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Coloradans can expect another TABOR windfall. How much depends on voters in November

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

Colorado economic forecasters predict another tax refund windfall next spring — though how Coloradans receive the excess collections depends on how they vote this November.Forecasters for both the legislative and executive branches expect tax collections subject to Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, caps to exceed $3.3 billion. That would be near the prior year’s record that lawmakers refunded through direct checks last fall. Following year forecasts still show excess collections, though not nearly as eye-popping.The excess collections will surely become a point of leverage in a looming ballot box battle over state tax policy. Voters will decide this November on Proposition HH, a multi-faceted proposal aimed to blunt the sharpest edges of rising property taxes while also allowing the state to keep more tax dollars than currently allowed under TABOR.Opponents are arguing its passage would lead to a long-term vacuuming of tax dollars that would otherwise be returne...

Emergency closure of Colorado 7 from Lyons to Allenspark for rockslide cleanup extended through Friday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

Cleanup of the rockslide that closed Colorado 7 last Wednesday will continue through at least Friday, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.Crews previously expected the rockslide that closed Colorado 7 from Colorado 72, near Allenspark, to U.S. 36 in Lyons to be cleared by Tuesday.#CDOT #News: Emergency closure of #CO7 for rockslide cleanup extended to at least through Friday, June 23. Crews have already hauled 100 truckloads of material from the site. https://t.co/Su6u1bYJ5U#KnowBeforeYouGo #SlowfortheConeZone pic.twitter.com/8LEZUjN2VW— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) June 20, 2023“We realize the inconvenience this has caused for the residents of the canyon,” Regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock stated in a Tuesday news release. “But this slide has loosened a lot more rock in this area and we need to get all of that down so it is safe for the traveling public when we reopen.According to Paddock, Friday is the bes...

Colorado Supreme Court strikes down law that gave victims of decades-old childhood sexual abuse a window to file lawsuits

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

The Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a new law that created a three-year window for people to sue over decades-old childhood sexual abuse on the grounds that the law violated the state constitution.The Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Act violated the constitution’s prohibition on retrospective legislation, the justices ruled in a unanimous opinion Tuesday. The decision likely will end the recent influx of look-back lawsuits that survivors of childhood sexual abuse brought in the 18 months since the new law took effect.The law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2022, allowed for adults who were sexually assaulted as children to bring lawsuits against both their assailant and, in some cases, organizations that ran youth programs.The law opened a three-year window for such lawsuits for abuse that allegedly happened between 1960 and 2022, including claims that otherwise would have been barred by the statute of limitations.But the Colorado Supreme Court found Tuesday that th...

Six accused of forging names of dead people so Colorado candidate could make primary ballot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on Tuesday announced his office has charged six people for allegedly submitting petitions with forged signatures in an attempt to get a 2022 Republican Congressional candidate on the ballot.The six individuals — Alex Joseph, Terris Kintchen, Patrick Rimpel, Jordahni Rimpel, Aliyah Moss and Diana Watt — were paid circulators for Grassfire, LLC, an Oregon-based professional petitioning firm, the attorney general’s office said in a news release.The firm was hired by the Carl Andersen campaign, a Republican candidate running for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District, an area anchored by Jefferson County. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat, handily won the seat in November’s election.Prosecutors say Andersen’s campaign hired Grassfire to collect the necessary 1,500 valid signatures to get on the Republican primary ballot. The Secretary of State’s Office rejected the petition, however, due to an insufficient numbe...

Man dies while river rafting in Royal Gorge — Colorado’s 12th water-related fatality in 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

Colorado authorities on Tuesday were investigating a fatal commercial rafting incident that left a 60-year-old man dead along the Arkansas River in the Royal Gorge south of Canon City.Related ArticlesColorado News | Blue River closed to watercraft, rafting until further notice due to “life-threatening” tree across river Colorado News | Kansas man dies in rafting accident on the Arkansas River Colorado News | Kansas man dies in rafting accident on the Arkansas River Colorado News | Some Colorado 14ers will remain closed to the public unless a new coalition can change the law Colorado News | Recreational water use on Clear Creek in Jefferson County restricted due to high, fast water The river has been running fast and high. Around 1:30 p.m. Monday, several passengers on a trip through the gorge fell out of a raft as it entered the Boat Eater Rapid just below the Royal Gorge Bridge, according to...

