fbpx

The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Local News

  • US Congressman Ken Buck joins House Rules Committee

    US Congressman Ken Buck joins House Rules Committee

    Today, Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan (WI-1), and Pete Sessions (TX-32), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, announced that US Congressman Ken Buck (CO-4) will be joining the House Rules Committee for the 115th Congress. Ken Buck is the U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 4th congressional district. Congressman Buck will also continue to serve on the House Judiciary Committee for the 115th Congress. He has previously served as District Attorney for Weld County, Colorado.

    I’m honored for the opportunity from Speaker Paul Ryan and Chairman Pete Sessions to join the House Rules Committee. The House has an important role to play in returning our nation to the right path, and I’m eager to get to work. – Ken Buck 

    The Rules Committee:

    The Rule Committee determines when and how bills are considered on the House floor through special orders known as “special rules.” It also considers original jurisdiction measures, which often affect the standing rules of the House.

    The One Hundred Fifteenth United States Congress:

    The 115th Congress makes up the current Legislative Branch of the United States Federal Government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Sworn in on Jan. 03, 2017, it is scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C. now until January 3, 2019, which takes place during the final weeks of the Obama presidency and the first two years of the Trump presidency. The elections of November 2016 maintained Republican control of both the House and Senate.

    115th Congress 2017
    UNITED STATES – NOVEMBER 15: The freshman class of the 115th Congress poses for their group photo on the House steps of the U.S. Capitol during orientation week in Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

    Like & Follow  The I-70 Scout  for continued political coverage! @I70Scout

     

  • Denver Metro — Action Day for Visibility 

    Denver Metro — Action Day for Visibility 

    Indoor Burning Restrictions in Effect 

    This is the Denver Metro Air Pollution Forecast effective 4PM on Thursday, January 5, 2017: 

    An Action Day for Visibility is now in effect for the seven-county Denver-Boulder metropolitan area. Indoor Burning Restrictions and requests to limit driving are now in effect until at least 4 PM Friday, January 6, 2017. Poor visibility and an exceedance of the state visibility standard are expected on Friday. Otherwise, good or moderate air quality conditions are expected. No other air quality advisories are in effect. 

    Cold temperatures and stagnant conditions will cause visibility to become Poor on Friday. 

    For statewide conditions, forecasts and advisories, visit: 
    http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx  

    A poorly maintained vehicle pollutes more than a well maintained one. If you must drive, properly maintain your vehicle. We’ll all breathe easier! 

    At 2PM (MST), Thursday, 1/5/2017 the highest AQI value was 33 for Ozone which indicates Good air quality. 
    Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook 

    FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST: 
    Thursday, January 5, 2017, 2:45 PM MST 

    Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday and Friday. 

    Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday, and in the Good to Moderate range on Friday. Moderate concentrations are most likely within the Denver Metro Area. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion in these areas on Friday. 

    Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday and Friday. 

    Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday, and in the Good to Moderate range on Friday. Moderate concentrations are most likely within the Denver Metro area near busy roadways, particularly between the hours of 7-10 AM and between 5-9 PM. For health recommendations, please see Fine Particulate Matter above. 

    Visibility is expected to be Moderate to Poor on Friday. 

    COLORADO SMOKE OUTLOOK: 
    Thursday, January 5, 2017, 2:25 PM MST 

    Light to moderate smoke is possible near prescribed fires and small wildfires around the state.

  • Cyber Security Threats, Sanctions Against RUSSIA & OBAMA: Senator Gardner’s Official Statement…

    Cyber Security Threats, Sanctions Against RUSSIA & OBAMA: Senator Gardner’s Official Statement…

    Our very own U.S. Senator, Cory Gardner (R-CO), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the below statement after the Obama Administration announced sanctions against Russia for its cyber activities and treatment of U.S. diplomats in Moscow:

    I welcome President Obama’s eleventh hour effort to address Russia’s growing aggression over the past eight years, however, the sanctions should have been announced and enforced sooner than the final days of his presidency. From Russia’s dismemberment and occupation of Ukraine to its fecklessness in Syria that’s led to horrific atrocities and indescribable suffering, Russia has a long history of provocative actions that have been met with years of failed U.S. policy instead of expedient strength. It has appeared as if the Administration turned a blind eye to Russian belligerence, including the mistreatment of U.S. diplomats in Moscow and Russia’s attempt to influence our elections, until now.

