Ed Sealover on Feb 06, 2012 07:52PM

Capitol Business: GOP serious about blocking regulations (even one of their own)

Colorado House Republicans vowed to help businesses create jobs by cutting regulation this legislative session. And on Monday, they proved their commitment to that tenet by killing a professional licensing bill that was brought by one of the members of their own caucus. The House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee voted 7-5 against House Bill 1060, which would have created a voluntary licensing program for dietitians. The vote, which was largely along party lines, came as proponents and opponents gave differing views on what the measure would mean for jobs...

Cathy Proctor on Feb 06, 2012 06:38PM

Measure to require oil and gas drilling setbacks dies

A bill requiring oil and gas wells to be drilled at least 1,000 feet from nearby schools or homes in Colorado died Monday when the state House Judiciary Committee voted 8-3 to postpone indefinitely further hearings on it. But the three-hour hearing on House Bill 1176, sponsored by Rep. Su Ryden, D-Aurora, offered the first glimpse of the broad outlines of the Legislature?s 2012 fight over oil and gas operations in Colorado, and how the state?s new Niobrara oil boom has stirred concerns along the populous Front Range...

Mark Harden on Feb 06, 2012 03:41PM

Colorado stocks: Accelr8 up 10%; Molycorp down 7%

The Dow and Nasdaq sustained slight declines Monday. In Colorado, Accelr8 Technology and Pilgrim?s Pride led actively traded gainers. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the trading day at 12,845.13, down 17.1 points (0.13 percent). The S&P 500 closed at 1,344.33, down 0.57 points (0.04 percent). The Nasdaq Composite finished at 2,901.99, down 3.67 points (0.13 percent). Among actively traded Colorado-based stocks, Accelr8 Technology Corp. (AXK) led the day?s gainers percentagewise, up 9...

Ed Sealover on Feb 06, 2012 03:18PM

Limit on Colorado spaceport liability advances

A critical piece of Colorado?s efforts to develop a spaceport at Front Range Airport sailed unanimously through its first legislative committee Monday, despite expected opposition. Senate Bill 35, sponsored by state Sen. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, creates a limited liability for companies that would operate space flights out of the facility. It heads next to the Senate floor. SB 35 mimics similar laws in place in Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Virginia ? all prime competitors for spaceport business...

Feb 06, 2012 02:53PM

CBS4: Republican candidates crowd Colorado on eve of caucuses

Republican candidates for president flocked to Colorado Monday on the eve of the state?s GOP caucuses. Colorado is seen as a key battleground state in the race for the White House. The state voted for President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in 2008 but traditionally has backed Republican candidates in past elections. CBS4 News reports that three of the four Republicans in the race to face Obama in November ? Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum ? were campaigning in the state Monday. Only Ron Paul had no local appearances planned...

Feb 06, 2012 02:17PM

Community Media of Colorado, publisher of suburban weeklies, sold to local company

A newly formed Highlands Ranch company has purchased Community Media of Colorado, a string of weekly newspapers, from their Houston owner. Macari-Healey Publishing Co. LLC purchased the newspaper company from ASP Westward, which has owned the company since 2002. In the Denver area, Community Media of Colorado owns the Littleton Independent, Castle Rock News-Press, Douglas County News-Press, Elbert County News, Englewood Herald, Highlands Ranch Herald, Lone Tree Voice and Parker Chronicle. The company also owns the Pikes Peak Courier View and Teller County Extra in Woodland Park, and The Tribune in Monument...

Heather Draper on Feb 06, 2012 02:07PM

Colorado State Bank sees mixed results on loans; parent BOK?s profit higher

BOK Financial Corp., parent company of Colorado State Bank and Trust, saw a sharp year-over-year rise in its commercial loan balance in Colorado in the fourth quarter, but its commercial and residential real estate loans declined. The bank reported an 18.8 percent increase in its commercial loan portfolio in Colorado in the quarter, to $559.1 million, from $470.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. BOK?s commercial real estate loans in the fourth quarter totaled $153.8 million, down from $197...

Feb 06, 2012 01:50PM

Mike Shaw named national auto dealer of the year

Mike Shaw, dealer principal of Mike Shaw Chevrolet Saab in Denver, has been named the national Time Dealer of the Year for 2012, one of the auto-sales industry?s biggest honors. Shaw received the award Saturday at the annual National Automobile Dealers Association convention in Las Vegas. The award is presented by Time magazine ? a unit of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) ? in association with Ally Financial. Shaw, 65, was one of 50 auto dealers out of 17,000 nationwide in the running for national honors...

Greg Avery on Feb 06, 2012 12:53PM

Feds allege plot to smuggle satellite parts to China

A federal grand jury indictment highlights just how sought after domestic satellite parts are in other countries, especially China. The three-count indictment (download here), announced by the office of U.S. Attorney for Colorado John Walsh, alleges that Philip Chaohui He, a Chinese citizen living in Oakland, Calif.. last spring bought $549,654 worth of computer circuitry designed for satellites and then tried to ship them to China in December, hidden in boxes marked powdered milk and undeclared for export...

Feb 06, 2012 11:42AM

UDR posts higher FFO for Q4

UDR Inc. reported Monday it would increase its annual common stock dividend and released its fourth quarter, and year-end, earnings. The Highlands Ranch-based apartment operator reported funds from operations (FFO) at a diluted $80.19 million, or 35 cents per share, for the fourth quarter. That compares to $53.44 million, or 28 cents per diluted share, for the same quarter of 2010. Analysts? estimates, which typically exclude special items, had predicted UDR?s FFO at 34 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters...