DENVER (AP) – A state Senate committee has passed a bill to modernize Colorado’s Open Records Act – but left intact a provision that could prove troublesome for the legislation. The Appropriations Committee voted 4-3 Tuesday to refer the bill to the Senate floor for debate. But it kept an amendment subjecting the state judiciary to the bill; courts have exempted the judiciary branch from CORA.
GRAND JUNCTION (AP) – Spills related to oil and gas development are down for the second straight year in Colorado amid a slowdown in drilling according to an analysis of state data by the conservation group Center for Western Priorities. The group found there were 509 spills reported last year compared with 615 in 2015 and 712 in 2014, the first year for stricter reporting requirements. Weld County had the most spills reported last year at 246.
DENVER (AP) – Newly released figures show Colorado remained among the top states for job growth last year, although the pace of hiring has slowed. The State Department of Labor released statistics showing Colorado’s unemployment rate was 2.8 percent last month.
DENVER (AP) – Gov. John Hickenlooper is rejecting calls for an independent investigation of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment breath testing protocol amid claims of forgery by a former worker. Former lab worker Mike Barnhill says his signature was repeatedly forged on documents certifying the accuracy of breath testing machines.
