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• President brings his views on gun laws to Denver

  April 3, 2013 8:20 PM

  In front of law enforcement officers at the Denver Police Academy Wednesday, President Barack Obama took to the stage to recognize new gun laws passed by the Colorado Legislature as well as push for more. The President mentioned multiple times two of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history that... more »

• Colo. firearm company in spotlight over gun debate

  March 2, 2013 11:34 AM

  ERIE, Colo. (AP) - A Colorado company that manufactures firearm accessories has stepped into the spotlight over the gun control debate as state lawmakers consider limiting ammunition magazines. Officials at Erie-based Magpul Industries have told legislators they will leave the state if the pass a bill to ban magazines that... more »

• Bill to expand in-state tuition for military families moves forward

  February 20, 2013 6:03 PM

  A bill to expand in-state tuition to all dependants of military members, including spouses of servicemen and women is moving forward in the Colorado legislature. House Bill 1194, sponsored by Rep. Justin Everett (R-Littleton), passed the House Education Committee Wednesday. According to a release from the Colorado House Republicans:... more »

• 5 Uncovers: Sexual assault kits not being tested

  February 13, 2013 12:48 PM

  News 5 uncovers hundreds of sexual assault kits collected are not being sent off for testing. "We assume evidence is being submitted for testing after a victim comes to law enforcement and goes through the additional traumatic experience of having the evidence collected," House District 43 Representative Frank McNulty... more »

• Colo. task force meeting on marijuana regulations

  February 11, 2013 11:47 AM

  DENVER (AP) - A marijuana regulatory group appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper is still working out the details of pot regulation. The group members meeting Monday won't make rules, but they'll recommend to the governor and the Legislature how Colorado should become one of the nation's first to regulate marijuana... more »

• Colo. bill makes it harder to plead insanity

  February 6, 2013 11:02 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers are considering whether to make it tougher for defendants to be found not guilty by reason of insanity, prompted in part by the mass killings at a movie theater last summer. A bill up for debate in a legislative committee Wednesday would require defense lawyers... more »

• School gun bill kicks off CO gun debates

  January 27, 2013 8:32 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Gun control and violence is up for its first debate of the year in the Colorado Legislature. A Senate committee was scheduled Monday to consider the first gun-related bill of the legislative term. The bill would allow schools to allow employees to carry concealed weapons. Under current... more »

• GOP business idea dies hasty death in Legislature

  January 16, 2013 6:06 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A Republican proposal aimed at reducing business regulations has died a hasty death in the Colorado Legislature, where Democrats say the proposal is well intentioned but unnecessary. A Senate committee voted Wednesday to reject a bill that would have required state analysts to prepare "business fiscal impact"... more »

• Study considers longer school days for Colorado students Play Video

  December 3, 2012 8:24 PM

  When the school bell rings at Keller Elementary every afternoon, the Kiss-And-Go Lane becomes a very popular place. But should a new approach in teaching catch on locally, the afternoon pickup here might be postponed. A new grant funded initiative called Time for Innovation Matters in Education (TIME) aims... more »

• Parents' rights bill passes with a twist

  April 5, 2012 10:01 PM

  A new bill requiring schools to get parental consent before giving surveys to kids is now on the governor's desk waiting to be signed into law, but the end product is far from the original proposal. Bill supporters wanted written consent before asking kids about things like tobacco and... more »

• Specialty license plates causing debate Play Video

  April 4, 2012 8:41 PM

  You've probably seen the specialty Colorado license plates on the road; it doesn't take long to spot a few of them. "There's 119 different options presently," says Tony Anderson; manager for the El Paso County Department of Motor Vehicles office. Along with the traditional green and white, they... more »

• Biz impact statements won't be required in CO

  March 19, 2012 8:48 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A Colorado proposal to require reports on how state bills would affect businesses has failed for a second year. Critics say the proposed "business impact" statements would have simply added paperwork and wouldn't improve how laws are made. The bill would have allowed as many as 50... more »

