Colorado students scored slightly higher than the national average on a nationwide science test…and, State lawmakers are calling for bi-partisanship and cooperation this legislative session, but can’t seem to agree on whether they need it in writing.

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Yesterday morning we heard about newly-released statistics on infections in Colorado’s hospitals. Today, KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney looks at what can be done to reduce the number of hospital-acquired infections in Colorado.

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Every year tens of thousands of Coloradans who go to the hospital to get healed actually get sicker. They get infections as a result of their medical care. An unknown number of those people die. Hospitals don’t have to make their infection rates public, except for a handful of procedures. The state health department publishes an annual report with that information, in part to help consumers pick the safest hospitals. This year’s report has just been released, and KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney got some expert help deciphering it. In the first of two stories on hospital infections, he found that consumers would be hard pressed to get a clear picture of hospital safety from the state’s infection report alone.

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Colorado Democratic lawmakers say they’ll try to reverse a decision cutting off free breakfasts for needy children…Two rodeo events some consider cruel to animals are up for debate in the Colorado legislature…and, a Denver seminary is offering a master’s degree for military chaplains aimed at helping them assist servicemen and women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Colorado is poised to pay a role in rare earth metals (Denver Post). The Army issues a new environmental impact study regarding Pinon Canyon (Chieftain).

The Southern Delivery Pipeline hits more snags, but Colorado Springs Utilities officials say construction won’t be delayed (Gazette). The cost of a buyout of public employee pensions at Memorial Health System appears to remove the issue from appearing on the April ballot (Gazette).

The Gazette takes a look at how one Colorado Springs school booked former President George W. Bush as a speaker.

The southeastern Colorado town of Kim continues work on a new equine center (Chieftain). The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District takes on a winter water study (Chieftain). While snowpack is high, the Lower Arkansas Valley remains in drought (Chieftain).

The Canon City Daily Record is included in a sale of Lehman Communications Corp publications to Denver-based MediaNews Group (Daily Record). A group of muralists plan to visit Canon City, leaving their mark in October (Daily Record).

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Colorado lawmakers seek an audit of the Public Utilities Commission (Denver Post). New funding for schools’ breakfast programs blocked (Denver Post). Colorado’s congressional representatives plan to sit together during the State of the Union address (Denver Post). Congressman Doug Lamborn (R) signs on to co-sponsor a bill that would revisit the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (Colorado Independent).

In Colorado Springs, city council gets pressure to delay Memorial Health System vote (Gazette). The Colorado Springs Business Journal takes a look at what it would mean if HealthOne bought Memorial Health System*. Colorado Springs organizations are coming together to create a brand for the city (CSBJ*).

Councilman Tom Gallagher announces bid for mayor (KXRM). Falcon School District 49 talks about changes to the system with concerned residents (Gazette, KRDO, KXRM). Colorado Springs Utilities say bankrupt Banning Lewis Ranch will not affect water rates (KRDO).

In Woodland Park, Sturman Industries aims to sell some its land to select research and development companies (CSBJ*). The Rocky Ford Library expands (LaJunta Tribune-Democrat).

A Pueblo area lawmaker helps sponsors a bill that would make it easier to lease agricultural water to urban areas (Chieftain), but it makes the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy Board uncomfortable (Chieftain).

Las Animas County Commissioners delay action on an Army resolution (Trinidad Times-Independent). Oil and gas permitting levels in the county see a slight drop, but still rank seventh in the state (Times-Independent). Representative Scott Tipton (R) says he has no plans to introduce a funding ban bill regarding the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, but says he opposes expansion (Times-Independent).

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Northbound I-25 shuts down after an accident near milemarker 104 in Pueblo (KRDO). The CS Independent takes a look at the state pension fund, known as PERA. The maintenance of state roadways may fall to local jurisdictions (CS Independent). Senator Mark Udall (D) plans visits to Walsenburg and the San Luis Valley (Chieftain).

In El Paso County, the county’s detox sees a large jump in clients (Gazette).

Falcon School District 49 schedules a special meeting for tonight (Gazette), and the district cuts three top positions (Gazette, KRDO).

COO of Colorado Springs-based semi-conductor company Ramtron resigns (Gazette, CSBJ). The media companies that own the Gazette and the Denver Post are rumored to be talking about a merger (Gazette, Wall Street Journal*). The CS Independent profiles long time D-11 employee Mike Poore as he prepares to leave for a superintendent job in Arkansas. City Council prepares to vote on putting the future of Memorial Health System on the next ballot (CS Independent).

Farmers show interest in the Arkansas Valley Super Ditch project (Chieftain). Florence City Council approves a photo display at the Colorado Municipal League Headquarters in Denver (Canon City Daily Record).

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The state’s legislative session has gotten off to a relatively slow start with briefings from various agencies and speeches. But lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills in the first week, including many that will be controversial. Some of the measures include proof of citizenship to vote, an Arizona-style immigration law, and measures to bring back the tax credits and exemptions that Democrats eliminated last session. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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Army officials report suicide rates at Fort Carson continue to drop…and, the campaign to raise money to help repair Colorado’s capitol dome officially kicked off today.

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DIA is set to raise fees for off-site parking lots, which could lead to a price increase for customers (Denver Post).

The Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs adopts “Twelve Steps of Courage,” which offers a support group for homosexuals (Gazette). Air Force Reservists return from their latest deployment (Gazette, KRDO). Harrison School District 2 considers holding back 3rd graders unable to read (Gazette). Rainbow Falls cleanup efforts granted lottery money (Gazette). The Manitou Springs Incline Task Force meets tomorrow (Gazette, KOAA).

In Pueblo, the new Center for American Values hosted a program aimed at bridging the gap between veterans and communities (Chieftain), which brought in national speakers (Chieftain).

Las Animas County officials hear about a proposed covenant with the Army (Chieftain). A lawmaker introduces a bill to halt the sale of the Trinidad State Nursing Home (Trinidad Times-Independent).

In LaJunta, Woodruff Memorial Library undergoes changes (Tribune-Democrat).

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