COMMENTARY: CONTROL YOUR PIT BULL, PLEASE
Commentator Sandy Knauf doesn’t think pit bulls should be banned, but as a mother with a neighbor who has a pit bull, she says she’s worried. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

“LOVE A BULLY” PROTEST FOR DOG RIGHTS
A couple of weeks ago on Western Skies we reported on how citywide bans on pit bulls in Denver and Aurora were resulting in dozens of the iron-jawed canines being sent south to the Colorado Springs area. We now offer two contrasting views on pit bulls. The first from Tracy Green, who is organizing this Saturday’s “Love a Bully” march against breed-specific bans on dogs. It starts at 10 a.m. at Monument Valley Park, and Green says, if you come, you should leave your dog at home. Green explains what “Love a Bully” is all about. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

CANDIDATES STRUGGLE TO WIN DISTICT CONTAINING ASPEN AND ALAMOSA
What do the towns of Alamosa and Aspen have in common? Nominally, they’re both in Colorado, although Alamosa has a distinctive northern New Mexico flavor to it, and Aspen, demographically anyway, has more in common with Manhattan or Hollywood than the rest of the state. So it’s curious that state senate district five takes in both towns, as well as much of the San Luis Valley and Salida and Buena Vista in the upper Arkansas Valley. The fifth district’s senator is currently Lew Entz, a republican potato farmer from Hooper. He’s being challenged this year by Gail Schwartz, a democrat University of Colorado Regent from Snowmass Village. Kirk Siegler of Aspen Public Radio has this look at the two contestants. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

SPITEFUL ATTACKS DEFINE RACE FOR COLORADO’S 4TH DISTRICT
Also fiercely competitive this year is the race for Colorado’s 4th District house seat. The 4th is a sprawling district that includes Weld and Larimer Counties – in addition to much of the eastern plains. Conservative Republican Marilyn Musgrave squared off against Democratic opponent Angie Paccione in Windsor Tuesday night. Also present was Reform Party Candidate Eric Eidsness. KUNC’s Brian Larson reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

THE HARDEST CONGRESSIONAL SEAT FROM COLORADO TO WIN
Bob Beauprez’ decision to run for governor opened up Colorado’s newest seat in Congress, the one representing the 7th Congressional District. The 7th is a sprawling, L-shaped conglomeration of mostly of Denver suburbs, and almost evenly split between Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters. KUNC’s Nancy Greenleese reports on the Democratic former state lawmaker and Republican ex-cabinet member who are duking it out. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

FBI INVESTIGATES BEAUPREZ CAMPAIGN – DOES IT MATTER?
Last week the FBI began investigating whether Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bob Beauprez broke a federal law to get information for an attack against Democrat Bill Ritter. The scandal has been front page news, but as Bente Birkeland found, many voters say they’re not paying much attention. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

STATE HOUSE RACES PART 2: ANNA LORD VS. BOB GARDNER
Democrats in El Paso County feel like one of their strongest candidates for the state legislature is Anna Lord, a 45-year-old member of the Manitou Springs School Board who is running for state office for the first time.
Her opponent is Bob Gardner, a former Republican party chairman who has been active in local campaigns for the last 15 years. The 52-year-old Gardner is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel.
Lord and Gardner are running for the open seat in House District 21, which is being vacated by Republican Keith King, who is term limited. District 21 takes in southwestern El Paso County and eastern Fremont County. Earlier this month, Gardner and Lord faced off at a candidate forum in Canon City.
[LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

TERM LIMITS FOR JUDGES? A LOOK AT AMENDMENT 40
Term limits for judges? That’s what backers of Amendment 40 on this year’s state ballot are advocating. The say Colorado’s courts are out of control and term limits are needed to reign in activist judges. A growing list of opponents are fighting this proposed constitutional amendment. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

STATE HOUSE RACES PART ONE: CLOER VS. VARNEY IN DISTRICT 17
House District 17 is roughly the territory south of downtown Colorado Springs to the Pueblo county line, bounded on the west by highway 115, and on the east by Interstate 25. Democrat Christine Varney, a first time candidate, is facing an uphill battle against incumbent Republican Mark Cloer. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

COMMENTARY: GUILT
Commentator Eva Syrovy remembers when she thought guilt was a bad thing, but now, as a mother, she’s not so sure. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]