Your Money: How Colorado will benefit from the federal economic stimulus package:
• Total: $2.791 billion over two years:
• $760 million to prevent cuts to existing programs and services, mostly education programs;
• $622 million in education grants over two years;
• $138 million for general purposes to be spent on health care, human services, and other cut programs;
• $880 million for Medicaid;
• $521.2 million for infrastructure and transportation;
• $181 million to increase benefits to help up to 277,000 families purchase food;
• $15.6 million to help families who have lost their homes during the recession;
• $24.3 million in child care and development block grant funds to help subsidize child care for low-income working families;
• $48.3 million in the Colorado State Energy Program to support renewable energy and efficiency projects.
— Source: Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute
STATE ETHICS BILL: Senate Bill 35, approved by the Senate yesterday morning, would hit public officials with a misdemeanor who, within six months of leaving their posts, enter into contracts or gain employment with individuals and companies that have contracts related to their former government post. Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, introduced the bill, which would mean a potential six to 18 months in jail, a fine of $500 to $5,000, or both, for violators. SB 35 moves on to the House next.
IMMIGRATION PRAYER VIGIL: Yesterday, faith leaders and community members gathered at the GEO Detention Center for a prayer vigil calling on President Obama and members of Congress to enact “humane immigration reform.” The vigil was part of over 100 actions across the country, entitled “Prayer, Renewal and Action on Immigration.” The group released a statement saying that the current U.S. immigration policies result in families and workers living in a state of fear.
BLACK WORLD CONFERENCE: Metropolitan State College of Denver will be hosting its 26th Annual Black World Conference today and tomorrow at the Tivoli Turnhalle on the Auraria Campus, located at 900 Auraria Parkway. This year’s conference honors the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, the NAACP. Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, will be the luncheon keynote speaker today at 1 p.m. The conference is scheduled to run from 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. each day. Call 303-556-3108 for more information.
OIL AND GAS PERMIT BILL: Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, introduced House Bill 1255 yesterday, which would specify that the Colorado Division of Wildlife serve in a consultative capacity only in regards to granting oil and gas permits. Gardner says the current proposed rules grant the DOW vast authority for regulating oil and gas operations even though the “division has no expertise in this area.” HB 1255 would grant the DOW a role in the permitting process while granting the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission final say on wildlife issues.
DRUG DEAL GONE BAD: A juvenile male was shot on Sunday at the Goodson Recreation Center, 6315 South University Blvd., after a drug deal went bad. The victim told police he and friends had prearranged to deliver drugs to an individual at Goodson but was confronted by two males with bandanas covering their faces as they exited their vehicle. One of the males allegedly pointed a gun at him, demanded drugs and money, then shot him. The victim’s injuries do not appear to be life threatening. The suspects fled the area on foot and the investigation is ongoing.
ARTS AWARDS RECEPTION: Mayor John Hickenlooper and the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs and Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs will hold a free reception tonight from 6:30-7:30 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis Streets, to honor the 2008 recipients of the “Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts.” The 2008 honorees are jazz and classical bassist Charles Burrell, the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, Chicano theater company Su Teatro and the book magazine The Bloomsbury Review. Visit www.denvergov.org/DOCA for more information.
INNER CITY HEALTH GRAND OPENING: The Inner City Health Center has been serving the community for 25 years by expanding access to health care for the uninsured and underserved. They have announced the grand opening of their new building, located at 3800 York St. ICHC is a volunteer-based healthcare facility serving low-income and medically uninsured families in the Five Points neighborhood. Visit www.innercityhealth.com for more information.
HEART MONTH AWARENESS: Centura Health is observing Heart Month in February with a variety of free educational events, seminars and consumer promotions to build awareness of heart disease. Centura has partnered with several retailers throughout the state to introduce the Centura Health Heart Card. Consumers who log on to www.CenturaHeart.org and validate or request a card will receive a free heart-healthy sampler with special deals including a free one-day pass to any YMCA in Colorado, a one-pound bag of California almonds, a $4 off snowshoe rental coupons to Nordic Center customers in Summit County and more.
ORGON DONOR INCREASE: At the close of 2008, Donor Alliance, a non-profit organ procurement organization, and the American Association of Tissue Banks helped save 356 lives. Donor Alliance saw a 22 percent increase in organ donors in 2008 and a 14 percent increase in organs transplanted over the previous year. Visit www.donoralliance.org for more information.
SOUP BOWLS FOR COMFORT CARE: Throughout February, Panera Bread locations in the Denver metro area, as well as in Boulder, Longmont and Superior, will donate 25 cents of all soup in a bread bowl purchases to Porter Hospice and St. Anthony Hospice as part of its involvement in “Soup for the Soul,” a fundraising event created by Centura Health at Home. This year’s fundraiser will be held on March 26 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, located at 1550 Court St. Registrants can sample soups and appetizers from 20 metro area restaurants and take part in a silent art auction. All proceeds to directly to hospice patients. Visit www.centurahealthathome.org or call 303-715-7615 for more information.
