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• Trading for marijuana: Is this legal? Play Video

  February 22, 2013 1:28 AM

  Marijuana users are getting creative when it comes to getting their hands on pot. They're using web sites like Craigslist to trade merchandise for marijuana. Plug in "marijuana" on Craigslist and a laundry list of postings will appear. People are looking to trade anything and everything from cell phones... more »

• Washington hashing out marijuana taxes - recreational and medical

  February 18, 2013 8:21 PM

  OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - More than a dozen people, many of them medical marijuana patients or providers, testified Monday against a measure to tax medical marijuana dispensaries, an effort to undermine any black market when sale of state-taxed recreational marijuana starts at the end of this year. The bill, which... more »

• 5 Uncovers: Sexual assault kits not being tested

  February 13, 2013 12:48 PM

  News 5 uncovers hundreds of sexual assault kits collected are not being sent off for testing. "We assume evidence is being submitted for testing after a victim comes to law enforcement and goes through the additional traumatic experience of having the evidence collected," House District 43 Representative Frank McNulty... more »

• Colo. task force meeting on marijuana regulations

  February 11, 2013 11:47 AM

  DENVER (AP) - A marijuana regulatory group appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper is still working out the details of pot regulation. The group members meeting Monday won't make rules, but they'll recommend to the governor and the Legislature how Colorado should become one of the nation's first to regulate marijuana... more »

• Not so special session ends

  May 16, 2012 2:38 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers wrapped up a special session Wednesday with little to show for returning to work. It was an extraordinary session, with quite ordinary results. The Legislature convened its first special session since 2006 on Monday. Lawmakers were called back to Denver by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper,... more »

• Legislative special session starts tomorrow, leaders say civil unions won't pass Play Video

  May 14, 2012 1:10 AM

  The civil unions debate will no doubt be the hot topic when state lawmakers head back to the capitol for a special session called by Governor Hickenlooper, but legislators are saying it won't happen this time around. Although many civil unions supporters see the special session as a second... more »

• CO lawmakers enter final month

  April 8, 2012 1:10 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers are entering their final month of the 2012 session with plenty left to do - but without the caustic atmosphere one might expect in the closing days of an election year. The state's divided Legislature has until May 9 to balance the budget and make... more »

• Concealed carry controversy

  February 20, 2012 8:28 PM

  On one hand, NRA instructor Paul Paradis is a staunch constitutionalist. "You don't have to pay the government to carry a gun whether it is concealed or not," he said. But on the other hand he also said, "Part of having that privilege is getting appropriate training." ... more »

• On jobs, CO lawmakers moving past rhetoric

  January 24, 2012 8:14 PM

  DENVER (AP) - If there's one thing Colorado's sharply divided Legislature agrees on, it's the importance of jobs. But Democrats and Republicans are now past the speech-making phase of the session, and their differences on how best to go about improving the economy will come to the fore. A House... more »

• Concealed guns without permit bill fails in Colo.

  January 23, 2012 6:44 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado Democrats rejected a proposal to allow concealed weapons without a permit because of concerns that it would remove a safeguard to prevent guns from being used by criminals and the mentally ill. The proposal failed Monday on a party-line 3-2 vote in a Senate committee. A... more »

• Teachers could see changes to tenure

  January 23, 2012 6:58 AM

  DENVER (AP) - New teacher tenure rules proposed for Colorado are getting their first review by state lawmakers who asked for them. A House-Senate panel is meeting Monday afternoon to look at the proposed four-tier review standards for teachers. The state board of education approved the new evaluation standards to... more »

• Education cuts hitting home Play Video

  November 14, 2011 6:27 PM

  Classroom in Colorado Springs School District 11 will be empty next week as employees take their two mandatory furlough days this year. Glen Gustafson, D11's chief financial office, says all of the furloughs are happening during Thanksgiving week to minimize the impact on the community. "We know that this... more »

• Tax amnesty bill likely to be signed

  May 14, 2011 11:00 PM

  DENVER (AP) - People and businesses behind on their taxes could get a chance this fall to make things right without facing penalties. A bill awaiting likely approval by Gov. John Hickenlooper would create a tax amnesty from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15 to let taxpayers settle amounts they owe... more »

• Bear hunting bill fails

  May 10, 2011 11:28 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A bill allowing more time for bear hunting in Colorado has died as this year's legislative session winds down. The proposal was postponed on the House calendar Tuesday. It won't have enough time to pass this year because the Legislature adjourns Wednesday. House Bill 1294 would have... more »

• State redistricting bill dies

  May 10, 2011 11:23 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado Democrats have killed the last bill that would have let legislators redraw congressional districts this session. Now it's up to the courts or a costly special session. Congressional redistricting is required every 10 years following the census to ensure voter equality. Democratic Senate President Brandon Shaffer... more »

