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Philip narration Greta Kerkhoff
State declares disaster emergency to fight avian flu in Colorado
Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency to fight avian flu in Colorado.
The declaration will free up state resources and, in turn, help agriculture officials and farmers respond to the outbreak.
Infected animals have been discovered at a large commercial egg operation in Weld County, according to CPR News. The virus has shown its capacity to spread to humans – just last week, an employee at a dairy farm in northeast Colorado contracted the flu.
Colorado is currently reporting more cases among dairy cows than any other state.
The local outbreak comes as national concerns around avian flu are on the rise. Federal officials began detecting the presence of avian flu within domestic cattle herds across the nation this spring. Avian flu’s jump from birds to cattle has health officials concerned that the virus could continue to mutate and spread more easily to humans.
Still, federal and state officials maintain that the risk to humans remains low, and that pasteurized milk products and beef are safe to consume.
New tax for affordable housing in Denver
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unveiled a new sales tax proposal yesterday, with affordable housing in mind.
The new proposed tax would add 0.5% to the existing sales tax rate, which currency falls just under 9%.
According to The Denver Post, the tax would help raise roughly $100 million a year for affordable housing projects.
The tax wouldn’t be the only proposed hike on Denver’s ballot this November – nor would it be the first time the city has created new taxes or fees to fund housing-related efforts. Back in 2020, voters passed a sales tax dedicated to homelessness initiatives that brings in roughly $50 million a year.
If the tax ends up on the ballot, the measure would be the second sales tax hike up for voter approval this fall. The other relates to financing Denver Health, the city’s social safety net hospital.
Colorado group submits petition to ban hunting of bobcats, mountain lions, lynx
In other November election news – a volunteer group has submitted a petition to Colorado’s Secretary of State to ban the hunting of bobcats, mountain lions, and lynx.
The group “Cats Aren’t Trophies” collected enough signatures last week to get their trophy hunting measure on November’s ballot.
The initiative would declare “the intentional killing, wounding, pursuing or entrapping” of any mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx as unlawful.
Supporters of the ban described the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats as “commercial killing,” and inhumane.
Opponents argue that decisions about managing wildlife resources should be left to wildlife experts.
The Secretary of State has 30 days to review the petition to determine whether it contains sufficient valid signatures.
Colorado Senator Faith Winter violated ethics policy by appearing intoxicated at public meeting, committee finds
A five-member committee has decided that Colorado Senator Faith Winter failed to uphold Senate ethics standards when she appeared intoxicated at a Northglenn City Council meeting in early April.
Before entering the April meeting, Winter parked her car in a fire zone as shown on footage obtained by 9News. Body camera footage obtained from a Northglenn police officer shows Winter being advised by the officer not to drive home, to which she agreed.
While Committee members agreed that Winter’s behavior was questionable – in a 4-1 vote – they disagreed on which disciplinary measures to pursue.
The committee did not recommend a reprimand, censure, or expulsion but requested Democratic Senate President Steve Fenberg “prepare and deliver” a letter to Winter admonishing her behavior and encouraging her to continue her treatment for substance abuse.
The investigation into Winter’s behavior has lawmakers criticizing the state Capitol’s culture of substance abuse, which allegedly normalizes alcoholism. That’s according to Colorado Politics.
More people move in to the east, according to census data
People in and around Boulder County are moving east at higher rates than they were a few years ago. That’s according to new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Erie, and the nearby Carbon Valley region, have grown rapidly in the last four years, while the rest of the region in Boulder County and western Weld County has stayed the same or shrunk.
Government workers in Erie expect the town to grow to 60,000 residents in the next decade.
Meanwhile, Boulder’s population shrank slightly from last year. The Daily Camera reports that aging demographics and high home prices could play a part in that decline.
Three Boulder athletes will represent Team USA in Paris
Athletes from across Colorado have qualified to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
Three athletes from Boulder will represent Team USA in the sport of climbing—Brooke Raboutou, Colin Duffy, and Natalia Grossman.
The other 20 or so qualifying Colorado athletes will compete in mountain biking, triathlon, volleyball, track and field, climbing, rowing, swimming, shooting, wheelchair fencing, and more. The Olympics begin in Paris in two weeks, on July 26, and will continue through August 11. The Paralympics will be held August 28 through September 8.
