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SENTINEL EXPRESS C O M M E R C E

VOLUME 35 32

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SSUE 48 13 ISSUE

WEEK ,OF MARCH 30, TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24,2023 2020

New COVID-19 restrictions will prohibit indoor dining, personal gatherings Engineer tells Nebraska Colorado Two teens

has right to South Platte River flow charged in March 16 shooting BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado’s state water engineer has a message for the Nebraska officials doubling down on their commitment to a $567 million canal across the border: You can build it, but the water may not come. Colorado state engineer Kevin Rein acknowledges a historic compact gives Nebraska the right to build the canal at the South Platte River west of Julesburg. But in a five-page response to Nebraska’s first official evaluation of the plan, tacking closely to the direction set by Colorado’s attorney general, Rein says the actual water Nebraska is counting on may never show up. The Nebraska report by an engineering firm makes multiple assumptions that Colorado disputes, in particular whether the water will be “physically available, or whether it’s legally available at the time when it’s physically available,” Rein said in an interview. Jordan Harman is gathering the macroinvertebrate from the South Platte River for The Nebraska study “does not PHOTO BY BELEN WARD testing the water quality. adequately consider future development” by Colorado of water in the to start. County is on the Nebraska side of upper section of the South Platte, a Nebraska is in talks to option or the border, though the canal may stretch running back from Washing- buy up land around Julesburg and to or may not actually run through it.) ton County all the way up through the west for canal construction, Rein Nebraska’s governor warned ColoraGreeley, Boulder County and Densaid. Grassed-over scars of Nebrasdo had plans to use up all available ver, Rein’s letter says. The compact ka’s unfinished attempt at a Perkins South Platte River water before it left doesn’t give Nebraska any say over Canal in the late 1800s are visible the state just northeast of Julesburg, how much upper section water Colacross northeastern Colorado. and that the for Nebraska Byonly Ellisway Arnold orado fromoutside the South Colorado takes painssite in its to secure its rights was a $500 milA longcan lineuse of cars thePlatte city of Brighton’s rapid testing at official Colorado Community or how much water must be availresponse to say it has always lion canal allowed in theMedia compact. Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent able at a key river gauge at Balzac, a honored a 1923 compact with Nebraska needs the water for its weeks due to high demand. Adams County’s 14-day test positivity As Denver metro counties continue to ghost town near Brush. Nebraska on how the South rate Platte agriculture-based economy and for inch closer tostate local offi stay-at-home Other the Rein and always The letter, recreation, cials said.orders The was 15.9 failings percent,ofas ofstudy, Nov. 17, accordingoperates, to Tri-County Healthwill. Department. adds, include relying on lower with extensive input from the Colostate’sColorado’s legislature quickly agreed, under system of coronavirusBrighton and Commerce City’s test positivity rates were both higher than section flows of irrigation water rado Attorney General’s Office, is not related and voted to launch engineerrestrictions, the state announced 13 percent.toForty-five people in Brighton and 29 have returning the river that Nebraska meant to in beCommerce a hard “no,”City Rein said. ing studies and start setting aside amoney new level rules thatconstruction. prohibits indoor died from COVID-19 related health issues.Th Toe limit the spread of COVID-19, doesn’t have a right to; not accountengineering formulas and leforofeventual dining and personal gatherings —ce a of ingleast for diversion rights at Julesburg galese arethat meant to say, indoor “There and may A year ago, Rein and the offi at 15 counties moved to tighter restrictions prohibits change that applies to the majority of the Reservoir; and ignoring that the be things that you didn’t consider, Gov. Jared Polis said they hadn’t personal gatherings. canal would be iced over and unable that will reduce the amount of water Denver heard many details of the canal plan metro area and many counties in to deliver water across the border you’ll be able to yield,” Rein said. directly from Nebraska engineers. other regions. during some of the time Nebraska Nebraska surprised Colorado and The Nebraska consultants’ report The state’s COVID-19 dial, legislature which has has a right to take it, from October to Western water watchers in early was delivered to the state Photo by Belen Ward been in effect since September, is the set April. 2022 with a revival of the ancient of restrictions Nevertheless, Nebraska is itching Perkins County Canal plan. (Perkins of different levels SEE SOUTH PLATTE, P5 that each

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STAFF REPORT

Two teens are facing charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a handgun in the March 16 shooting near Brighton High school. The District Attorney’s Office announced filing charges against the two juvenile, ages 16 and 17, that left one person injured and closed forced Brighton schools into lockdown. The shooting occurred at about 12:30 p.m. March 16 at South Ninth Avenue and Bush Street, across the street from Brighton’s Innovations and Options School and near Brighton High School. In a statement to the press that afternoon, Brighton Police Chief Matt Domenico said police received reports of gunfire there, finding the intersection littered with bullet casings when they arrived but no victims on the scene. The victim had been taken to an area urgent care clinic. Police began looking for vehicle and tweeted that potential suspects were sighted near East 120th Avenue and Salem Street. Police county is required to follow based on the closed both Brighton and Prairie severity of a county’s local virus spread. View High Schools and placed The dial grewother out ofschools the state’s the cities onsafer-atsecure home order —lockout. the policyDomenico that came after status and anthenounced statewidethat stay-at-home order this police had arrested two suspects and the all clear spring and allowed numerous types was of issued shortly before 3 p.m. businesses to reopen. According to the District AttorThe state recently switched to color ney’s office, the two suspects are identifiers — levels blue, yellow and facing five counts of First-Degree orange rather than numbered levels — to Attempted Murder, a second degree felony, and possession of avoid confusion. Until Nov. 17, level red a handgun by a juveniles. Th at is a meant a stay-at-home order. Now, level second degree misdemeanor. red — “severe risk” — the secondBoth suspects areisdue in court May 4 at Adams County District Court in Brighton. Please see RESTRICTIONS, Page 2