Mile-High Headlines for Wednesday, November 19

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Allard: Phoenix Rising? Could retiring Senator Wayne Allard be the next president of Colorado State University? That’s the question asked by The Greeley Tribune, which quotes the Republican as saying he was surprised supporters are lobbying on his behalf. He then said he’d “seriously” consider the position if offered. Whomever is selected as president will replace Larry Penley, who unexpectedly announced he’d step down as president earlier this month. Penley had been chided for spending too much on his administration and sports, and now, amid economic challenges, the university is cutting $500,000 from its budget, according to the Northern Colorado Business Report. A variety of administration positions will be eliminated, according to a memo by Interim President Tony Frank. Penley resigned more than one year before his contract expired to consider other opportunities, and, as CSU’s student paper, The Rocky Mountain Collegian, reported previously, walks away with $389,000 in university money. Finally, the Truth About Gulf War Syndrome The million-dollar question (or perhaps multibillion-dollar question): Now that Gulf War Syndrome is known to be a real and debilitating condition, what will be done for the 175,000 U.S. veterans of the 1991 war in Iraq who suffer from it? Proof that the illness is real came this week, as a panel revealed its causes, such as exposure to chemicals and anti-nerve-gas vaccination. Up to 25 percent of American and British troops deployed to the war are said to suffer from the syndrome, which causes chronic headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, and a laundry list of other ailments, according to USA Today. “They were told they were crazy,” The Denver Post notes, and now veterans feel vindicated yet jilted because it took so long to investigate. The Los Angeles Times was stunned that the initial news, which came earlier this week, “failed to find a place on the front page of a single major newspaper” while wondering what steps would now be taken to care for veterans with the malady. Meanwhile, a homeless vet in Colorado Springs details the difficulties of living on the streets in that military town in this video from CSAction and the Colorado Veterans Alliance. Run Dick, Run Dick Wadhams is smart enough to do things like make announcements “likely to ward off” his enemies. And when you’re Wadhams, the chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, these days the stiffest competition is from the inside. Following a pathetic performance on Election Day, including his handling of former Congressman Bob Schaffer’s campaign for U.S. Senate, Wadhams, who was criticized for failures by some in his party, says he’ll nonetheless run to become chairman again. According to PolitickerCO, he hopes to avoid a challenge from El Paso County GOP Chairman Greg Garcia. But Garcia, “glad to hear” the news that Wadhams will run, says he doesn’t have plans of his own. Mike Hesse, a longtime party figure, Denver GOP Chairwoman Mary Smith, and Republican operative Sean Duffy will not run either, according to The Denver Post, which was hard-pressed to find challengers in the wake of Wadhams’ announcement. Salazar, Dems, Make Nice with Lieberman Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut Democrat-turned-independent-turned-John McCain backer: You are forgiven. The powerful Democrats shall allow you to keep your chairmanship on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. However, you are no longer a chairman of an Environment and Public Works subcommittee, according to The New York Times. The deal, Joe, is a “wrist slap.” Feel free to sigh in relief and then go play nice in the Democratic caucus. Don’t forget to thank Colorado Senator Ken Salazar, whom, The Denver Post notes, kindly helped arrange the deal, saying during a recent meeting, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” But the vote was 42-13, as The Colorado Independent points out. Apparently, Joe, you’re in for a sit-down with Senators Pat Leahy and Bernie Sanders. Oh, and if you ever, ever, support a Republican for president again–ever… Hirst: Art is Pretty Damn Expensive Damien Hirst, regarded a father of Britart, last year saw a sculpture made up of pills called “Lullaby Spring” sell at auction for £9.65 million–an incredible feat for the work of an artist who isn’t yet dead. However, the 43-year-old, whose works are now on display at the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, admits the art market is overpriced these days, according to Britain’s Independent. Given the recession, Hirst is welcoming the prospect that his work will sell for a bit less. It turns out his painting of four skulls, “Beautiful Artemis Thor Neptune Odin Delusional Sapphic Inspirational Hypnosis Painting,” valued at $3 million, didn’t sell at a New York auction last week. Hirst’s place in the world beyond the contemporary art niche “remains hotly debated,” according to The Denver Post. And his Denver showing, which includes animals preserved in formaldehyde, raises “ethical concerns” for a Westword critic. CU’s Laser Tag University of Colorado fans needed anything on Saturday night as the Buffs struggled against Oklahoma State–anything. How ’bout a green laser beam?  Yahoo’s Rivals blog reports that as the Buffs struggled, someone in the crowd pointed a pen laser at Oklahoma quarterback Zac Robinson just before a third-down snap in the second quarter. The ploy didn’t help. There was a timeout, and then Robinson threw a 29-yard touchdown pass, helping Oklahoma in its 30-17 win. Three Raps Make the 20 Bob Bradley, the coach of the U.S. men’s soccer team, has named his roster of 20 for tonight’s World Cup qualifier match against Guatemala at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. Three Colorado Rapids made the list, according to 90 Minutes Soccer Magazine: Pablo Mastroeni, Connor Casey, and Cory Gibbs. Freddy Adu, who now plays for Monaco AS, was also among those called to action, along with Brad Guzan, a goalkeeper for England’s Aston Villa. U.S. Basketball Heads West USA Basketball will move its headquarters out of Colorado Springs to a vast training facility in Glendale, Arizona, that includes “high-end” amenities such as a 150-room hotel. The multicourt complex is near the Phoenix Coyotes’ Jobing.com Arena and the University of Phoenix Stadium, where the Arizona Cardinals play, according to the National Basketball Association. Cheapest Gallon of Gas ‘Round Here: $1.69, Conoco, 19220 E Main Street @ South Parker Road (via www.gasbuddy.com). Email relevant articles to michael@5280.com.