State and Local

DENVER–Colorado teachers are going back to class for firearms training, joining thousands of educators across the nation even as Democratic lawmakers move to restrict access to guns.

The Rocky Mountain Gun Owners reports being inundated with responses after offering a free course for teachers interesting in earning their concealed-carry certification in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre. Read more »

DENVER – Much has been made of former Bush Administration official Condoleezza Rice and conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer’s suggestions that Republicans must soften their rhetoric on the issue of illegal immigration or face electoral consequences.

As Democrats prepare to push for sweeping immigration reforms, the mainstream media has been quick to cite the statements of such beltway luminaries as indications that a Republican flip-flop on the issue is forthcoming. Read more »

DENVER–Colorado pot advocates were anything but mellow Thursday as former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) unveiled a national and state effort to highlight the public-health drawbacks of marijuana.

Kennedy, a scion of the prominent Democratic family from Massachusetts, announced the launch of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana), described as a bipartisan alliance aimed at promoting science-based marijuana information for public-policy development. Read more »

DENVER– Keenly aware of Democrats controlling both the state House and Senate, Gov. John Hickenlooper asked legislators for bills with biparatisan support – but his State of the State address was loaded with a left-leaning agenda that few Republican legislators will likely endorse. Read more »

DENVER — The 2013 legislative has barely begun and already candidates are lining up to run in next year’s election.

Earlier this week Michael Fields, a Teach for America 4th grade teacher in Aurora and former political strategist, announced a run for House District 37 in Centennial. The district is currently represented by Republican Spencer Swalm, who is term limited.  Read more »

DENVER–The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission set up a showdown with the state legislature Wednesday by signing off on a setbacks rule opposed by some Democrats and the environmental movement.

The commission gave preliminary approval to a staff proposal to extend the minimum distance between drilling rigs and residential development to 500 feet in both urban and rural areas. The current rule requires a setback of 150 feet in rural and 350 feet in urban communities. Read more »

DENVER– The 69^th General Assembly opened Wednesday with state House and Senate leaders recalling tragedies of last year, calling for bipartisanship in tackling top priorities of economic recovery, job creation and education. Those goals will likely be echoed today in Gov. John Hickenlooper’s State of the State Address. Read more »

DENVER–The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission voted Monday to toughen up rules on groundwater contamination in order to deal with a problem that has little to do with groundwater contamination.

The underlying problem facing the commission is public sentiment against hydraulic fracturing. Read more »

DENVER – In the weeks leading up to the legislative session that begins Wednesday, leaders on both sides of the aisle in the Senate and the House have pledged civility in accord with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s directive to pass bills with bipartisan support. Read more »

DENVER—Whether Obamacare represents a much-needed revolution in health coverage or a fiscal disaster waiting to happen, it appears that Colorado will be one of the first states to find out.

Gov. John Hickenlooper announced last week plans to expand Medicaid coverage in keeping with President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, making Colorado one of 15 states so far to signal its participation in the effort. Read more »