NEW GLENWOOD MAYOR CHOSEN
Glenwood Springs–Leo McKinney is no longer the Mayor-Pro Tem of Glenwood Springs. Last night, McKinney was handed the gavel and traded seats with Matt Steckler after a 4 to 3 council vote. Ted Edmonds was elected Mayor Pro Tem after being nominated by Todd Leahy. McKinney says he appreciates the support but hopes one day the mayor will be selected by a public vote rather than the council.
DNA TESTING FOR MISDEMEANORS
DENVER (AP) – An expansion of DNA collection for people convicted of some misdemeanors in Colorado got initial approval in a House committee despite concerns from lawmakers. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee yesterday after several lawmakers expressed misgivings. They indicated their votes could change later. The bill would apply only in criminal misdemeanors, like some assaults or theft.
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IN COLORADO
DENVER (AP) – The Colorado Senate plans to debate some big health care changes today, including a proposal to become one of the first states in the nation with universal health care. The proposal by a Denver Democrat would have Colorado abandon Medicaid and Medicare entirely and move forward with single-payer health care. A 9 percent payroll tax would be required to pay for the ambitious plan, tried in no other state. The universal health care proposal faces long odds.
NORAD REACTS TO NUKE POSSIBILITIES FROM N. KOREA
WASHINGTON (AP) – A new Pentagon report says North Korea probably has nuclear weapons that can be launched by ballistic missile, although it says the weapons are not very reliable. The assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency was revealed yesterday by Colorado Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. Lamborn read what he said was an unclassified section of a classified report. A congressional official says the report was done last month.
ANOTHER SUSPECT LINKED TO MURDER OF STATE PRISONS CHIEF
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) – Authorities say a second white supremacist prison gang member whose name surfaced during an investigation into the killing of Colorado’s prisons chief has been arrested. El Paso County sheriff’s officials say Colorado Springs authorities arrested Thomas Guolee around 5:30 last night. He was being held without bail for a parole violation. Investigators have said Guolee isn’t a suspect in the shooting death of Colorado Department of Corrections head Tom Clements, but his name and that of fellow 211 Crew member James Lohr came up during the investigation due to ties to suspect Evan Ebel.
