Lawyers group says judge erred in Nacchio case
A judge erred in barring a defense expert witness while allowing two similar experts for the prosecution, according to a national lawyers group that filed documents Tuesday supporting former Qwest chief Joe Nacchio’s appeal of his criminal conviction.
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, in its “friend of the court” filing, said the move allowed government experts to be “effectively unchallenged.”
Allowing Nacchio’s conviction to stand would “create an uneven playing field, especially in complex criminal trials such as white-collar cases, in which experts are increasingly important,” according to the document.
U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Jeff Dorschner said prosecutors were not immediately available for comment.
Best Buy pulls plug on analog TVs
MINNEAPOLIS — Best Buy Co., the largest U.S. consumer-electronics retailer, stopped selling analog televisions this month before the transition to digital broadcasts in 2009.
The company is the first national retailer to pull analog TVs from its shelves. It will stock digital-TV converter boxes starting in 2008, the company said in a statement.
Colo. casinos see 4.6% boost
LAKEWOOD — Colorado’s mountain casinos posted a 4.6 percent increase in revenue in September, according to data released Wednesday by the Division of Gaming.
The state’s casinos recorded adjusted gross proceeds – which is total bets minus payouts – of $73 million last month, up from $69.8 million in September 2006.
Black Hawk’s 20 casinos had revenue of $51.4 million; Cripple Creek’s 17 casinos posted $14.3 million; and Central City’s six casinos had $7.3 million.
GPS satellite goes up CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. — A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket has launched a U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System Block IIR satellite built by Lockheed Martin.
Wednesday morning’s launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station was Centennial-based United Launch Alliance’s ninth mission this year. Air Force Space Command’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base near Colorado Springs manages and operates the GPS constellation, which emit navigation signals.
Space competition launched GOLDEN — The Eighth Continent Project announced it is taking entries from university students for its Lunar Ventures New Enterprise Competition.
The competition, which challenges students in business, engineering and science to develop business ventures related to space commerce, offers prizes including a $25,000 cash award and venture startup services.
The Lunar Ventures final rounds will be held March 28-30 at the Colorado School of Mines.
Information is at .
Oil futures slide back NEW YORK — Oil futures retreated from a record $89 a barrel Wednesday, ending lower after government data showing larger-than-expected gas and oil supplies outweighed worries about tension in northern Iraq.
Light, sweet crude for November delivery fell 21 cents to settle at $87.40 a barrel on the Nymex. It was crude’s first price decline in 7 sessions.
Tiffany & Co. to go smaller NEW YORK — Tiffany & Co., the world’s second-largest luxury-jewelry retailer, said it will open more stores in the U.S. using a smaller format that targets shoppers who buy jewelry for themselves.
