Closed Doors: Open Democracies? Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The league of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region presents a video presention of a “Sunshine Week” national dialogue on open government and secrecy, moderated by NPR’s Talk of the Nation host Ira Flatow.

Lawmakers debated hundreds bills, heard hours of testimony and now Colorado’s 119 day legislative session has come to an end. In our last installment of this year’s capitol conversation series, Bente Birkeland takes a look back at the session and a look ahead.

Colorado will likely have more high-pollution days in the years to come thanks to new air quality standards recently set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Troops from Ft. Carson have been busy in recent weeks in Iraq. They’ve been seeing combat every day after a period of relative calm. Families back home are ticking off the fifth month that their loved ones have been away. It will be another ten months before they come home.

Governor Bill Ritter has finished his second legislative session since getting elected to office. Some Republicans say he’s hit a sophomore slump, failing to provide leadership on key issues such as transportation. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

State lawmakers wrapped up their 120-day legislative session yesterday. A day earlier than scheduled. Republicans and Democrats didn’t waste any time putting their spin on the last four months, but there was also a universal sense of relief that it was finally over. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Backers of a proposed initiative to amend Colorado’s constitution to define an embryo as a person are gathering signatures to secure a spot on the ballot by next week. The so-called “Personhood” amendment is a new strategy being deployed by pro-life activists across the country. And it’s facing loud opposition from the pro-choice movement.

State lawmakers are pushing ahead with a measure In the final hours of the legislative session that would make it harder for citizens to change to the state constitution. But opponents say it’s too restrictive. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

A measure that aims to make it easier to prosecute people who violate orders of protection has cleared both chambers of the statehouse. Prosecutors say the bill would protect victims. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Lawmakers debated hundreds of bills this legislative session, but there’s one key issue that didn’t gain much traction. Transportation. Measures to improve roads and infrastructure largely fell flat. Bente Birkeland talks with fellow state house reporters as part of our capitol conversation series.

A measure that aims to protect gay, bisexual and transgendered people from business and housing discrimination cleared both chambers of Colorado’s state house on Friday. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Colorado high school students would no longer need to take the annual school assessment tests known as the CSAP under a new bill that initially cleared the house on Wednesday. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Dr. Walter Brueggemann, author of Mandate to Difference is spending the weekend in Colorado Springs. The professor and United Church of Christ minister will give lectures and lead discussions as part of the seminar The Bible for Those on their Way, sponsored by the Colorado College chaplain’s office and First Congregational United Church of Christ.