• Stoned driving epidemic puts wrinkle in pot debate

  March 18, 2012 12:41 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Angeline Chilton says she can't drive unless she smokes pot. The suburban Denver woman uses medical marijuana to ease multiple sclerosis symptoms and says she'd never get behind the wheel right after smoking. But her case underscores a problem that no one's sure how to solve: How... more »

• Seniors wait for tax relief as Colo. mulls budget

  February 25, 2012 11:28 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Seniors waiting for a property tax break will get an answer in the coming weeks as a budget showdown plays out in the Colorado Legislature. Voters approved the tax break more than a decade ago, but it's rarely been in place because of tough budget times. This... more »

• On jobs, CO lawmakers moving past rhetoric

  January 24, 2012 8:14 PM

  DENVER (AP) - If there's one thing Colorado's sharply divided Legislature agrees on, it's the importance of jobs. But Democrats and Republicans are now past the speech-making phase of the session, and their differences on how best to go about improving the economy will come to the fore. A House... more »

• Drilling advances prompt talk of new CO law

  January 21, 2012 11:11 AM

  DENVER (AP) - New technology is putting oil and gas drills closer to populated areas in Colorado. And it's raising tension in Colorado over who regulates where drilling can be done. Horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing and other advances are allowing energy companies to drill in more populated areas. As a... more »

• Education cuts hitting home Play Video

  November 14, 2011 6:27 PM

  Classroom in Colorado Springs School District 11 will be empty next week as employees take their two mandatory furlough days this year. Glen Gustafson, D11's chief financial office, says all of the furloughs are happening during Thanksgiving week to minimize the impact on the community. "We know that this... more »

• State activists planning another push for pot legalization

  May 15, 2011 8:13 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Marijuana advocates racked up big wins in this year's session of the Colorado Legislature. Now they're turning their sights to a bigger effort - full legalization on the 2012 ballot. Pot legalization backers hope to start gathering signatures as soon as this summer to put the... more »

• Governor signing school bullying bill into law

  May 13, 2011 3:44 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Gov. John Hickenlooper is hitting the road to sign bills into law, including one that would reduce bullying in Colorado schools. The measure (House Bill 1254) would define bullying, require school districts to develop policies to prevent bullying and provide grants for prevention programs. He... more »

• Bear hunting bill fails

  May 10, 2011 11:28 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A bill allowing more time for bear hunting in Colorado has died as this year's legislative session winds down. The proposal was postponed on the House calendar Tuesday. It won't have enough time to pass this year because the Legislature adjourns Wednesday. House Bill 1294 would have... more »

• State redistricting bill dies

  May 10, 2011 11:23 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado Democrats have killed the last bill that would have let legislators redraw congressional districts this session. Now it's up to the courts or a costly special session. Congressional redistricting is required every 10 years following the census to ensure voter equality. Democratic Senate President Brandon Shaffer... more »

• Colo. lawmakers hammer away at redistricting

  May 9, 2011 5:15 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers are plowing ahead with plans to debate congressional redistricting, despite a lack of agreement on how they will handle it. GOP House Speaker Frank McNulty said the House will take up the GOP map on Monday, and Democratic Senate Majority Leader John Morse told... more »

• MMJ bill still alive despite pressure from the Fed

  May 9, 2011 4:11 PM

  Despite a letter from Denver's U.S. Attorney last week, Colorado legislators are still considering marijuana legislation. House Bill 1043 is in the Senate after passing the House. H.B. 1043 says it's intended to clarify the "Colorado Medical Marijuana Code"; adjusting several regulations for the industry including new licensing requirements for... more »

• MMJ bill still alive despite pressure from the Fed

  May 9, 2011 12:58 PM

  Despite a letter from Denver's U.S. Attorney last week, Colorado legislators are still considering marijuana legislation. House Bill 1043 is in the Senate after passing the House. H.B. 1043 adjusts several regulations for the industry including care giver registry requirements. It's seen as a follow-up to H.B. 10-1284 that was... more »

• Colorado keeping adultery law

  May 8, 2011 4:12 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado appears likely to keep its unenforced adultery law on the books. A legislative committee in the Colorado House voted Friday to reject a bill repealing that crime. The bill would have eliminated crimes for which marital status is an element, such as adultery. The bill also... more »

