Twitter, the social networking site where users post updates covering everything from politics to what they had for lunch, can also keep you on the right side of the law. The Denver Police Department (@DenverPolice for the Twitter-savvy) posts blotter entries interspersed with occasional citations to the Denver municipal code - did you know bicyclists are required to obey traffic lights just like cars? Perhaps prompted by recent protests at congressional town hall meetings, DPD reminded citizens yesterday it's a no-no to disrupt "any lawful meeting."
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: Local Government
Follow this topic by RSS2/3: Falling off the stimulus cliff
Where do all these stimulus-funded jobs go when the money dries up?
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Attorney Jessica Corry on Centennial's medical pot ban
Attorney Jessica Corry represents the owners and patients of CannaMart, a medical marijuana dispensary recently closed on order of the City of Centennial. New zoning laws disallow dispensaries everywhere within city limits, but is the ban constitutional?
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11/25: Boulder luvs Copenhagen
You can always count on Boulder to think big.
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11/24: Corporate welfare gone wrong
Even with massive corporate welfare, Loveland's Promenade Shops are facing foreclosure.
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8/20: Aspen no bastion of open government
The City of Aspen thinks it's too good for the Colorado Open Records Act.
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8/13: City targets plastic bags
The City of Lafayette has caught the Boulder syndrome, and it's spreading fast.
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Tweet in the name of the law!
August 12, 20098/11: Personal responsibility re: wildfire risk
Breckenridge short-circuits personal responsibility in the name of public safety.
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The week's news: Stimulus cash, an outta control HOA
Face The State's Brad Jones and Kate Melvin look at the week in Colorado news. CU students cash in on the stimulus act, and one apartment complex goes overboard on restricting minors' playtime. Plus, Breckenridge has good intentions with its wildfire planning proposal, but personal responsibility still has a role in protecting property.
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8/6: Labor contracts break local gov't budgets
No raise this year for employees in the City of Boulder. Unless of course, you're in a union.
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Solar rays bend Denver's rules
A Face the State Staff Report
August 3, 2009Nearly a year has passed since a $13 million, 7.5 acre solar panel project was dedicated at Denver International Airport. A Face the State Investigation reveals a project marred by a lax bidding process, missing records, lack of oversight and and bureaucratic finger pointing for those shortfalls.
Denver bends the rules in the name of 'green' energy
FTS staff writer Kate Melvin has the skinny on those new solar panels at Denver International Airport. How'd they end up there, and did the City and County of Denver bend the rules to make the project happen? Stay tuned for the full story, coming Monday to Face The State.
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The week's news: Aspen won't honor Armstrong; Mines rakes in the dough
Kate Melvin joins FTS managing editor Brad Jones to review the week in Colorado news. Aspen won't honor Lance Armstrong, who has lived there "all of five minutes," the Colorado School of Mines brings in the dough from private donors, and Aurora schools jump on the Twitter bandwagon.
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7/31: IRV makes sense for Aspen
Third-party candidates get a boost with a new voting system.
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Aspen: Ballots are exempt from state open records law
A Face the State Staff Report
July 31, 2009Citizens seeking to conduct an independent review of Aspen's last municipal election have run into a road block at city hall, where officials are refusing to release key documents into the public domain.
FTS on 600 KCOL: DIA solar panels; Southwest eyes Frontier
Face The State managing editor Brad Jones visits with 600 KCOL's Keith & Gail. What's up with those solar panels at DIA, and did the city rush to build them out with little regard for their usual bidding process? Plus, Southwest Airlines eyes Frontier for a takeover. Home-town pride could - but shouldn't - get in the way of a potential sale.
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7/30: Curious timing for state furlough days
The state recently announced its next round of furloughs, though their timing is raising eyebrows.
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7/29: Government spending won't end the recession
A municipal stimulus package - in Basalt?
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Longmont council member fought for city grant to her non-profit
A Face the State Staff Report
July 29, 2009By Greg Burt
Longmont city council member Karen Benker worked to influence the awarding of a $10,000 contract to a non-profit of which she was board member, despite concerns over the organization's safety record. The Boulder District Attorney's office is researching whether Benker's actions might be in violation of state law prohibiting elected officials from trying to influence a public decision involving a personal interest.
The week's news: Term limit pro/con; FoCo over-regulation
FTS managing editor Brad Jones and staff writer Kate Melvin recap stories from the week in Colorado news. Should county commissioners be able to extend term limits to stay in office? And is a proposed new ordinance regarding animal care overkill for Fort Collins?
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The week's news: Aurora tows the wrong car; Springs spending
Staff writer Kate Melvin joins managing editor Brad Jones for a look at the week in Colorado news. The Aurora Police Department tows the wrong car and pays a high political price for doing so; El Paso Co. commissioners cut others' travel but not their own; this is "weed awareness week."
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7/14: Thornton's speech restrictions
Want to promote your business at a City of Thornton event? Well, you can’t. That is, unless you pay.
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FTS on 600 KCOL: Vehicle registration fees & budget woes
Face The State visits with 600 KCOL morning show hosts Keith and Gail to talk about state politics and preview the FTS Weekend Edition. County clerks are busy fielding complaints about increased vehicle registration fees, but there's little they can do to help ease the pain. Gov. Bill Ritter has said he'll push for late fee relief, but that won't happen until 2010. In the meantime, lawmakers are working to plot the future of Colorado's budget, but consensus is unlikely.
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7/7: 'DWT' law not enforceable
Is a ban on texting while driving enforceable? Colorado Sheriffs say no.
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Biz must pay to 'speak with people' at Thornton events
A Face the State Staff Report
July 7, 2009
The Thornton City Council is scheduled to review a policy tonight that critics charge limits free speech at city events.
The policy, approved in May, restricts the manner in which individuals, businesses and campaigners can sell products or distribute materials at public events, limiting them to approved booths or designated entrances and exits.
The week's news: Black Hawk mayor buys paper; Aurora tows the wrong car
FTS managing editor Brad Jones and staff writer Kate Melvin look at some stories you might have missed this week in Colorado news.
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7/3: Boulder food nannies
How about a cupcake for dessert? Not in Boulder!
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Longmont's Levison digs deep for tax revenue
July 1, 2009Politicians have long debated the "death tax," levied by the IRS on inter-generational transfers of wealth. Now, cash-starved local governments are looking to cash in on the deceased, too. At a recent Longmont City Council meeting, councilwoman Sarah Levison was so concerned a local estate sale was not collecting sales tax that she called authorities to "go out there and figure out what was going on."
Casinos ready to cash in?
June 30, 2009Colorado's mountain casinos are poised to introduce new games and higher limits overnight Wednesday. Face The State will be on the scene covering (and perhaps participating in) the festivities; watch for our story Thursday. In anticipation of the change in law, we bring you this preview from Gene Davis at the Denver Daily News.
Colorado casinos are placing their bets that the gambling rule changes going into effect at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow will put an end to their bad fortune.
RTD vice-chairman held money for suspected drug kingpin
This week in Colorado news: RTD vice-chairman Noel Busck admits to holding $400k in cash for suspected drug kingpin Dan Tang, calling into question his judgment as the transit district takes heat for its over-budget FasTracks project. FTS staff writer Kate Melvin has more.
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