FEATURE: On today’s KVNF Farm Friday we continue our series on agricultural burning in the valley. We wrap up our conversation with fourth generation farmer/rancher Steve Hale from Montrose County. While most ag producers know their local protocols for burning there are still dangers to lighting fires…especially on windy days. And USDA reporter Rod Bain on the growing amounts of data regarding agritourism and its trends on a national, state, and local level.
LOCAL NEWS: Montrose County commissioners met briefly Wednesday morning as the Board of Health. The held an executive session to discuss over a dozen applications for health director. Three of the applicants met the necessary qualifications for the role including Mirza Ahmed. Ahmed had been previously hired as public health director in February. However, Commissioner Scott Mijares and Commissioner Sean Pond raised concerns about his connection with the World Health Organization and his citizenship. Mijares also complained that the county manager hadn’t provided him with enough information for the confirmation vote. KVNF will continue to follow this ongoing story out of Montrose County.
The League of Women Voters of the Uncompahgre Valley recently submitted a statement to KVNF opposing the so-called SAVE Act or the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. The statement notes since 1996 it has been illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in Federal and state elections. The US and all states ensure that only those citizens can register and vote, under penalty of law. In the statement, Jan Edwards, Voter Service Chair League of Women Voters of the Uncompahgre Valley called the proposed law requiring specific proof of citizenship in person in order to register and vote…. quote “ thinly-disguised voter suppression.”
COLORADO NEWS: Two leading Colorado nonprofits working to end hunger are collecting hand-written letters from a wide range of people who would be directly impacted by cuts to SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps.
