The U.S. Forest Service has long tried to get kids outside and away from computers, TVs and video games… but the country’s top forester says efforts have become more urgent in recent years.

Governor Ritter signed the last handful of bills to come out of this year’s legislative session. One measure makes it easier for seasonal workers to come to Colorado. Another bill cracks down on fraudulent conservation easements aimed at preserving farm land. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

A new report from the non-partisan watchdog group the Campaign Finance Institute shows that Denver’s host committee for the Democratic National Convention is raising money for the event by using a loophole to bypass campaign finance laws. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

The entire graduating class of the medical school at the University of Colorado was in court recently. It wasn’t a real case, but an exercise to expose new doctors to what a malpractice trial is like.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mit Romney’s keynote address over the weekend at the state Republican Convention capped quite a week on Colorado’s political scene… one that included visits from presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama. Romney solidly captured Colorado during the February caucus before dropping out of the race.

Amanda Udis-Kessler, Colorado College’s Director of Institutional Research and Planning, just published a new book titled Queer Inclusion in the United Methodist Church. Noel Black spoke with her about her about her approach to the subject and why she chose to write about it.

Colorado’s quarter century old lawsuit against the Federal government and Shell Oil has finally come to an end. Both have agreed to pay 35 million dollars to help restore the environmental damage they caused at Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama outlined his education policy at a high school in the Denver suburb of Thornton on Wednesday. The Illinois senator says he wants schools to be innovative, and to reward good teachers with higher salaries. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

A new high-security laboratory opens today at Colorado State University. Researchers there are experimenting with some of the most dangerous microbes on the planet. The lab is the first of 13 new facilities the federal government is building nationwide.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain was in Colorado on Tuesday to give a speech on nuclear disarmament at the University of Denver. He then went to a lunch-time fundraiser. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

The Democrats aren’t the only National Convention coming to Denver this summer. The Libertarian party is also holding its national convention in the mile high city. This weekend 14 people will vie to be the party’s presidential nominee. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Thousands of Democrats descended on Colorado Springs last weekend for the State Democratic Convention. Party leaders say it was their largest convention ever. Democrats picked 12 delegates to go to the national convention this August, but the crowd wasn’t always united. Bente Birkeland reports from Colorado Springs.

The Partnership of Rural Colorado Boys & Girls Clubs has several Clubs in our listening area including Avondale, Rocky Ford, Salida and Buena Vista.

Democratic state senator Gail Schwartz from Snowmass village recently completed her second legislative session. Bente Birkeland sat down with her to get her take on how it went.

A citizen initiative that would define personhood as starting from the moment of fertilization is one step closer to getting on the state’s election ballot this fall. Opponents say it’ll be a contentious campaign issue because it could eventually ban abortions in Colorado. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Sixty six year-old John Cardie is on a one man crusade to get more kids to play checkers. The retired chemist speaks at schools and libraries; wrote a book titled “How to Beat Granddad at Checkers” – and even has a website called “Checkers Creates Kings.” Bente Birkeland visited with him at his Westminster home.