Capitol Coverage

In our monthly conversation with Gov. Bill Ritter, Ritter talks about the energy savings and symbolism he hopes to reap from putting solar panels on the roof of the governor’s residence. Our conversations with the governor are produced at KCFR in Denver, and conducted by Ryan Warner, who hosts the KCFR program “Colorado Matters.” [LISTEN]

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An unidentified man was shot and killed by police today after entering the state capitol with a pistol. We talked to NPR Staff Reporter Jeff Brady in Denver. [LISTEN]

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The state commission that issues oil and gas drilling permits has a new mandate. It will protect public health, wildlife and the environment instead of just promoting energy development. And Governor Bill Ritter recently appointed five new commissioners. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [LISTEN]

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Bark beetles are infesting close to 700 hundred thousand acres of forests in Colorado according to government figures. And the state forester says that number will rise as the beetles spread to other parts of western Colorado. The Governor recently flew over some of the infected forests. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [LISTEN]

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Getting into college in Colorado just got tougher. But it’s not as tough as some would like it to be. In three years incoming college freshman will face stricter standards to get into college than students do today. But the state’s higher education commission rolled back some of the admission requirements and didn’t make the […]

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Can America cut greenhouse gas emissions without strangling the national economy? That was the question put to a former chief of the EPA, a Yale professor and two top journalists as part of last week’s Aspen Ideas Festival. Bente Birkeland reports. [LISTEN]

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General Colin Powell says the Bush administration has mishandled and misjudged the Iraq war, and the country needs to scale back the number of troops overseas. But Powell defends his decision to help President Bush make the case for invading Iraq. He spoke with PBS’s Jim Lehrer at the Aspen Institute’s Ideas Festival. Bente Birkeland […]

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The western slope city of Montrose started out as a small ranching community, but like many places in Colorado more and more people are moving to the area and changing the atmosphere. Some residents say they don’t mind the growth but traffic jams, not enough money for new roads and a lack of law enforcement […]

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