Business, civic leaders call for scrapping term limits
The Colorado Economic Futures Panel, a group of 16 business and civic leaders studying the state’s fiscal condition, plans to issue a final report today that calls for the elimination of term limits for elected officials.
Voters approved term limits for statehouse officials in 1990.
The panel also calls for state and local agencies to set up websites that would allow citizens to review more closely how government is spending taxpayer money.
The panel, which began conducting its review in December 2004 under the auspices of the University of Denver, released a report in August that said Colorado’s patchwork of state and local government agencies cannot easily adapt to changing economic conditions.
WASHINGTON
Campbell decides not to run for governor
After strongly considering a run for Colorado governor, former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell has decided against it, an aide said Tuesday.
“He gave it very serious thought,” said Campbell spokeswoman Kate Dando, who moved with him to the law firm of Holland & Knight, where Campbell is a “senior policy adviser” in the Indian affairs section of the firm’s lobbying division.
“As time went on, he decided he was enjoying his new challenges,” Dando said.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Suspect identified in Broncos VIP scam
The Mountain View Police Department has identified a suspect in several cases in which a man has sold fake Denver Broncos VIP passes. The suspect’s identity and photograph are being withheld to allow police to conduct photo lineups.
Police asked Tuesday that anyone who has been a victim or knows about the ticket scam to contact the Mountain View Police Department at 720-641-5667.
Victims usually have been contacted in dark bars and offered the opportunity to buy the VIP tickets for cash, police said. The suspect has identified himself as “J” or Jason and has told those buying the tickets that he is a Clear Channel radio station promoter. Clear Channel has told police he is not an employee.
ADAMS COUNTY
Deputy accused of stealing cellphone
An Adams County sheriff’s deputy has received a misdemeanor summons for allegedly stealing a cellphone.
Jerry Yang, 31, was issued the summons Tuesday. Authorities said the deputy took a cellphone without permission and inserted a piece of hardware in the phone so that it was configured for him. He has been placed on leave with pay.
CASTLE ROCK
Ex-teacher gets prison for sex with student
A former high school social studies teacher will spend two years in prison and 10 years in a sexual-offender probation program under a plea agreement entered in court Tuesday on charges stemming from an affair that she had with a 16-year-old student.
In a plea agreement, Nicole Barnhart, 35, a married mother of children ages 4 and 7, pleaded guilty to felony sexual assault on a child and felony criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child.
“Technically, given all of the charges, she could’ve served the rest of her life in prison. But this is what we offered. This is what we felt was appropriate,” prosecutor Darian Vahle told KMGH-TV.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.
Colo. plane found, body recovered
The wreckage of a small plane that was flying from Colorado to Arizona last weekend was found Tuesday and a body was recovered, authorities said.
The Arizona Civil Air Patrol and the state Division of Emergency Management launched a search for a single-engine Cessna on Saturday when the plane disappeared off radar.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
Broadcast tower site discussions to resume
Officials of the city of Golden and Lake Cedar Group, a consortium of local TV stations that wants to build a “super” broadcast tower on Lookout Mountain, have agreed to negotiate, but they are at odds over what they would discuss.
Golden officials have offered $1.68 million for the 65-acre tower site to acquire the land for open space. On Dec. 15, the city gave the consortium 14 days to reach agreement or the city would pursue acquisition through condemnation.
In response, Lake Cedar Group, which failed in September to receive county rezoning approval, said in a Dec. 28 letter that it would be willing to discuss Golden’s objectives of preserving the mountain backdrop and preservation of open space. The group stated that its tower proposal would meet those goals and that condemnation would be “improper and unlawful.”
