- President Barack Obama just signed a bill to expand public insurance for children, a plan known as S-CHIP. But that expansion won’t benefit Colorado unless the state can come up with matching money. KCFR‘s Ryan Warner recently spoke with Joan Henneberry, a member of the governor’s cabinet, about plans to raise that money.
- Welcome to Mise en Place, a journey of culinary delight where anything can happen. Based on the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s list of food-by-month, KRCC takes a look at farmers, chefs, and fodder, all with a Centennial State bent.
- Over the objection of some business groups, the House Education Committee passed a bill that would require employers to let parents take time off work to attend their children’s school functions.
- Colorado’s ambitious transportation package recently passed the state senate after hours of debate. All of the senate Republicans and two Democrats voted against the measure. It would increase vehicle registration fees to raise about 250 million dollars each year for roads and bridges.
- The transportation bill known as FASTER has initially passed the senate on a party line vote. Democratic state senators made what they say are two key changes to the package on Wednesday in a failed effort to get bi-partisan support. But Republicans say Democrats didn’t make enough concessions. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
- Donna Hartley and her husband, John, own Black Forest Honey. They maintain 150 hives, and in today’s “Citizen Report,” Hartley waxes philosophical about the nature of honeybees. (The “Citizen Report” is a collaboration between the Colorado Springs Gazette and KRCC.
- 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.
- A bill that would ban Colorado drivers from using hand held cell phones cleared the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday. First time offenders would get a $50 fine if caught talking and driving. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
- Colorado’s state senate passed a resolution yesterday supporting the Israeli offensive against Gaza, and the right of Israel to defend itself. The vote came immediately after senators passed a resolution to create a season for nonviolence. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
- Tom McElroy has lived and worked as a conceptual and avante-garde artist in Colorado Springs for 40 years. Tomorrow, the Fine Arts Center Modern opens “Atomic Elroy’s Hometown,” a video, performance and installation exhibit exploring McElroy’s self-described complex relationship with Colorado Springs.
- 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.
- Betty Smocovitis is a scientific historian who has examined the influence of Darwinism on popular culture. She’ll be lecturing tonight at Colorado College on Darwin’s presence in the music of the last 150 years. Gleaned from libretto scores, wax-cylinder recordings and other media, she’s collected a large body of musical data.
- 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.
