NEWS

Headlines:

• Sex Ed bill passes state house after vigorous debate
• Task force recommends marijuana tourism, local ownership of pot shops
• Delta County Commissioners discuss alternatives to dumping old tires in landfills
• Mesa County school safety task force meets weekly, will inform school board

A bill to revamp sex education classes for Colorado students has initially passed the house on Tuesday after a rigorous debate. The measure aims to make instruction more culturally sensitive and add information on homosexuality. But opponents say it would take away the rights of parents. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

Headlines:

• Regulators seek to define terms in Amendment 64
• Dems pass controversial gun control bills in state house
• Wildlife experts seeking help in restoring black-footed ferrets
• Former Interior Secretary Babbitt urges conservation

A controversial package of Democratic gun control bills cleared the house yesterday. The measures now head to the state senate. And as Bente Birkeland reports the bills still face strong opposition from Republicans and some Democrats.

Headlines:

• Capitol Coversation covers Gov. Hickenlooper's oil and gas conflict
• Environmental Impact Statement on uranium in Western Colorado due in March
• BLM collects $2.1 million in oil and gas lease sale on Feb. 14thth
• Leases on Thompson Divide set to expire; company asks for extension
• Fossils from Snowmass Village are on display in Denver
• Talking turkey on the almanac.org

Governor John Hickenlooper is getting push back for recently telling members of Congress that he once drank flack fluid and touting Colorado as a national model for balanced energy rules. The state's oil and gas commission has increased the statewide buffer zone between drilling sites and homes and buildings, but many Democratic state lawmakers say the rules are still too lenient. Bente Birkeland takes a look at the issue and the Governor’s comments as part of our capitol conversation series.

Democratic leaders at the statehouse hope to introduce bills dealing with the impacts of hydraulic fracturing by the end of the month. This comes as Governor John Hickenlooper is touting Colorado’s current regulations on fracking as a national model. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

Headlines:

• Lawsuit makes BLM disclose identities of lease buyers
• Lawmakers debate fracking regs, Gov. Hickenlooper under fire for political stunt
• Well near Windsor spills 84,000 gallons of fracking fluid
• Western Slope Skies
• First Grand Junction film festival starts tonight
• Paonia V-Day celebration includes protest against violence towards women