Stimulus money kicks off projects in Grand Junction, Boulder County

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 Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

FISCAL POLICY
KUSA via The Denver Post: Douglas County votes to charge fees for school-bus rides
Parents in Colorado's third-largest school district are being asked to pay if their kids want to ride the bus to school.

Colorado Springs Gazette: Attorney general's 23 attempts to serve Bruce come up empty
The Colorado Attorney General’s office has made 23 attempts to serve Colorado Springs resident Douglas Bruce with a court order compelling him to testify at a deposition in connection with three campaign-finance complaints.

Steamboat Today: Steamboat officials critical of anti-tax ballot measures
They say initiatives would force further cuts and result in fewer services.


ECONOMY
Denver Daily News: Road to jobs leads through … road fixes?
Union calls for federal transportation funding to fix roads, highways, create jobs.

Grand Junction Sentinel editorial: Fueling the area economy
The announcement this week by the Governor’s Energy Office that it will use federal stimulus money to help fund two compressed natural gas fueling stations in western Colorado is welcome news. If all goes as planned, the money will help make the Interstate 70 corridor between here and Denver far more accommodating to vehicles using compressed natural gas, and will help boost another market for locally produced natural gas.

Summit Daily News: Sales tax activity in Breckenridge up slightly; tracking with budget
The first quarter of 2010 shows Breckenridge financial activity on track with the town's budget — a better situation than in 2009, when the economic recession led to significant cuts.


ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY
Grand Junction Sentinel: State cuts deal with payday lending company
Firm with 13 offices, including one in GJ, will refund clients for overcharges back to 2004.

Longmont Times-Call: BoCo gets $500,000 in federal grants
Boulder County has been awarded a total of $502,700 in federal stimulus money for a housing counseling program and the development of a wildfire protection plan, county officials announced Tuesday.