GRAND JUNCTION(AP) – A judge in Grand Junction has ordered a man jailed without bond pending retrial in his wife’s shooting death.After Michael Blagg’s conviction was thrown out last year, Judge David Bottger had ruled the case had reverted to its pretrial status, including the reinstatement of a $500,000 bail. Monday, Bottger said he had erred and was now ordering Blagg held without bond. Blagg was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2004 in the 2001 death of Jennifer Blagg. The judge later determined a juror lied when she said she had never experienced domestic violence because she wanted to sit in judgment of Blagg. The Blaggs’ 6-year-old daughter was reported missing in 2002 and is presumed dead. No charges were filed in her disappearance.
DENVER (AP) – A Colorado bill to allow medical marijuana use by people on probation or parole is on its way to the governor’s desk. Colorado has allowed medical marijuana use for 15 years, but not by people on probation or parole. A bill that passed the senate 34-1 Monday would change that policy so those with permission to use marijuana for medical purposes wouldn’t be charged with violating parole or probation. The bill has already passed in the House. Legislative analysts who conducted research for the bill didn’t know how many people have been cited for violating parole or probation after failing a marijuana-related drug test.
DENVER (AP) – The board of directors of Connect for Health Colorado says a top aide is leaving the governor’s office to lead Colorado’s health insurance exchange. In a statement today, the board said Kevin Patterson will resign as Gov. John Hickenlooper chief administrative officer to become interim chief executive officer of Colorado’s Health Insurance Marketplace. Patterson succeeds Gary Drews, who also had been interim, since August. The board says it chose a second interim leader as it reviews the CEO search process with legislators. Colorado has avoided problems associated with other state exchanges. But a limited December state audit report noted a lack of adequate financial controls and said more than $30 million in payments and contracts lacked proper documentation or procedural controls. Lawmakers have called for broader reviews.