    Gardner’s Record on the Issue:

    Gardner immediately called for sweeping sanctions against Russia after the Administration publicly accused Russia of authorizing cyber attacks against the U.S.

    In July, Gardner joined his colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution that calls on Russia to cease provocative military maneuvers that endanger U.S. Forces and urges its European allies and the international community to continue to apply pressure on Moscow. Later that month, Gardner sent a letter to the Obama Administration questioning its silence on reports of Russia’s harassment and violence toward U.S. diplomats. Gardner added:

    Following the enforcement of the newly announced sanctions against Russia, the best path forward is the establishment of a permanent select committee on cybersecurity to not only investigate cyber issues, but also lead the charge on federal policy to keep pace with the evolving threat. It’s important that Congress has the most effective structure in place to provide oversight of the Administration’s cyber activities and strategy to deter and mitigate the cyber threat.

    Gardner recently renewed his call for the creation of a permanent Select Committee on Cybersecurity, and stated he intends to introduce legislation to establish the committee early in the 115th Congress.  

    For additional questions, please contact the Gardner Press Office, 354 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, (202) 224-5941.

    Like & Follow The I-70 Scout for continued political coverage! @I70Scout

     

  • Delays and Closures continue – Government Offices, Roads, & Schools

    Delays and Closures continue – Government Offices, Roads, & Schools

    Delays and Closures continue to be announced due to winter storm weather and road conditions..

     

    • Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

      All driving tests will be suspended today until road conditions are evaluated as safe for driving tests.

    • Department of Revenue (CDOR)

      Some locations have delayed opening time, or are closed due to weather and road conditions. Delays and closures are as follows:

      • Denver Metro area locations delayed 2 hours (Boulder to Parker, and Golden to Aurora).
      • Greely locations delay start of 1 hour. 
      • Loveland locations delay start of 1 hour.
      • Ft. Collins locations delay start of 1 hour.
      • Central City locations delay of 2 hours.
      • Sterling office will be closed.
        • *The Colorado Department of Revenue is dedicated to providing quality service to our customers in fulfillment of our fiduciary and statutory responsibilities, while instilling public confidence through professional and responsive employees.
          Please visit www.colorado.gov/revenue for additional location and closure information.

    • Morgan Community College Bennett Center Closed Today

      The MCC Bennett Center, of Fort Morgan, is closed due to weather.
      For immediate assistance, please call MCC Student Services at 800-622-0216.

    • Road Closures & Snow Totals

      The snow has made road conditions tough in the Denver metro area and in the mountains, where up to 1 foot of snow fell in some places. Eastbound Interstate 70 was closed at Vail and Silverthorne because of several spun-out vehicles, though it has since reopened. Snow totals are wide ranging from different regions of Denver and surrounding areas:  

      • DIA – 3.5 in
      • Arvada – 8.5 in
      • Black Hawk – 11 in
      • Steamboat Springs – nearly 30 in

    The winter storm warning expires at 11 a.m.

    Stay tuned to www.i-70scout.com and the Jan. 10 Edition of The I-70 Scout for additional storm coverage,

    including closures and other rescheduling announcements @I70Scout

     

  • Schools closed today; Eastern Colorado Honor Band postponed

    In addition to Bennett, Byers and Strasburg school districts all canceling classes for the day because of last night’s snowstorm, the annual Eastern Colorado Honor Band scheduled at Bennett will not take place today.

    School officials have said there will be an effort to reschedule the day-long clinic and evening concert but a new date is uncertain. Stay tuned to www.i-70scout.com and the Jan. 10 edition of The I-70 Scout for additional storm coverage, including closures and other schedule changes.

  • Today’s Events – Thursday, Jan. 5

    Today’s Events – Thursday, Jan. 5

     

    WHAT’S HAPPENING?

