RAFT COMPANY USES WAIVER IN ITS DEFENSE

ASPEN» A rafting company says it can’t be held responsible for the 2016 death of a Maryland man because the victim signed a waiver before entering the boat.

Aspen Whitewater Rafting filed a counterclaim Aug. 8 in the U.S. District Court of Denver in a lawsuit brought by Allison Parker accusing the outfitter of negligence and fraud.

Parker’s 58-year-old husband, James Abromitis, died June 15, 2016, after being ejected from a boat during a rafting trip on the Roaring Fork River.

The Aspen Times reports the outfitter noted that Abromitis and Parker signed a release that included an agreement not to sue for any loss or injury. The counterclaim contends Parker committed breach of contract by filing the lawsuit and should pay expenses associated with the litigation.

Inmate dies at jail.

COUNTY» The ARAPAHOE sheriff’s office is investigating the death of an inmate Friday at the jail. The 46-year-old woman had been booked Thursday morning. Deputies found her unresponsive in her cell when she did not appear for lunch.

The death is being investigated. No additional information was available. Arapahoe County did not identify the woman, pending notification of relatives.

Xcel Energy, steelmaker reach power agreement.

PUEBLO» Xcel Energy and a Pueblo steel fabricator have reached a long-term electricity contract that guarantees the steelmaker price certainty for 22 years.

Xcel Energy and EVRAZ Pueblo announced Thursday that the agreement also clears the path for a potential major upgrade and expansion of the 1,000worker mill. The power contract requires EVRAZ to make key investments by 2024, the Pueblo Chieftain reported.

EVRAZ was hoping to get low electricity prices before committing to unspecified upgrade and expansion projects of about $500 million.

The companies’ agreement is awaiting review by the state Public Utilities Commission.

EVRAZ Pueblo is Xcel’s largest customer in the state.

Officer’s condition improves.

COLORADO

The condition of a police officer shot Aug. 2 has improved from critical to serious, police said Friday. Officer Cem Duzel, responding to a report of shots fired near the Olympic Training Center, allegedly was shot by 31-yearold Karrar Noaman alKhammasi. Al-Khammasi, an Iraqi refugee, has been charged with attempted murder. He is being held at the El Paso County jail.

Louisville firm among those selected for NASA study.

To foster commercial activity in space, NASA has selected 13 companies to study the future of commercial human spaceflight in low-Earth orbit, including long-range opportunities for the International Space Station. Louisville’s Sierra Nevada Corporation is one of those 13 companies, according to NASA.

The studies will assess the potential growth of a low-Earth orbit economy and how to best stimulate private demand for commercial human spaceflight. The portfolio of selected studies will include specific industry concepts detailing business plans and viability for habitable platforms, whether using the space station or separate free-flying structures, the release said.

Pickup crashes into light pole; one dead.

BOULDER»

One person died when his pickup crashed into a light pole and burst into flames.

The crash occurred at 11:23 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of 30th Street and Colorado Avenue, police Sgt. Fred Gerhardt said.

Gerhardt said the 2006 Ford F-150 pickup, driven