In today’s news, a Ft. Carson soldier died in Iraq earlier this week, a wildfire continues to burn in Park County, and Colorado health officials confirm the first human cases of West Nile Virus in the state.

Hundreds of people filled the Paramount theatre in downtown Denver on Monday for a public hearing on new rules for energy development. The rules would require the state to more closely look at the health and environmental impacts associated with oil and gas drilling. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Pro union groups and businesses are likely headed for a showdown this fall on Colorado’s election ballot. One business backed measure would make Colorado a right to work state, unions oppose it and have come up with their own proposals. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

A Democratic state representative is asking the U.S. army to explain why it didn’t react faster to a wild fire that erupted last week on the Piñon Canyon military training sight in southeast Colorado. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

The Governor’s transportation panel reconvened on Tuesday to come up with specific recommendations to fix the state’s ailing roads and bridges. The legislature failed to adopt the panel’s earlier recommendations but members hope next year will be different. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Members of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission took a beating from lawmakers and the public in Grand Junction Tuesday. The COGCC is revising its regulations on oil and gas. Yesterday was the final public hearing that was NOT in Denver. Steve Zelaznik of KDNK has more.

Telluride hosted its 32nd annual Jazz Celebration this past weekend, which also kicked off the town’s summer festival season. Over twenty-five acts played on several stages over the course of four days, including the spectacularly set outdoor stage… with its panoramic views of the high mountain canyon. KRCC’s Michelle Mercer was there and brought back this snapshot…

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According to a new report from the Colorado Children’s Campaign — the state has the highest increase in childhood poverty rates in the country. Top state officials reacted to the report on Tuesday. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

The U.S. Forest Service has long tried to get kids outside and away from computers, TVs and video games… but the country’s top forester says efforts have become more urgent in recent years. The agency is hosting its first ever National Get Outdoors Day this Saturday, and Denver is expected to have one of the largest events in the country. Bente Birkeland reports.

Emergency crews rushed to portions of southwest Colorado Springs this afternoon after a fire broke out in an area of grass and heavy scrub oak near the Broadmoor Bluffs-Cheyenne Mountain region.

Governor Ritter signed the last handful of bills to come out of this year’s legislative session. One measure makes it easier for seasonal workers to come to Colorado. Another bill cracks down on fraudulent conservation easements aimed at preserving farm land. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

A new report from the non-partisan watchdog group the Campaign Finance Institute shows that Denver’s host committee for the Democratic National Convention is raising money for the event by using a loophole to bypass campaign finance laws. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

The entire graduating class of the medical school at the University of Colorado was in court recently. It wasn’t a real case, but an exercise to expose new doctors to what a malpractice trial is like. With an estimated 85,000 malpractice suits filed every year in the U.S., it’s likely that some of C.U.’s class of 2008 will one day find themselves in court for real. KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney has this story.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mit Romney’s keynote address over the weekend at the state Republican Convention capped quite a week on Colorado’s political scene… one that included visits from presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama.

Romney solidly captured Colorado during the February caucus before dropping out of the race. As KUNC’s Kirk Siegler reports, Senator McCain still has some convincing to do amongst right leaning voters in Colorado, and GOP party activists.

Amanda Udis-Kessler, Colorado College’s Director of Institutional Research and Planning, just published a new book titled Queer Inclusion in the United Methodist Church. Noel Black spoke with her about her about her approach to the subject and why she chose to write about it.