Movies like How the West Was Won starring Henry Fonda and Gregory Peck, the original True Grit with John Wayne, and Sleeper with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton have given places like Canon City, Denver, Durango, and Bent’s Old Fort near LaJunta visibility on the silver screen. But as other areas began offering large incentives, Colorado’s desirability seemed to fade into the background. KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin examines the current state of on-location shoots in Colorado, and how one county is looking to the film industry as part of its economic future.

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This piece aired as part of the February edition of Western Skies. See a slideshow and some video shot in Crowley County by clicking here.

One of the more controversial bills introduced in the state’s legislative session is scheduled to die before it even gets a hearing. A Republican house member says he plans to kill his own bill that would have adopted an Arizona style immigration law. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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State lawmakers will get their first chance this week to shape the federal health care law for Colorado. The Affordable Care Act requires states to set up new “health insurance exchanges.” Exchanges are new marketplaces where coverage will be very cheap for people who don’t make much money. That’s what many in health care are hoping, anyway. This week legislative work begins on Colorado’s health insurance exchange. KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney has more.

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The Colorado Department of Education says 72.4% of the class of 2010 graduated high school on time, which means within four years…A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block a prayer luncheon at the Air Force Academy…and, the Mountain Metropolitan Transit service has replaced 30 passenger vans.

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Latest snow fall may not help moisture conditions (Gazette).

A look at campaign finance for city council positions in Colorado Springs show a wide gap (Gazette).

Peyton firefighters quit, citing safety issues (Gazette, KRDO). Harrison D-2 officials hear concerns about a plan to close Chamberlin Academy (Gazette).

Fowler officials approve renovations to Park Elementary, despite not being completely funded (Fowler Tribune).

Disclaimer: KRCC and KRCC News make no guarantees regarding the content within these reports, however consider them part of the news and media outlets reporting on issues affecting our coverage area. The Index is not exhaustive, and is not an endorsement of any kind. * indicates subscription required.

Rainbow Falls lies along Fountain Creek above Manitou Springs, but because of visits by people with spray paint, many have come to know it by a different name: Graffiti Falls. KRCC’s Kate Jonuska set out to explore efforts to clean up the area, and discovered what some see as art, others see as vandalism.

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This piece aired as part of the February edition of Western Skies. See a slideshow by clicking here.

Colorado Republicans will have a new state party leader after chair Dick Wadhams unexpectedly dropped out of the running for a third term. Bente Birkeland examines the impact of his decision and what it means for Republicans across the state.

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*Denver Republican Attorney Ryan Call, legal counsel for the state GOP, announced his candidacy for the chairmanship soon after this report.

Colorado’s two U.S. Senators are backing the President’s call for a line-item veto to eliminate what he thinks is wasteful spending…The Justice Department says it’s reviewing a request by Colorado and 12 other states looking for the government’s help obtaining supplies of a scarce execution drug…and, a federal judge is hearing arguments on whether to block a prayer luncheon planned at the Air Force Academy Thursday.

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The High Country News takes a look at President Obama’s record on environmental issues in the west*. Snow returns to the Front Range (Gazette). Challenges face John Salazar, Governor Hickenlooper’s choice to direct the state Agriculture Department (Chieftain).

In Colorado Springs, the notion to examine the city’s pension obligations fails to gain traction (Gazette). Congressman Doug Lamborn (R) says those planning the area’s new VA clinic are expecting to announce a site soon and break ground this year (Gazette). Some Air Force Academy officials are defending the planned prayer luncheon (Gazette). A planned educational museum on World War II inches closer to reality (Business Journal*).

Pueblo tax revenues are falling short (Chieftain). Student leaders at CSU-Pueblo look at revising the school’s calendar (Chieftain).

Parents, officials, and more discuss changes happening in Falcon D-49 (Gazette). The San Luis Valley opens its biggest agricultural conference today (Chieftain). A proposed hydroelectric plant planned near Penrose clears committee (Chieftain).

Las Animas County sees budget cuts pay off (Trinidad Times-Independent).

Disclaimer: KRCC and KRCC News make no guarantees regarding the content within these reports, however consider them part of the news and media outlets reporting on issues affecting our coverage area. The Index is not exhaustive, and is not an endorsement of any kind. * indicates subscription required.

The job of balancing Colorado’s roughly 1.1 billion dollar budget shortfall largely falls on the shoulders of just six lawmakers. This bi-partisan group sits on the powerful joint budget committee that’s charged with writing the budget. Most of the members are new to the committee this year, and for the first time in several years it’s evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. Bente Birkeland examines the committee’s large task ahead and the challenges members face.

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