• Bondsmen outraged at alternative bond program

  May 4, 2011 6:35 PM

  A bill at the state capitol is on a fast track to putting our government into the bail bond business. Senate Bill 186 , which passed on Wednesday, is sponsored by state senator John Morse (D) Colorado Springs and would establish a state run alternative bond program. Morse says... more »

• Redistricting process remains heated

  May 1, 2011 12:56 PM

  It's something we do every ten years, but that doesn't mean when the time comes around participants are any less contentious. Now with a new population count following the 2010 Census, it's time to redraw Colorado's Congressional District lines to account for population shifts. Legislators will have their chance... more »

• Lawmakers battle bed bugs

  April 26, 2011 3:41 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Politics makes strange bedfellows, and so do bed bugs. Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that will repeal Colorado's Bedding Act, which requires that beds be sanitized before they can be resold. The bill is a move to cut red tape. Opponents say improperly renovated mattresses... more »

• Lawmakers try to restore some education funding

  April 21, 2011 12:23 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado House lawmakers will debate a deal that would add another $90 million to school districts that have been the target of massive cuts. Lawmakers say the proposal to be presented Thursday is possible because preliminary revenue forecasts are higher than expected. House Democratic Leader... more »

• State Senate approves budget cuts

  April 11, 2011 3:23 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A series of budget cuts in Colorado has gotten final approval in the state Senate. The $18 billion annual budget passed the Senate in a 30-5 vote today, sending the spending plan on to the House. Senators also passed a related bill cutting $250 million from... more »

• State House eliminates tax breaks for some properties

  March 29, 2011 2:03 PM

  DENVER (AP) - The Colorado House has given final approval to eliminating tax breaks for small properties that aren't being used for farming or ranching. The proposal would allow assessors to reclassify up to 2 acres of land to be taxed at a higher residential rate if the land... more »

• E-cigarettes available to kids? Maybe not for long

  March 7, 2011 8:21 PM

  For years lawmakers have been looking for ways to keep cigarettes out of the hands of kids; today, its electronic cigarettes. The problem is, there has been no age-limit to use the product in Colorado; but the state legislature is on the verge of changing that. "I sell at... more »

• Colorado lawmakers consider restorative justice

  February 8, 2011 3:55 PM

  DENVER (AP)-Colorado lawmakers will consider whether people accused of crimes should be given a chance to make amends instead of being sent to prison. A bill up for review in the House Judiciary Committee would emphasize the option known as "restorative justice," which favors restitution and encourages a dialogue... more »

• Bi-partisan town hall meeting in Colorado Springs

  February 2, 2011 3:33 PM

  A bi-partisan town hall meeting will be held in Colorado Springs this Saturday outlining accomplishments of the 2011 legislative session. The meeting is sponsored by Reps. Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs) and Mark Waller (R-Colorado Springs).It will be held at the Penrose Library Carnegie Reading Room, 20 North Cascade Ave.,... more »

• Bill would ban public assistance at strip club ATMs

  January 30, 2011 9:23 PM

  A bill in the Colorado State legislature would prohibit people from using strip club ATMs to withdraw welfare cash benefits. State law already prohibits welfare recipients from withdrawing at ATMs in liquor stores and casinos, but the law hasn't been enforced. "I don't see any problem with the bill... more »

• Senate panel to investigate lawmaker's behavior

  January 28, 2011 7:53 AM

  DENVER (AP)-A Colorado Senate committee will be appointed to investigate the behavior of a state representative a witness says made "boisterous noise and a lot of hand gestures" during a discussion about redistricting in the Senate after adjournment. Senate President Brandon Schaffer, D-Longmont, tells The Denver Post that the... more »

• Screens in cars up for Colorado rule change

  January 25, 2011 3:05 PM

  DENVER (AP)- The rules could be changing for having video screens in the car. Colorado law currently prohibits televisions in cars in the front seat or visible to a driver. Under a bill under consideration in a Senate committee Tuesday, those rules would be tweaked. The bill would allow... more »

