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By Lakewood Edge • February 28th, 2011

Team wins all-expense trip to New York to compete in International Public Policy Forum debates. The April competition carries a $10,000 grand prize for the team that emerges as the best from the original field of 340 entrants.

Marc P. O’Leary remains jailed on $5 million cash bond as a suspect in Golden, Westminster attacks after his weekend arrest. Other metro-area agencies, including Lakewood, are looking at O’Leary in other similar crimes.

Council expects to conduct a public hearing on proposed changes in April, well in advance of a state-mandated deadline of July 1. The proposal could cap the number of medical marijuana centers within the city and ban further commercial growing operations.

Jeffco’s administrative offices re-opened Monday after cleanup crews worked through the weekend to mop up the water damage and make repairs. The leak apparently originated in a structure atop the county building.

Resolution would require Congress to limit bills to a single subject, eliminating the ability to tack unrelated amendments and other matters onto pending legislation. If approved, it would force such “stealth” items into the open for debate.

McCasky, who represents most of Lakewood as Jeffco’s District 2 commissioner, will takeover the leadership of the Jefferson Economic Council, a public/private economic development group after he resigns in February.

Supporters of Laura Boggs and citizens concerned that Jefferson County’s school board is trying to quash dissenting political views criticize the board’s action against Boggs during Thursday’s board meeting.

Christina and Eric Bear became alarmed by the number of deaths caused by radon and decided to launch a campaign urging the use of radon detectors and mitigation measures in homes and schools. They will take their message to Lakewood City Council in January.

Mayor’s 2010 wrap-up assessment credits city staff and “very, very engaged and active citizenry” as well as City Council for the city’s accomplishments. Neighborhoods, education and a falling crime rate also were at the top of the list in the mayor’s annual look-back.

Commissioners also appoint three new members to Library Board, two of them Lakewood residents, a day after announcement that libraries will not operate on Mondays. The closures are part of a cost-savings plan that also includes reduced hours for Edgewater, Wheat Ridge and Conifer community libraries.

Proposed changes would take city’s smoking ordinance past the requirements of state law if City Council endorses the panel’s recommendations when the issue moves to public hearing next fall.

Teacher, who is on administrative leave from his teaching and coaching positions, was ordered to avoid contact with anyone younger than 18 when his bond was set at $20,000 Friday.

City Council’s proposed Charter changes to allow longer prep time for special elections fail by nearly 4.000 votes each. Proposal to impound unlicensed drivers’ vehicles takes biggest ballot hit.

Budget calls for supplementing projected $1.6 million revenue-vs.-expenses lag with money from the reserve fund, but similar measures proved to be unneeded in 2009 and 2010, if year-to-date figures sales tax hold up.

Council goes on record against proposal that would require seizure of any vehicle driven by an unlicensed driver. Police say it would require more staff and raises too many questions.

Respondents urge retention and recruitment of small businesses but more than half don’t recognize the names of elected city leaders. The survey also finds considerable dissatisfaction with the way tax dollars are spent.

Grant money will fund five-year pilot program linking salaries to year-to-year improvements in student performance and other measures. Top teachers could earn more than $100,000 a year.

Student told the school resource officer he saw man with what appeared to be a handgun. Police searched the campus for hours without turning up anything suspicious by mid-afternoon although the search was continuing.