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Colorado Edition: Nothing Happens Quickly At The State Capitol

Scott Franz
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Capitol Coverage

Today on Colorado Edition: we'll look ahead to the legislative session, which begins on Wednesday. Plus, we'll learn about updates in Colorado's oil and gas industry and hear about a program aimed at helping more people become nurses.

Legislative Preview

Credit Scott Franz / Capitol Coverage
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Capitol Coverage

On Wednesday, Colorado’s legislative session will start up again. And although we won’t immediately see a flood of bills passing into laws, the action will start quickly.  

KUNC’s Capitol reporter, Scott Franz, joined us to give us a civics lesson about what goes on at the state's Capitol during the session.

We also got an update from Erica Meltzer, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Colorado, about what's ahead for the session in the realm of education. Last week, we learned that the legislative interim committee charged with making changes to Colorado’s school funding formula would not be recommending any legislation in 2020. The chair of the committee said they just ran out of time leading up to the start of the session. 

And while the school funding formula is about as complicated as it gets, it does raise questions about what lawmakers can accomplish during the legislative session this year as it relates to education. 

Fracking Ban

Credit KUNC File Photo

There were a few developments in Colorado's oil and gas industry on Tuesday. A group of activists in Boulder County hand-delivered a petition to the county commissioners asking them to ban fracking. Elsewhere, an environmental group also submitted language for new statewide ballot questions. 

KUNC’s Matt Bloom joined us from Boulder to help us make sense of the news. 

Nursing Program

There’s a shortage of nurses not only in Colorado, but across the country. And that could be exacerbated by a push for hospitals and health care facilities to hire nurses with a bachelor’s degree — even though an associate degree is all that’s needed to become a nurse. KUNC’s Stephanie Daniel has more on a new college program making it easier for nurses to pursue the higher education they need.

Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!

Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. 

Colorado Edition is hosted by Erin O'Toole (@ErinOtoole1) and Henry Zimmerman (@HWZimmerman), and produced by Lily Tyson. The web was edited by digital editor Jackie Hai. Managing editor Brian Larson contributed to this episode.

KUNC's Colorado Edition is a daily news magazine taking an in-depth look at the issues and culture of Northern Colorado. It's available on our website, as well as on iTunesGoogle PlayStitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can hear the show on KUNC's air, Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Stories written by KUNC newsroom staff.