NEENAN Dec28
1
Air Force Academy sees rise in sex-assault reports. »1B WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2011 clouds E 54˚ F 30˚»12B B © the denver post B $1.00 price may vary outside metro denver INSIDE Like others at Urban Peak, Tamika Aumiller, 20, can use a cellphone to connect with family, caseworkers and jobs. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post MILLER DUMERVIL BAILEY dp Vision check MediaNews Group NEW ANTENNAS A GOOD CALL AT BRONCO GAMES »business, 6B Online» Get a weather forecast for the last days of this year and the start of 2012. » denverpost.com/weather Voice of the Rocky Mountain Empire 2nd Pro Bowl By Mark Jaffe The Denver Post Consumer advocates, some of Colo- rado’s biggest companies, senior citi- zens and utility regulators are oppos- ing Xcel Energy’s bid for a no-hearing, interim $100 million electricity-rate hike. The challenges — in filings with the Colorado Public Utilities Commis- sion — contend that Xcel has failed to prove the financial necessity of the in- crease and that the figure is too high. Xcel, with 1.3 million customers the state’s largest utility, is seeking a $142 million rate increase, a process that will take months. But citing a 2010 law, Xcel wants the utilities commission to rule in Janu- ary on an interim hike without public hearings. “The interim increase just isn’t justi- fied,” said Steve Merrill, an advocate for Colorado AARP, a senior-citizens organization. “This shouldn’t be put on the backs of ratepayers without a full review.” Xcel officials say the delay in award- ing rate increases, known as regulatory lag, makes it difficult for the company to get the full return on its investments and impairs its financial standing. XCEL » 13A INTERIM RATE REQUEST Users unite against Xcel Critics say the utility needs to prove hardship for it to skip months of public hearings. By Colleen O’Connor The Denver Post A cellphone can provide a crucial safety net for teenagers who are homeless, according to a new study published in the Journal of Urban Health. “I’m lost without it,” said Dakota Labarr, 19, during lunch hour at the Urban Peak shelter in Denver, which serves homeless youth. His smartphone was stolen last week, and with it much of his social network has vanished. PHONE » 13A Homeless teens dial into safety net with cellphones By Eric Gorski The Denver Post Citing public-safety concerns, a state board took the unusual step Tuesday of suspending the engineer- ing license of a former Neenan Co. em- ployee who worked on school build- ings across Colorado. The state Board of Licensure for Ar- chitects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors voted unanimously to suspend Gary How- ell’s license until a hearing on his case. The board also will issue subpoenas today to Howell and Neenan seeking documents related to the troubled Meeker Elementary School construc- tion project. “It was appropriate for the board to take action on this sooner rather than later,” said chairman William “Bud” Starker of Starker Construction in Wheat Ridge. “I think we acted in ac- cordance to the rules and kept para- mount the safety of the people of Colo- rado while providing due process for the respondent.” Howell’s lawyer, Bryan Kuhn, dis- agreed, saying he hasn’t even been in- formed of any accusations. NEENAN » 13A Early in his tenure, the mayor has escaped big controversy, but 2012 promises decisions that will test how he leads. Public safety The city must negotiate contracts with public-safety unions. Hancock has already made some tough decisions — including hiring Police Chief Robert White. White is transforming the department after a project that saves $8 million and increases officers in “line-of-duty functions.” Stock show The future of the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo is an open question, with ideas ranging from doing nothing to expanding current facilities to building a new complex. The mayor has already decided to pull Denver out of a state Regional Tourism Act application with Aurora. Budget changes In late January, Hancock will be presented with a report recommending how the city can cut costs and raise revenues. Some recommendations already have been revealed: charging a fee for trash service, raising property taxes and cutting costs in the government. Business » 6-8B | Comics » 7-9D | Contact The Post » 2B | Lottery » 2B | Movies » 6D | Obituaries » 4-5B | Puzzles » 7-8D Adoption Alliance» A Denver-area adoption agency that specializes in placing special-needs