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• Coroner system may face an update in Colorado

  March 9, 2013 11:25 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers are considering whether to update the state's Old West-style coroner system. The state's 63 county coroners are mostly elected and aren't required to have a medical degree. They operate under laws written in the days when Western coroners did little more than collect bodies after... more »

• CO lawmakers enter final month

  April 8, 2012 1:10 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers are entering their final month of the 2012 session with plenty left to do - but without the caustic atmosphere one might expect in the closing days of an election year. The state's divided Legislature has until May 9 to balance the budget and make... more »

• Colo. lawmakers review adult charges for youth

  March 11, 2012 11:45 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers worried that too many youth are being charged as adults are trying to scale back the authority prosecutors have. Prosecutors have always had been able to charge juveniles as adults for the most serious crimes under a process known as "direct file," which is not... more »

• Co lawmakers pay could be in trouble

  March 7, 2012 6:21 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers would have to forgo their pay and benefits if they don't agree on a budget on time under a proposal that gets its first hearing in the state Senate. Democratic Senate President Brandon Shaffer, the bill sponsor, says the idea is a popular one with... more »

• CO among states trying to restore anti-smoking funds

  February 26, 2012 11:59 AM

  ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Steve Panetta smoked for 34 years, the last 10 at a three-pack-a-day clip. He watched his father die from lung cancer and his stepfather struggle with emphysema. He tried quitting six times before a state-funded cessation program helped him beat the habit in 2002. Weekends now... more »

• Colorado lawmakers try to save wind tax credit

  February 7, 2012 4:25 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers from both parties are trying to save a federal incentive for the wind industry. Eight members of the congressional delegation signed a letter Tuesday asking for an extension of the wind energy production tax credit. A conference committee is negotiating the fate of the... more »

• CO legislator loses committee chair position over traffic stop

  January 28, 2012 10:44 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Police say a law designed to protect Colorado lawmakers' ability to travel to and from the statehouse to cast their vote prevented police from determining whether one lawmaker was driving drunk. Police ticketed Rep. Laura Bradford, a Republican from Grand Junction, with illegal lane change and improper... more »

• How do you feel about our nation's debt crisis?

  July 26, 2011 11:35 PM

  When it comes to our nation's debt, American's want to be heard, both republicans and democrats are getting a flood of phone calls and emails. Colorado lawmakers are no exception. At Congressman Doug Lamborn's office they took nearly 3,000 calls Tuesday on the debt ceiling issue. His office reports... more »

• Are medical marijuana laws in Colorado tough enough

  January 16, 2011 1:42 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Medical marijuana laws in Colorado are more extensive than in any other state - and state lawmakers aren't done yet. Among the measures before the Legislature is one that would change the rules for commercial pot sales. Colorado officials will also consider new standards for safe driving... more »

• Children's groups rally against tax measures

  October 5, 2010 12:40 PM

  Colorado lawmakers, firefighters, school officials and children's organizations are gathering to speak out against three tax-limiting initiatives on the November ballot. Tuesday's rally at the state Capitol is being organized by opponents from Every Child Matters and Tennyson Center for Children. They say the initiatives will be harmful to... more »

• Opponents gear up for Race to the Top funding

  July 30, 2010 2:08 PM

  Colorado lawmakers and educators say they plan to fight a proposal by the state Board of Education to adopt new teaching standards on Monday to compete for "Race to the Top" education funding. Educators say Colorado is already adopting its own standards that meet most of the criteria, and... more »

• Pueblo council split on immigration reform vote

  July 28, 2010 5:40 PM

  On Monday, Pueblo city council has passed a resolution urging Colorado lawmakers to support comprehensive federal immigration reform. The resolution passed 5 to 2, with council members Vera Ortegon and Judy Weaver voting against it. The resolution reads as follows: The Pueblo City Council urges our United States Senators for... more »

