National

Only 11 percent of Americans said they support polygamy, according to a May 2011 Gallup poll (Shutterstock image)

WASHINGTON — Same-sex couples are not the only ones who want government recognition of their relationships. Those in polyamarous relationships do too.

Loving More, a national non-profit organization based in Loveland, Colo., plans to release a survey next month of 4,000 self-identified polyamorists that shows more than two-thirds would choose concurrent or multi-partnered marriage if it were legal. Read more »

Colorado’s congressional delegation expressed sympathy to Tom Clements’ family, and gratitude for his public service

WASHINGTON — A 2006 memo that became public as part of the WikiLeaks saga warned that “violence, even terrorism” against Americans could occur as a result of the conviction of Saudi sex offender Homaidan al-Turki.

The leaked 2006 cable from the State Department Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh, Michael Gfoeller, includes his remarks with a close and longtime friend of al-Turki’s. Read more »

Lawmakers say they need a solution soon to prevent western communities surrounded by national forests from turning into ghost towns

WASHINGTON – Capitol Hill lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle say rural communities strapped for cash need certainty that Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) checks from the federal government are released on time and in a consistent amount.

Eligible Colorado counties will get a final check of nearly $28 million to help pay for police and fire officials, road and water projects and public schools before the funding is set to expire later this year. Read more »

Officials indicated most of the aliens were illegal immigrants either convicted of or charged with a non-violent felony such as theft

WASHINGTON — The federal government released 34 aliens from its immigration detention facility in Aurora, Colorado last month due to what they say are budget constraints.

The detainees were from Colorado and Wyoming, according to Barbara Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The nationalities of the individuals were not immediately clear.

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The listing is part of a settlement the Obama administration struck with environmental groups

WASHINGTON - Key House Republicans are challenging the Interior Department’s process to list the sage grouse as an endangered species, an action that would have devastating effects in Colorado blocking millions of acres of land from oil, gas and other development. Read more »

Some Democrats are gloomy about the prospects of major gun-control legislation passing through Congress

WASHINGTON — Even some liberal Democrats are gloomy about the prospects for major gun-control legislation in this Congress. Only hours after a Senate committee approved new restrictions on semi-automatic weapons and magazines, an outspoken House Democrat expressed doubt that the lower chamber would approve similar measures.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, who received a zero rating from the American Conservative Union in 2010, indicated that President Obama made a revealing comment about the fate of gun-safety bills in Congress during his hour-long visit with House Democrats at the Capitol Thursday afternoon. Read more »

The Outdoor Channel’s board of directors ratified the deal at its Wednesday meeting

DENVER–The Outdoor Channel may have dodged a bullet this week, thanks to sports magnate and Denver Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke.

Kroenke acquired the popular cable channel, which specializes in hunting, fishing and camping programs, shortly after a producer jumped into the Colorado gun debate by announcing the channel would exit the state if the gun-control bills moving rapidly through the state legislature become law. Read more »

The formation of the new group suggests Gardner may be considering a statewide run

WASHINGTON – In a sign he may be angling for a future statewide run, Rep. Cory Gardner has opened a new fundraising organization that allows the Yuma Republican to raise money more efficiently.

Gardner for Colorado is the name of the new joint fundraising committee. Made up of both his candidate committee and his leadership political action committee, the organization allows donors committed to his campaign and to that of GOP candidates he supports to write one check instead of two. Read more »

Nicholson, a Coloradoan, was appointed by former President George W. Bush to serve as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican from 2001 to 2005

WASHINGTON – The major issue facing Pope Francis I as the new leader of 1.2 billion Catholics is to ensure the success of the church’s evangelization — that more people are reached with the message of the gospel.

That’s according to former ambassador to the Holy See Jim Nicholson, who spoke with The Colorado Observer as the Vatican began casting votes Tuesday to elect the new leader to replace Pope Benedict XVI. Read more »