State Oil & Gas Task Force Meets in Rifle
A special meeting on drilling convenes in Rifle today. Colorado’s Oil and Gas Task Force will be taking public comment in Rifle. The group was created by Governor John Hickenlooper as part of a grand compromise this summer over ballot measures and fracking. It has representatives from around the state, and is meeting for the fourth time. The Task Force is supposed to come up with recommendations on any changes to oil and gas regulations or how they’re carried out. So far there are no formal recommendations, but the task force has until the end of February. Today’s Rifle meeting is being streamed online and continues through tomorrow.
Sunlight Hopes to Stay Open
Sunlight Mountain Resort is reopening for the weekend with the hopes of staying open for the rest of the season. The ski area had hoped to stay open this week, but warm temperatures forced managers to close until this Friday. A spokeswoman says the plan is stay open for the weekend and then for the rest of the season, if conditions allow. Some snow is in the forecast. If that doesn’t happen, and if temperatures get too warm, Sunlight will likely close for next week. In the Upper Valley, Aspen Skiing Company will open Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands on Saturday.
Colorado Residents are Very Healthy
New reports find Colorado the least obese state in the nation. The United Health Foundation’s annual rankings say the state is the eight healthiest overall, but number one in physical activity with the lowest diabetes rate in the nation. In other health measures, the report says Colorado is second lowest in cardiovascular deaths and third lowest in cancer deaths. Although major health concerns are in decline, state officials say one area in need of improvement is handling Colorado’s recent dramatic increase in whooping cough cases – a 256% increase over the previous year. In 2012 there were over 1,000 cases of pertussis. This year, there were over 1,100. The state continues to send the message to parents that vaccination against whooping cough is the key to keeping kids healthy and tamping down the spread of the disease. The United Health Foundation annual report is created out of a review of behaviors, public and health policies, community and environmental conditions, and clinical care data.
I-70 Road Work Goes Into Hibernation
Some roadwork on I-70 is hibernating until spring. The Colorado Department of Transportation says 33-miles of resurfacing east of Loma near the Utah boarder will be suspended starting Friday. Since the project started in June, safety improvements have been made to that stretch of I-70 including repaving and sealing the roadway, upgrading interchanges, and improving drainage and protecting the highway from erosion. CDOT says the project is 90% complete and will finish off in March 2015 with several safety improvements as well as crews paving westbound I-70 between Fruita and Loma in addition to several ramps in the area.
