CU grad programs grab top 10 rankings
Several graduate programs at Colorado universities fared well in U.S. News & World Report rankings scheduled for release today.
Five graduate programs at the University of Colorado at Boulder – including three in the physics department – were rated in the top 10, CU said.
The physics specialty programs are atomic-molecular-optical physics, plasma physics and quantum physics. The other top 10 programs at CU-Boulder are environmental law and physical chemistry.
The physics department was ranked 16th in the nation, the law school 43rd and the chemistry program 24th.
The University of Denver’s law school jumped 25 places, from 95th to 70th, the highest ranking in the school’s history.
The results will appear in the 2007 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”
Man arrested in suspicious death
Douglas County sheriff’s investigators have arrested a man deemed a “person of interest” in the suspicious death of a woman found early Thursday near Parker.
Deputies were called about 3:50 a.m. to a Microtel Inn in the Parker area to conduct a welfare check and found the woman’s body.
Authorities did not identify her or the man they have in custody.
They also would not indicate a cause of death while the investigation is ongoing.
Thieves clean out laundry room coins
Coin machines in apartment complex laundry rooms near University Hill and downtown have been forced open and money stolen, police said.
Thieves have targeted washers and dryers 12 times since mid-February, and police think the crimes are related.
Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call Boulder police at 303-441-3333 or Boulder County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Natural gas explosion destroys one condo
A natural gas explosion and fire destroyed one condo and heavily damaged another near the Winter Park ski resort early Thursday, but no one was injured, authorities said.
No one was in the units, East Grand Fire Chief Todd Holz warth said.
Holzwarth said something ignited leaking gas in one of the units, causing the explosion, and subsequent fire damaged the other unit.
Ex-Bronco Rivers a Ch. 4 sports anchor
Former Denver Broncos player Reggie Rivers, a longtime Denver Post columnist, television talk-show host, author and frequent emcee at charity events, has been hired as weekend sports anchor by KCNC-Channel 4.
Station management said Thursday that Rivers will start his new position in mid-June.
The station has two other sports reporters, Vic Lombardi and Gary Miller. Rivers replaces Steve Atkinson, whose contract with the station ends in June.
Rivers, Lombardi and Miller also co-host the station’s “Countdown to Kickoff” show prior to NFL games on Sundays.
University calls off search for president
Laramie, Wyo. – The search for a University of Wyoming president was called off Thursday with a trustees’ vote that also kept Tom Buchanan as interim president.
There was no word on when – or if – the search process might resume.
The trustees decided to keep Buchanan through his current contract, which ends June 30, or when a new president is named. In the meantime, trustees planned to go ahead with an annual evaluation to assess Buchanan’s performance as interim president.
Buchanan was the only candidate left this week after the other two finalists bowed out.
Cleared store owner wants items returned
Gillette, Wyo. – Prosecutors refused to return items seized during a search of Hip Hop Hippie, two months after the store’s owner was acquitted of charges of selling drug paraphernalia.
Jeffrey Doles said prosecutors are not returning the merchandise from his store because they are angry about losing the case.
Officers confiscated more than 130 items of alleged drug paraphernalia on Aug. 10.
Two days later, Doles reopened the store with a larger inventory and was arrested. Police charged him with delivery of drug paraphernalia and two counts of possession of paraphernalia with intent to distribute.
Doles argued in court that the products had many legitimate uses, such as for smoking tobacco and tobacco alternatives. A jury found him not guilty.
Lawmakers OK concealed weapons
Lincoln, Neb. – Nebraska lawmakers approved a measure Thursday to allow Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons, which will make it the 48th state to allow people to pack hidden guns in some fashion.
The vote signaled the end of a 10-year effort to pass such a measure in Nebraska.
Gov. Dave Heineman has said he would sign the measure into law.
When he does, 40 states will have so-called “right to carry” laws, according to the National Rifle Association. Eight have limited concealed-weapons laws.
Illinois and Wisconsin do not allow concealed weapons.
The measure was sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Combs of Milligan, a member of the National Rifle Association.
“It’s just been a long haul,” she said. “A majority of Nebraska has spoken. It’s time to move on to the other important issues we have.”
Opponents argue that allowing concealed weapons will lead only to the potential for more violence.
The issue is one of personal liberty, Combs said. Those who want to carry a gun can, but those who don’t, won’t, she said.
