SUNRISE: Hearing scheduled Thursday for AFA cadet charged with rape
Air Force prosecutors are expected to outline their case Thursday against a cadet accused of sexually assaulting another cadet in November.
The hearing — officially known as an Article 32 hearing — will determine whether Cadet 2nd Class Stephan H. Claxton, a junior, is tried on suspicion of abusive sexual contact, wrongful sexual contact, assault and underage drinking, according to the Air Force Academy.
Investigators suspect Claxton unzipped the pants of a female cadet while she was “substantially incapacitated.” The term is often used in the military to describe intoxication.
Claxton was one of three Air Force Academy cadets charged late last year in connection with several alleged sexual assaults dating back to 2010.
Prosecutors allege Cadet Kyle A. Cressy had sex with a woman in May who was “substantially incapacitated,” while Cadet Robert M. Evenson Jr. is suspected of forcibly raping another cadet in spring 2010.
Man breaks in J's Liquor, police say
A man was arrested after he allegedly tried to burglarize J’s Liquor Thursday morning, Colorado Springs police said.
A robbery alarm in the store at 31 E. Fillmore St. went off at 4:21 a.m., police said. Police surrounded the store and found 23-year-old Ryan Engelby hiding inside behind one of the refrigerated coolers. Engelby got into the store by breaking a window, police said.
He was arrested and booked into the El Paso County jail.
Colorado State Patrol accepting applications
The Colorado State Patrol is accepting applications to its summer 2012 Youth Academy in Golden, from June 10 to 16.
The training program includes the Alive at 25 defensive driving course, and classes on law enforcement ethics, driving, firearm safety and police communications.
Applications are due on March 9, and only 40 applicants will be accepted. Applicants must:
-- Be at least 16 years old, with a Colorado driver license, and a high school student.
-- Have a minimum GPA of 2.0.
-- Present two letters of recommendation, and a completed application.
-- Show proof of medical insurance, and agree to a criminal and driver history check.
Applications can be picked up and dropped off at the local troop office, at 1480 Quail Lake Loop, Colorado Springs 80906.
BEST OF THE SITES
-- gazettepreps.com: 'Super Six' aim to win state title for Air Academy girls.
-- outtherecolorado.com: Back country skiing is booming, here's a good primer.
-- coloradosprings.com: 2012 Dining Guide.
-- csfreshink.com: Buffalo Chicken Dip, for the next game.
-- pikespeakparent.com: Cat found in Castle Rock to be reunited with Florida owners.
-- springsmilitarylife.com: Same Navy SEAL team that killed bin Laden pulls off rescue in Somalia.
WEATHER
The National Weather Service predicts a high of 54 degrees Thursday, with an overnight low of 32 degrees.
Snow flurries are expected Friday morning, and there’s a chance of rain Friday afternoon, as the high reaches 38 degrees.
AROUND COLORADO
Obama visit highlights suburb role in CO politics
DENVER (AP) — Living in the Denver suburbs? Expect a lot of attention from presidential candidates this year.
President Barack Obama's scheduled stop in Aurora Thursday afternoon highlights a battleground within a battleground state. Presidential hopefuls won't just be looking at Colorado — they'll concentrate their campaigning in Denver's swing suburbs, where crucial independent voters are concentrated.
GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney held a fundraiser in Aurora in June.
The White House says Obama will talk about energy during his Aurora visit. Colorado is one of five states the president is visiting on a three-day swing to promote his State of the Union proposals.
Colo. tourism secretary apologizes to NM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Colorado's tourism chief is apologizing for disparaging remarks he made about New Mexico to the Wall Street Journal.
After the paper ran an article about New Mexico's efforts to boost tourism through a rebranding campaign, Colorado tourism director Al White responded, "So how about this for a theme: 'New Mexico...just south of Paradise!' That would have saved New Mexico the $2.5 million it spent on the effort."
White tells KRQE-TV (http://bit.ly/zgGDDT ) it was just an attempt at humor and he meant no ill will. In fact, he says the comments weren't even original. He says about a decade ago someone from Wyoming said the same thing about Colorado.
