FEATURE: The public lands sell-off provision has been removed from the GOP's so-called Big Beautiful Bill. The measure, backed by Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, had drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Rocky Mountain Community Radio's Maeve Conran spoke with reporter Caroline Llanes about what's been happening and why public lands advocates say they're still concerned. Here’s part one of that conversation.
NEWS: Several new Colorado laws went into effect on July 1st including changes to concealed handgun permit procedures, stricter rules for storing firearms in vehicles, and new protections for victims of sexual misconduct in civil cases. There are new regulations for firearms instructors and dealers, as well as a new state budget. One new gun law now requires that firearms left in unoccupied vehicles to be locked in a hard-sided case and out of sight.
Delta County is joining a coalition with Mesa and Garfield Counties to oppose the proposed rules on methane capture for landfills by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. Delta County Commissioner Craig Fuller said the county has been tracking the proposal for sometime.
Commissioner Mike Lane said that even closed cells would be subject to the proposal. He advocated for the state to pick up the cost since they are mandating the changes. Commissioners voted unanimously to join the coalition at a cost not to exceed $10,000 dollars.
