7News reported Allard's scheduled attendance at VA hospital ceremony, omitted Ritter's and Udall's

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

KMGH 7News reported that Republican U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard would attend a ceremony marking the approval of federal funding for a new veterans hospital in Aurora. But co-anchor Katie Trexler did not note that Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Udall also were to take part in the event.

During the April 4 broadcast of KMGH's 7News at 5:30 a.m., co-anchor Katie Trexler reported that Republican U.S. “Senator Wayne Allard is taking part in a ceremony today” to announce the approval of $98 million in federal funding for a new veterans hospital near the Fitzsimons medical campus in Aurora. But Trexler omitted the fact that Democratic elected officials, including Gov. Bill Ritter and U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, also were scheduled to attend the ceremony.

From the April 4 broadcast of KMGH's 7News at 5:30 a.m.:

TREXLER: A new veterans hospital is set to be built on the new Fitzsimons medical campus in Aurora. Senator Wayne Allard is taking part in a ceremony today, when the head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will announce the approval of $98 million to buy the land for the new hospital. Many have complained that the old veterans hospital is inadequate. This one is going to be within walking distance of the new University Hospital there at Fitzsimons. So, the two could share services.

In contrast, the Rocky Mountain News reported on April 4 that “Jim Nicholson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is going to Aurora to announce he has $98 million and the authority to buy the necessary land and start the final design work for the hospital on the new Fitzsimons medical campus.” The News continued:

“This thing is going to be a reality,” said Steve Wymer, spokesman for Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

Allard, who sits on the Senate's Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, worked closely with the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer and Nicholson on the hospital plans.

The News further noted that “Allard, Gov. Bill Ritter, Rep. Mark Udall, Tauer, other community leaders and veterans will attend the announcement at Fitzsimons this afternoon.”