A U.S. District judge is expected to issue a ruling soon on the ongoing lawsuit over oil and gas drilling on Colorado’s Roan plateau. Environmental groups are trying to block the drilling, and say federal regulators failed to fully examine the risks to wildlife and air quality. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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Now that the legislature’s special session has finished and some dust has settled, Bente Birkeland sits down with Governor John Hickenlooper to take a look back at how the controversial civil unions bill was handled and whether he regrets his unusual decision to call the special session.

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A bill that would have allowed civil unions in Colorado failed in the Republican controlled house late last night despite having enough GOP votes to pass. It happened after a dramatic fallout on the chamber floor, when Republicans recessed the house for several hours as Democrats were trying to call up the bill. Bente Birkeland [...]

Today is the make or break day for a bill to allow civil unions in Colorado, and several hundred supporters came to the capitol to rally for the measure to be debated on the full house floor. The bill needs an initial vote by midnight or it will die on the calendar. But it’s still [...]

Governor John Hickenlooper signed the state’s more than 7 billion dollar budget on Monday. It had widespread support from members of both chambers. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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A bill to allow civil unions in Colorado is poised for a showdown in the Republican controlled house on the final days of the state’s legislative session. The measure narrowly cleared two Republican house committees by one vote, but still faces one more committee hearing before it can head to the full floor for [...]

A measure to allow civil unions in Colorado cleared its first hurdle in the Republican controlled house judiciary committee. Many in the audience say they were shocked when the same committee that defeated the bill last year moved it forward. The measure passed when one Republican lawmaker switched her vote from no to yes. But [...]

A bill to create a legal standard in Colorado for driving under the influence of marijuana initially cleared the state senate on Tuesday. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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Denver was the location for a U.S. Congressional field hearing on hydraulic fracturing on Wednesday. Panelists and members of Congress debated whether the fracking process is safe, and if federal regulations would be over-reaching. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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About two-dozen victims of the Lower North Fork Fire were at the state capitol on Monday, as  lawmakers debated a bill that would create a commission to compensate them above  current state requirements. The Republican proposal has push back from Governor Hickenlooper, and some Democrats. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.

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