LONGMONT

Guns N’ Roses sues brewery over its ‘Guns ‘N’ Rosé’ beer

The rock band Guns N’ Roses is accusing a Colorado brewery of piggybacking off their fame to sell beer and merchandise.

The band filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Longmont-based Oskar Blues Brewery, which sells Guns ‘N’ Rosé beer and merchandise and bandannas the group says are associated with singer Axl Rose.

The complaint says Oskar Blues applied to trademark Guns ‘N’ Rosé last year and abandoned the effort after the band objected.

The lawsuit says the brewery is still selling the beer and the merchandise.

The band wants a court order blocking the brewery from misappropriating its name, destroying the products and turning over profits from Guns ‘N’ Rosé and other monetary awards.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CENTENNIAL

Wildfire outlook: Polis urges state to stay vigilant

Gov. Jared Polis warned Coloradans to not become complacent this summer despite predictions of an average to below-average wildfire season.

“I don’t want this average risk to lull people into a false sense of security,” Polis said at the AeroColorado hangar at Centennial Airport.

Meteorologists are forecasting below-average potential for large fires from May through July for the bulk of Colorado, according to an outlook published by the Bureau of Land Management.

Contributing to the conditions are Colorado’s third largest snowpack since 1992 – about 130 percent of median – as well as predictions of below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation in the short and long term.

THE GAZETTE, COLORADO SPRINGS

ALAMOSA

Great Sand Dunes named International Dark Sky Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has been recognized for its unpolluted views of the night sky.

The International Dark-Sky Association announced that it has designated the southern Colorado park as an International Dark Sky Park.

Park Superintendent Pamela Rice says the park is an ideal place to view the stars because of its dry air, high elevation and lack of light pollution.

The park is planning to hold a celebration of the recognition this summer.

Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado received the dark sky designation last month.

KOAA-TV

GRAND JUNCTION

Wildlife commission rejects ban on bobcat hunting

Colorado wildlife commissioners have rejected a citizen petition to outlaw the trapping and trophy hunting of bobcats.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission heard arguments from both sides during a recent hearing in Grand Junction.

The commissioners say there is a lack of scientific evidence that harvesting bobcats at current levels is harmful to the species.

Supporters of the proposed ban submitted a petition with 208,000 signatures during the meeting.

Bobcats are killed both as hunting trophies and for their pelts. Coat makers in China and Russia sell bobcat-fur garments for thousands of dollars.

Records show licensed hunters and trappers in Colorado killed 1,978 bobcats last year, nearly three times the 680 killed in 2004.

DENVER POST

VAIL

Company, ex-owners of plant agree to pay feds $2.6M

The former owners and the company that developed a biomass power plant in Colorado have agreed to pay $2.6 million to the federal government to resolve fraud allegations.

U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn announced the settlement following allegations that Eagle Valley Clean Energy LLC violated the federal False Claims Act.

Former Gypsum plant owners Dean Rostrom and Kendric Wait had ownership interests in Eagle Valley Clean Energy LLC, Evergreen Clean Energy Corp. and Evergreen Clean Energy LLC.

Federal prosecutors say Eagle Valley Clean Energy LLC was reimbursed 30% of a payment it never made to Evergreen Clean Energy LLC.

The company agreed to pay $2.3 million while Rostrom and Wait each agreed to pay $125,000.

The company said it and its principals deny the allegations.

VAIL DAILY