    • National Bird Day:

    Did you know?? There are approximately 10,000 species of birds, and nearly 12% of these species are in danger of extinction.

    Sports:

    • Eastern Colorado Honor Band Strasburg High School @ Bennett

  • Storm expected to smack I-70 Corridor after 5 p.m. today

    by Steven Vetter, Managing Editor

    A 50/50 chance of snow flurries for most of this afternoon is expected to change to a quarter-inch per hour of white stuff after 5 p.m. and up to a half-inch per hour after 1 a.m. tomorrow.

    Colorado Department of Transportation officials said they are anticipating approximately 7 inches of total snow accumulation from this storm along the I-70 Corridor between Aurora and Limon.

    “We’re hoping to see the snowstorm out by about 10 a.m. tomorrow,” said CDOT spokeswoman Stacia Sellers. “We are looking at about 28 plows making their loops on the Eastern Plains.”

    CDOT also announced that it would use a time-tested anti-icing product as part of a pre-treatment program ahead of this storm but that it will only be utilized along main thoroughfares in the immediate Denver metro area. The use of the 23.3 percent brine solution, made up of rock salt and water, won’t be part of CDOT’s efforts east of Tower Road.

    “We’re constantly looking for ways to further improve the way we fight snow and ice,” said Mike O’Neill, deputy director of maintenance for CDOT Region 1. “We’ve seen the anti-icing brine mix solution be very successful throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe and knew this was the right product to use in the Denver metro area.”

    CDOT makes the brine in-house, at a rate of .42 cents per gallon. A corrosion inhibitor is also added to the mixture before crews begin applying it to the roadways.

    The eastern I-70 Corridor through Deer Trail will be plowed with a CDOT tow-plow, meaning that passing by commuters will be strictly prohibited.

  • Tonight’s basketball games at Bennett High School postponed

    BENNETT — The forecast of heavy snow and frigid temperatures this afternoon and evening have led to the postponement of tonight’s (Jan. 4) basketball games at Bennett High School. Instead, both boys and girls games against The Pinnacle have been rescheduled for 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2.

    Whether tomorrow’s Eastern Colorado Honor Band activities will proceed has yet to be determined. Stay tuned to www.i-70scout.com for scheduling updates for this week.

  • Thursday’s National Western Stock Show Parade canceled

    DENVER — Weather forecasts of 4-8 inches of snow and single-digit temperatures for Jan. 4-5 has led to the cancellation of the National Western Stock Show Parade scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 5, through downtown Denver. The parade was going to be led by Grand Marshal and Denver Broncos mascot Thunder and rider/trainer Ann Judge of Bennett.

    “After several hours of gathering facts, we have decided to cancel the parade this Thursday.  It will not be rescheduled,” said stock show president Paul Andrews. “The risk of animal injury and injury to people is far too great. We invite everyone to come out to the grounds and celebrate the start of stock show with us this weekend.”

    The annual Stock Show Parade barbecue lunch will still take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in the atrium of the Wells Fargo Building at 17th Street and Broadway. The barbecue is open to the public and benefits the 4-H International Youth Group.  Lunch tickets are $10.

    The 111th National Western Stock Show will open its doors at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7.  The 16-day show runs Jan. 22. Grounds admission and event tickets are on sale at nationalwestern.com and at all King Soopers locations.

  • Today’s Events – Wednesday, Jan. 4

    Today’s Events – Wednesday, Jan. 4

     

    WHAT’S HAPPENING?

    • Strasburg and Bennett School Districts- Welcome Back!!!

      Today marks the 1st day of your 3rd quarter.

    Quick Tips!! Set Goals, Get Involved, Break the Ice, Break Stereotypes, Express Yourself! 

    • National Spaghetti Day:

    Did you know?? Spaghetti is the plural form of the Italian word spaghetto, which is a diminutive of spago, meaning “thin string” or “twine.”

    • National Trivia Day

    Did you know?? Vatican City if the World’s smallest Country?

    Sports:

    • Boys Basketball.

      Pinnacle @ Bennett, 5:30 p.m.