Lawmakers are gearing up for the state’s annual legislative session which begins January 13th. State capitol correspondent Bente Birkeland is sitting down with legislative leaders to discuss the session and what lawmakers are likely to debate. In this piece, she talks with the Senate’s highest ranking Republican.
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Legislative leaders from both parties are uniting behind efforts to regulate the state’s booming medical marijuana industry. Although the details are still being hashed out behind the scenes, lawmakers say weeding out fraud and abuse is the top priority. Bente Birkeland reports from the state capitol.
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Lawmakers and the Governor are cautiously optimistic about the legislature’s latest economic forecast, which says Colorado is starting to come out of the recession. The forecast, released Friday, points to spending and job growth as drivers. Bente Birkeland reports from the state house.
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Job growth and increased consumer spending were bright spots in the state’s latest revenue forecast released today. The legislature’s chief economist says Colorado’s economy is on the rebound. Bente Birkeland reports from the state house.
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University presidents from across Colorado gathered at the state capitol to discuss higher education funding yesterday. Governor Bill Ritter unveiled a new commission to study the issue, and lawmakers will consider a bill to give colleges and universities more autonomy from the legislature. Bente Birkeland reports from the state house.
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According to figures released by the State Health Department 5 doctors are responsible for issuing medical marijuana cards for nearly 8 thousand people statewide. And that has the agency calling for increased regulations on prescribing the drug. Bente Birkeland reports from the state capitol.
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Colorado Springs city officials release numbers on voluntary retirement requests and lay-offs…Governor Bill Ritter creates a commission to look into funding for higher education…and, the LaJunta Tribune-Democrat reports the opening of a public review period regarding a proposal from Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site.
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As we near the end of the year, it seems only natural that we take time to reflect on 2009, and begin to look forward toward 2010. In today’s “Citizen Report,” Fresh Ink editor Tim Bergsten does just that.
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(“Citizen Report” is a collaboration between the Colorado Springs Gazette and KRCC. More citizen journalism is available at Fresh Ink.)
The Colorado Department of Revenue mistakenly sends back-tax notices to residents with contested conservation easements…the Air Force Academy says religious tolerance at the school has improved…and, AAA predicts about one-third of the population in the mountain west will travel more than 50 miles for the holidays.
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United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 vote on contracts from Safeway and King Soopers…The Colorado Supreme Court upholds a smoking ban, barring actors on stage from lighting up…and, the voluntary recall of the H1N1 vaccine affects El Paso County, but not Pueblo County. Health workers stress the recall is not a safety issue.
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More information from El Paso County health officials on H1N1 vaccines can be found here.
More information from the Centers for Disease Control on the recall can be found here.
