Gov. Bill Owens became Colorado’s modern-day veto king on Tuesday when he killed four more bills, raising his veto tally to 28 for this legislative session.
The previous record for recent governors was 27 by Gov. Roy Romer in 1997.
The vetoes continue Owens’ trend to protect corporate interests from changes in state law. With this batch of vetoes, Owens prevented changes to laws regarding liability on construction projects, campaign contributions by certain types of businesses, and building standards that require affordable-housing projects to be accessible to visitors with disabilities.
The fourth veto killed a bill that would have blocked restrictions on Xeriscaping in some housing developments. Owens chided the legislature for ignoring reports that the bill would cost the state $1 million. “Legislative wishes and hopes do not erase fiscal reality,” the governor wrote in his veto message.
Owens, however, will sign a bill today to let voters decide whether the state should sell as much as $1.2 billion in municipal bonds to repair highways.
DENVER
Council sets aside cash for deputy raises
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to reserve $2.3 million for raises for sheriff’s deputies.
In March, an arbitrator awarded the 720 Denver deputies represented by the Fraternal Order of Police raises of 2 percent this year, 3 percent next year and 4 percent in 2007. The city had offered a cumulative 6 percent over the same span.
The city calculated the gap between the proposals at $3.7 million. The union estimated it at $1.7 million. The $2.3 million the city will set aside represents a rough midpoint.
PARKER
Teen found dead suffered overdose
Police have identified the body of the 17-year-old boy found in a vacant lot in Parker over the weekend.
Samuel Martin Lykins died of a drug overdose, Parker police spokeswoman Kena Peterson said.
A man walking his dog stumbled upon the body Saturday. Lykins lived near the field. Toxicology reports were pending.
MOUNTAINS
Weekend traffic sets tunnel record
The Eisenhower Tunnel set a usage record during the four- day Memorial Day weekend.
From 12:01 a.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday, 131,796 vehicles traveled through the tunnel, the highest Memorial Day weekend volume in its 33-year history, the Colorado Department of Transportation said.
DENVER
Suspect in 15 heists at banks is arrested
A man suspected of robbing 15 banks in the metro area was arrested Saturday by Denver police and the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force.
Richard Lee Canada was arrested at the Ramada Inn at 1150 E. Colfax Ave. after police received a complaint about drugs at the motel.
Canada had several federal warrants for robbery and violating parole at the time of his arrest.
The perpetrator had been described as a tall man who robbed banks by presenting a note that said he was armed.
SUMMIT COUNTY
EPA seeks to recoup mine cleanup costs
The Environmental Protection Agency filed a complaint in federal court Tuesday seeking repayment of more than $2.5 million it spent to clean up runoff from a Summit County mining site as well as future cleanup costs.
The EPA asserts that companies running the Wellington Oro site, about 2 miles upstream from the confluence of French Creek and the Blue River, failed to clean up hazardous substances leaching into the waterways.
Studies had shown pollution from zinc and cadmium, among other heavy metals. Named as defendants are B&B Mines; French Gulch Mines; Diamond Dick Co.; Eckert Patch Co; Little Lizzie Co.; and Wire Patch Co.
DENVER
Appeals court allows suit against Campbell
A federal appeals court refused Tuesday to dismiss a ruling that allowed a woman to sue former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell for alleged age discrimination, even though the Colorado Republican is no longer in office.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request by Campbell to vacate its December ruling that sided with former aide Rita Bastien, who sued Campbell’s office, claiming she was treated differently from younger staffers and fired because of her age in 2001.
Campbell, 72, did not run for re-election last year, citing health reasons. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., won the vacant seat.
FORT COLLINS
CSU scientist predicts bad hurricane season
This year’s Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be a bad one, with a 77 percent chance that at least one intense hurricane will strike the U.S. coast, according to a Colorado State University research group.
Hurricane season begins today, and CSU hurricane expert William Gray said he expects 15 named storms to form in the Atlantic, with about eight of those strengthening into hurricanes. Four will become “intense” hurricanes, with winds stronger than 111 mph, Gray predicted.
On Monday, NASA launched an Internet resource page on hurricane research: www.nasa.gov/hurricane.
MESA COUNTY
Woman found after 3 days in wilderness
A woman who spent three days in rocky wilderness in western Colorado without any food or water after an argument with her ex-husband was found Tuesday afternoon.
Laurilee Anne Luebke, 36, was dehydrated and possibly suffering from heat stroke when she was found by Mesa County Search and Rescue teams in an area called Horse Mesa south of Grand Junction, sheriff’s spokeswoman Susan McBurney said.
Luebke was driving with her ex-husband in the area Saturday morning. They apparently had an argument, the woman got out of the car, and the couple became separated, McBurney said.
DENVER
Homeless women have new shelter
A new five-bed shelter for homeless women will be dedicated today by the Denver Roman Catholic Archdiocese and the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa’s religious order.
The facility is not a new building but part of Seton House, an existing home for destitute AIDS patients.
The new program, called the Gift of Mary, is targeting women in need of emergency shelter, such as victims of domestic abuse, said Sergio Gutierrez, archdiocese spokesman.
