PILT FUNDS IN JEOPARDY
Undated—PILT funds are on the federal chopping block once again. The Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, which reimburses local, rural governments for losses where large amounts of un-taxable federal land are shared were excluded from the 1.1 trillion dollar spending bill. Western slope Congressman Scott Tipton voted against the bill over the PILT fund issue.
GLENWOOD CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Glenwood Springs—Accessory Dwelling Units….some people call them “mother-in-law quarters. Tonight, the Glenwood Springs City Council will discuss amending an ordinance to the building code regarding ADUs. The council will also consider a plan to rezone over 40 acres of the Kingdom Hall Subdivision on Airport Road to build 55 residential units. Tonight’s council meeting begins at 6.
WELFARE RECIPIENTS CAN STILL USE ATMs AT POT SHOPS
Denver—Food Stamp recipients will still be able to use their government-issued electronic benefit transfer cards at ATM pot shops in Colorado. A Democrat-controlled senate committee voted 3 to 2 against a Republican plan to ban the use of EBT cards at weed shop ATMs. The marijuana industry favored the Republican plan to add marijuana stores to the list of banned places that already includes casinos, gun shops and liquor stores. Supporters of the ban argue that people on welfare have no business using government money to buy weed.
FARMERS OF TAINTED CANTALOUPE TRYING TO AVOID JAIL
Denver—The Colorado brothers responsible for the tainted cantaloupe that caused a deadly listeria outbreak want to avoid going to prison. Eric and Ryan Jensen, former owners of Jensen Farms in Holly, are asking a federal judge for probation. 33 people died and 147 others were hospitalized across 28 states after eating the contaminated fruit. The Jensen farm was found to be unsanitary. Federal charges call for prison sentences of up to six years and one and a half million dollars in fines. The Jensen brothers will be sentenced January 28th.
