The Colorado Independent

Amid new Big Branch revelations, spotlight also back on Colorado coal mine safety

By David O. Williams | 07.01.11 | 8:29 am

New revelations this week that Massey Energy kept two sets of books at its Big Branch Mine, failing to report major safety hazards to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), have put the media spotlight back on coal mine safety around the country. Colorado coal mines have racked up millions in health and safety violation fines over the last decade, according to the MSHA.

Lawmakers Carroll, Court eye tougher campaign finance, ethics laws next session

By Joseph Boven | 01.03.11 | 6:43 am

Democratic state Sens. Morgan Carroll of Aurora and Lois Court of Denver say stricter penalties and tighter legal definitions should be at the heart of upcoming legislation to prevent abuses to laws regulating those looking to sway public opinion in elections. Both legislators are working with watchdog groups to shore up what they see as serious holes in campaign finance and ethics laws after a mid-term election cycle marred by violations and rumors of clandestine deals.

Maes’ repayment of Poundstone draws more campaign finance scrutiny

By Scot Kersgaard | 09.16.10 | 2:49 am

Last month GOP gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes paid a record $17,500 in fines for violating the state’s campaign finance laws — laws which he has called ridiculous. This month he may have more fines to pay, or in any event more questions to answer. At the top of the list is a $300 check his campaign gave to disgruntled former supporter Freda Poundstone.

Gas-patch politicians ask Salazar to ease up on industry even as Colorado levies record fines

By David O. Williams | 04.26.10 | 3:59 pm

Monday, just a couple of days after running a story in which more than 90 county commissioners and other elected officials from around the West urged Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to ease up on the oil and gas industry,…

Secretary of State hobbled in battle against clean-elections violators

By David O. Williams | 12.04.09 | 8:40 am

Voters in Colorado care about clean elections and voted through a ballot initiative specifically to enact laws governing campaign finances in 2002. Lawbreakers have been caught and fined. But that’s apparently where enforcement ends. The list of groups violating the law includes an increasing number that simply skirt the fines judges have levied against them. Secretary of State Bernie Buescher now seems determined to go after the deadbeats, but his office told the Colorado Independent that the law, as it stands now, simply lacks teeth.

Three oil and gas companies fined for polluting stream near Parachute

By David O. Williams | 10.08.09 | 10:59 am

Three oil and gas companies have been fined nearly $700,000 for allowing loose dirt from a pipeline project and access road to wash over a cliff into Garden Gulch and then on into Parachute Creek above the Western Slope town…