• Colorado may bypass approval for organ donation

  January 19, 2011 4:37 PM

  DENVER (AP) -- Colorado drivers sign up for organ and tissue donation at higher rates than in any other state. But state lawmakers are considering a first-in-the-nation change so that people getting driver's licenses would be presumed organ donors unless they indicate otherwise. The "presumed consent" process has been... more »

• Colorado lawmakers to hear from plagiarized justice

  January 19, 2011 8:57 AM

  DENVER (AP)-A Colorado Supreme Court justice who inadvertently derailed the hopes of a Republican gubernatorial candidate last year is giving lawmakers the real deal in a briefing on water law. Gregory Hobbs is the jurist whose 1984 essay on water was plagiarized by GOP governor hopeful Scott McInnis. After... more »

• Colorado lawmakers resume work today

  January 18, 2011 7:25 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers have snapped pictures, set up new offices and promised to work together. Now it's time for the real work to begin. When the state Legislature resumes work Tuesday, lawmakers have opening-week speeches and other formalities out of the way. They'll be starting work looking... more »

• Colorado has first divided Legislature in a decade

  January 12, 2011 4:18 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Republicans are back in charge in Colorado's House, vowing to slash spending and stick to conservative principles as the Legislature opened its 2011 session Wednesday. Their top agenda: jobs and the economy. It was the top priority for Democrats, too, as leaders from both parties promised... more »

• Gavel falls on 2010 Colorado legislature

  May 13, 2010 9:29 AM

  Colorado lawmakers wrapped up their 120-day legislative session Wednesday by passing a controversial teacher tenure bill and killing a proposal to replace the state's standardized tests with new student assessments. Top accomplishments this year included passing an $18.2 billion budget that dealt with a $1.3 billion shortfall. Lawmakers... 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 »

• State senate legislation would end CSAP testing

  May 10, 2010 2:44 PM

  The Senate Education Committee has approved legislation to do away with comprehensive student tests and replace them with student assessments. The legislation would end CSAP testing in the ninth, tenth and 11th grades and replace them with what lawmakers say is a more meaningful college readiness curriculum. Educators opposed... more »

• Colorado lawmakers race to finish work

  May 10, 2010 1:09 PM

  Colorado lawmakers are in the home stretch as they head toward the end of this year's session on Wednesday. The Legislature still has major issues left on the calendar, including teacher tenure, college finance and senior tax breaks. Republicans and Democrats say this session was about "jobs, jobs, jobs,"... more »

• Teacher tenure bill up for vote in Colorado Senate

  April 29, 2010 9:25 AM

  A big change in the way teachers and principals are evaluated is up for a vote in the Colorado Senate. Senators are scheduled to debate and take an initial vote on the issue Thursday. Currently, teachers can earn tenure after three years in the classroom but a bipartisan... more »

• Colorado lawmakers considering tuition overhaul

  April 28, 2010 5:37 PM

  College presidents and educators are telling Colorado lawmakers they need flexibility to set tuition rates if the state wants them to give up $300 million in state funding. Sen. John Morse, a Colorado Springs Democrat, says that's the only way colleges can stay open if the state cuts their... more »

• Colorado Senate passes uranium cleanup bill

  April 28, 2010 5:25 PM

  The state Senate has passed a bill requiring uranium mines and mills to clean up radioactive waste before accepting more radioactive material. The Senate voted 24-9 in favor of the bill Wednesday. It now heads back to the House, where backers hope lawmakers will agree with changes made in... more »

• Colorado lawmakers want disclosure of donations

  April 26, 2010 4:48 PM

  Colorado lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require businesses and unions to disclose major campaign donations. Lawmakers acted because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that businesses and unions should be allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money to produce and run their own campaign ads. The Colorado... more »

• Colorado tax hike hearing at capitol

  April 19, 2010 1:45 PM

  The Legislature may ask voters for permission to raise taxes whenever they choose to pay for education. The proposal is up for its first hearing Monday in the House Education Committee. It seeks to ask voters this fall if they would give the Legislature approval to raise taxes... more »