought on by three Republicans who argue the state’s campaign contribution limits benefit self-funding candidates who can finance their own campaigns. They also claim that Colorado’s donation limits violate the First Amendment, by limiting donors’ freedom of speech.
Colorado’s contribution limits are among the lowest in the country, according to the Colorado Sun. Through a state constitutional amendment that passed in 2002, candidates can currently spend $1,450 when running for statewide office, and $450 when running as legislative candidates.
The suit plans to conclude on July 26th. Critics of the suit say that political races are already competitive and the change isn’t needed.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge John Kane, who is hearing the current case, rejected a similar suit two years ago.
Hundreds of ballots never reached voters in southwest Colorado
Speaking of elections, the U.S. Postal Service is investigating why hundreds of ballots were never delivered to southwest Colorado voters in an exceptionally close primary election.
According to Colorado Public Radio, a total of 376 voters in Dolores County did not receive their original mail-in ballots for last month’s elections.
That amount represents nearly a quarter of the active voters in the small rural county.
State officials say the ballots appeared to have been lost while the U.S. Postal Service was moving them from the printer’s offices in Seattle to a mail facility in Albuquerque. No foul play is suspected, according to Colorado Public Radio.
In total, more than 100 people in the county have requested replacement ballots.
As a result of the undelivered ballots, officials will conduct a recount of the Republican primary in House District 58. That’s because the winning candidate led by only three votes.
While the recount is underway, the state is considering putting the Dolores County clerk’s office under increased supervision during the November election.
RTD construction to shut down 2 Denver intersections
Two intersections in Denver’s Central Business District will be closed for weeks, as construction continues on RTD’s downtown rail.
The intersections of 15th and California street and 15th and Stout street will be closed starting Monday.
One lane will remain open on both Stout and California streets between 14th and 16th streets in order to guide traffic. However, sidewalks and crosswalks will be closed on the east side of California Street and the west side of Stout Street.
According to the Denver Post, construction is set to last around three weeks.
In order to avoid the closed off areas, commuters can use the free MallRide service, which will operate between Denver Union Station and Champa Street. RTD also recommends commuters use the Free MetroRide service as an alternative within the Central Business District until construction is complete.
