Court affirms demotion of degree-less DIA exec
The Colorado Court of Appeals on Thursday affirmed the demotion of a former deputy manager of Denver International Airport, saying an administrative review properly found that her lack of a college degree disqualified her from the position.
Amy Bourgeron, who served as the airport’s deputy manager for five years, was ordered out of the $107,000-a-year job by the city’s Career Service Board in 2003.
Former Mayor Wellington Webb appointed Bourgeron deputy manager of aviation in 1998. In February 2003, she was hired as a Career Service employee, which granted her civil-service job protections beyond the reach of a new mayor.
A Denver district judge affirmed a hearing officer’s decision to revoke Bourgeron’s hiring based on her lack of a college degree, and she appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals.
In its ruling, a three-judge panel said that under city hiring rules, high-level executive employees must have a college degree, and the deputy manager post was defined as a high-level executive position.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Areas closed to let elk bugle, mate in peace
Rocky Mountain National Park officials have closed areas of the park to prevent disturbance and harassment of elk during their fall mating season.
Areas in Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow are closed to foot traffic and horseback riders off established roadways from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Oct. 26.
Fishing in the Fall River, Thompson River or Colorado River within the posted areas is also prohibited.
As always, elk calling and the use of spotlights or vehicle headlights for spotting wildlife is prohibited in the park.
DENVER
2 hit downtown by SUV severely injured
Two pedestrians were hit by a sport utility vehicle Thursday afternoon at the busy downtown intersection of Colfax Avenue and Broadway, shutting down traffic for hours.
Police did not identify the two men struck by the vehicle but said that their injuries were severe and that they were rushed to nearby Denver Health Medical Center.
The men were struck by a silver SUV traveling south about 3:50 p.m. when they tried to cross Broadway.
Broadway and Colfax were taped off, and traffic was diverted, causing backups at one of the busiest intersections in Denver.
DENVER
Iowa governor stumps for Gordon
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack came to Denver on Thursday to raise money for Ken Gordon’s campaign for secretary of state.
The fundraiser was held at the Denver Dry Goods Tea Room, a downtown loft owned by Rutt and Annie Bridges. The goal was to raise $100 a person.
Vilsack said he has created the Heartland political action committee to help raise money for secretary-of-state candidates in four states and also in Florida, where the secretary of state is appointed by the governor.
Vilsack, on the short list as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2008, said the group’s other targeted secretary-of-state races are in Minnesota, Ohio and Nevada.
Gordon has boasted that he doesn’t accept contributions from political action committees, but Vilsack said his organization’s website directs potential donors to Gordon’s campaign.
Gordon, a Democrat, is the state Senate majority leader. Republican Mike Coffman, the state treasurer, and Rick VanWie, a paralegal and the Green Party candidate, are also running for the post in November.
DURANGO, DIVIDE
Towns named among top places to live, play
National Geographic Kids magazine has named two Colorado towns – Durango and Divide – among the 31 best places to live and play in the country.
Durango, described as a great base for hiking, climbing, biking and skiing, was named top “outdoor mecca.”
Divide, described as a great mountain town of 5,000 only 45 minutes from Colorado Springs, was named one of the action- filled small towns.
COLORADO SPRINGS
CU campus to offer doctorate in nursing
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will offer a new doctorate-of-nursing- practice degree beginning next summer.
The CU Board of Regents unanimously approved the new doctorate Thursday during a meeting in Boulder.
The degree will be offered by the Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
In October 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing called for a transformation in nursing education and recommended as its new standard the doctorate-of-nursing- practice degree. The new standard is expected to be in place by 2014.
Students in the program will be expected to complete a master’s degree and will receive additional training in an advanced practice specialty that allows them to be certified by state and national boards.
DENVER
Feds drop charges in forced-labor case
Federal charges are being dropped against a Saudi Arabian man already convicted in state court of sexual assault and keeping a female worker as a virtual slave for four years in his Aurora home.
Homaidan Al-Turki, 37, was sentenced in Arapahoe County last week to 28 years to life in prison. He was found guilty June 30 of forcing a 24-year-old Indonesian housekeeper to cook, clean and take care of the family with little pay, and of sexually assaulting her.
The decision to drop federal charges of forced labor and harboring an illegal immigrant “is based on the fact that … the defendant has received a substantial prison sentence,” said Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Denver.
In a court filing Thursday, federal prosecutors also said they wanted to spare the victim the ordeal of another trial.
Al-Turki, a linguist, has denied wrongdoing, and his attorneys have said they plan to appeal.
DENVER
115 schools serving all students breakfast
More than 100 Denver schools are serving breakfast to all students – regardless of income – in a program that started this year, officials said Thursday.
Denver Public Schools leaders say they hope the program – which was expanded from a six- school pilot – will give kids a “healthy start to the day.”
The program was expanded to all students in 115 schools that served breakfast anyway.
Many of the schools – elementary, middle and high – have among the highest rates of poverty in the city, and the majority of their students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