• Colorado lawmakers wrapping up session

  May 12, 2010 3:30 PM

  Colorado lawmakers are wrapping up their legislative session with several major issues still to be resolved. Bills still to be decided include measures to limit tax breaks for enterprise zones and require teacher evaluations. Lawmakers paid tribute on Wednesday to colleagues who are term-limited, and they also honored... more »

• Teacher bill up for vote at Colorado Capitol

  May 11, 2010 8:33 AM

  The fate of one of this year's most controversial bills of the legislative session will be decided in the final days. The House is set to vote Tuesday on a proposal to evaluate teachers based on the performance of their students. Backers say that enough Democrats will join with... more »

• Colorado lawmakers reviewing workers' comp

  March 31, 2010 9:01 AM

  A Senate committee is holding hearings on plans to keep a tighter rein on Colorado's workers' compensation program. The Senate Judiciary Committee is hearing legislation Wednesday that would change the makeup of the board of directors, cap the company's surplus and limit surveillance. Lawmakers say the company needs tighter regulation... more »

• Budget cuts loom as lawmakers reach halfway point

  March 12, 2010 2:33 PM

  Colorado lawmakers say they're making progress on bills to create jobs and increase the use of renewable energy as they near the halfway point of their 120-day session. But House Speaker Terrance Carroll, a Denver Democrat, said Friday the biggest fight is yet to come as lawmakers prepare to... more »

• Colorado lawmakers vote to eliminate tax breaks

  February 2, 2010 9:03 AM

  The Colorado House approved and sent to the Senate a package of bills that would eliminate or suspend tax breaks on junk mail, candy and soft drinks. They also approved a tax on software downloaded from the Internet and fast food takeout boxes. Gov. Bill Ritter proposed going after the... more »

• Lawmakers consider rolling back late fees

  January 28, 2010 9:52 AM

  Colorado lawmakers are considering scaling back late vehicle registration fees passed last year. Three proposals have been introduced in the Senate so far. Two would get rid of the new $25 a month late fee and replace it with a $10 fee that could be waived by county... more »

• Lawmakers take aim at uranium mills

  January 26, 2010 3:56 PM

  The water in the containment ponds at the Cotter Uranium Mill near Cañon City is a dingy yellow/brown color, tinted by the million of tons of heavy metals and toxic waste stored in them. The linings of the ponds are slowly leaking contaminating the groundwater around the mill. ... more »

• Colorado may take $110 million back from schools

  January 15, 2010 1:39 PM

  Colorado lawmakers are moving quickly to take back $110 million in funding from schools because of the recession. Lawmakers voted last year to give the money to school districts but required that they set the money aside in case the economy continued to decline. On Friday, three days into the... more »

• Education bill top priority in legislature

  January 14, 2010 8:36 AM

  Colorado lawmakers are rushing to pass a bill they hope will give the state an edge in competing for millions of dollars in federal education funds. The state Senate gave initial approval to the bill on Wednesday. It's expected to win final approval on Thursday before heading to the House... more »

• Colorado lawmakers introduce dozens of bills

  January 13, 2010 5:18 PM

  Colorado lawmakers have introduced dozens of new bills on the first day of their 120-day session. Among the proposals introduced Wednesday are bills that would allow police to confiscate handicapped parking placards that are being misused and barring phone companies from delivering phone directories unless customers request one. Another would... more »

• Colorado lawmakers seek to extend Pinon Canyon ban

  December 1, 2009 4:41 PM

  As President Obama announces the addition of 30,000 additional troops in Afghanistan, four members of Colorado's congressional delegation are asking lawmakers to extend a ban on spending money to expand the Army's Pinon Canyon training site, used by Fort Carson to train soldiers for battle in Afghanistan. Sens. Mark Udall... more »

• Colorado lawmakers ask Congress to limit energy bill

  November 18, 2009 11:24 AM

  Colorado state lawmakers are asking the U.S. Senate to limit funding for coal and nuclear energy as Congress moves to pass an energy bill. The 20 state lawmakers, all Democrats, say too much emphasis on coal and nuclear energy would reduce funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The... more »