New Mexico Secretary of Tourism Monique Jacobson says she didn't take the comment personally and invited White to come south to ski.
Lack of December snow hurts ski gear sales
DENVER (AP) — A snow sports trade group says a lack of snow in December has hurt sales of ski and snowboard gear, but things could turn around if storms keep coming.
SnowSports Industries America research director Kelly Davis said Wednesday that through December, the snow sports market recorded $2.2 billion in sales for the season. That's down 2.2 percent from the same period a year ago.
Snowboard sales are down 4.5 percent in units and 1 percent in dollars. However sales of alpine skiing equipment in specialty stores are up in the West. Davis says it's possible that better snow conditions in the Pacific Northwest are lifting sales in the West.
She says the good news is the economy doesn't seem to be affecting the market that much anymore, and the snow has been falling in recent weeks.
Colorado dome to be covered during repairs
DENVER (AP) — The dome of the Colorado Capitol is going under wraps.
Contractors for the state's ongoing Capitol dome restoration project are getting ready to place a protective, weatherproof wrap around the dome to prepare for the next stage of a renovation and repair project.
A spokeswoman for the project said Wednesday that workers should start wrapping the dome in the next few days as long as it's not too windy. She said the white fabric will remain on the dome for the next two years.
Restoration of the dome became necessary after Colorado's intense freeze-thaw cycle caused the exterior metal surfaces to deteriorate over the past 100 years.
State officials say the deterioration created unsafe conditions that forced closure of the outside observation deck in 2006.
Lower car fees again considered by Colo. lawmakers
DENVER (AP) — A Republican lawmaker who wants to lower car fees to the tune of $12 million a year is trying again to ratchet back vehicle registration fees.
Rep. Randy Baumgardner of Hot Sulphur Springs brought his tag fee repeal to a Republican House committee Wednesday. The GOP House approved the idea last year, but the lower fees were rejected in the Democratic Senate. The committee delayed a vote on the idea Wednesday.
The bill would roll back unpopular increases to Colorado car fees and late tag registration fines. The higher fees raise some $12 million a year for state transportation projects.
Baumgardner's bill would lower late registration fees from $25 a month to $20 total.
Bill to align colleges, labor data wins approval
DENVER (AP) — Colorado's colleges would have to work with labor experts to find out where jobs are under a bill that received bipartisan backing in a state House committee Wednesday.
The bill would direct the Department of Labor and Employment to share job projections with the Department of Higher Education. The goal is to craft educational programs better suited to the state job market.
Democratic Rep. Daniel Kagan proposed the bill. It received unanimous approval in the House Education Committee Wednesday and now awaits a vote by the full House.
Military, work experience could net college credit
DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers want to reduce the cost of college for students by directing higher education institutions to create a system of awarding credit for job experience and military service.
Republican Rep. Tom Massey says the goal is to allow students to graduate faster if their experience applies to some college courses. Massey says that can be someone who has spent months in the military working on a submarine who has gained technological expertise or a writer who can get credit for an English or literature course.
A hearing on the proposal was scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed while Massey worked on amendments.
Massey says if students can graduate faster, they'll pay less for their college education. Metropolitan State College of Denver already allows credit for prior applicable education experience.
Colo. GOP's beetle-kill timber bill questioned
DENVER (AP) — Colorado Republicans want to eliminate local restrictions they say stifle the sale of beetle-killed timber. But groups representing local governments say there are no such restrictions.
That's calling into question the validity of one of the centerpieces of the GOP's jobs package this year. Republican Speaker of the House Frank McNulty used his speech to start the session to highlight a Montrose business he says exports most of its beetle-kill lumber because state regulations prevent its use.
The Colorado Municipal League and Colorado Counties Inc. say those regulations don't exist and that the challenge is establishing what is a complex market.
Republican bill sponsor Rep. Laura Bradford says there's a perception that roadblocks exist. She says that perception can be just as onerous.
A hearing on Bradford's proposal was delayed this week.
