On Monday Colorado lawmakers will hear a bill that would require the state to run a primarily all paper ballot election. That means most people would no longer be using electronic voting machines at the polls this fall. Colorado came up with this alternative after the state decertified thousands of electronic voting machines for failing to pass security tests. The bill has drawn criticism from county clerks who want to use an all mail ballot election instead. Bente Birkeland talks with reporters about the voting situation as part of our ongoing capitol conversation series.
The house judiciary committee is expected to vote on Wednesday (March 5th) on a bill that would give people who were sexually abused as children more time to sue their perpetrators. Lawmakers heard hours of testimony from nearly 40 survivors earlier this month (or last month) but the bill has been delayed for weeks. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Finding a good doctor isn’t always easy, and if you live in rural Colorado, it can be a challenge to find a doctor at all. About a third of the counties in this state can count the number of physicians practicing in them on one hand.
In Crowley County, there’s only one doctor, who’s in his 70s, and he only works there a day and a half a week. KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney has this story on efforts to help other health care providers in these medically underserved counties pick up the slack.
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Friday marks the end of black history month, and Colorado has had some historic firsts this year when it comes to African American politicians. Bente Birkeland sat down with Democratic Senate President Peter Groff to talk about some of them.
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The old adage about the check being in the mail is almost a reality with the recent passage of an economic stimulus package. The President and members of Congress moved quickly on the relief measure– but as KUNC’s Brian Larson reports– it’s anyone’s guess if the 168-billion dollar plan will have people spending the nation out of its current economic downturn…
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News headlines that tell us there are more than 11 million AIDS orphans in Africa are almost too much to comprehend. A few years ago Woodland Park resident Amy Gillespie saw one of those headlines and decided she had to do something, and not just write a check.
Six weeks later she’d quit her job, packed up her belongings and was on her way to Mozambique, one of the poorest countries on earth. Now, after several false starts, and lots of long hours and hard work, she’s on the cusp of making a real difference. KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney has her story.
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Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has backed away from earlier pledges to expand health care coverage to all Coloradans by 2010. Ritter says it’s not realistic, given the state’s financial situation. But that hasn’t stopped some democrats from continuing to push for universal health care. Kirk Siegler of KUNC has an update on health care reform efforts at the state capitol.
A bi-partisan group of state lawmakers unveiled a long awaited bill that will determine how Colorado holds the presidential election in November. They want to use paper ballots after earlier tests revealed security problems with electronic voting machines. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Aurielle AndharaThe Canadian corporation Lexam plans to drill natural gas test wells on the Baca National Wildlife Refuge just outside the quiet town of Crestone–and near Colorado College’s Baca campus. In response, San Luis Valley Citizens Alliance Executive Director Aurielle Andhara has made a documentary, Rural Impact, which addresses the impacts of oil and gas drilling on rural communities. Another recent documentary on drilling, Last Hat in Town, deals more specifically with its effect on residents of the Western Slope. KRCC’s Michelle Mercer spoke with the two documentary directors and brings us this report.
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A public comment period is open between now and March 2nd to voice concerns regarding the drilling and to call for a full Environmental Impact Statement.
Email comments on the draft EA should be submitted to Baca_EA@fws.gov.
Hard copies should be mailed to:
Mike Blenden
USFWS
9383 El Rancho Lane
Alamosa, CO 81101
Questions about the commenting process should be directed to mike_blenden@fws.gov, 719-589-4021.
Colorado’s controversial ethics in government law is now back in play. On Monday the state supreme court overturned an earlier decision from the Denver District Court that temporarily blocked amendment 41 from taking effect. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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