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March 31, 2008
Capitol Conversation
March 31, 2008 3:24 PM
State representatives have passed Colorado's 17.6 billion dollar budget... now senators will debate the bill. We're likely see many of the same arguments for and against the budget from both parties. Bente Birkeland discusses the budget as part of our ongoing capitol conversation series.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 3:24 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
Interstate 70 Toll
March 31, 2008 3:22 PM
A senate transportation committee has backed a Republican proposal to use tolls on a portion of interstate 70, while rejecting a Democratic measure. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 3:22 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
Lawmakers Debate State Budget
March 31, 2008 3:18 PM
Passing a budget is the only thing the state constitution requires lawmakers to do during their 120 day legislative session. It funds everything from roads to preschool programs. Legislators in the house spent hours debating changes to the 616 page bill on Wednesday. Next week the senate will take up the measure. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 3:18 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 26, 2008
Unsafe Water in Alamosa
March 26, 2008 6:36 PM
Story one:
Story two:
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 6:36 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Colorado , Health
Alan Gottlieb: Visiting Writers Series
March 26, 2008 5:48 PM
Colorado College alumnus Alan Gottlieb will read from his novel, "Ultimate Excursions," a novel featuring Tim Lake, a Peace Corps worker. Seeking a respite from the stresses of Peace Corps life in rural Ecuador, Lake embarks on a vacation to Peru that starts as an innocent journey that devolves into chaos. Sponsored by the Visiting Writers Series.
Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Gates Common Room, third floor of Palmer Hall, 1025 N. Cascade Ave. (east of Tutt Library) (map)
Tickets: free
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 5:48 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Entertainment
Conservation Easements
March 26, 2008 4:49 PM
In western Colorado's Garfield County, ranchers are banding together to conserve thousands of acres of prized agricultural land, as pressures for development rise. But fraud surrounding a state tax credit that's helping protect land like this has lawmakers pushing for reforms--and many who legitimately used the tax credit, worried about the future of the program. From KUNC, Kirk Siegler reports.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 4:49 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
Severance Tax Ballot Measure
March 26, 2008 4:44 PM
Increasing the severance tax rate for Colorado's booming energy industry gained more traction on Tuesday thanks to Governor Bill Ritter. The additional money would pay for higher education, roads, wildlife and environmental impacts. Currently Colorado's tax rate falls well below those of neighboring states. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 4:44 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 25, 2008
CU Breath Analysis
March 25, 2008 4:54 PM
The future of early disease detection may be in the hands-- or more specifically the mouths of researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder. As KUNC's Brian Larson reports, CU's own Nobel Prize winning laser technology is uniting the fields of physics and medicine though breath analysis...
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 4:54 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Health
Bill Readers
March 25, 2008 2:39 PM
It was common practice in the 18th century for statehouses across the country to have people read bills out loud -- because a lot of lawmakers couldn't read themselves. The practice continued when Colorado became a state in 1876. And while the times may have changed, house and senate bill readers still play a crucial role in the political process. Bente Birkeland has more.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 2:39 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 24, 2008
Minturn Ski Resort
March 24, 2008 5:43 PM
In the Rockies, a new type of exclusive skiing experience is emerging, and some long time locals and ski bums aren't thrilled about it. Sandwiched between the famous ski resorts of Vail and Beaver Creek, the tiny old mining town of Minturn was long insulated from the gentrification of much of the Colorado Rockies. That changed dramatically this month, when the town's council gave the initial go ahead to a Florida developer to build a massive members-only private ski resort in the hills above Minturn. From KUNC, Kirk Siegler reports.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 5:43 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Entertainment , Environment
House Concerts
March 24, 2008 5:32 PM
In the digital age, people are searching for new ways to experience the intimacy of live music. Across the country, communities are building around folk-music house concerts, in which an artist or group of musicians--usually acoustic--perform in someone's living room to a small crowd.
