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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Winter Energy Bills Put CO Family Budgets in a ‘Deep Freeze’

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Friday, October 26, 2007   

Denver, CO – With winter on the way, thousands of Colorado families are already feeling a chill as they watch their home energy bills creep upward. Skip Arnold with Energy Outreach Colorado says he expects nearly 100,000 low-income families in Colorado to receive help for heating costs from various agencies and organizations this season. But he warns the amount of help available has been diminishing, because of spending cutbacks on both state and federal levels.

"The combination of cutbacks and more people applying will make this year's average benefit the lowest since 2002."

While the amount might be enough to cover a month or two of energy bills, Arnold says for many families, something else will have to be cut from the family budget when energy assistance runs out.

"They end up sacrificing medical care, food and other necessities just in order to pay the heating bill. Home energy prices were the second leading cause of homelessness in Colorado. It's an incredibly important issue to these families."

Arnold says anyone needing energy assistance can call 1-866-HEAT-HELP or attend the "Energy Assistance Expo" today in Denver. Attendees can learn more about energy assistance, how to apply for help and weatherization programs aimed a lowering heating costs.

Additional information is available on Energy Outreach Colorado's website, www.energyoutreach.org.


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