State House Speaker Andrew Romanoff called for a “cease-fire” Sunday in the battle over the voter-approved ethics measure that has divided lawmakers, politicians and government watchdogs.
Romanoff, D-Denver, said two groups with different interpretations of what lawmakers can do to clarify Amendment 41 have agreed that the Colorado Supreme Court should be asked for guidance on clarifying parts of the amendment.
A joint resolution would ask the court whether the legislature has the authority to clarify parts of the measure.
Romanoff and leaders of Colorado Common Cause and the Colorado League of Women Voters also threw their support behind House Bill 1304, which would also work to clarify the amendment.
Amendment 41 prohibits lawmakers from taking anything from lobbyists and bans government workers and their families from receiving gifts worth more than $50 in most instances. The law’s language has been called vague by many public officials.
Absent from the news conference, however, were sponsors of Senate Bill 188, which would implement the amendment largely as written.
“The language in question is as clear as can be,” said Sen. Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs.
FREDERICK
Councilman’s son stabbed to death
A 17-year-old boy killed in a stabbing over the weekend was the son of a Dacono City Council member.
The boy was pronounced dead at 3:33 a.m. Saturday, according to a police report. Dacono Councilman Tom McCune confirmed the victim was his son, Kyle.
Frederick police officers responded to a stabbing report at 2:25 a.m. Saturday at a couple’s home and found the teen with a wound to the chest.
They arrested Brodie Levi Clayton, 18, of Lochbuie as part of their investigation.
Tom McCune said police gave him no information about his son’s death.
LONGMONT
Teen arrested after buddy shot in head
A 17-year-old boy accidentally shot a 16-year-old friend in the head while at a party at a Super 8 Motel, police said.
The victim initially told police he was wounded in a drive-by shooting by members of a rival gang, according to police.
Gang-unit officers began investigating and learned that the victim was actually shot accidentally while drinking with five friends at the motel, police said.
The 17-year-old pulled a gun from his pocket in the motel room. The boy went to place the gun on a nightstand when it went off, police said.
The friends put the victim in the car and drove him to Longmont United Hospital.
Police said they arrested the shooting suspect at his job on suspicion of second-degree assault, possession of a handgun by a previous offender and possession of a handgun by a juvenile.
He was booked into the Boulder County Juvenile Detention Center.
BRECKENRIDGE
Infant dies, slept in same bed as parents
A 19-day-old baby was found dead Sunday morning in a Breckenridge condo by parents sleeping in the same bed.
The parents, both 25, are from Westminster and had been attending a family reunion in Breckenridge since Friday, officials said.
Authorities said it is a possible the baby died from sleeping in the same bed as adults.
An autopsy is scheduled today.
VAIL
Teen on snowmobile dies after hitting tree
A 14-year-old boy from Highlands Ranch died Sunday after hitting a tree while snowmobiling near Vail Pass.
The boy was staying with his family in Vail over the weekend and was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, officials said.
The crash is being ruled an accident, with the cause of death a massive head injury.
The boy was not identified Sunday.
AURORA
Pedestrian hit by car while crossing street
A woman was seriously injured when she was struck by a car while crossing East Mississippi Avenue in Aurora on Saturday night.
The incident happened at 7:42 p.m. in the 14500 block of East Mississippi Avenue.
The victim, whose name was not released, was not in the crosswalk when the driver of a Saturn sedan hit her, police said.
Police identified the driver as 38-year-old Lynn Ann Trudell of Aurora. She was not injured.
Trudell saw the woman crossing the street but was unable to stop in time, police said.
