ONE DEAD IN ATV ACCIDENT NEAR DEBEQUE
Debeque—One man was killed and another was seriously hurt when their all terrain vehicles crashed yesterday north of Debeque. According to information from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, the man who died at the scene was in his 50’s and the injured man taken to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction is 19. Officials have not released any names or hometowns. It’s not known if either man was wearing a helmet.
TWO OHIO WOMEN KILLED AFTER CRASH IN FRYINGPAN RIVER
Basalt—The two Columbus, Ohio women who died Saturday after crashing into the Fryingpan River were on a sightseeing tour of Colorado together. The bodies of 64 year old Kristina Herron and 71 year old Yvonne Honybrink were pulled from the river late Saturday afternoon. Colorado State Patrol Sergeant Rob Madden says whoever was driving the brand new Kia Sedona lost control after the front tire went off the edge of the road. Madden isn’t sure when the accident occurred but a fisherman on the Fryingpan saw parts of the vehicle float by before the crash was actually reported. A bicyclist reported seeing the submerged SUV Saturday afternoon.
STATE SUPREME COURT TO WEIGH IN ON FRACKING
Denver—Should local governments be able to ban fracking? The three-year debate may finally be settled once and for all by the Colorado Supreme Court. Today, the state’s high court agreed to hear cases from Longmont and Fort Collins who’s voters approved bans on fracking. Longmont citizens called for a permanent ban while Fort Collins voters approved a five year moratorium. The Colorado Oil and Gas Association challenged the bans in court saying regulations should be left under the state’s control, specifically, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Fracking opponents are concerned about the health and environmental effects. The industry says it’s safe.
COLORADO HIGH COURT REJECTS HEARING ON PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING
Denver—A challenge to public school funding in Colorado was abruptly rejected by the Colorado Supreme Court today. The state’s high court sent the lawsuit to a lower court with instructions to throw it out. The case dealt with an amendment to the state constitution that requires lawmakers to increase “base per pupil funding” every year. The amendment was approved by voters in 2000 and has been a budgetary nightmare. When the recession hit Colorado in 2010, lawmakers had to resort to tricky accounting to comply with the amendment’s requirements and still balance the budget.
