NEWS

State Democrats recently unveiled their much-anticipated package of bills aimed at curbing gun violence. As part of our capitol conversation series, Bente Birkeland takes a look at the chances of the bills passing, and the internal debate among state Democrats.

Headlines:

• Shots Fired At West End Traffic Stop
• McClure Pass Wreck Sends Three To Hospital
• State Senate Takes Up Civil Unions Bill
• State Rep Wants To Promote Hemp Over Pot
• Fire and Drought Depress Rafting Visits in 2012
• NRA Meets With Governor Over Gun Control

The Governor and Democratic lawmakers announced plans to try and improve the state’s child welfare system Wednesday. The move comes after the deaths of dozens of children linked to human service departments over the last several years. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

Headlines:

• State Announces Child Welfare Reforms
• Another Skier Death At Aspen
• State Snowpack Less Than Last Year
• People Respond To BLM Deferral of NF Gas Leases
• Oxbow's Elk Creek Mine To Re-open
• Grant Will Improve Paonia River Park

In a press release sent out early this morning, the BLM Colorado Office announced that all 20 North Fork Valley parcels have been removed from the Feb. 14th oil and gas lease sale. 

“We’ve listened to concerns raised in numerous comments and public meetings and we are responding by deferring the North Fork Valley parcels at this time,” said Colorado State Director Helen Hankins.  “We are addressing the deferred parcels through continued dialogue with the local community and with ongoing planning efforts in the Uncompahgre Field Office.  

KVNF’s Marty Durlin interviewed BLM spokesperson Steven Hall, a Hotchkiss native, about the decision. He was speaking on his cell phone from an airport, and began by stressing that the parcels were not deferred because the the agency’s 20-year-old Resource Management Plan is inadequate. Hear that interview below:

Headlines:

• State Dems Want to Extend Liability for Assault Weapon Mayhem to Gun Sellers and Manufacturers
• Proposed Legislation Would Cut Wasted Election Costs for Uncontested Primaries
• State Considers Closing Western Slope Prison
• BLM Gets More Pushback For Gas Leasing In Colorado Than Region-wide
• Utah Woman Contests Choking Allegations