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New gun violence prevention laws spark controversy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- On the heels of yet another violent weekend in the metro area, state leaders are hoping to curb the trend.  Two laws aimed at preventing gun violence took effect Oct. 1, but both are also sparking some controversy.  What Colorado laws go into effect in October? SB23-168 ends certain legal protections for the firearm industry in the case of a defect in design or manufacture.  Rep. Jennifer Parenti, a sponsor of the bill, said the law re-establishes pathways for victims of gun violence to seek justice through the courts. “It’s the same level of liability and accountability that any other industry in our state has. Car manufacturers, alcohol distributors, cigarette distributors, they’re all responsible for making sure their products are sold to the correct target population and in a responsible way, and if they aren’t they can be sued,” Rep. Parenti said. “I just thought it was a really good, niche bill that would help reduce gun violence in our c...

Photos: Butterfly Pavilion opens limited-time Spiders Around the World

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Butterfly Pavilion kicked off the Halloween creeps by opening a limited-time exhibit featuring spiders from all around the world. These are the most dangerous spiders in Colorado The exhibit, Spiders Around the World, opened Sunday and is only available through the end of October. It showcases more than 20 different species of tarantulas from across the globe.With the new exhibit, the Butterfly Pavilion is also welcoming some new spiders to the Spider Zone, where guests can be immersed in an enclosure with hundreds of free-roaming exotic spiders.The Butterfly Pavilion kicked off the Halloween creeps by opening a limited-time exhibit featuring spiders from all around the world, like this ogre face spider pictured. (Butterfly Pavilion)The Butterfly Pavilion kicked off the Halloween creeps by opening a limited-time exhibit featuring spiders from all around the world, like this pumpkin patch tarantula. (Butterfly Pavilion)The Butterfly Pavilion kicked off the Hall...

Two weeks left for prime leaf-peeping

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

GENESEE, Colo. (KDVR) -- Summer storms this year created prime conditions for fall colors in the high country. Monday marks the beginning of the final two weeks of prime leaf peeping, which draws thousands of drivers to mountain areas along Interstate 70.“We left Connecticut for this,” new resident John told FOX31. More than yellow aspens: Which trees turn which colors in Colorado? The Colorado Department of Transportation is working on keeping the roads in good condition before winter rolls in, which means highway work zones are possible even on weekends. “We check CDOT because we know the construction that’s happening on I-70 all the time,” said Shawn, who travels to the high country to view the beauty of the Aspen trees.CDOT says getting off the highway can provide an enhanced experience when it comes to leaf peeping.The state has 26 scenic and historic byways that provide closer access to fall colors. You can find them on the cotrip.org website along with safety information, d...

Body recovered of missing person in Chatfield Reservoir

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Crews were searching for a person who went missing in the Chatfield Reservoir Sunday afternoon.South Metro Fire Rescue told FOX31 that an adult paddleboarder was missing in the water. Multiple crews were on the scene diving and using drones to help search the area. Photos show Iron Fire narrowly missing homes in Moffat County A couple of hours into the search, SMFR said the command was shifting to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for continued recovery operations."He'd fallen off his board and was unable to get back to it," Kris Wahlers, park manager at Chatfield State Park said.Officials said there were several other paddleboarders nearby on the water."A couple of passing by good Samaritans tried to help but they weren't able to," Wahlers said.Throughout the afternoon crews with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and South Metro Fire Rescue searched around the area where the man went under.The process helped officials eliminate areas where they had already searched or didn't...

California governor to name Laphonza Butler, former Kamala Harris adviser, to Feinstein Senate seat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom will name Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and adviser to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a spokesman in his office said Sunday.In choosing Butler, Newsom fulfilled his pledge to appoint a Black woman if Feinstein’s seat should become open. However, he had been facing pressure by some Black politicians and advocacy groups to select Rep. Barbara Lee, a prominent Black congresswoman who is already running for the seat.Butler will be the only Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate, and the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the chamber.The long-serving Democratic senator died last Thursday after a series of illnesses. Butler leads Emily’s List, a political organization that supports Democratic women candidates who favor abortion rights. She also is a former labor leader with SEIU 2015, a powerful force in California politics.Butler ...

