ASPEN

Ballots for city election sent to dozens of underage voters

Dozens of teenagers too young to vote were sent ballots by mistake for a municipal election in March.

The Pitkin County Clerk and Recorder’s Office sent a list of registered voters to Aspen officials, which they used to mail out ballots recently.

Officials say the list didn’t filter out the 57 Aspen teens who had registered early to vote. Colorado law allows 16- and 17-year-olds to register, but voters must be 18 on election day.

City Attorney Jim True says the city is sending letters explaining the error to the underage voters who received the ballots.

Deputy City Clerk Nicole Henning says the names of the underage voters are in a database, so the city will flag and remove their ballots if they are sent in.

ASPEN TIMES

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PUEBLO

Polis sees ‘historic opportunity’ for health care reform

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis told a crowded auditorium here that state lawmakers have a “historic opportunity” this year to dramatically reduce the cost of health care to the public, especially those paying for their own insurance.

He joined Senate President Leroy Garcia and state Rep. Daneya Esgar at Pueblo Community College for a 90-minute question period on health care issues Feb. 16, and the three Democrats discussed a list of bills in the legislature aimed at lowering costs.

“This is the year it is realistic to get them done,” Polis said, getting applause from the crowd of about 150 people in the Hoag Recital Hall.

One would create a reinsurance program to help cover the costs of high-price medical procedures and insurance premiums – a problem faced by Southern Colorado and Western Slope residents.

PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

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DENVER

Colorado Symphony could leave downtown

The Colorado Symphony is searching for a new home, possibly outside of downtown Denver, after it and the city determined Boetcher Concert Hall no longer has a future.

Boettcher Hall, at the Denver Performing Arts Complex at 14th and Curtis streets, has been home to the symphony for 41 years, but both sides agree that the repairs to the aging theater are not feasible. The structure was plagued from the beginning with spotty acoustics and is considered too large for today’s audiences.

“While Boettcher Concert Hall has been a wonderful home for us for over 40 years, a new venue is imperative to the future growth and success of our organization,” said Colorado Symphony CEO and Board Chair Jerome H. Kern in a statement.

The city agreed to commit the remaining $16.7 million from a general obligation bond voted on by the citizens of Denver in 2007 to the project.

In order to keep that money, the new symphony hall must be constructed within Denver city limits. The funds must also be used by the end of September 2023.

9NEWS

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BOULDER

Judge narrows claims in suit to stop oil and gas drilling

A judge has dismissed 20 claims in a lawsuit brought by Boulder County that looks to stop a proposed oil and gas drilling project.

Boulder County District Judge Thomas Mulvahill’s Feb. 14 ruling states the claims were made prematurely in court because Crestone Peak Resources has not yet received state approval for its project, nor has it received Boulder County Land Use Department approval for construction of its three multi-well pads.

A release from the county says four claims made by the county regarding whether one of the mineral rights leases Crestone is using to establish its right to drill has expired will proceed in state court.

Crestone spokesman Jason Oates says the company voluntarily withdrew its opposition to those four claims in a court filing in January.

DAILY CAMERA

FORT COLLINS

Appeals court upholds injunction against female topless ban

A federal appeals court panel has upheld a lower court injunction against a Fort Collins ban on women going topless in public.

The Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel voted 2-1 to return the case to U.S. District Court in Denver for further consideration.

Fort Collins had appealed the lower court’s decision to grant a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the ban, which was enacted in 2017.

A group called Free the Nipple-Fort Collins sued the city, arguing the ban violated the U.S. Constitution’s Protection Clause. The district court agreed.

Fort Collins city spokeswoman Emily Wilmsen says officials are reviewing the decision and plan to discuss next steps with the city council.

DENVER POST