After a two-year legal battle, Boulder County has passed one of the first ordinances in the country to legalize home events. Colorado Spring legalized house concerts seven years ago, but took a very different, less legislative approach.
Grace Hood reports.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 5:32 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Entertainment
March 21, 2008
Prayer Scarves
March 21, 2008 5:02 PM
Photo: Shanna Lewis
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 5:02 PM| Permalink | Comments (1) | Posted to Children & Youth , Colorado , Education
Capitol Conversation
March 21, 2008 3:11 PM
The Governor recently unveiled his proposal to change school standards. It's an effort to smooth the academic transition from high school to college, and make kids better prepared for the workforce. Lawmakers are also looking at a measure to scale back on statewide standardized tests known as the CSAP. Bente Birkeland talks with fellow statehouse reporters about the new initiatives.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 3:11 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 20, 2008
Voting Reversal
March 20, 2008 11:31 PM
State leaders have backed off a plan to switch to paper ballots for the presidential election. The reversal comes just weeks after lawmakers and the Governor said paper was the best way to conduct a safe and secure election. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 11:31 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 19, 2008
New Education Standards
March 19, 2008 11:29 PM
Governor Bill Ritter unveiled a long awaited proposal on Wednesday to reform school standards. The measure seeks to better prepare kids for college and the workforce, but it will likely be years before students would see real changes in the classroom. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 11:29 PM| Permalink | Comments (1) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 18, 2008
No New Film Incentives for Colorado
March 18, 2008 11:25 PM
Hollywood won't be coming to Colorado any time soon. State lawmakers defeated a bill on Tuesday that would have given movie producers tax incentives to film their movies in the Centennial state. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 11:25 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
Booze Bill Buzz-kill
March 18, 2008 5:30 PM
The bill that would allow Colorado liquor stores to open on Sundays has now passed both houses of the state legislature. Once the house and senate work out a minor amendment, it will go to Governor Ritter, who is expected to sign it into law.
But a scientific study suggests a move like that could cause about 1,300 more drunk driving accidents and 15 more drunk driving deaths each year, and could cost the state more than 40 million dollars annually.
So far, those numbers haven't been a part of lawmakers' calcualtions when debating whether to allow alcohol sales on Sundays.
KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney has more.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 5:30 PM| Permalink | Comments (2) | Posted to Health
March 17, 2008
Capitol Conversation
March 17, 2008 5:37 PM
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's resignation in the wake of a prostitution scandal shed light on more than just his own misdeeds. It also highlights the culture inside New York's state house. Reports indicate that many state lawmakers including fellow Democrats were relieved to see him leave. Spitzer was often accused of using his office's power to butt heads with the legislature unnecessarily. Rocky Mountain Community Radio's Bente Birkeland takes a look inside Colorado's political climate with fellow statehouse reporters.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 5:37 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 13, 2008
EPA, Ozone & Denver
March 13, 2008 10:17 AM
More than a decade after they were first put in place -- the Environmental Protection Agency has issued tougher standards for ground-level ozone pollution which is a major contributor to smog. But as KUNC's Brian Larson reports -- it's unclear how the requirements will impact Denver and the rest of the Front Range...
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 10:17 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Colorado , Environment
Medical Malpractice Measure Delayed
March 13, 2008 10:03 AM
State Lawmakers have delayed voting on a bill that would let injured and disfigured patients sue doctors for more money. Nearly 40 people signed up to testify against the bill, which narrowly passed the senate last week. The Democratic proposal faces opposition from both Republicans and Democrats. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 10:03 AM| Permalink | Comments (1) | Posted to Capitol Coverage , Health
March 12, 2008
Easements and Open Space
March 12, 2008 11:28 AM
Nearly a million acres of open space in Colorado has been protected through a popular program that entices landowners to permanently place their land into conservation easements. Landowners are eligible for up to a fifty percent tax break, if they enter into such a contract. But lately there have been abuses to that system, with some landowners grossly over-valuing their land. It's brought a swarm of bad publicity to a program that some see as the last means of protecting land from eager developers. The state House Finance Committee yesterday took up a bill that would bring more oversight to the easement program, but not abolish it outright. KUNC's Kirk Siegler reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 11:28 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 11, 2008
Trans Fat-free Manitou?