children is closing after 22 years. »1B 6 11th Pro Bowl 1st Pro Bowl “They can stay connected to resources, like if they’re trying to get a bed for the night or a job interview.” Christina Mijares, who works at the Urban Peak shelter NEENAN PROJECTS Engineer’s license put on hold By Jeremy P. Meyer The Denver Post Next year will make clear one thing: how Denver Mayor Michael Hancock leads. Is he a leader who reaches into his gut to pull out decisions based on his convictions? Or is he a leader who relies on consensus, commit- tees and recommendations from task forces? So far, Hancock has not been forced to make many controversial decisions; after being sworn in July 18, he has spent most of the past five months filling out his administration. “We’re calling 2012 ‘The Year of Decisions,’ ” Hancock said in a recent interview. Matters on his plate for 2012 will be weighty, carrying with them political implications and possible controversy. He’ll be faced with choosing to impose a trash fee on Denver residents, deciding wheth- er to ask voters in November to support a mill- levy increase for city services, negotiating con- tracts with public-safety unions and figuring out what to do about a library system that has asked either to be given a dedicated revenue HANCOCK » 10A (clockwise from top) Denver Post file photos by Craig F. Walker, Aaron Montoya, Joe Amon and Andy Cross Denver Mayor Michael Hancock Some of 2012’s leadership-defining issues BRONCOS NAMED TO PRO BOWL »1C NATION & WORLD SYRIA SETS UP FALSE IMAGE, ACTIVISTS SAY Residents of the Syrian city of Homs said the government pulled some of its tanks from the streets shortly before Arab League observers arrived. »16A The economy may be in a funk and consumer spending in a slump, but there’s one glass that seems to be more than half full — flutes of champagne. »FOOD, 1D DENVER & THE WEST MOM KILLED IN McDONALD’S PARKING LOT A mother of three was shot to death outside of a McDonald’s in Parker as her children waited inside. »1B BREAK OUT THE BUBBLY Today’s Daily Deal Please register at www.DenverDailyDeals.com to get deals emailed to you every morning Photobin 6-Video Conversion Value Pak for only $39 ($99 value) 61% off See Page 2 for additional offer details
-
Upload
peter-dettmann -
Category
Documents
-
view
217 -
download
0
description
Â
Transcript of NEENAN Dec28
Air Force Academy sees risein sex-assault reports. »1B
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2011 clouds E 54˚F 30˚»12B B © the denver post B $1.00 price may vary outside metro denver
INSIDE
Like othersat UrbanPeak, TamikaAumiller, 20,can use acellphone toconnect withfamily,caseworkersand jobs.Helen H.Richardson,The Denver Post
MILLERDUMERVIL
BAILEY
dp
Visioncheck
MediaNews Group
NEW ANTENNASA GOOD CALL ATBRONCO GAMES»business, 6B
Online» Get a weather forecast for the last days of this year and the start of 2012. » denverpost.com/weather
Voice of the Rocky Mountain Empire
2ndProBowl
By Mark Jaffe The Denver Post
Consumer advocates, some of Colo-rado’s biggest companies, senior citi-zens and utility regulators are oppos-ing Xcel Energy’s bid for a no-hearing,interim $100 million electricity-ratehike.
The challenges — in filings with theColorado Public Utilities Commis-sion — contend that Xcel has failed toprove the financial necessity of the in-crease and that the figure is too high.
Xcel, with 1.3 million customers thestate’s largest utility, is seeking a $142million rate increase, a process thatwill take months.
But citing a 2010 law, Xcel wants theutilities commission to rule in Janu-ary on an interim hike without publichearings.
“The interim increase just isn’t justi-fied,” said Steve Merrill, an advocatefor Colorado AARP, a senior-citizensorganization. “This shouldn’t be puton the backs of ratepayers without afull review.”
Xcel officials say the delay in award-ing rate increases, known as regulatorylag, makes it difficult for the companyto get the full return on its investmentsand impairs its financial standing.
XCEL » 13A
INTERIM RATE REQUEST
UsersuniteagainstXcelCritics say the utility needs toprove hardship for it to skipmonths of public hearings.
By Colleen O’ConnorThe Denver Post
A cellphone can provide a crucialsafety net for teenagers who arehomeless, according to a new studypublished in the Journal of UrbanHealth.
“I’m lost without it,” said DakotaLabarr, 19, during lunch hour at theUrban Peak shelter in Denver,which serves homeless youth.
His smartphone was stolen lastweek, and with it much of his socialnetwork has vanished.
