SLURRY BOMBERS IN SHORT SUPPLY FOR WILDFIRES
Undated–Attacking wildfires from the air this summer is going to be hindered because of government red tape. According to Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall, replacement air tankers may not be available due to budget disputes tying up federal funds. He says firefighting crews will probably have to get by with what they have for one more year which is a fleet of 10 air tankers that were used during the Korean War. Senator Udall says to help bolster the fleet he’s asking the Air Force to convert seven C-130 transport planes into makeshift air tankers.
COLORADO FORECLOSURES ON THE DECLINE
DENVER (AP) – The Colorado Division of Housing says new foreclosure auction sales were down 19 percent last year.
According to a report released Wednesday by the state agency, there were about 16,000 foreclosure auction sales, or completed foreclosures, reported during 2012. That’s down compared to more than 19,000 in 2011.
Division economist Ryan McMaken says when the figures are adjusted for new housing, foreclosure levels are almost back at 2005 levels.
COLORADO BUSINESS CLIMATE IMPROVING
DENVER (AP) – Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler says business filings were up in the last quarter of 2012. Gessler says that bodes well for sustained employment growth continuing well into this year.
The information was included in a Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report released Wednesday by the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder.
MOVIE THEATER VICTIMS, FAMILIES TO RECEIVE GRANT
DENVER (AP) – The U.S. Department of Justice is awarding a $2.9 million grant for support services for victims of the Aurora theater shootings. The department’s Office for Victims of Crime announced the three-year grant Wednesday. The Colorado Department of Public Safety will administer the grant. Funding will be provided to agencies including the Arapahoe County district attorney’s office, the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, Aurora Mental Health Center, Denver and Aurora police and the Jefferson and Arapahoe County sheriffs’ departments. The Justice Department says more than 1,500 people were victims of the shooting, including those killed or wounded and their families, others who were in the theater complex, people who were evacuated after booby traps were found in the suspect’s apartment and emergency personnel who responded to the theater.