16 face charges in Denver metro marijuana bust
DENVER (AP) — Sixteen people are accused of operating a large marijuana drug cultivation ring following an investigation that resulted in raids across the Denver metro area.
The Denver Post reports (http://bit.ly/wzWp9g ) the Adams County District Attorney's office says the 16 were indicted on charges of racketeering, marijuana distribution and money laundering, as well as other charges.
Authorities say 25 homes were raided Wednesday in Adams and Weld counties, Broomfield, Denver, Erie and Breckenridge. Authorities allege the ring in some instances shipped the marijuana out of state through the mail.
Adams County District Attorney Don Quick said multiple agencies worked on the investigation, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and several local police agencies. The North Metro task force headed up the investigation.
Wyoming car chase ends in Colorado
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Highway Patrol says a man in custody after a car chase that began in Wyoming and ended in Colorado is suspected of stealing the vehicle.
Patrol spokesman Sgt. Stephen Townsend says the Cadillac Escalade was reported stolen early Wednesday in Thermopolis, which is about 300 miles from Cheyenne.
The vehicle was equipped with a service that can track stolen vehicles and was spotted north of Cheyenne on Interstate 25. The vehicle would not stop for troopers.
It then ran over two sets of tire spikes that deflated two tires but continued into Colorado where it exited the interstate at the Carr interchange.
The driver eventually stopped on a county road. He was taken into custody, pending extradition to Wyoming.
There were no injuries.
Nicholas backs state land purchase from law client
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The chairman of the Wyoming Legislature's Senate Appropriations Committee is advocating a deal in which the state would buy 11,000 acres from a client of his law firm.
Republican Sen. Phil Nicholas of Laramie is meanwhile keeping alive a proposal under which the client, Doug Samuelson, would acquire a 50,000-acre ranch between Laramie and Cheyenne. The Colorado State University Research Foundation and University of Wyoming Foundation jointly own the Y Cross Ranch.
Nicholas says Wyoming should buy 11,000 acres that Samuelson's Warren Livestock LLC, owns east of Laramie to establish a state park and protect the Laramie aquifer. Nicholas says he would not profit from the deal.
Samuelson's property near Laramie also has featured in a proposed buyout or land swap through which Samuelson would acquire the Y Cross.
U of Illinois official's son dies snowboarding
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — The son of a well-known University of Illinois administrator has died after an apparent snowboarding accident in Colorado.
Loryn Kasten of the Steamboat Ski Area told The News-Gazette in Champaign (http://bit.ly/A8ToWE ) that 32-year-old Aaron Easter died Tuesday from injuries suffered at the ski area. Easter is the son of longtime University of Illinois administrator and professor Robert Easter. Robert Easter was interim chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus from 2009 through mid-2011.
Kasten says other skiers found Aaron Easter injured Monday in an area that had been marked as hazardous. Kasten says Easter died at a Denver hospital.
A university official says Aaron Easter's family flew to Denver on Monday to be with him. The official says Aaron Easter lived in Colorado.
The Steamboat Springs Police Department is investigating.
TODAY'S HAPPENINGS
-- Sand Creek book club, “Timeline” by Michael Crichton, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sand Creek Library Branch, 1821 S. Academy Blvd., free0.
-- Fountain book club, “Save Me” by Lisa Scottoline, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Fountain Library Branch, 230 S. Main St., Fountain, free.
-- “Cool Crafts” children’s program, 3-4 p.m., Fountain Library Branch, 230 S. Main St., Fountain, free.
-- “Showcase at Studio Bee Series,” 6:45-7:15 p.m. Tron the Band, 7:30-8 p.m. Madison Hunziker, 8:15-8:45 p.m. The Craig Walter Band, Studio Bee, Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., free.
-- Black Rose Acoustic Society bluegrass jam, 7-9 p.m., Colorado Springs Senior Center, 1514 N. Hancock Ave., free, donations accepted.
-- Rawbert Beard and the Fright, 9 p.m., Southside Johnny’s, 528 S. Tejon St.
