FROM THE KMTS NEWSROOM… (02/03/2011)

The Glenwood Springs, Burning Mountain and Rifle fire departments could one day consolidate services in the valley. The Glenwood Springs City Council will talk about taking part in a feasibility study during
tonight’s meeting. Tourism promotion and the community garden are also on the agenda. The meeting begins at 7.
Veterans in the Roaring Fork Valley can now speak face-to-face with a benefits counselor thanks to a new video conferencing system. The
secure program, run by the VA’s regional office in Denver will allow veterans with difficult cases to resolve issues close to home at the
Glenwood Springs Telehealth Clinic on South Grand Avenue.
January was pretty dry in Colorado. State officials say the snowpack took a big hit dropping from 136 percent of the 30 year average to 117 percent.
Photo ID’s would be required to vote in Colorado under a bill that’s strongly favored by Republicans. The measure was
approved by a house committee 5 to 4 on a party-line vote. Democrats say the bill is unnecessary.
DENVER (AP) – Several elected Coloradans are supporting Interior
Secretary Ken Salazar’s order making millions of undeveloped acres
of land once again eligible for federal wilderness protection.
Seventy people signed a letter Thursday thanking Salazar for his
order in December reversing a Bush-era policy. They include more
than two dozen Democrats in the state Legislature. Some
commissioners of Costilla, Pitkin, La Plata, San Miguel, Summit,
Clear Creek and Boulder counties, plus city council members and
mayors from around the state also signed it.
They say wild lands that support activities like hunting are an
economic engine.
However some ranchers, those with ties to mining and energy
development, and others worry that taking public land out of
production would hurt other parts of the economy.

DENVER (AP) – Who doesn’t hate car registration fees? Colorado’s
drivers have been paying – and complaining about – higher tag fees
and late registration penalties for the last two years to pay for
road improvements.
Republicans have vowed to tackle the unpopular FASTER fees
passed in 2009. A committee in the Republican House on Thursday
took the first steps, voting to ratchet back higher late fees that
raise some $25 million a year for transportation projects.
Republicans say to expect more attempts to chip away at the
unpopular fees.
But with the state facing another year of budget shortfalls, and
many state roads and bridges in need of repair, what are the
prospects for getting rid of the fees? Not likely, Democrats say.

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