March 11, 2008 12:28 PM
In two American cities, a common food ingredient has become a controlled substance. Trans-fats, which are specially processed vegetable oils, have been banned for use in restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia. No one's going that far in Colorado, but there is a movement to get all the restaurants in Manitou Springs to voluntarily eliminate trans fats from their menus. KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney has the story.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 12:28 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Health , Manitou Springs
Ski Bum Carves Out Opportunities for the Disabled
March 11, 2008 12:17 PM
When the National Sports Center for the Disabled opened at the Winter Park resort in 1970, it didn't get an office with a mountain view -- or even a window. Founder Hal O'Leary worked in a broom closet, organizing ski lessons for children and adults with disabilities. Now 70 years old, he's still helping people sweep down the mountain and he's built the center into a global force in disabled athletics. The center's full-time instructors teach more than 30 thousand lessons annually and help train most of the U.S. disabled ski team's members. Nancy Greenleese has the profile of a ski bum who has carved out new opportunities for the disabled.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 12:17 PM| Permalink | Comments (1) | Posted to Colorado , Health , Indoor/Outdoor Recreation
March 7, 2008
Capitol Conversation
March 7, 2008 9:49 PM
A bi-partisan group of lawmakers wants to make it more difficult for citizens to change the state constitution. They say the constitution is a sacred document but worry it's becoming cluttered with minor provisions. The constitutional reform committee wants to put the question to voters on this year's ballot. But first, the referendum has to pass the legislature. Bente Birkeland talks to statehouse reporters about what's at stake.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 9:49 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
Democratic Convention Q and A
March 7, 2008 9:42 PM
The race for the Democratic presidential nomination shows no signs of letting up. With such a close delegate count between Senators Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton -- many are trying to figure out how to select a candidate and avoid having a brokered convention in the fall. Bente Birkeland has more from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 9:42 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 6, 2008
Severance Taxes for Local Communities
March 6, 2008 9:35 PM
Some local communities say they're not getting their fair share of the money generated from the oil and gas industry. A bill unanimously cleared a senate committee on Thursday that would more fairly distribute that money to energy impacted areas. The measure already passed the House and now heads to the full Senate for debate. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 9:35 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 5, 2008
Oil and Gas Rules
March 5, 2008 8:16 PM
During a hearing on Wednesday lawmakers from both parties expressed their concerns over new rules that aim to make sure Colorado's booming energy industry doesn't hurt wildlife. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 8:16 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 4, 2008
Severance Tax Debate
March 4, 2008 10:15 PM
Momentum is building both in and outside the Colorado Legislature to raise the state's severance tax rates on oil and gas developers. The effort has the backing of environmentalists and local leaders who have long sought tougher regulations on one of Colorado's most profitable industries. As Kirk Siegler of station KUNC reports, it appears a severance tax question may be the only tax measure to make its way before voters this fall.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 10:15 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
Sunday Liquor Sales Moving Forward
March 4, 2008 9:22 PM
Liquor sales on Sunday may soon be the new reality in Colorado. After years of fighting to block the measure liquor store owners are reluctantly supporting it because they say it's what their customers want. But convenience stores say it's not fair because only liquor stores can sell full strength beer. The bill has already cleared the senate and will be heard Wednesday in the house finance committee. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 9:22 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
March 3, 2008
Paper Ballot Hearing
March 3, 2008 9:11 PM
Election officials from across Colorado came to the capitol on Monday to oppose a bill that would limit the use of electronic voting machines this fall. The clerks say counties rely on those machines and it would cost millions of dollars to switch back to a paper ballot system. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Posted by Delaney Utterback at 9:11 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Capitol Coverage
