COMMENTARY: BUD GORDON
Bud Gordon looks over the legacy of Joel Hefley, who’s retiring after 10 consecutive terms as congressman for Colorado’s 5th congressional district. Gordon hopes its time for a real change. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

QUILLEN BOOK REVIEW
A new book documents the once dominant role the Ku Klux Klan used to play in Colorado politics. Ed Quillen, publisher of Colorado Central magazine has our review. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

WITNESS PROTECTION
The recent murder of a young couple willing to testify about a violent crime in Denver has lawmakers trying to reform Colorado’s witness protection program. The measure is seeing wide, bipartisan support. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

CAPITAL COVERAGE
Some state lawmakers want Colorado to join other states to buy prescription drugs in bulk. They say it will save millions, and make expensive drugs affordable for the nearly three-quarters of a million people without health insurance. Critics are calling the bill vindictive against drug manufacturers. Daniel Costello reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

SHERIFFS AND THEIR JAIL WOES
Last weekend’s escape from the Pueblo County jail was due in part to severe overcrowding. The facility holds more than twice as many inmates as it was designed for. The head of Colorado’s County Sheriff’s Association says Pueblo County is not alone. Meanwhile, just 35 miles west of Pueblo, a brand new 96-bed jail has sat empty for three years. Fremont County’s sheriff explains why. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

SLV TO GET HUGE SOLAR PLANT
A huge solar electricity generating station is coming to the San Luis Valley. Xcel energy says it plans to spend $50 to $60 million on the facility, to be completed in 2007. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

COMMENTARY : TEACHING IN THE SPRING
Springtime can be pretty cruel in Colorado. Warm, sunny days lure us outdoors, only to be pounded by snow and howling winds later in the week. The season’s behavior reminds middle school teacher Eva Syrovy of some of her students. But just like the promise of summer, she doesn’t give up on her kids. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

SHEEP MYSTERY
Across the West, wildlife biologists are being stumped by the mysterious deaths of bighorn sheep lambs. KUNC’s Brian Larson visits Rocky Mountain National park where scientists are investigating the decline in Colorado’s state mammal. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

STATE WILDLIFE AGENCY HIRES ENERGY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Oil and gas extraction is an $8 billion business in Colorado. Worried about the industry’s impact on animals, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has hired a special staffer to be their liaison with energy developers. A division manager and a wildlife advocate comment on the new hire. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

CAPITOL COVERAGE
House members move a statewide vote on same-sex domestic partnerships forward, and a bill extending the statute of limitations for sexual assault advances in the Senate. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]