Bid to let gays register as domestic partners on ballot
The secretary of state’s office Thursday said proponents of an initiative that would allow gay couples to register as domestic partners had gathered enough valid voters’ signatures to win a spot on the November ballot.
It was the eighth and final proposed ballot initiative to be submitted to the secretary of state that was qualified for the ballot, the office said.
The domestic-partnerships proposal will appear on the ballot as Amendment 45. It would add a provision to the state constitution.
The secretary of state’s office said that of the 141,642 signatures submitted, more than 97,500 were projected to be valid based on a sample of 5 percent of the signatures. Initiatives this year needed 67,829 valid voters’ signatures to make it to the ballot.
On Wednesday, the secretary of state’s office certified Amendment 44, which would legalize the possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana by people 21 and older. Proponents had submitted 130,815 signatures, and analysis of 5 percent of them projected 79,758 were valid.
AURORA
Man killed by police in shooting identified
A man who was fatally shot by police Sunday when he approached them with a knife has been identified as Mark E. Taylor, 46.
Police spokesman Marcus Dudley said no further information will be released in connection with the incident at the Boll-E-Ana Motel parking lot, 12016 E. Colfax Ave.
Sixteen rounds were fired by three officers as the suspect moved toward them. The officers are on paid administrative leave.
Taylor was described by police as an escapee from a community-service program where he was serving time for assault.
DENVER
House surrounded in futile hunt for robber
Denver SWAT team members surrounded a house Thursday afternoon after a bank robber ran from an off-duty police officer, authorities say.
A man robbed a Bank of the West branch at 7995 E. Hampden Ave. about 1:40 p.m. and drove away, said Virginia Quiñones, Denver police spokeswoman.
An off-duty police officer saw the robber in a stolen white Dodge Neon and followed him in his own car, Quiñones said.
The Neon stopped in an alley, and when the suspect saw the officer get out of his car, he ran to a house in the 600 block of South Pennsylvania Street, she said.
Officers searched the home but could not find the suspect.
DENVER
Six honored by Huntington’s Society
A foundation and four Colorado residents who did outstanding work to help fight Huntington’s disease received awards Thursday night.
First Data Western Union Foundation, American Furniture Warehouse president Jake Jabs, Denver Post Editor Greg Moore and his wife, Nina, and Colorado Expression publisher Terry Vitale received the 2006 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Colorado chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.
Actress Jessica Biel received the Special Hope Award.
Huntington’s disease is a neurological disorder that results in uncontrolled movements and loss of mental function.
The ceremony was held in the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
DURANGO
Felled tree kills logger on Missionary Ridge
A logger was killed by a tree felled by a fellow logger Wednesday on fire-damaged Missionary Ridge.
Authorities did not release the victim’s name.
Dave Imming, a Durango Fire & Rescue Authority spokesman, said the victim suffered massive trauma.
Investigator Pat Downs of the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office said the victim was struck by a tree that another logger had cut down.
The logging crew had a contract with the U.S. Forest Service to remove trees to make the road safe in the 2002 burn area.
He did not identify the logging company.
RIFLE
Chemical in drink kills factory worker
A Rifle metalworker has died after drinking what he thought was an energy drink. It was a highly toxic liquid.
The death of 53-year-old Frank Gabossi occurred Aug. 6, two days after he drank the liquid at an Old Snowmass work site.
Ron Ryan, investigator for the Pitkin County sheriff, said Gabossi was working on a metal staircase when he picked up a Gatorade bottle and drank.
The bottle contained a chemical used to age metal.
He immediately spit it out and was hospitalized.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the job-site safety practices of Pitkin Iron, the Glenwood Springs company where Gabossi worked.
CASPER
Firefighters gaining on 11,000-acre blaze
Crews made progress Thursday toward containing a wildfire that had forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes south of Casper.
Bill Crapser, Wyoming state forester, said Thursday evening that the number of firefighters on the scene had steadily increased to more than 400.
He said weather forecasters were calling for cooler conditions today, which should help suppression efforts.
“I guess we’ll say we’re guardedly optimistic,” Crapser said. “But nobody’s willing to celebrate quite yet. The wind has done enough strange things to us the last couple of days.”
The fire grew to a little more than 11,000 acres – more than 17 square miles – by Thursday evening, Crapser said. That’s up from a reported 10,000 acres Thursday morning.
“We had a little bit of growth from the northeast corner this afternoon,” he said, adding that winds had gusted up to 50 mph.
The fire was classified as 30 percent contained Thursday morning, but Crapser said he expected that figure to rise to about 50 percent containment by Thursday evening.
The fire was about 5 miles south of Casper – Wyoming’s second-largest city near the center of the state.
Two large helicopters that can dump water directly on flames arrived Wednesday, bringing to seven the total number of helicopters on the fire. Tanker planes were called in to drop fire retardant.
The fire, which authorities say was caused by lightning, was first reported Monday.
