Snow, wind likely in upper elevations
Another spring storm was expected to bring 8 to 16 inches of snow today in upper elevations in north-central Colorado, leading to slick, windy driving conditions for weekend travelers.
The mountain area near Steamboat Springs was expected to get the most snow, but parts of Jackson, Grand, Larimer and Boulder counties above 9,000 feet, including Rocky Mountain National Park, were warned to expect heavy snow and winds, too.
A winter storm warning was in effect through 6 p.m. today for elevations above 8,000 feet on the Western Slope.
Wind gusts could reach 60 mph, the National Weather Service said. A winter weather advisory was in effect for the Aspen and Vail areas, including Vail Pass through 6 p.m..
On Saturday, unstable air brought severe thunderstorms, rain and hail in northeast Colorado and parts of the Denver area. Dime-size hail was reported in Brighton and Larimer County.
Man’s slaying leads to arrest of teen
A teenage girl was arrested Thursday for investigation of murder after a man, who police believe was her boyfriend, was found shot Thursday morning in an apartment in the 13000 block of West Cedar Drive.
The victim has been identified as Samuel Stanczyk, 26.
Police believe Stanczyk and his 17-year-old girlfriend had gotten into a fight. The name of the girl was not released because she is a juvenile. The girl faces a first-degree murder charge and is being held in a juvenile detention facility.
State benefits backlog persists despite court
Despite what it calls a “commitment to continue resolving those problems,” the state still has a backlog of nearly 10,000 applications for food stamps, children’s health insurance, and medical and other benefits for needy and disabled Coloradans.
In a court document filed Friday, state officials reported that 9,644 cases were backlogged, up slightly from the February total of 9,521.
Widespread problems with a computer system for processing and distributing benefits have dogged the state since the system debuted Sept. 1.
As a result of a lawsuit, the state is under court order to reduce the backlog, and must make periodic reports to the court on its progress.
Multiagency drug probe nets 19 arrests
Nineteen people have been arrested and accused of taking part in distributing a host of drugs including methamphetamine and oxycodone in Larimer County, authorities said.
During a four-month investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency seized 7.9 pounds of cocaine, 3.1 pounds of methamphetamine, 12 ounces of heroin and an undetermined number of Ecstasy and oxycodone tablets, according to the DEA.
The accused were arrested between January and April. Along with the drugs, law enforcement seized 10 handguns, two marijuana-cultivation operations and a nonoperational methamphetamine lab.
Wildlife group honors Roan Plateau activist
An environmental activist who works to preserve the Roan Plateau has been named by the Colorado Wildlife Federation as conservationist of the year, marking the ever-closer relationship between the “hook and bullet” crowd and the green community.
Clare Bastable of the Colorado Mountain Club was scheduled to receive the award in Denver on Saturday night at the wildlife conservation group’s annual dinner, which also was to honor Denver Post outdoors writer Charlie Meyers.
“We may come at it from different perspectives, but we all want the same thing in the end – balance,” Bastable said of the liaisons she has formed with sportsmen’s groups in protecting the Roan Plateau.
