GW COUNCIL APPROVES NEW WEED BIZ
Glenwood Springs—With a 6 to 1 vote last night, the Glenwood Springs City Council gave a thumbs-up to a new marijuana business. Osiris LLC will be located on Devereaux Road and will grow, manufacture and sell retail pot. The council’s vote upheld the approval of the city licensing officer Angela Ruff but not until after a lengthy debate between the owners and several opponents who say the city has enough marijuana shops. The owner, Spencer Schiffer, says he has gone above and beyond the necessary requirements and regulations to ensure his business will be good neighbor and an asset to the community. Schiffer hopes to be open for business next summer.
CLEAN AIR LAWSUIT CAUSING PROBLEMS
Denver—There’s quite a rift between Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and State Attorney General Cynthia Coffman over clean air regulations. The governor is at odds with Coffman for joining a lawsuit with other states challenging the EPA’s new set of clean air rules. Coffman says they’re illegal and a federal overreach. Hickenlooper supports the rules and has asked the Colorado Supreme Court to rule against Coffman. He says she can’t sue the United States Government without his permission. Coffman says she does have the right to file suits on behalf of the state.
WESTERN SLOPE COAL MINE DISPUTE
Gunnison—One of Western Colorado’s cleanest, most productive coal mines may not be able to expand it’s operations due to objections from the federal government. The U. S. Forest Service says allowing the North Fork Valley Mine to expand underground operations would cause over three billion dollars of environmental damage from the methane emissions over the next 40 years. The Forest Service initially exempted conservation provisions to allow mining but a federal judge threw out that permission because the agency didn’t fully consider the environmental impacts. The North Fork Valley Mine is a vital part of the Gunnison County economy and has long been ranked among the cleanest operations in the country.
CAUSE OF DURANGO SCHOOL BUS CRASH REVEALED
Durango—The driver who rolled a school bus full of kids down a 40-foot embankment near Durango earlier this week was reaching for his whistle to quiet down the loud passengers. According to Durango School District officials, video footage shows 64 year old William Farley going for his whistle when the bus tumbled down the hill, coming to rest on it’s wheels. Fortunately, only minor injuries were reported but Farley, who had been on the job for less than a week, was charged with careless driving. Farley says he loves the kids and regretted what happened.