• Colo. lawmakers hammer away at redistricting

  May 9, 2011 5:15 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers are plowing ahead with plans to debate congressional redistricting, despite a lack of agreement on how they will handle it. GOP House Speaker Frank McNulty said the House will take up the GOP map on Monday, and Democratic Senate Majority Leader John Morse told... more »

• MMJ bill still alive despite pressure from the Fed

  May 9, 2011 12:58 PM

  Despite a letter from Denver's U.S. Attorney last week, Colorado legislators are still considering marijuana legislation. House Bill 1043 is in the Senate after passing the House. H.B. 1043 adjusts several regulations for the industry including care giver registry requirements. It's seen as a follow-up to H.B. 10-1284 that was... more »

• Legislature entering the final stretch

  May 9, 2011 12:27 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado's first divided Legislature in a decade is limping toward the finish line with plenty of topics to settle before the final gavels fall Wednesday. The biggest obstacle facing the Democratic Senate and Republican House is congressional redistricting, a process required every 10 years to adjust... more »

• Colorado keeping adultery law

  May 8, 2011 4:12 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado appears likely to keep its unenforced adultery law on the books. A legislative committee in the Colorado House voted Friday to reject a bill repealing that crime. The bill would have eliminated crimes for which marital status is an element, such as adultery. The bill also... more »

• Colorado Legislature limps toward finish line

  May 8, 2011 11:47 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado's first divided Legislature in a decade is limping toward the finish line with plenty of topics to settle before the final gavels fall Wednesday. The biggest obstacle facing the Democratic Senate and Republican House is congressional redistricting, a process required every 10 years to adjust... more »

• Legislature still working on pot rules, despite Fed warning

  May 2, 2011 5:01 PM

  Colorado lawmakers are taking up marijuana regulation proposals for the first time since they received a federal warning about states and pot. The Senate Finance Committee planned to start work on a medical marijuana bill that changes rules for how the drug can be grown and sold. Last week,... more »

• Legislature almost finished, but redistricting has a ways to go

  May 1, 2011 7:33 PM

  This year's legislative session is just over a week from finished, but redistricting has legislators jockeying for position with constituents. Redistricting is done every ten years using numbers from the most recent census. It accounts for population changes, trying to keep all of the state's congressional districts close to... more »

• Lawmakers battle bed bugs

  April 26, 2011 3:41 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Politics makes strange bedfellows, and so do bed bugs. Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that will repeal Colorado's Bedding Act, which requires that beds be sanitized before they can be resold. The bill is a move to cut red tape. Opponents say improperly renovated mattresses... more »

• Adultery may no longer be a crime in Colorado

  April 26, 2011 3:14 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers have taken a step toward repealing laws that make adultery illegal. A bill approved by a Senate committee Tuesday would repeal all crimes for which marital status is an element. That would include adultery. The bill also repeals the crime of "promoting sexual immorality."... more »

• Lawmakers try to restore some education funding

  April 21, 2011 12:23 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado House lawmakers will debate a deal that would add another $90 million to school districts that have been the target of massive cuts. Lawmakers say the proposal to be presented Thursday is possible because preliminary revenue forecasts are higher than expected. House Democratic Leader... more »

• State Senate approves budget cuts

  April 11, 2011 3:23 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A series of budget cuts in Colorado has gotten final approval in the state Senate. The $18 billion annual budget passed the Senate in a 30-5 vote today, sending the spending plan on to the House. Senators also passed a related bill cutting $250 million from... more »

• State lawmakers telling schools to play

  March 29, 2011 10:59 PM

  Colorado lawmakers from the House and Senate have reached an agreement on a bill that would require 30 minutes of exercise in elementary schools every day to help combat childhood obesity. "It's a shame that there would need to be legislation requiring something that is so valuable and that... more »

• State House eliminates tax breaks for some properties

  March 29, 2011 2:03 PM

  DENVER (AP) - The Colorado House has given final approval to eliminating tax breaks for small properties that aren't being used for farming or ranching. The proposal would allow assessors to reclassify up to 2 acres of land to be taxed at a higher residential rate if the land... more »

• Trouble brewing over state beer laws

  March 23, 2011 11:31 PM

  Battle lines are being drawn in Colorado over House Bill 1284 which gives the right to sell full strength beers in convenience and grocery stores. As it stands, those stores can only sell beer that's 3.2% alcohol or lower. Sean Duffy who represents both King Soopers and Safeway super... more »

• House okays driving while impaired by marijuana standard

  March 23, 2011 1:45 PM

  DENVER (AP) - An impairment standard for drivers using medical marijuana has won final approval in the Colorado House The House backed the bill on Wednesday, sending it on to the Senate. The bill sets a blood-content threshold to charge marijuana users with driving under the influence. The bill... more »

