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• Governor Ritter commutes Reali's sentence

  January 8, 2011 12:49 AM

  Nearing the end of his term, Governor Bill Ritter announced 28 pardons and commutations Friday afternoon; and there was a shocking one on the list to some -- commuting the life sentence of Jennifer Reali who was convicted in 1992 in the murder of her lover's wife in Colorado Springs.... more »

• State leaders predict "average" fire season

  May 21, 2010 5:28 PM

  With all the moisture we've had lately, state leaders are predicting a average fire season in Colorado. "The 2010 fire season outlook is better than we've seen in recent years," Gov. Bill Ritter (D) Colorado. "Overall, we're looking at average fire potential for the entire Rocky Mountain area. But we... more »

• Gov. Ritter praises legislators for tough session

  May 14, 2010 8:22 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter says his decision not to run for re-election and the lame-duck status of some legislative leaders helped lawmakers get difficult legislation passed this year. Ritter said Thursday that bills that were helped by the lack of election year politics included teacher tenure reform, cuts to state... more »

• Colorado, New Mexico governors endorse wildlife report

  May 13, 2010 8:13 AM

  Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson are endorsing a new report that recommends that companies be mindful of the impacts of development and climate change on wildlife. The governors spoke Wednesday at the Denver Zoo to coincide with the release of the report by Denver-based... more »

• Colorado governor to sign health care legislation

  April 20, 2010 9:44 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter is announcing his plans to implement national health care reform in Colorado. Ritter plans to sign four bills Tuesday that he says will advance the state's ongoing initiatives to contain health care costs, improve quality and make care and coverage more available. He will be joined by... more »

• Governor to sign bill protecting farmland

  April 14, 2010 12:52 PM

  Gov. Bill Ritter is signing a bill that would limit the use of urban renewal authority to take agricultural land. Lawmakers say Colorado is rapidly losing farmland and they believe urban renewal was never intended for taking more land away from farmers and ranchers. The bill also requires county assessors... more »

• Gov. signs bill sending medicine to Haiti

  April 14, 2010 9:21 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter has signed legislation that will help deliver medication to Haiti. The bill will make it easier for nursing homes and hospitals to use or donate discarded medication. Lawmakers hope the change will lead to unused medications being sent to medical clinics in Haiti, which suffered a devastating... more »

• Gov. Bill Ritter gets threatening letter

  April 2, 2010 11:40 AM

  Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is among state leaders across the country receiving threatening letters from an extremist group. Megan Castle, Ritter's spokeswoman, said Friday that the letter received by Ritter has been turned over to the local FBI office. As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received... more »

• Gov. Ritter in Colorado Springs Tuesday

  March 29, 2010 5:29 PM

  Gov. Bill Ritter attend an industry conference in Colorado Springs Tuesday. He'll make the keynote address at the 52nd Annual Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-IAS/Portland Cement Association Industry Conference. The conference is being held at The Broadmoor. more »

• Governor to sign health legislation

  March 29, 2010 8:05 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter is set to sign a bill that prohibits gender discrimination in setting health insurance rates. The bill will be signed on Monday, the annual Health Care Day of Action at the Capitol. Lawmakers say rates for women are often higher than rates for men and they believe... more »

• Colorado governor restores gaming impact funds

  March 27, 2010 9:54 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter is giving $5 million in funding for the Local Government Limited Gaming Impact Program back to gaming communities. The funding was taken away temporarily to help cover budget shortfalls and will now be made available to communities impacted by gaming activity. The program was created by the... more »

• Plan for program doesn't sit well with local retirees

  February 21, 2010 8:32 PM

  A bill, that would cut the cost of living increases to retirees, has passed the house and senate. Now it awaits the governor's signature to become law. A local group of retirees says if he signs it, they'll sue the state. Hundreds of thousands of government employees pay into,... more »

• Colorado counties gets agriculture disaster loans

  February 2, 2010 10:45 AM

  The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted a request for disaster designation in several Colorado counties where crops have been affected by drought and an early frost. Gov. Bill Ritter says Fremont County experienced damaging frost and freezing temperatures on Oct. 8-11. He says the Western Slope saw a wet... more »

• Colorado lawmakers approve nixing tax breaks

  January 30, 2010 9:11 AM

  After nearly 10 hours of debate, the Colorado House has given initial approval to bills eliminating or suspending tax breaks on junk mail, candy and soft drinks. They also approved a tax on software downloaded from the Internet and fast food takeout boxes. The bills face a third reading before... more »

• Colorado governor to announce more budget cuts

  January 27, 2010 11:44 AM

  Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is going to reveal details of his $50 million plan to re-balance the current fiscal year state budget. Todd Saliman, the governor's budget director, says the cuts are needed because of higher-than-expected Medicaid caseload growth and previous cuts that Ritter backed away from. Those include $4.5... more »

• New tax bills introduced at Colorado Capitol

  January 23, 2010 10:01 AM

  A dozen proposals to raise about $150 million in new tax revenue have been introduced at the state Capitol. The bills introduced Friday are part of Gov. Bill Ritter's previously announced plan to balance the state budget. One would charge sales tax on candy and soda to raise about... more »

• McInnis pushes for job growth in campaign stop

  January 13, 2010 12:13 PM

  Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis called for stronger relationships with the energy industry and the military to create jobs in Colorado. Delivering what he called phase one of his Strategic Plan for Colorado, the former Congressman told business leaders in Colorado Springs Wednesday that ,if elected, his priorities for... more »

• Gov. Ritter to meet with Colorado college presidents

  December 17, 2009 8:47 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter is meeting with Colorado college presidents again. The governor on Thursday is expected to announce a strategic review of the state's higher education systems that will lead to a long-term master plan for the future of higher education in Colorado. During their first meeting in October, college... more »

• Gov. Ritter comes to Ft. Carson to recognize program

  December 16, 2009 6:25 PM

  "I've seen far too many of you my brothers, working for low wages or not at all," says Clay Ditmore. It's a tough time for soldiers looking for new lines of work after their service. A national program, Helmets to Hardhats, is fighting this by getting former troops... more »

• Colorado Republicans target governor's budget plan

  December 15, 2009 9:45 AM

  Colorado Republicans are vowing to fight plans by Gov. Bill Ritter to eliminate tax breaks and release prisoners to balance the state budget. Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, a Republican from Fruita, says the Democratic governor could save money by firing many of the 2,000 new state employees he hired... more »

• Governor's aide withdraws consideration for US attorney

  December 15, 2009 9:39 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter's deputy chief of staff has withdrawn from consideration to be the next U.S. attorney in Colorado amid questions raised during Ritter's gubernatorial campaign. Stephanie Villafuerte said Monday that a "needless and extraneous political fight" has overshadowed an independent assessment of her qualifications. During Ritter's 2006 campaign, the... more »

• Gov. Ritter to visit Lamar Tuesday evening

  November 23, 2009 12:41 PM

  Gov. Bill Ritter will make a rare appearance on the eastern plains of Southern Colorado Tuesday evening. The governor will attend a Town Hall Meeting in Lamar at 5:30 pm. He plans to address the state's struggling economy. The meeting is expected to last an hour. It will... more »