Colorado
Colorado won’t meet Biden’s demand for state gas tax holiday, leaders say
President Biden is asking states to droop gasoline taxes, however Colorado will not instantly be part of the hassle.
Driving the information: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday praised Biden’s name for a three-month federal gasoline tax suspension, however stopped wanting endorsing the identical transfer on the state degree.
- Polis spokesperson Conor Cahill later instructed Axios Denver that the governor is “open to further methods to avoid wasting individuals cash together with suspending gasoline charges and taxes as long as the state legislature didn’t take the cash from wanted street repairs.”
- To implement a gasoline tax vacation, Polis or lawmakers would want to name a particular legislative session and go a brand new legislation.
By the numbers: The state’s gasoline tax is 22 cents per gallon — on par with the 18-cent federal tax on gasoline and 24-cent tax on diesel. The state expects to gather $662.9 million in gasoline taxes for the fiscal yr that begins July 1, in response to a brand new legislative forecast.
- A 3-month gasoline tax vacation would cut back state revenues by an estimated $165.7 million.
- The state tax income primarily is distributed to the state and native governments for transportation initiatives, however some cash flows to the Freeway Patrol and state Division of Public Security.
Of observe: The present common value per gallon of gasoline in Colorado is $4.91, in response to AAA.
Zoom in: State Sen. Chris Hansen, a legislative price range author, instructed Axios Denver that suspending Colorado’s gasoline tax does not make sense for a number of causes
- Due to the state’s surplus income, any discount in gasoline tax collections would imply smaller refunds underneath the Taxpayer’s Invoice of Rights.
- As well as, Hansen worries in regards to the affect on native governments that depend on the cash and whether or not it might even result in decrease costs on the pump.
“It might be form of a pointless shell sport,” he instructed Axios Denver. Additional, native governments “would take successful and lift holy hell.”
Between the traces: The governor — who first known as for a federal gasoline tax suspension in March — labored with Democratic lawmakers to delay a brand new 2-cent state gasoline charge till 2023.
- Polis is open to extending the charge break subsequent yr if costs on the pump stay elevated when lawmakers reconvene in January, his spokesperson Conor Cahill instructed us.
This story was up to date with further remark from the governor’s workplace.
Colorado
Suspect arrested after fatal shooting of 7-year-old boy on Colorado tribal reservation
A 23-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting a 7-year-old boy on a tribal reservation in Colorado earlier this month was captured on Tuesday afternoon in Utah. That’s according to officials from the Navajo Police Department who said Jeremiah Hight is now in federal custody.
Hight is suspected in the Dec. 11 shooting at a home in Towaoc on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in the Four Corners region, where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado meet. The boy who died was identified as Zamias Lang, Montezuma County coroner George Deavers said Tuesday. Hight is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe.
The FBI investigates serious crimes on the reservation. The agency announced on Monday that a $10,000 reward was being offered in the search for Hight. It said an arrest warrant was issued for him on Thursday after he was charged with murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. A search for him that started over the weekend ended Tuesday afternoon “on top of a mesa, west of Oljato,” the Navajo Police Department wrote in a news release. They said a law enforcement team that included K-9s captured Hight.
Authorities have not released any details about what led up to the shooting, and Hight’s arrest warrant so far is sealed. The FBI’s wanted poster for Hight said the shooting was “targeted at a residence.”
An online fundraiser to raise money for Lang’s funeral described him as a “bright and loving” child.
In a video message after the shooting, tribal chairman Manuel Heart called the shooting “senseless” and urged people to let authorities investigate the shooting rather than retaliate on their own. Heart also said he was working on a resolution to ask the federal government to hire more police officers for the reservation and another to ban shooting within either of the reservation’s two communities – Towaoc and White Mesa, Utah.
“We are not going to have any more of these type of events where somebody gets shot,” he said.
Colorado
Last-minute Christmas shoppers flood Northern Colorado stores
Last-minute Christmas shoppers made the best of Christmas Eve on Tuesday, as thousands of people flooded Colorado stores to pick up their final gifts before the holiday. Among the many stores filled with customers was the Scheels in Johnstown.
“The last few days here at Scheels have been pretty crazy,” said Michael Petersen, assistant store leader. “You can definitely tell the panic on people’s faces. The last-minute shoppers are definitely out. I am one of them, too. They are out in full force today.”
Petersen said he believed one of the main reasons the store was so busy was due to their wide range of products they offer. The company doesn’t specialize in one specific topic or product, but rather seems to sell a little of everything.
They sell everything from food to guns, clothing, sporting goods, furniture, art, shoes and even homemade baked goods.
“We are kind of like your one stop shop, especially for your Christmas list,” Petersen said. “Anything, top to bottom on your Christmas list, you can find them here.”
Some Northern Coloradans said they took note of the wide range of products and intentionally came to the location to look for their items.
“We are out doing some last minute shopping. And we are enjoying it and spreading the spirit. We are out to do smiles and find those last hidden gems,” said Hahn Ainsworth, a local shopper.
Sporting a Christmas-decorated suit jacket, Ainsworth said he was happy to be helping others enjoy the holiday spirit.
“Yeah, lots of compliments and lots of fun. Just trying to bring the joy where you can,” Ainsworth said.
Taylor, Paula and Blair Johnson brought their puppy with them to shop on the final day before Christmas.
“They have a lot of everything,” Taylor said. “We will find something for sure.”
“I love Scheels, it’s an awesome place to be,” Paula said.
“They have a little bit of everything,” Blair said.
Taylor joked that the last-minute gifts they bought were intentionally saved for last.
“We are doing some last-minute Christmas shopping for some of our loved ones that were bottom of our list,” Taylor said.
Scheels closed down their store at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, meaning they won’t reopen until Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m., when many other local businesses will also reopen.
With her shopping for Christmas 2024 officially complete, Paula Johnson said she was looking forward to relaxing for the rest of the holiday.
“I can’t wait to relax and have a nice little cocktail tonight,” Paula said.
Colorado
No white Christmas in Fort Collins, but here’s when Northern Colorado could get snow
Large elk herd congregates in Loveland in winter
Around 1,000 elk migrate in winter from the Estes Valley to the west side of Loveland, creating a unique wildlife viewing opportunity.
It’s looking to be a warm and dry Christmas in Fort Collins, but there may be a glimpse of winter weather ahead.
Fort Collins is in for a sunny Christmas Eve with an expected high of 54 degrees, with clouds and light wind forecasted heading into the evening and an overnight low of 27, according to the National Weather Service. Christmas Day will likely be much of the same, with some clouds, a high of 50 and low of 24 expected.
After another warmer day Thursday with a high of 50 degrees, we could get a glimpse at some winter weather Thursday night. There is a slight chance of rain after 11 p.m. that could mix with snow after 1 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. The chance of precipitation Thursday is 20%.
After another warmer weekend — with a high near 47 degrees expected Friday, 54 on Saturday and 57 on Sunday — there’s another chance of rain and snow accompanied by wind Monday, according to the National Weather Service, despite the high temperature Monday expected to be near 52 degrees.
Colorado’s mountains have a much better chance of a white Christmas, with 1 to 3 inches of snow expected around the holidays.
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