CONCERNED CITIZENS DISCUSS THOMPSON DIVIDE DRILLING
Glenwood Springs–A standing-room-only crowd jammed into the Garfield County Commissioner’s hearing room yesterday to voice concerns over possible drilling activity on the Thompson Divide. SG Interests of Houston, Texas has applied for two drilling permits in the divide area of Garfield County. The overwhelming sentiment from citizens was against drilling of any kind. People expressed concerns about environmental and human health risks.
COLORADO INSANITY PLEA CHALLENGED
Denver–It shouldn’t be so easy for accused murderers to cop an insanity plea according to some Colorado lawmakers. In a debate sparked by last summer’s massacre at the movie theater in Aurora, state lawmakers are considering a plan to make it tougher for defense attorneys to claim, “not guilty by reason of insanity” as has been done with theater shooting suspect James Holmes. Under current law, when an insanity plea is made, it becomes the burden of the prosecutor to prove otherwise. State lawmakers want to raise the bar a bit by making defense attorneys prove with clear, credible and convincing evidence that their client is indeed insane.
CHILD WELFARE HOTLINE
DENVER (AP) – Colorado officials are setting up a statewide telephone hotline for people to report child abuse and neglect. The reforms follow the deaths of 175 children under state supervision over the past six years. The state will also build a website where the public can see how county child welfare departments are faring at protecting children.