Calling it a “historic day,” City Council members on Monday praised a proposed agreement to lease Memorial Health System to University of Colorado Health and pledged support for the proposal.

Details of the lease agreement, which voters will decide in an Aug. 28 special election, were released Friday. City Attorney Chris Melcher walked council through the lease at Monday’s informal meeting, and there will be a public meeting on the proposal at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave.

Read more here about the praise heaped Monday on the proposed deal.

WEATHER

Mostly sunny Tuesday with a high near 80 degrees. Tuesday night, isolated showers before 9 p.m. with a low around 52.

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AROUND COLORADO

Boulder County sheriff expands fire restrictions

BOULDER (AP) — The Boulder County sheriff has expanded restrictions on fires in unincorporated Boulder County to prohibit all open burning indefinitely.

The Daily Camera reports the expanded ban became effective 5 p.m. Monday. It includes fireworks, campfires, bonfires, charcoal grills, agricultural burning, blasting, welding, slash piles and the use of model rockets.

Only liquid gas or propane-fired cooking stoves can be used outdoors.

Violators could face a $500 fine.

The expanded ban was enacted amid hot, dry conditions that have the potential to fuel large wildfires, like an out-of-control fire in northern Colorado that has been blamed for one death and damage to 118 structures.

Weld County commissioners OK drought declaration

GREELEY (AP) — Weld County commissioners have unanimously passed a resolution declaring a disaster emergency amid drought conditions.

The resolution they passed Monday asks Gov. John Hickenlooper to also declare a disaster affecting Weld County and to issue an order easing restrictions on irrigation wells so farmers can pump water to their fields from underground supplies for 30 days.

County Commissioner Sean Conway says there’s only about a one- to two-week window to get the wells turned on to save this year’s crops and avert an agricultural disaster.

Ranch inheritance dispute blamed for 3 deaths

DURANGO (AP) — Authorities say a 69-year-old Durango man who was upset about not inheriting his mother’s ranch killed two relatives before taking his own life.

The Durango Herald reports that William Decker also had been under investigation in a case related to child pornography before he died.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Dan Bender said the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents seized items from Decker’s home in April.

Bender said authorities received a suspicious phone call from a farm about 30-miles southwest of Durango on Friday and found Decker dead. They found body of his nephew, Robert Decker, in a shallow grave on the property.

Police found Robert Decker’s mother, 67-year old Billie Decker, dead at her Durango home.

William Decker’s mother died in April and left the property to Robert Decker.

Driver in accident that killed 5 goes on trial

BRIGHTON (AP) — A jury has been seated in the trial of a woman accused in a crash that killed five people in Thornton.

The Denver Post reports opening arguments are scheduled Tuesday in the trial of Monica Chavez.

Prosecutors say that after she had a seizure-like episode in 2006, a doctor told her not to drive until she saw a neurologist. Chavez told investigators she couldn’t afford to see one.

She is charged with criminally negligent homicide in the deaths of 34-year-old Randy Stollsteimer, 31-year-old Crystaldawn Stollsteimer and their three children, ages 7, 9, and 12 after the crash on Feb. 17, 2011.

She also faces charges of child abuse because children were in her SUV at the time.

Chavez told investigators that she doesn’t remember the accident.

Jury convicts wrong-way driver in fatal I-25 crash

DENVER (AP) — A woman accused of causing a fatal crash while driving the wrong way on Interstate 25 last year has been convicted of vehicular homicide.

Jurors also convicted Victoria Barry on Monday of driving under the influence and one count of third-degree assault. She was acquitted of a second count of third-degree assault.

Prosecutors say Barry was drunk when she drove south in the northbound lanes of I-25 the night of May 14, 2011. She crashed into a car driven by 31-year-old Lilly Duncan of Colorado Springs. Duncan was killed. Prosecutors say Barry also crashed into a second car, injuring another person.

Barry faces up to 12 years in prison at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Aug. 2.

Chipotle names music acts for 2 free festivals

DENVER (AP) — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. says musicians G. Love & Special Sauce and Allen Stone are set to perform during a free festival it is curating in Chicago, and the indie bands Best Coast and Okkervil River are scheduled to play at a similar festival in Denver.

The Denver-based burrito chain says the Cultivate Food, Ideas & Music Festival will be held Sept. 15 in Lincoln Park in Chicago and Oct. 6 in Denver’s City Park.

The company says the festivals will include cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs and other activities emphasizing fresh, affordable food made with sustainable ingredients.

It hasn’t disclosed its costs for the events.

Chipotle says proceeds from beer and wine sales in the festival’s tasting tents will be donated to FamilyFarmed.org, which works with family farmers.

TODAY IN HISTORY

In 1931, Gangster Al Capone and 68 of his henchmen are indicted for violating Prohibition laws.

HAPPENINGS

— “Dream Big with…Kathy’s Kritter Karavan,” children’s summer reading program, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., Briargate Branch Library, 9475 Briar Village Point, free.

— “Magician Bruce Black Dreams Big…Read,” children’s summer reading program, 10:30 a.m., Ruth Holley Library Branch, 685 N. Murray Blvd., free.

— “Dream Big with…Baskets of Bunnies,” children’s summer reading program, 10:30 a.m., Fountain Library Branch, 230 S. Main St., Fountain, free.

— “The Scarlet Sisters and Salida Circus Dream Big,” children’s summer reading program, 10:30 a.m., Monument Library Branch, 1706 Lake Woodmoor Drive, Monument, free.

— “Father’s Day Mug” make-it take it for ages 3 and older, 6-8 p.m., local Michaels, 2140 Southgate Road; 3040 N. Powers Blvd.; 7664 N. Academy Blvd., free with purchase of mug, while supplies last.

— Open Mic, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Townhouse Lounge, 907 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs.