A Republican House member publicly apologized today for getting heated and talking loudly to a Democratic lawmaker on the senate floor last week. A sergeant-at-arms asked him to leave the chamber and he’s since been banned from the senate floor for the rest of the legislative session. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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A winter weather advisory is in effect for much of the listening area, and temperatures are expected to plunge to near record lows tomorrow night…Five faculty members at the Air Force Academy and a religious watchdog group are filing a civil rights suit against the school, saying it’s violating the constitutional separation of church and state…and, farmers and ranchers could be seeing a tax break reinstated on insecticides and other items.

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Calls for bi-partisanship at the statehouse have started to break down in the early part of the legislative session. Some of the divisions have cropped up over budget issues and even minor resolutions. Bente Birkeland takes a look as part of our weekly Capitol Conversation series.

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Public transportation’s budget cuts don’t faze some folks on the Western Slope. When it’s too cold to get around by bicycle, or it’s too far and the bus just isn’t there, some people turn to a thumb and a prayer. From Rocky Mountain Community Radio member station KBUT in Crested Butte, Will Shoemaker reports on this Gunnison Valley subculture.

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A federal district court has ruled to temporarily block a Colorado law that aims to collect sales taxes from online purchases. The judge says the law is unconstitutional even if the end goal is important and legitimate. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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A bill that aims to ban people from using public assistance money at strip clubs overwhelming cleared a house committee on Thursday. The Democratic sponsor of the bill says it’s a relatively rare occurrence but still a loophole in the law. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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Colorado’s new rules for medical marijuana dispensaries are being called groundbreaking. They’re the nation’s most extensive for commercial sale of the drug. Regulators aim to track it from when the pot is planted to when a patient takes it. Hearings have been scheduled for today and tomorrow. KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney says, at this point, the regulators seem to be the only ones who really like the new rules.

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The acting commander at Fort Carson says the Army has no current plans to expand a 370-square-mile training site in southeastern Colorado…Republican state lawmakers say a federal judge’s decision to block a Colorado law affecting larger out-of-state, online retailers shows it’s unconstitutional and should be repealed…and, Senator Mark Udall has been appointed to the Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence, which is responsible for overseeing federal intelligence activities.

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The caseload for state public defenders is growing (Denver Post). Weld County is the only county in the state without long-term debt (Denver Post). Ft. Carson general says plans to expand Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site are not moving forward, for now (Pueblo Chieftain).

In Colorado Springs, Memorial Health System officials propose alternative to PERA if the system becomes a non-profit (Gazette). Recommendations from a study on a section of Academy Blvd. could mean total redevelopment (Gazette, KKTV, KOAA). D-11 plans classes aimed at students interested in health or tourism careers (Gazette). Area teachers receive National Board Certification (Gazette). Mountain pine beetles are still largely absent from the Pikes Peak Region (Gazette). A former Colorado Springs police chief is named interim chief in Pueblo (KOAA). The Colorado Springs Independent takes a look at some of the effects of a rise in need for food-stamps, a rise in sexually transmitted diseases, and a buy-local campaign.

Pueblo County is set to join an immigration enforcement network (Chieftain). A new study shows the economic benefits of the State Fair (Chieftain). A draft environmental assessment for improvements to I-25 through Pueblo is expected this summer (Chieftain).

Custer County residents hear about how Colorado water law applies to the area (Wet Mountain Tribune). Otero County Commissioners express concern over a finding that Army training at Pinon Canyon has “no adverse effect” (LaJunta Tribune-Democrat). Otero Junior College adds staff (Tribune-Democrat).

And, in case you missed it, in Colorado Springs, two charter amendments seem likely for the April ballot (Gazette). Utilities looks for permission to use eminent domain in Pueblo West for the Southern Delivery System pipeline project (Gazette). Falcon School District 49 looks to create district wide changes (Gazette).

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The President’s State of the Union yesterday focused heavily on innovation and job creation. Colorado’s freshman Republicans found some things to like in the speech and some things not to like….and, organizers of a study on improving a section of Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs are presenting recommendations tonight.

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