State lawmakers have introduced hundreds of bills since the annual legislative session began. Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Bente Birkeland talks about some of the lesser known ones with fellow statehouse reporters.

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The Business of Arts Center has a new director and a new show of marbled papers from around the world that opens tonight. Arts reporter Noel Black has more: [LISTEN].

An important show of contemporary and historical Colorado art is on display at the newly reopened Carriage House Museum at the Broadmoor. Arts reporter Noel Black has this: [LISTEN].

Colorado lawmakers unanimously approved a bill on Thursday that would let the Secretary of State more quickly re-test decertified electronic voting machines. The legislature is planning to fast track the bill so counties can be ready to hold elections in time for the August primary. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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Soaring uranium prices has energy companies eager to come prospecting in mineral rich Colorado. A pair of bills introduced in the state legislature yesterday aim to toughen the state’s mining reclamation standards, in advance of an expected uranium boom in northern Colorado and on the western slope. The measures are drawing praise from conservationists, and scorn from industry. KUNC’s Kirk Siegler has more.

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The head of the Colorado Department of Corrections briefed state lawmakers on Wednesday that the number of mentally ill inmates in Colorado’s prisons is soaring and the state needs more beds to house them. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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Lawmakers have pledged to fast track legislation aimed to make sure Colorado is ready for the 2008 presidential election now that counties can no longer use thousands of electronic voting machines because of security concerns. But a solution to deal with the problem is likely weeks away. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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State lawmakers have formed a committee to deal with a kicking incident on the House floor on Monday by Republican Representative Douglas Bruce. The Colorado Springs lawmaker is refusing to apologize to a Rocky Mountain News Photographer who took his picture during the morning prayer. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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Colorado lawmakers came back to the capitol last week for the start of the state’s annual legislative session. Governor Bill Ritter gave his state of the state speech Thursday. Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Bente Birkeland analyses the speech with fellow statehouse reporters.

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In 1993, former army medic Greg Mortenson attempted to climb K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, which is located on the China-Pakistan border. Mortenson didn’t make it to the summit. Exhausted and disappointed, he got lost on his descent and stumbled into a Pakistani village, where locals generously nursed him back to health. When Mortenson saw schoolchildren there using sticks in the dirt for lessons, he found his calling: building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This week Greg Mortenson will visit Colorado Springs to discuss his experiences working in the heart of Taliban country. KRCC’s Michelle Mercer has the story.

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Event information:
GREG MORTENSON AT CC
01.15.2008
GREG MORTENSON, AUTHOR OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING BOOK THREE CUPS OF TEA, WILL DISCUSS HIS EXPERIENCES IN PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN IN A FREE LECTURE TITLED “ONE MAN’S MISSION TO PROMOTE PEACE… ONE SCHOOL AT A TIME” AT COLORADO COLEGE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 15TH. Sponsored by the UCCS Center for Homeland Security.
• INFO: 7 P.M., COLORADO COLLEGE, SHOVE MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1010 N. NEVADA AVE., 389-6607.

Read an extended account at the Colorado Springs Independent: [HERE]