SUNRISE: Teenage girl killed in crash ID’d; passengers recovering [Gazette, The (CO)]

Colorado State Patrol has identified the 17-year-old Colorado Springs girl killed Tuesday night in a car crash at the intersection of Marksheffel Road and Fontaine Boulevard.

Bethany Maes' Honda Accord ran through a stop sign heading west on Fontaine and was broadsided by a utility truck, state patrolers said.

Maes' three passengers - 15-year-old Briana Medina-Martinez, 11- year-old Curtis Martinez and 6-year-old Grace Morales, all of Colorado Springs - were injured, state patrol said. Morales' injuries were considered life-threatening, state patrol said early Wednesday morning.

Read more about the crash and the investigation at gazette.com

Bring in the New Year with a hike

If you're out on New Years Eve, it might serve you well to remember that the weather on New Years Day should be sunny and warm, so why not greet the new year with a hike?

As part of America's State Parks' "First Day Hikes" initiative, 11 state parks in Colorado will offer naturalist-guided hikes and other events on New Year's Day. There will be hikes in Cheyenne Mountain, Mueller and Eleven Mile state parks as well as eight other parks across Colorado.

For a list of hikes and parks near Colorado Springs, please take a look at outtherecolorado.com.

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1911: Chicken thieves went about their work Tuesday night, unmolested, as usual. This time William Fisher was the loser of two fat turkeys, which were being put in readiness for New Years by their owner. The thieves cut the fence of the poultry yard and proceeded to help themselves. The activities of chicken thieves are getting to be almost nightly.

WEATHER

The National Weather Service predicts a high of 56 degrees Wednesday, with an overnight low of 33 degrees. The last week of 2011 will see much of the same: warm temperatures and clear skies.

AROUND COLORADO

Arapahoe County shooting victim fled Sudan violence

DENVER (AP) - A 43-year-old man found dead near his home in Arapahoe County was an immigrant who fled violence in Sudan.

Youn Malual was found shot once through the head at about 3 a.m. Monday in his SUV in the parking lot of his apartment complex.

The Denver Post reported that the husband and father of five fled the civil war in what is now South Sudan six years ago. Investigators have no suspects and no apparent motive for the shooting.

The sheriff's office says Malual's wallet and debit card were not taken and that the shooting doesn't appear to be a botched robbery.

Friends say he was returning home from his job working on buses when he was shot.

Colorado sheriff's deputy accused of beating resigns

JULESBURG, Colo. (AP) - A Sedgwick County official says a sheriff's deputy accused of beating a 63-year-old physically handicapped man has resigned.

County Commissioner Glen Sandquist told The Denver Post Tuesday that deputy Darin Poole resigned from the sheriff's office after being placed on administrative leave.

Poole is accused of beating Steven Dye after a traffic stop on July 4. Poole says Dye was resisting arrest.

Dye has filed paperwork saying he intends to seek damages from the sheriff's office.

Residents of the county in northeastern Colorado tried to recall Sheriff Randy Peck but did not get enough votes. Those leading the recall effort were complaining of what they called brutality from the sheriff's department.

Overnight park closures proposed in Boulder

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Boulder will take public comment on a proposal to close city parks and open spaces overnight to address what officials say are safety and health concerns over the Occupy Boulder movement.

The hearing scheduled for Jan. 3 is in response to City Manager Jane Brautigam's proposal to close parks from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Occupy Boulder members recently moved tents near the city's municipal offices.

The Boulder Daily Camera reported Tuesday that Occupy Boulder members say having the hearing is a victory. They oppose the proposal to close the parks to loiterers and campers overnight.

Coloradans can make money by losing weight

DENVER (AP) - Insurance company Kaiser Permanente Colorado is offering cash to Coloradans to lose weight and keep it off.

Companies have been making similar offers to their employees for years as a way to reduce obesity in the workplace and lower health costs.

But Kaiser is taking it one step further and making the offer to any adult in Colorado through its Weigh and Win program. It's one of the first in the nation to make such an offer to all adults.

Participants earn anywhere from $15 to $150 every three months to lose weight and keep it off.

Twelve kiosks with scales and a video camera to record progress are located in medical facilities, recreation centers, libraries and even a furniture retail store are located throughout the state.

TODAY'S HAPPENINGS

-- "Circus Toy Workshop with the Salida Circus" family fun, 10:30 a.m., Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave., free.

-- "Winter Break Lego's" children's program, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Briargate Branch Library, 9475 Briar Village Point, free.

-- "Gert's Tissue Paper Crafting Event" make-it take-it for children ages 3 and older, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., local Michaels Stores, free, while supplies last.

-- "History Buffs," 1 p.m., Monument Library Branch, 1706 Lake Woodmoor Drive, Monument, free.

-- "Children's Holiday Party," 2:30-3:30 p.m., Ruth Holley Library Branch, 685 N. Murray Blvd., free.

-- "Wednesday Night Movie - The Help," 6-9 p.m., Fountain Library Branch, 230 S. Main St., Fountain, free.

-- Bluegrass jam, 7-9 p.m., Townhouse Lounge, 907 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, no cover.

-- Blues jamm, 7:30 p.m., Southside Johnny's, 528 S. Tejon St.