Los Angeles the 'top mosquito city' in the U.S., according to Orkin

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

When one thinks of mosquitos, swampy, humid southern states might come to mind first.But according to Orkin, Los Angeles is actually the top “mosquito city” in the United States – for the third straight year.The pest control company didn’t measure mosquitoes, but instead came up with the list based on cities where they performed the most mosquito control services between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The rankings include residential and commercial mosquito services, Orkin said.Los Angeles ranked #1, followed by Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Dallas/Ft. Worth. San Francisco dropped eight spots to land at #16. Sacramento ranked #36, San Diego was #38, while Bakersfield and Fresno cracked the top 50 for the first time.1.       Los Angeles2.       Chicago3.       New York4.       Atlanta (+1)5.       Dallas/Ft. Worth (+1)6.  ...

Jason Porter Pronounced Dead Following Motorcycle Crash on Walerga Road [Antelope, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

Motorcycle-Auto Collision near Shandwick Drive Kills 39-Year-Old Antelope ManANTELOPE, CA (June 20, 2023) – Friday evening, Jason Porter was fatally injured in a motorcycle crash on Walerga Road.The deadly collision occurred around 8:18 p.m. along the southbound Walerga Road, near Shandwick Drive.According to CHP, a motorcycle traveling south in Walerga collided with a northbound red Mazda turning left onto Shandwick.Tragically, the motorcyclist sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Meanwhile, the Mazda driver stayed at the site of the incident and cooperated with the investigators.On Saturday, the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased rider as 39-year-old Jason Porter of Antelope.No further details regarding the Walerga Road motorcycle crash have been released to the public. The California Highway Patrol will provide more information once available.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during this delicate moment. Deepest condolenc...

Patriarchy and More at Dum Dum Fest

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

Patriarchy and More at Dum Dum Fest: Dum Dum Records has assembled a wonderful lineup for their Dum Dom Fest at the Echo, with filmmaker Actually Huizenga’s three-piece Patriarchy headlining. “Exploring themes of sex, power, subversion, and death, the group draws inspiration from interests in everything from Ancient Greek Mythology to 80’s slasher films,” they say. Also on the bill is Taleen Kali, Iress, and Lauren Lakis.Last year, Huizenga told us about her love for Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine album.“I, Actually Huizenga of Patriarchy, discovered NIN through my obsession with David Bowie as a pubescent child,” she said. “Trent Reznor scared/intrigued me when I saw him driving the cab in the video for ‘I’m Afraid of Americans.’ So I started my research listening to the albums. Pretty Hate Machine was the first album to make me cry and masturbate; to question my childish romantic preconceptions.”“Of course Downward Spiral blew ...

Three people wounded, dog killed in Oakland shooting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

OAKLAND — Three people were wounded and a dog belonging to one of them was killed in a shooting Monday night in East Oakland, authorities said.The people shot — a 31-year-old woman and two men, ages 20 and 22 — were reported to be in stable condition. Police did not say if the three knew each other.The shooting was reported just before 4 p.m. Monday in the 8900 block of MacArthur Boulevard.Authorities said a group of people were standing outside when two men approached them on foot and began shooting at them.The woman’s pit bull dog was also hit by the gunfire and died, authorities said.The suspects fled before police got to the scene.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Investigation underway into I-880 shooting Crime and Public Safety | Oakland police investigating 50th homicide of 2023 Crime and Public Safety | Woman shot inside East Oakland apartment Crime and Public Safety | Fremont man gets 40 years to...

George and Martha Washington were early fans of ice cream at Mount Vernon

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:21:42 GMT

By Gretchen McKay, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteIce cream has been a quintessential summer treat for generations, whether you prefer a twist of soft-serve chocolate and vanilla on a cake cone or two scoops of gourmet mint chip stacked on a hand-rolled waffle.But back in the 18th century, the treat brought to America by the French was a rich man’s dessert.You can’t make ice cream without three key ingredients — ice, salt and sugar — that most colonial families simply could not afford. Ice required a separate icehouse to store chunks of ice cut on a nearby river or creek in winter. Sugar and salt were expensive commodities imported from the Caribbean. Colonial home cooks would also have to own at least one cow whose milk the family didn’t need to sell to make cream.Our nation’s first president — a wealthy man with a sizable enslaved community manning the house and gardens — was without those obstacles.The large number of “ice pots” used for holding ice cr...