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  • Gardner Receives Award for Bipartisan Work in the Senate

    Gardner Receives Award for Bipartisan Work in the Senate

    Bipartisan Policy Center Presents Legislative Action Award to Gardner

     Washington, DC – The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) today announced Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), has been awarded their Legislative Action Award. The awards are presented annually to members of Congress within their first six years in office who work to build consensus, elevate the tenor of the debate, practice civility, and advance legislation on pressing issues.

    “Senator Cory Gardner demonstrates the power of strong principles combined with a willingness to reach across the political aisle on issues of consequence to the nation. On matters as diverse and important as immigration, cybersecurity, and the threat from North Korea, Senator Gardner’s primary focus has been on action and results. He is at once a proud member of his party and an effective legislator who places the interests of the country first.” — BPC President Jason Grumet

    The diverse Award Selection Committee is comprised of BPC’s senior leadership and board members, co-chairs of BPC’s Commission on Political Reform, and representatives from businesses and non-profits, who provide their key input in determining our awardees.

    Putting partisan politics aside and focusing on enacting actual policy solutions for my constituents is one of my top priorities in the Senate. I appreciate the Bipartisan Policy Center recognizing my commitment to working across the aisle everyday with people like my Democratic colleague from Colorado Michael Bennet, and hope that in the coming year there are more legislative achievements we can point to that prove the best way to get meaningful things done is through bipartisanship. — Gardner

    About the Bipartisan Policy Center

    The Bipartisan Policy Center is a non-profit organization that combines the best ideas from both parties to promote health, security, and opportunity for all Americans. BPC drives principled and politically viable policy solutions through the power of rigorous analysis, painstaking negotiation, and aggressive advocacy. As a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that actively promotes bipartisanship, BPC works to address the key challenges facing the nation. Our policy solutions are the product of informed deliberations by former elected and appointed officials, business and labor leaders, and academics and advocates who represent both ends of the political spectrum. We are currently focused on health, energy, national security, the economy, financial regulatory reform, housing, immigration, infrastructure, and governance.

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  • Sandhill Cranes making spring migration through the San Luis Valley; annual festival this weekend

    Sandhill Cranes making spring migration through the San Luis Valley; annual festival this weekend

    MONTE VISTA, CO – The annual spring migration of greater sandhill cranes is in full force in southern Colorado. If you’ve never seen these beautiful birds gathering in huge numbers, be sure to put it on your bucket list. The cranes start arriving in mid-February, flying from their winter nesting grounds, primarily in New Mexico. The large wetland areas, wildlife refuges and grain fields in the San Luis Valley draw in about 25,000 birds. The cranes stop in the valley to rest-up and re-fuel for their trip north to their summer nesting and breeding grounds in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

    People in Colorado should take time to see the cranes; the migration is truly one of nature’s wonders. — Joe Lewandowski, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    WHEN: The annual San Luis Valley Crane Festival is scheduled this year for March 9-11. For a complete schedule of events, go to: http://mvcranefest.org/.

    The festival headquarters and starting point for the tours is the Ski Hi Park building located near U.S. Highway 160 on Sherman Avenue on the east side of Monte Vista. Visitors can pick up maps, schedules and information at the headquarters. Besides the tours, a variety of workshops are put on by bird, wildlife and photography experts. An arts and crafts fair continues through the weekend at the headquarters building.

    ABOUT  
    Cranes are among the oldest living species on the planet: Fossil records for cranes date back 9 million years. The birds that migrate through Colorado are the largest of the North American sandhill subspecies standing 4-feet tall with a wing-span of up to 7 feet and weighing in at 11 pounds. Besides their imposing size, the birds issue a continuous, distinctive and haunting call. At this time of year cranes are engaged in their mating ritual and the birds perform an elaborate and elegant hopping dance to gain the attention of other birds.

    The birds are most abundant at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, located 6 miles south of the town of Monte Vista on Colorado Highway 15. Wildlife watchers can also see the birds at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge located southeast of the town of Alamosa, and at the Rio Grande, Higel and Russell Lakes state wildlife areas. Plenty of birds can also be seen in the many agricultural fields near Monte Vista and Alamosa.

    VIEWING TIPS: The cranes are most active at dawn and at dusk when they’re moving back and forth from their nighttime roosting areas. Be sure to dress warm as temperatures can be very cold in the valley.

    During the three days of the festival, free morning and afternoon tours are offered by staff members from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Visitors take buses to various spots on the wildlife refuge, and local experts talk about the migration and the wildlife refuge. If you want to take a tour, be on time because the buses leave promptly.

    The number of cranes in the valley peaks in mid-March and many linger through the month. So even if you can’t go the weekend of the festival there’s still plenty of time to see the birds.