Unpacking EU packaging regulations 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

When we first launched Together for Sustainable Packaging — an alliance of businesses and associations from a wide cross-section of the food and hospitality European economy, known as HORECA (hotel, restaurant, catering) — in April this year, the debate around the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) proposal was still in its infancy. That is no longer the case. It has become one of the most frequently discussed policy issues of recent memory, and not without reason. The implications of the proposals reach far into the EU economy and business sectors, and will hugely affect all consumers across Europe and beyond. The implications of the proposals reach far into the EU economy and business sectors, and will hugely affect all consumersWe launched the alliance because, while we fully support the overall goals of the EU’s Green Deal, we were worried about the unintended consequences of the proposed PPWR legislation for the environment, the economy, food safety and consum...

New EU packaging rules can only work if they are fair for all

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

Simon Spillane, Director, The Brewers of EuropeThe European Union has rightly identified packaging as an area where we all can and should do more to cut waste. Last November, the European Commission released plans intended to ensure that all packaging be reusable or recyclable in an economically feasible way by 2030. The draft Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) aims to slash packaging waste by 5 percent from 2018 levels by the end of this decade and by 15 percent by the end of 2040.The beer sector welcomes the overall aims of the PPWR. It fits with our values. Leading by example, brewers have a core belief that while making beer to bring communities together and contribute to the EU economy, we can have a positive impact on the planet.But the small print of the proposal, being scrutinized by the Council and on which MEPs are set to vote on October 24, currently includes measures that discriminate against certain sectors, notably beer brewers. It includes misguided restr...

Tory conference is a beauty pageant for leadership hopefuls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

MANCHESTER, England — Britain’s most ambitious Conservative politicians are on a mission to charm the party’s grassroots this week. Just don’t call it a leadership bid.As the ruling Tories gather in Manchester for their annual party conference, projecting a united pre-election message is not the only item on the agenda. With opinion polls still suggesting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could suffer a shattering defeat at the next general election, the question of who might take his place will be privately occupying some of his more aspiring colleagues.Party conference has been a litmus test in the past of grassroots support for wannabe leaders — and with a general election expected next spring or next fall, this could be the last before voters deliver their verdict on Sunak. POLITICO spoke to Conservative advisers and ministers past and present, some of whom were granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics, in a bid to take the temperature.Here we go againThe Tories h...

Gov. Newsom to name Laphonza Butler, former Kamala Harris adviser, to Feinstein Senate seat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom will name Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and adviser to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a spokesman in his office said Sunday.In choosing Butler, Newsom fulfilled his pledge to appoint a Black woman if Feinstein’s seat should become open. However, he had been facing pressure by some Black politicians and advocacy groups to select Rep. Barbara Lee, a prominent Black congresswoman who is already running for the seat. The long-serving Democratic senator died last Thursday after a series of illnesses. Butler leads Emily’s List, a political organization that supports Democratic women candidates who favor abortion rights. She also is a former labor leader with SEIU 2015, a powerful force in California politics. Butler currently lives in Maryland, according to her Emily's List biography.She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokes...

Church roof collapses in north Mexico, killing at least nine and injuring about 50, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

CIUDAD MADERO, Mexico (AP) — The roof of a church collapsed in northern Mexico during a Mass on Sunday, killing at least nine people and injuring around 50, authorities said as searchers probed in the wreckage late into the night looking for survivors and other victims.Approximately 30 parishioners were believed to have been trapped in the rubble when the roof caved in, officials said. Searchers crawled under the roof slabs and officials brought in dogs to help search for possible survivors.The Tamaulipas state police said about 100 people were in the church at the time of the collapse. The state security spokesman’s office said late Sunday that nine people had been confirmed dead from the collapse, which it described as likely being caused by “a structural failure.”Tamaulipas state police said units of the National Guard, the state police and state civil defense office and the Red Cross were involved in the operation. The Mexican Council of Bishops issued a statement saying t...