STORM SCAMS: Lakewood Police are warning citizens to be wary of a group of thieves, known as “Travelers,” whose primary purpose is scamming people through various types of home damage and debris clean up as a result of the big storm that hit the area on Monday. The thieves require payment upfront and then police say they either never return to start the job or they start the job and never return to finish it. Citizens are asked to contact Lakewood Police at 303-987-7111 if they feel they have fallen victim to a scam. Also, the Department of Regulatory Agencies is warning people to be wary of insurance scams after big storms. They remind people to understand their rights and responsibilities before signing any documents or allowing work to begin. Visit dora.state.co.us for more information.
HELICOPTER OPERATIONS OVER DENVER: The Denver Police wants to make the community aware that the Colorado National Guard is conducting helicopter operations over the Denver metro area today between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
MARKEY BACKS PAYGO BILL: The House yesterday approved legislation that would give House pay-as-you-go rules the force of law. House Bill 2920 is a budget enforcement tool that will require all new policies that reduce revenue or expand entitlement spending to be offset elsewhere in the budget. “Families in Colorado make tough choices and budget responsibly every day — it is ludicrous that Congress does not,” said Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., who voted for the bill. House Bill 2920 next heads to the Senate for consideration.
BROADBAND GRANT MEETINGS: Gov. Bill Ritter announced a series of public meetings to assist companies and organizations in applying for more than $7 billion in federal grants to expand high-speed Internet access across Colorado. The grant funding is available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to private and public sector broadband providers nationally. The first application period opened last week and will close Aug. 14. The first meeting will be held this morning from 9-10:30 in the Old Supreme Court Chambers in the State Capitol. There will be three subsequent meetings held on each following Thursday at the same time and place. The meetings will also be streamed live at leg.state.co.us.
DISCOUNT PRESCRIPTION DRUG CARD IN LAKEWOOD: Lakewood has launched a program designed to help provide residents with some relief from the cost of prescription drugs. The city is making free prescription drug discount cards available to Lakewood residents through a program sponsored by the National League of Cities. The discount cards can be used by all Lakewood residents and have no restrictions based on a resident’s age, income level, or existing health coverage. Cards are available at the City Clerk’s Office and the Employee Relations Department, both at 480 S. Allison Parkway. Residents can also call 1-888-620-1749 or visit caremark.com/nlc for more information.
NEW CHRYSLER INCENTIVES: Chrysler Group yesterday announced new incentives designed to save consumers up to $9,000 toward the purchase of a new Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle. Chrysler Group will offer up to $4,500 Consumer Cash or 0 percent financing for 72 months through GMAC Financial Services on most 2009 model vehicles. These incentives are valid through Aug. 31. The incentive is in addition to the federal government’s “CARS” program, in which consumers with an eligible trade-in under the CARS program can receive up to $9,000 towards the purchase of an eligible new Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle.
FIRST LADIES LUNCHEON: Project C.U.R.E. and MillerCoors will host the third annual First Ladies’ Luncheon, honoring Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills, the first lady of Ghana, today from noon-1 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center. The first lady will deliver the keynote address, discussing health care needs in her country and how contributions to Project C.U.R.E. locally can make an impact on global health care. The goal of the event is to raise enough money to deliver more than $2 million in life-saving medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics in Ghana. Several first ladies will be attending the event including co-chairs Jeannie Ritter, first lady of Colorado; Frances Owens, former first lady of Colorado; Wilma Webb, former first lady of Denver; and Susan Kiely, one of the first ladies of MillerCoors. The event will host approximately 1,800 of Denver’s business and community leaders.
CLEANTECH INDUSTRY LAUNCH: Gov. Bill Ritter will host “cleantech” industry executives, university and community leadership, and state legislators for the CCIA launch, tonight from 5:30-7 at the Governor’s Mansion. The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association is being formed to help the industry “capture a large portion of available capital and become a leadership sector in the state for both job and economic growth.” Visit coloradocleantech.com for more information.
UCD MEDIA FORENSICS GRANT: The University of Colorado Denver’s College of Arts and Media recently received a third federal earmark grant of $500,000 for the National Center for Media Forensics, whose goal is to employ research and education to strengthen forensic science in the U.S. The center said it would establish cross-disciplinary, inter-institutional collaborations for research in forensic sciences and homeland security, and provide more advanced career opportunities for Colorado researchers in forensic sciences and biometrics.
I-70 PROJECT UNDERWAY: A two-mile safety improvement project is now underway through CDOT on I-70 between Pena Boulevard and Tower Road. The $334,000 project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will install cable guardrail in the median of I-70 to help prevent crossover accidents. There will be various single lane closures on eastbound and westbound I-70 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Delays are expected. Ideal Fencing Corporation, of Erie, is the contractor for this project, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of August.
SOUTH BROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION: There will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the South Broadway Corridor Reconstruction today at 3 p.m. featuring Mayor John Hickenlooper. The event kicks off the first of three segments of work designed to improve a major section of South Broadway stretching from Arizona Avenue to Yale Avenue. The first phase of concentration will be from Arizona Avenue to Iowa Avenue. Businesses along the corridor will remain open during reconstruction.
LAWMAKERS NAMED ‘KATIE’S HEROES’: A bipartisan measure designed to help nab serial predators won national accolades for four Colorado lawmakers: Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, Steve King, R-Grand Junction, Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, and John Morse, D-Colorado Springs. The advocacy group DNA Saves honored them yesterday as “Katie’s Heroes.” Named for murder victim Katie Sepich, the honor acknowledges the lawmakers’ work in championing Senate Bill 241 during the 2009 legislature. The measure, signed into law in May, requires that anyone arrested on felony charges in Colorado provide a DNA sample alongside fingerprints as part of the booking process.
CSP OFFICERS RECOGNIZED: The Board of Directors for Citizens Appreciate State Troopers recognized four Colorado State Patrol officers and employees today for their service to the people of Colorado. Stephen Straight, CAST Chairman, presented the 2009 awards to Lt. Colonel Scott Hernandez, Ms. Korby Johnson, Corporal Tim McClinchy and Trooper Randy Orton.
BEREZIN JOINS UNITED WAY BOARD: David Berezin, a partner in Grant Thornton’s Denver office, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of Mile High United Way. During his three-year term, Berezin will aim to further the organization’s mission, which they say is to mobilize the community to take collective action and create positive, lasting change. To achieve this mission, Mile High United Way focuses on three initiatives: school readiness, youth success and adult self-sufficiency. Berezin has more than 20 years of experience in managing clients’ tax strategies and leading teams in providing compliance and customized tax planning services.