    Bird-watchers who travel on their own should be cautious when parking, getting out of vehicles and walking along roads. People are also asked to view birds from a distance with binoculars and spotting scopes, and to observe trail signs and closure notices.

    Many other bird species – including eagles, turkeys and a variety of waterfowl – can also be seen throughout the San Luis Valley.           

    For more information about the San Luis Valley wildlife refuge complex, see: www.fws.gov/refuge/monte_vista.

     

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  • Lights! Camera! Action! New documentary shows how Colorado protects election security

    Lights! Camera! Action! New documentary shows how Colorado protects election security

    DENVER — Colorado’s risk-limiting audit pioneered a critical process to show the security of elections.  The Colorado Secretary of State’s office documented the monumental effort by state and county election officials last fall when it completed the Nation’s First “Risk-Limiting Audit” to ensure that the counties’ ballot tabulation systems accurately counted the votes cast by Colorado’s electors.

    With the concerns about election integrity at the forefront of public consciousness, I’m proud to say that Colorado has an answer. Our paper ballots and groundbreaking risk-limiting audit provides a rock solid confirmation that Colorado’s voting systems are secure. Every Coloradan should have confidence that the election results report the actual votes across the state’s 64 counties. — Secretary Wayne Williams

    Colorado’s work in bringing the audit to reality was observed by federal and state election administrators, election integrity advocates, academics and media throughout the country, including Matt Masterson and Thomas Hicks, two of the three members of the presidentially appointed U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

    Colorado’s risk-limiting audit provided great insights into how to conduct more efficient and effective post-election audits. — Masterson

    The documentary includes praise for the new process from Elizabeth Steele, elections director of Colorado Common Cause, and professors at University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University and Massachusetts Institution of Technology. “The risk-limiting audit is one example of Colorado’s commitment to election integrity.” — Steele

    “Colorado is setting a new standard” and “is really putting a marker in the ground that election outcomes should be verified and can be verified,” said Columbia’s Mark Lindeman.

     

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  • Strong winds raise wildfire risk across Eastern Colorado

    Strong winds raise wildfire risk across Eastern Colorado

    DENVER (AP) — Strong winds continue to raise the risk of wildfires across eastern Colorado.

    Monday’s fire risk is the greatest along the Front Range and across the southeastern plains but strong winds are also forecast across the northeast part of the state.

    On Sunday, a wind-driven grass fire near a rural area southeast of Denver destroyed five homes and four barns but no one was hurt. The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office says the fire near Kiowa (KY’-oh-wah) appears to have been started accidentally.

    Another brush fire at Fort Carson forced soldiers and their families to evacuate. The flames came close to a housing area but firefighters were able to save the homes.

  • Colorado Rapids Season begins here…

    Colorado Rapids Season begins here…

    Colorado Rapids Annual Season Kickoff Party presented by Transamerica

    WHEN: The Kick Off Party for the 2018 season is on March 21 starting at 7:00 p.m.

    WHERE: Temple Nightclub

    WHO: Live music from the Rapids new resident DJ, DJ Jen Jones

    WHAT: Free Jersey customization courtesy of Transamerica and exclusive drink specials from Budweiser, Odell Brewing Co. and Lunazul!

     

    Colorado Rapids Home Opener against Sporting Kansas City

    WHEN: Kickoff is set on March 24 at 7:00 p.m.

    WHERE: DICK’S Sporting Goods Park

    HOW: Starting at only $30, the Coca-Cola Family Night package includes 1 ticket, 1 meal and a Coke!

     

    Colorado Rapids Prize Zone — Win a Signed Jersey

    The Colorado rapids are giving away a signed Kortne Ford primary jersey that was worn during Media Day in Tucson, Arizona! For a chance to add this piece to your collection click the link and follow the prompts to qualify for a chance to win. Don’t wait, enter today!

     

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  • Arapahoe, Adams, Elbert counties and others: Air Quality Health Advisory for Blowing Dust

    Arapahoe, Adams, Elbert counties and others: Air Quality Health Advisory for Blowing Dust

    Issued for large portions of northeast Colorado.
    Issued at 12:45 PM MST, amended at 2:00 PM MST, Monday March 5th, 2018
     
    Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
     
    Affected Area:  Northeastern Weld County, northern Lincoln, eastern Adams and Arapahoe, northeastern Elbert, and the entirety of Morgan, Washington, Logan, Yuma, Kit Carson, Sedgwick, and Phillips Counties, including, but not limited to, the communities of Fort Morgan, Akron, Sterling, Wray, Julesburg, Burlington, Hugo, Deer Trail, Limon, and Holyoke.
     
    Advisory in Effect:  12:45 PM MST, amended at 2:00 PM MST, Monday, March 5, 2018 to 6:00 PM MST, Monday, March 5, 2018.
     
