When the fiscal year ends tonight, the ban on offshore oil drilling will be lifted, and another domestic energy source can also move forward, oil shale. Steve Zelaznik of RMCR member station KDNK explains.

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Colorado lawmakers cast votes on the Wall Street bailout plan plus a look at what the failure of the vote could mean…Colorado receives a grant to help some veterans entering the criminal justice system…and Gov. Ritter expresses opposition to Amendment 46.

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At a campaign stop in Westminster Senator Barack Obama urged Americans to remain calm in the wake of a financial crisis and the defeat of a 700 billion dollar financial bailout plan. It was Obama’s second campaign stop in Colorado since the Democratic National Convention. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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Governor Bill Ritter has come out swinging against a proposed constitutional initiative that he says would undo years of progress toward making the state’s workforce more culturally diverse. Dubbed the civil rights initiative, Amendment 46 would ban race and gender based hiring preferences in state government. KUNC‘s Kirk Siegler reports.

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As the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission considers controversial new rules to regulate the energy industry, landowners in the heart of the state’s energy boom are still struggling to cope with environmental and health effects associated with the development. KRCC’s Eryn Gable recently visited Garfield County and has more on the disconnect between how industry and residents view the state of things in Colorado’s gas patch.

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KRCC will air NPR’s coverage of the First Presidential Candidate Debate, Friday, September 26th, starting at 7pm. Linda Werthheimer will host. PBS’ Newshour anchor, Jim Lehrer, will moderate the debate. The debate will be followed by NPR’s National Listening Party, a live, hour-long, call-in program. NPR’s Neal Conan will host.
We will preempt Democracy Now! and Sound Opinions to bring you the debate. Suddenly…the Sidewalk, with Mothy, will begin at 10pm. KRCC will air future Presidential Candidate Debates October 7th and 15th, and the Vice Presidential Candidate Debate on October 2nd.

As Washington politicians sit down with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to try and hammer out a solution to the current situation on Wall Street, KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin sat down with Colorado College Professor of Economics Doctor Libby Ritternberg to try and make sense of the sound bytes. Rittenberg has taught at CC for around 20 years. She’s currently revising an introductory textbook on economics.

Here’s part of their conversation.

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Their entire conversation (edited) is also available here (36 minutes). It took place Thursday, September 25. [DOWNLOAD]

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Governor Bill Ritter joined religious leaders at the state capitol to call for just and humane immigration reform on Thursday. Ritter is asking lawmakers to join with religious groups to sign a recognizing the sacred humanity of all immigrants. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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The Governor announced modest budget cuts on Thursday in the wake of President George W. Bush’s dire economic prediction and talks of a 700 billion dollar bailout of the country’s financial system. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

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KRCC will carry President Bush’s address to the nation Wednesday, September 24th from 7-7:30pm. The president is expected to address the economic crisis and the administration’s proposed $700 billion bailout plan. Democracy Now! starts at 7:30pm, and the Grassroots Revival at 8:30pm.

Transcript, after the jump… (more…)