New council will examine Coloradans' access to healthy food

Good morning. Here's a look at news reports from around the state on issues of interest to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy for Thursday, May 27, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY
The Denver Post: New food council gets a seat at Colorado table
The 13-member Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council, which is expected to begin meeting late this year, will set statewide goals for healthy-food access, as well as the development of a robust, resilient food system.


GENERAL
Colorado Springs Gazette: A.G. may seek court action against Douglas Bruce
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said his office probably would go to district court to seek a remedy against Douglas Bruce for failing to respond to a judge’s order compelling his testimony in a campaign-finance complaint.


FISCAL POLICY
Denver Daily News: Fired up over fee hike
After the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund ran out of money at the beginning of the year, the Colorado Department of Labor borrowed more than $250 million from the federal government. In turn, the state has to raise the unemployment insurance fees on a majority of Colorado businesses to help pay the loan, and its interest, back. The premium rates will go up for Colorado businesses depending in part on their size and the number of employees they have laid off.

Face the State: Two more school districts buy, literally, into lawsuit - despite budget woes of their own
There's a reason it's called the Colorado Association of School Boards; in recent months, the lobby has been proving just how much sway it has over the state's 178 school districts.

Glenwood Springs Post-Independent: Glenwood Springs City Council adopts local preference ordinance
The Glenwood Springs City Council approved an updated local preference ordinance at last week's meeting, intended to give locally funded projects to local contractors.

Summit Daily News: Gloomy projections have Breckenridge considering lodging tax increases
Council considering raise to accommodations tax to help support marketing, provided local lodging businesses show support.


HEALTH POLICY
Colorado Springs Independent: Suthers' ruling could make a Memorial sale less likely
If people think the city could sell Memorial Health System to a big corporation and pave streets, they're wrong.
Also: Colorado Springs Business Journal: Memorial consultant to be paid $285,000

Denver Business Journal: Ritter signs several health measures, including contraception-coverage rule
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed eight health care bills into law Wednesday, including controversial measures requiring all small-group and individual health insurance policies to include contraception and pregnancy coverage and setting up a reward system for Coloradans who report Medicaid fraud.


ECONOMY
Fort Collins Coloradoan: County foreclosure rates improve
Foreclosures in Larimer County, along with the state, improved in April, indicating a recent uptick in the economy.