    Public Health Recommendations:  If significant blowing dust is present and reducing visibility to less than 10 miles across a wide area, People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children in the affected area should reduce prolonged or heavy indoor and outdoor exertion.
     
    Outlook:  Prolonged strong and gusty winds are producing areas of blowing dust on Monday.  Areas of blowing dust will persist throughout the region during the afternoon.  The threat for blowing dust will gradually diminish across the entire region during the early evening hours.
  • Big Game Hunting License Applications Now Open for 2018

    Big Game Hunting License Applications Now Open for 2018

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife opens applications for 2018 big game hunting licenses

    DENVER – Applications are now open for limited 2018 big game, sheep and mountain goat hunting licenses. Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages all hunters to prepare and apply early for this year’s license draw. 2018 will be the first big game draw process conducted in the new CPW integrated purchasing system, which means there are some significant changes for sportsmen and women this year.

    One major change is that paper applications are no longer accepted; all applications must be done online or over the phone. Additionally, payment in full is no longer required at the time of application in 2018. Hunters will be responsible only for their application fees and a $10 habitat stamp when applying. The cost of any licenses will not be charged until a hunter is selected in the draw.

    Finally, updates to our purchasing system no longer require unique emails for every account, allowing families to use the same email address for all purchases. This also means email is no longer a unique identifier for logging into the system; prepare to have your CID number, driver’s license number or other information handy for logging in.

    We advise all sportsmen and women to spend some time reviewing their accounts in the new system, verifying their personal information and preference points, and getting to know the system before applying for a license this year. We realize change can be a little tricky, and we don’t want our customers caught by surprise by the system or any of our licensing requirements at the last minute. — Cory Chick, CPW’s license administration manager

    The deadline to apply for limited licenses is April 3.

    CPW suggests applicants follow these key steps before applying in order to solve for common account issues.

    1. All customers will need their CID (Customer Identification number), driver’s license or other unique identifier to look up or create their CPW account and confirm all stored personal information. This includes not only verifying the correct address, email and phone number on file, but also checking preference points to ensure those have carried over correctly.
       
    2. Be ready to confirm your driver’s license information. If your license was issued or renewed within the past six months, you will need to confirm your residency with proper documentation at any CPW office. If preferred, you may also email accepted documentation to our hunt planners; call (303) 297-1192 for more details.
       
    3. Don’t wait to verify your information until the last minute. Applications for the draw opened on March 1 and will close on April 3. Logging into the system and applying early will ensure access and confirm your information well ahead of the closing date next month. 

    The 2018 Colorado Big Game brochure is available online, and at most CPW offices and purchasing agents. The brochure contains regulations for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bear. The 2018 Colorado Sheep and Goat brochure details regulations for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep and mountain goat. An approved hunter education card or certificate is required before applying for or purchasing any of these Colorado hunting licenses.

    Please see the Big Game hunting page for additional resources and details on applying for the draw. Colorado Parks and Wildlife hunt planners are also available to answer questions and help you plan. Hunt planners are available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. by calling 303-291-7526.  

    For additional information on hunter education, maps, statistics and more, visit cpw.state.co.us.
     

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  • Air quality, evacuation center in Elbert County

    Air quality, evacuation center in Elbert County

    Red Cross Disaster Action Team in Elbert County is supporting an evacuation center at the Elbert County Fairgrounds, located at 95 Ute Ave, Kiowa, CO 80117, as firefighters continue to work on containing the Forest Ridge Fire south of the town of Kiowa. The overnight sheltering team is on standby if needed, though currently there are only four citizens at the evacuation center.

    We encourage those in the community who have lost property, due to the Forest Ridge Fire, to reach out to the American Red Cross for assistance with immediate needs. Caseworkers are on standby to assist as needed. For immediate assistance, please call 1-800-REDCROSS and select option 2.

     

    Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke

    Affected Area:  central parts of Elbert County.  Cities include, but are not limited to Kiowa. 

    Advisory in Effect: 12:00 PM MST, Sunday, March 4, 2018 to 4:00 PM MST, Sunday, March 4, 2018.

    Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors.  This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly.  Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present.  Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill.  If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.

    Outlook:  A large grass fire near Kiowa will produce periods of moderate to heavy smoke Sunday afternoon.  Smoke from the fire will generally travel from southwest to northeast, but could be erratic in direction at times.

  • COLORADO FREEBIES: MARCH 2018

    COLORADO FREEBIES: MARCH 2018

     

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  • Cherry Creek Dam Road closed March 4

    Cherry Creek Dam Road closed March 4

    The Cherry Creek Dam Road will be closed 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 4 for That Dam Run, a 5K and 13.1K race through Cherry Creek State Park.