$28.9B BUDGET MEETS NEEDS
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a $28.9 billion state budget into law Monday.
The annual spending plan makes major investments in the state’s largest unmet needs. It boosts funding to schools, roads and the public pension.
The budget covers the 201819 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Booming economic growth and a windfall from federal tax reform allowed lawmakers to fund the bulk of the Democratic governor’s requests and increase discretionary spending by 7.5 percent.
It calls for $495 million for transportation projects and sets aside $225 million to shore up the state pension, which is badly underfunded.
It boosts K12 education funding by $150 million annually. Public colleges and universities will get a 9 percent funding bump aimed at limiting tuition hikes.
State meets with river project.
SALT LAKE
Major users of the Colorado River are trying to resolve a dispute over how to conserve the vital waterway amid a prolonged drought.
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming met with the Central Arizona Project in Salt Lake City on Monday. There was no immediate word on the outcome.
The states have accused the Arizona utility of trying to avoid a reduction in its share of the river while others are conserving.
The states said that threatens to wreck years of cooperation aimed at protecting the river, which serves 40 million people in seven U.S. states and Mexico.
Refugee found guilty. Firstdegree murder charges for suspect.
A federal court jury on Monday found a Uzbekistan refugee guilty on two terrorrelated counts including providing aid to the Islamic Jihad Union.
Bakhtiyor Jumaev will be sentenced on July 18 in Denver U.S. District Court.
Jurors believed the version of events by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors alleged Jumaev used code words to arrange and then pay a $300 contribution to the Islamic Jihad Union. But Jumaev’s attorney David Barry Savitz argued Jumaev was just repaying a debt to a friend. The man who deputies believe stole a semitruck Sunday, ramming it into several vehicles as police followed with their guns drawn, faces multiple attempted firstdegree murder charges.
Christopher Luedtke, 29, has been a Morgan County resident for a number of years, according to Jim Crone, the Morgan County sheriff. Luedtke faces additional charges of attempted murder of a peace officer, firstdegree assault and several other felony and misdemeanor charges.
On Saturday night, authorities say Luedtke stole a tractortrailer rig from the Sterling area. Deputies say he was chased by three agencies, some of whom fired at the moving vehicle.