Bente Birkeland
Bente Birkeland has been reporting on state legislative issues for KUNC and Rocky Mountain Community Radio since 2006. Originally, from Minnesota, Bente likes to hike and ski in her spare time. She keeps track of state politics throughout the year but is especially busy during the annual legislative session from January through early May.
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Governors are questioning how to balance public safety with states' financial welfare during the coronavirus outbreak. We spent the day with Gov. Jared Polis, Democrat from Colorado.
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Several state legislatures have called off their 2020 sessions due to the coronavirus outbreak, leaving necessary lawmaking in question.
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The city of Pueblo, Colo. went for Donald Trump in 2016, but a diverse population and an activated base of working-class voters could flip it in 2020.
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Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is expected to sign the bill this week, allowing guns to be temporarily taken from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others.
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Bills to abolish the death penalty are being debated in state legislatures across the country. In Colorado, a couple of lawmakers have a very personal connection to this political lightning rod.
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The 67-year-old former geologist, beer brewer and mayor of Denver points to accomplishments such as Medicaid expansion and increased spending on infrastructure and public education.
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Monday, Nevada's Legislature becomes the first in U.S. history to have a majority of female lawmakers. In Colorado, also a first, women hold the majority in the House of Representatives.
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This year, two legislative chambers across the country have a majority of women, but in Colorado that's been in the making long before 2018.
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Sexual misconduct allegations dominated the Colorado statehouse session this year. Now, many are asking whether the state's #MeToo movement actually changed Colorado's political environment.
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In Colorado, a group is exploiting voter dissatisfaction with the two major political parties in an effort to elect unaffiliated candidates.