Key education proposals from legislative leaders have recently started gaining traction at the statehouse. Bente Birkeland talks about some of these measures with other political reporters.

A bill to allow public schools the flexibility to be more innovative passed unanimously out of the senate education committee on Thursday despite earlier concerns from the teacher’s union. Senate President Peter Groff says the landmark legislation is his top priority for the session. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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Colorado students would no longer be able to buy sugary sodas from high school vending machines, under a bill that passed out of a senate education committee on Wednesday. The sponsor says the state needs the bill to help stop the trend of childhood obesity. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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A bill that would require developers to show they can provide enough water for the homes they build cleared a house committee on Tuesday with bi-partisan support. Lawmakers say it sets a standard for cities to plan for their future water needs. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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The days when kids were told to be seen and not heard may be long gone, but lawmakers at the capitol say that’s still somewhat the case when it comes to the legislative process. A measure to create a state youth advisory council passed unanimously out of the house education committee on Monday. Students from southwest Colorado helped come up with the idea that’s modeled after several other states. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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Term limits are forcing out some of the state’s top leaders from both parties. The highest ranking Democrat in the house will be gone next year. The Republican leader in the senate is also leaving office… and politics. The sixty-seven year old Colorado Springs lawmaker says his days of running for office and serving on boards and commissions are over. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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The state’s legislative session is about a third of the way through and we’re only now just starting to see some of the big initiatives lawmakers have been talking about. Bente Birkeland discusses the current climate with her fellow reporters.

Lunch room tent that's used at Indian Peaks Charter School in Granby

Educators from around Colorado were at the Capitol on Thursday testifying in favor of a bill to fix unsafe schools. Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff is sponsoring the measure and says school buildings are literally falling apart. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Conservation, carpooling, economic recession or simply the time of the year. Take your pick. As KUNC’s Brian Larson reports they’re all factors that could possibly lead to lower gasoline prices, as we get closer to transitioning from winter to spring…

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Governor Bill Ritter announced plans to reform the state’s health care system on Wednesday. The plan focuses on improving quality, cutting waste and expanding care for more of the states uninsured children, but it still falls short of his long term vision of covering every child by 2010. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.