PHONE » 13A
Homeless teens dial intosafety net with cellphones
By Eric Gorski The Denver Post
Citing public-safety concerns, astate board took the unusual stepTuesday of suspending the engineer-ing license of a former Neenan Co. em-ployee who worked on school build-ings across Colorado.
The state Board of Licensure for Ar-chitects, Professional Engineers andProfessional Land Surveyors votedunanimously to suspend Gary How-ell’s license until a hearing on his case.
The board also will issue subpoenastoday to Howell and Neenan seekingdocuments related to the troubledMeeker Elementary School construc-tion project.
“It was appropriate for the board totake action on this sooner rather thanlater,” said chairman William “Bud”Starker of Starker Construction inWheat Ridge. “I think we acted in ac-cordance to the rules and kept para-mount the safety of the people of Colo-rado while providing due process forthe respondent.”
Howell’s lawyer, Bryan Kuhn, dis-agreed, saying he hasn’t even been in-formed of any accusations.
NEENAN » 13A
Early in his tenure, the mayorhas escaped big controversy,but 2012 promises decisionsthat will test how he leads.
Public safetyThe city must negotiate contracts withpublic-safety unions. Hancock hasalready made some tough decisions— including hiring Police Chief RobertWhite. White is transforming thedepartment after a project that saves$8 million and increases officers in“line-of-duty functions.”
Stock showThe future of the National WesternStock Show & Rodeo is an openquestion, with ideas ranging fromdoing nothing to expanding currentfacilities to building a new complex.The mayor has already decided to pullDenver out of a state Regional TourismAct application with Aurora.
Budget changesIn late January, Hancock will bepresented with a report recommendinghow the city can cut costs and raiserevenues. Some recommendationsalready have been revealed: charging afee for trash service, raising propertytaxes and cutting costs in thegovernment.
Business » 6-8B | Comics » 7-9D | Contact The Post » 2B | Lottery » 2B | Movies » 6D | Obituaries » 4-5B | Puzzles » 7-8D
Adoption Alliance»
A Denver-area adoptionagency that specializesin placing special-needschildren is closing after22 years. »1B
6
11thProBowl
1stProBowl
“They can stay connected to resources, like if they’re trying to get a bed for the night or a job interview.”Christina Mijares, who works at the Urban Peak shelter
NEENAN PROJECTS
Engineer’slicense puton hold
By Jeremy P. Meyer The Denver Post
Next year will make clear one thing: howDenver Mayor Michael Hancock leads.
Is he a leader who reaches into his gut to pullout decisions based on his convictions? Or ishe a leader who relies on consensus, commit-tees and recommendations from task forces?
So far, Hancock has not been forced to makemany controversial decisions; after beingsworn in July 18, he has spent most of the pastfive months filling out his administration.
“We’re calling 2012 ‘The Year of Decisions,’ ”Hancock said in a recent interview.
Matters on his plate for 2012 will be weighty,carrying with them political implications andpossible controversy.
He’ll be faced with choosing to impose atrash fee on Denver residents, deciding wheth-er to ask voters in November to support a mill-levy increase for city services, negotiating con-tracts with public-safety unions and figuringout what to do about a library system that hasasked either to be given a dedicated revenue
HANCOCK » 10A
(clockwise from top) Denver Post file photos by Craig F. Walker, Aaron Montoya, Joe Amon and Andy Cross
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
Some of 2012’s leadership-defining issues
BRONCOSNAMED TOPRO BOWL »1C
NATION& WORLDSYRIA SETS UPFALSE IMAGE,ACTIVISTS SAYResidents of the Syriancity of Homs said thegovernment pulled someof its tanks from thestreets shortly beforeArab League observersarrived. »16A
The economy maybe in a funk andconsumer spendingin a slump, butthere’s one glassthat seems to bemore than half full— flutes ofchampagne.
»FOOD, 1D
DENVER &THE WESTMOM KILLEDIN McDONALD’SPARKING LOTA mother of three wasshot to death outside of aMcDonald’s in Parker asher children waitedinside. »1B
BREAKOUT THEBUBBLY
DP-6731289
Today’s Daily Deal
Please register atwww.DenverDailyDeals.com
to get deals emailed to you every morning
Photobin6-Video Conversion
Value Pak for only $39($99 value)
61% offSee Page 2
for additional offer details
