Legislative Preview with Representative Don Marostica
Colorado’s economy will be front and center during the state’s legislative session that starts in January. As part of our series previewing the session, Statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland talked to a northern Colorado lawmaker who sits on the powerful joint budget committee. He says 2009 is going to be a tough year when it comes to money.
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Filed under: Bente Birkeland,Capitol Coverage,Economy,KRCC News — Andrea Chalfin News Dir. @ 5:45 pm
The high cost of health care in America is a real drain on businesses. Every year the cost of insuring employees rises by double digits, that’s far faster than the general rate of inflation. So now, some of the country’s biggest businesses are trying something new – paying doctors more. It may not sound like a logical way to reduce costs, but it’s getting a big buy-in in Colorado. 
Like many other cities around the country, Denver is trying to deal with rising numbers of residential foreclosures. And while the latest figures indicate a decrease in the number of overall foreclosures in Colorado this past quarter, certain neighborhoods are seeing rising numbers of homeowners not able to pay their mortgages. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, 
State government officials are bracing for a legislative session fraught with financial uncertainty in the midst of a national recession. Lawmakers say it’s still not clear just how bad things will get for Colorado, or how quickly the state’s economy may recover. As part of a regional series on the economy from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
Colorado resorts are hoping that skiers and snowboarders pay closer attention to the weather than the economy this winter. But bookings remain far behind last season’s numbers. While it’s doubtful that resorts will match last season’s record-setting number of skier days, there’s still reason for hope. In Telluride, Stephen Barrett reports for 
As last minute shoppers hit the stories today, holiday retail sales are shaping up to be the weakest since the early 1990s. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, 
Not since January 2005 has the national average price of gasoline been as low as it is now. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Will Shoemaker reports for 
When it comes to charitable giving, many Coloradans are tightening their purse strings this holiday season. But there is a silver lining. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, 
As national lawmakers struggle with the economic climate, and official recognition of a recession has finally made headlines, Trinidad, and by extension, Las Animas County, finds itself in a unique situation. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin paid a visit to the area recently to find out how the southeastern Colorado area is weathering the storm.
There are signs that the Four Corners may weather the national economic downturn better than most of Colorado, thanks to tourism, non-residential construction and the gas industry. But businesses in the area are bracing for the worst.