• Civil union bill in for long debate

  March 23, 2011 12:06 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A same-sex civil unions bill expected before the Colorado Senate has both sides ready for a long debate. The measure has already cleared a committee and was scheduled for debate by the full chamber Wednesday. Both sides expected a long floor debate, though legislators could delay... more »

• Budget deficit looming as legislators gear up for the second half

  March 19, 2011 8:04 PM

  Legislators have known since heading to the Capitol in January that they'll be looking at a lot of bills, but their big job is making sure the dollars and cents add up. "The most pressing issue for this entire session is the budget," says Rep. Bob Gardner, (R) House... more »

• Lawmakers to meet with Bent County officials

  March 8, 2011 8:31 AM

  DENVER (AP) - State lawmakers are scheduled to meet with officials from a southeastern Colorado city to discuss the possible closing of a prison that residents say will damage the area's economy. The Joint Budget Committee will meet with Bent County officials this afternoon to hear their concerns as... more »

• E-cigarettes available to kids? Maybe not for long

  March 7, 2011 8:21 PM

  For years lawmakers have been looking for ways to keep cigarettes out of the hands of kids; today, its electronic cigarettes. The problem is, there has been no age-limit to use the product in Colorado; but the state legislature is on the verge of changing that. "I sell at... more »

• Civil union bill heads to committee in Colo. Senate

  March 6, 2011 10:21 PM

  The Colorado State Senate is going to tackle civil unions. State Senate Bill 172 would give any couple who enters into a civil union specific legal benefits, protections, and responsibilities. The bill goes before the judiciary committee Monday. "The goal is to make sure gay couples get treated the... more »

• Man looks to honor fallen tow truck driver with a law

  March 4, 2011 11:29 PM

  Last week's dragging death of tow truck driver Allen Rose had an affect on many; and a big one on Mike Baier, who just couldn't seem to get it off of his mind. He wanted to help. "I'd like to think that something good can come from every tragedy,... more »

• Gun bill drawing lots of discussion

  February 28, 2011 8:16 PM

  Lines are being drawn over State House Bill 1205. The bill would make it legal for people to carry a gun without a permit. The bill has already passed the State Judiciary Committee by a vote of 8 to 3. Annmarie Jensen with the Colorado Association of Police Chiefs... more »

• Angela Giron to host meeting

  February 17, 2011 7:41 PM

  State Senator Angela Giron (D-Pueblo) will preside over a town hall meeting in Pueblo on Saturday at 10 a.m. The event will happen at the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave. Hear about senior safety and fraud prevention from Det. Pat Heine of the Pueblo... more »

• California bill would ban sale of shark fins

  February 14, 2011 3:41 PM

  LOS ANGELES (AP) - Less than one week after Chinese New Year, California legislators have introduced a bill to ban the possession, sale and distribution of shark fins used in a traditional soup. If successful, the proposed ban announced Monday would follow a similar measure enacted in Hawaii last... more »

• More issues to sort for medical marijuana in legislature

  February 12, 2011 12:46 AM

  House Bill 1043 has gotten a lot of the attention in the medical marijuana community of this year's bills working their way through the legislature. It's got several proposed changes to the Colorado Medicinal Marijuana Code; such as extending the state moratorium for new businesses in the industry, rules on... more »

• Marijuana rules changing in Colorado

  February 10, 2011 5:32 PM

  DENVER (AP)-Colorado has nation's most detailed pot law, but state lawmakers are cracking open last year's sweeping medical marijuana rules to make some changes. Marijuana patients are already complaining. They say lawmakers aren't considering changing some rules most hated by the industry-including increased surveillance of pot shops and a... more »

• Colorado lawmakers consider restorative justice

  February 8, 2011 3:55 PM

  DENVER (AP)-Colorado lawmakers will consider whether people accused of crimes should be given a chance to make amends instead of being sent to prison. A bill up for review in the House Judiciary Committee would emphasize the option known as "restorative justice," which favors restitution and encourages a dialogue... more »

• Bi-partisan town hall meeting in Colorado Springs

  February 2, 2011 3:33 PM

  A bi-partisan town hall meeting will be held in Colorado Springs this Saturday outlining accomplishments of the 2011 legislative session. The meeting is sponsored by Reps. Pete Lee (D-Colorado Springs) and Mark Waller (R-Colorado Springs).It will be held at the Penrose Library Carnegie Reading Room, 20 North Cascade Ave.,... more »

• State Legislators in showdown over "Amazon Tax"

  January 30, 2011 3:33 AM

  Sides are being drawn over the states so called "Amazon Tax". The bill passed by the 2010 Legislature says online retail giants like Amazon would be required to either start collecting state sales taxes, or provide the state with a summary of customers' web purchases. Wednesday, a federal judge blocked... more »

