- Colorado Springs native Barbara Samuel O’Neal is an award-winning author, dipping her ink into the world of women’s fiction and romance. But for today’s “Citizen Report,” O’Neal conjures up a romance of a different sort and remembers a downtown staple long gone but not forgotten.
- The Colorado Department of Transportation is making a concerted effort to increase the amount of recycled asphalt used in new and repaved roads. In 2008, CDOT repaved over 1400 road miles using recycled asphalt, a figure that’s expected to increase this year. From Rocky Mountain Community Radio member station KDNK in Carbondale, Conrad Wilson reports.
- A democratic-backed effort to pump millions of dollars into fixing the state’s ailing transportation system cleared its first legislative hurdle earlier this week. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- A young man claims 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.
- 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.
- Four members of Colorado’s congressional delegation talked to state lawmakers about the federal economic stimulus package. Bente Birkeland discusses what they said with fellow statehouse reporters.
- Republican state lawmakers are circulating a petition criticizing Governor Bill Ritter for saying he would support Guantanamo Bay prisoners being housed in Colorado. The state is home to “Supermax,” one of four federal prisons the Obama administration is considering moving Guantanamo detainees to. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
- In the sagging economy, many media outlets are cutting jobs and laying off reporters, and Colorado’s not immune. The most recent newspaper casualty happened on Tuesday when the Pueblo Chieftain told its veteran state capitol reporter that he would be out of a job at the end of the current legislative session.
- Today’s contribution comes from Chris Robertson. The southern Louisiana native moved to Colorado Springs in 1997, and currently works for the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado. In today’s “Citizen Report,” Robertson discusses the power of language. (The “Citizen Report” is a collaboration between the Colorado Springs Gazette and KRCC.
- Coloradans who attended yesterday’s inaugural ceremonies in the nation’s capitol are hoping the transition of power will bring better economic times. Sara Sciammacco reports from Washington.
- The historic nature of President Barack Obama’s inauguration inspired many people around the country and the world to hold special inauguration-viewing events. At Colorado State University in Pueblo, about 150 students, faculty and staff gathered for their own festivities on campus.
- While most state lawmakers had to settle for watching President Barack Obama’s inauguration on TV, a handful of legislators and Governor Bill Ritter traveled to Washington DC to witness it firsthand. Ritter says the ceremony was phenomenal and that he had a fantastic view. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
