At gay-rights event, GOP Rep. Nikkel speaks on battling bigotry to advance civil unions

Colorado state Representative B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, this weekend said the experience of bigotry and intimidation she experienced last spring during the debate over a same-sex civil unions bill has strengthened her position in support of the bill. She said that, even though she’s not running for reelection and won’t be at the capitol to vote, she’s confident that conservatives will come to see the bill as consistent with their social values and that next year’s version of the bill will pass with significant Republican backing.

Western Slope watchdog groups leery of Hickenlooper oil and gas appointments

Western Slope oil and gas watchdog groups this week questioned whether the new board members appointed to the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) last week by Gov. John Hickenlooper will lean too heavily toward industry and Front Range concerns.

Colorado’s new Public Health and Environment director still hedging on climate change science

In the end, after some false starts and rhetorical meandering, the question was simple: Do you believe that carbon dioxide is a green house gas and contributes to climate change and therefore poses a serious health threat to humans? Al Gore and an overwhelming majority of climate scientists the world over answer a straightforward yes to that question. Most of the Republicans in Congress, however, answer no. Oil and gas climate “researchers” also answer no. Dr. Chris Urbina, the new Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment didn’t seem sure how to answer the question, or at least didn’t know how to answer state Republican senators asking him the question at his confirmation hearing Thursday.

Salazar named commisioner of agriculture, King to continue at DNR

Governor-elect John Hickenlooper announced today U.S. Rep. John Salazar will be Commissioner of Agriculture.

Hickenlooper made several other appointments today, including naming current agriculture commissioner John Stulp a special advisor on water. Dr. Chris Urbina was named executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Hickenlooper also said Mike King will remain director of the Department of Natural Resources.