SUNRISE: Santa Claus is coming to town - a bit early

Colorado Democrats announce first bill of 2012
DENVER (AP) — Colorado Democratic leaders say the first bill they'll introduce in the next legislative session aims to give bidding preference to companies that employ mostly workers living in the state.

Lawmakers said Wednesday that Senate Bill 1 would give a bidding preference to companies for state service and construction contracts if they show that at least 90 percent of their employees are Colorado residents. The companies would get an additional edge in the bidding process if they provide health care and retirement benefits to workers.

Similar legislation sponsored by Democrats failed in the previous session.

House Democratic Leader Mark Ferrandino and Democratic Senate President Brandon Shaffer announced the legislation with the bill sponsors. No Republicans were present in support of the proposal.

The Legislature convenes Jan. 11.

Colorado considering big campaign finance changes
DENVER (AP) — Campaign finance changes suggested by Colorado's divisive Republican elections chief are up for public review.

Secretary of State Scott Gessler has suggested increasing the amount of money an issue committee can raise before it has to report contributions to the state. Gessler also wants to limit some campaign-finance fines and loosen rules for how much money some political groups can accept.

Gessler says he wants to relax some rules to make it easier for people to be active in politics. Critics say the former elections lawyer wants to make it easier for deep-pocketed interests to influence public policy.

The public hearing on Gessler's proposed rule changes is scheduled for Thursday morning in Denver.

Attorney facing hearing on theft charges
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (AP) — A lawyer accused of stealing up to $1 million from his clients is due in court to be advised of charges he faces.

Royal Daniel is facing theft and bribery charges when he appears in court on Thursday.

Daniel disappeared from Breckenridge more than four years ago and was arrested last week as he tried to cross into California from Mexico. Authorities in Breckenridge said Daniel was booked into the jail there early Tuesday after being extradited from California.

Daniel was widely regarded as a humanitarian when he disappeared in April 2007. Officials and volunteers launched a massive search amid concerns for his safety.

Less than two weeks later, police obtained a warrant for Daniel's arrest after clients told investigators he owed them money.

Federal medical marijuana crackdown may come to Colorado
DENVER (AP) — Federal authorities are considering a crackdown on medical marijuana businesses in Colorado in the first sign that a coordinated offensive against the industry that started in California is expanding.

A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that such an enforcement action is under consideration for early next year in Colorado. The official spoke on condition of anonymity and did not provide details because the matter is under review.

KCNC-TV reported Tuesday that the crackdown would target dispensaries and cultivations located near schools, with those businesses receiving letters to end operations within 45 days or face prosecution.

U.S. Attorney John Walsh would not comment on the matter, his spokesman Jeffrey Dorschner said. Walsh would be responsible for pursuing federal charges.

CIA contractor due in court for hearing Thursday
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) — A CIA contractor involved in a fatal shootout in Pakistan is due in court in a separate case in Colorado, where a judge will determine whether there's enough evidence to place him on trial on assault charges stemming from a fight over a parking space.

Raymond Davis, 37, of Highlands Ranch is charged with felony second-degree assault and misdemeanor disorderly conduct outside a bagel shop Oct. 1. He's accused of causing a vertebrae fracture and other injuries to Jeffrey Maes. Davis is due in court for a preliminary hearing Thursday.

In January, Davis said he had shot two men who tried to rob him in Pakistan. Pakistan released him March 16 after the victims' families agreed to accept $2.34 million. The shooting remains under investigation by U.S. authorities.

Sewage spill from Colorado prisons flows into creek
DENVER (AP) — Colorado officials say raw sewage from three state prisons in Canon City spilled into waterways that empty into the Arkansas River from Sunday morning until it was discovered Tuesday.

State corrections officials said Wednesday that a sewer line serving the East Cañon City Prison Complex was blocked, causing sewage to spill into a wastewater lagoon and then flow into a creek that empties into the Arkansas River.

State health officials say there's been no evidence that aquatic life in the river was affected, and the city of Florence hasn't drawn water from the river in nine days.

State prisons spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti told The Denver Post the amount of sewage that reached the river is under investigation, but preliminary tests in the Arkansas River found it was diluted.

Colorado State hurricane prediction delayed to spring
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Hurricane forecaster William Gray will wait until spring to predict how many storms will form in the Atlantic.

Gray and his research partner at Colorado State University, Philip Klotzbach, usually start making predictions in December but this month, for the first time in 20 years, they're holding off on forecasting the number of named storms, including hurricanes.

Klotzbach says they've tried various models but none have been successful in estimating the number of storms that early. He acknowledges that, currently, predicting hurricanes that far out is "just about as good as making a guess."

CSU will still issue a discussion of possible hurricane activity each December but the first estimate of the number of storms won't come until April.

Police: Girl hit by train likely to survive
LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) — Loveland police say a girl who was struck by a train is expected to survive.

The Reporter-Herald reports the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train struck the 14-year-old girl at about 2 p.m. Wednesday. Police say the girl was taken to a hospital but doesn't have life-threatening injuries.

It wasn't immediately known how fast the train was traveling.

Forest Service reaches new fire retardant policy
DENVER (AP) — U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell has signed off on a new approach for dropping retardant on wildfires from the air.

Last year, a federal judge in Montana gave the Forest Service until the end of 2011 to do a tougher environmental review of how toxic retardant affects water, plants and wildlife.

The agency said Wednesday that it has mapped waterways and habitat for certain sensitive species, and fire managers who determine that retardant is warranted for fighting a blaze will now direct pilots to avoid those areas. An exception allows for retardant to be dropped within 300 feet of waterways when human life or public safety is threatened. Previous guidelines allowed for other exceptions.

The Forest Service says it continues to work with industry to develop more environmentally friendly fire retardants.

TODAY'S HAPPENINGS
- Old Colorado City book group, “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Old Colorado City Library Branch, 2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave., free.