• Senate panel to investigate lawmaker's behavior

  January 28, 2011 7:53 AM

  DENVER (AP)-A Colorado Senate committee will be appointed to investigate the behavior of a state representative a witness says made "boisterous noise and a lot of hand gestures" during a discussion about redistricting in the Senate after adjournment. Senate President Brandon Schaffer, D-Longmont, tells The Denver Post that the... more »

• Tempers short as legislators battle over budget

  January 25, 2011 3:44 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado politicians are debating big changes to how the state spends taxes as they hunker down into their most pressing problem - another year of dwindling budgets and painful spending cuts. No one in the Capitol seems to doubt that Colorado needs to make big changes... more »

• Screens in cars up for Colorado rule change

  January 25, 2011 3:05 PM

  DENVER (AP)- The rules could be changing for having video screens in the car. Colorado law currently prohibits televisions in cars in the front seat or visible to a driver. Under a bill under consideration in a Senate committee Tuesday, those rules would be tweaked. The bill would allow... more »

• Pueblo City Schools to continue breakfast program

  January 24, 2011 3:49 PM

  Pueblo City Schools (District 60) has made a decision to continue serving breakfast at its schools. Recently the state legislature decided not to provide additional funding for the Start Smart breakfast program, in order to save money. The funding decrease takes affect in April. Jill Kidd, Director... more »

• Colorado may bypass approval for organ donation

  January 19, 2011 4:37 PM

  DENVER (AP) -- Colorado drivers sign up for organ and tissue donation at higher rates than in any other state. But state lawmakers are considering a first-in-the-nation change so that people getting driver's licenses would be presumed organ donors unless they indicate otherwise. The "presumed consent" process has been... more »

• Colorado lawmakers to hear from plagiarized justice

  January 19, 2011 8:57 AM

  DENVER (AP)-A Colorado Supreme Court justice who inadvertently derailed the hopes of a Republican gubernatorial candidate last year is giving lawmakers the real deal in a briefing on water law. Gregory Hobbs is the jurist whose 1984 essay on water was plagiarized by GOP governor hopeful Scott McInnis. After... more »

• Colorado lawmakers resume work today

  January 18, 2011 7:25 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers have snapped pictures, set up new offices and promised to work together. Now it's time for the real work to begin. When the state Legislature resumes work Tuesday, lawmakers have opening-week speeches and other formalities out of the way. They'll be starting work looking... more »

• Colorado GOP vows to stick to principles

  January 12, 2011 8:08 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado Republicans are vowing not to abandon their principles after taking control of the House after six years of Democratic rule. Today, when 100 state lawmakers take their oaths of office, Democrats will control the Senate and Republicans will control the House. With the controlling party... more »

• Students bear brunt of state budget deficit

  December 19, 2010 9:29 PM

  Parents in Colorado may want to start putting more money into their kids' college fund. Almost all of the universities and colleges in our state are considering double digit tuition increases next year to overcome cuts in state funding. Jill Brake of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education worries... more »

• Governor-elect meets with new speaker of state house

  November 5, 2010 2:55 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper is promising to scour the state for Cabinet and commission members and he promises to consider Democrats, Republicans and anyone else who qualifies for the job. Hickenlooper says what happens in the first six months will define his governorship for the next four... more »

• Colleges bracing for lower state funding

  September 30, 2010 8:20 AM

  Colorado colleges are bracing for lower state funding next year and some are drafting alternative plans to raise tuition by more than 9 percent. Rico Munn, director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, said Wednesday colleges may have their state funding cut from $705 million this year to... more »

• Veteran apparently lied about war injuries

  September 28, 2010 2:46 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Relatives of a Colorado Army veteran are disputing his assertion that he lost his legs in combat. Kevin Grimsinger told state lawmakers last spring his legs were blown off by a land mine in Afghanistan. He was testifying about medical marijuana. His father, Walt Grimsinger of... more »

• El Paso County resumes debate over medical marijuana

  August 26, 2010 9:44 AM

  The El Paso County commissioners are once again debating whether medical marijuana operations should be allowed in unincorporated parts of the county. The commissioners are expected to consider Thursday whether to ask voters to weigh in or decide the issue themselves. They postponed a decision after a daylong hearing... more »

• Colorado GOP in Arizona to talk about immigration

  August 19, 2010 8:11 AM

  Colorado Republicans were in Phoenix Wednesday to learn about Arizona's new immigration enforcement measure and talk about crafting one of their own. Colorado Rep. Kent Lambert, who is running for Senate this year, says he plans to introduce legislation that matches Arizona's law "as identically as possible." Lambert... more »