Capitol Coverage

A bill to allow grocery and convenient stores to sell full strength beer will soon work its way through the state legislature. It’s a contentious issue because independent liquor store owners say the measure would put many of them out of business. Bente Birkeland talks beer with her fellow statehouse reporters as part of our […]

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They may not be able to prevent the Rocky Mountain News from closing, but employees of Colorado’s oldest newspaper aren’t going down without a fight. More than 200 people held a candlelight vigil outside the newspaper’s headquarters in downtown Denver. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

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Democratic state lawmakers and business leaders are pushing several measures they say will create thousands of new jobs in the coming years. The announcement follows news this week that Colorado’s unemployment rate has reached a five year high, at 6.1 percent. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

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The Colorado Department of Corrections says the proposed budget cuts announced for their department including the closure of two state prisons and delaying the opening of another are about what they expected given the economic climate. A Department spokeswoman says the cuts won’t effect public safety. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [Audio clip: view full post […]

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A democratic-backed effort to pump millions of dollars into fixing the state’s ailing transportation system cleared its first legislative hurdle yesterday. Supporters of the so-called FASTER bill say the measure would create thousands of new jobs at a time when the economy is suffering, and the state’s roads and bridges are crumbling. From KUNC, Kirk […]

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The Governor’s budget office is asking the legislature to close two women’s prisons and cut 100 million dollars in state spending for colleges and universities as part of a plan to balance the state’s budget for next year. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

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Selling 3-2 beer in Colorado could soon be a thing of the past. Grocery and convenience stores are lobbying in support of a bill that would change state law allowing them to sell full strength beer. But Independent liquor store owners say the move would put many of them out of business. Bente Birkeland reports […]

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Colorado lawmakers are preparing for a worst case scenario when the Governor’s office announces proposed budget cuts on Tuesday. Lawmakers need to cut 385 million dollars from next year’s state budget. This comes on top of 600 million dollars in cuts this year. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

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A young man is claiming that he had a sexual relationship with former evangelical leader Ted Haggard. The allegation of a second gay relationship comes as the embattled Haggard is trying to re-make his public image and promote his new HBO documentary, The Trials of Ted Haggard. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [Audio clip: view full […]

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Lawmakers will likely be in a grim mood at the state capitol this week. Tuesday, the Governor’s office is slated to reveal its 2009-2010 budget to the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee. The state’s higher education system is bracing for the worst. Thirty million dollars has already been cut from this year’s budget. As KUNC’s Kirk […]

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