Colorado’s Prop 103 called national barometer on taxes

State Senator Rollie Heath’s Proposition 103, which asks Coloradans to approve a tax increase to bolster the state’s cash-strapped schools, will be the most significant tax measure to appear before any U.S. voters this year. The Pew Center on the States calls the vote a test of public attitudes toward tough recession-year fiscal choices and for that reason will draw scrutiny in capitals coast to coast.

Fresh food revolution comes to Colorado schools

It once was a given that the lunchroom lady got to work early and sweated over hot ovens until the kids came streaming in for lunch. That paradigm went the way of the victory garden until it became a given that school food was almost inedible with pretend chicken nuggets and bright yellow macaroni and cheese.

VIDEO: Bill Gates is talking about you, Colorado: Speaks on state budgets decimating education

The Colorado legislature will begin wrestling in earnest with the budget in the coming weeks. Education funding is going to take another major hit. That’s a really bad idea, says Microsoft billionaire and education enthusiast Bill Gates.

Hickenlooper promises bipartisan pro-business, pro-education approach to government in State of the State speech

Governor John Hickenlooper gave his first State of the State Address at the Capitol today with a speech that called for legislators to help reduce costs and spur economic activity.

While Hickenlooper’s address touched on issues of water, health care, education and political redistricting, the one-time-Denver beer baron’s speech centered on job creation.

Colorado schools stand to lose $1 billion if Amendment 60 passes

If Amendment 60 passes in November, students across Colorado will know it. They will soon be in more crowded classrooms and are likely to have fewer after-school and enrichment programs, course offerings and textbooks. Colorado schools will lose more than $1 billion if Amendment 60 passes.

Gardner backer Armey would end federal student loan programs in Colorado

Influential and controversial national conservative advocacy group FreedomWorks started the Tea Party movement last year and is endorsing conservative candidates across the country this year, including Colorado 4th District congressional candidate Cory Gardner. FreedomWorks chairman, former Texas congressman and House…

How would Buck have voted on Brown V. Board of Education?

You may recall that last week’s BigMedia question of the week for reporters was, “Does Ken Buck support a ban on the use of morning-after pill, even for a woman who is raped by a family member?

The answer…

Hickenlooper predicts Biennial of Americas may bring in $30 million

DENVER – Mayor John Hickenlooper told the Colorado Independent that the Biennial of the Americas may generate as much as $30 million in additional spending in the city. The month-long celebration, which kicked off July 1, will host artists, speakers,…

Bill to educate un-convicted imprisoned youth moves forward

DENVER– Colorado is one step closer to providing education to youth awaiting trial as adults in jails across the state. The current status quo sees un-convicted teenagers languishing for months and years in adult prisons ill-equipped to provide even constitutionally mandated services such as education.

GOP lawmakers protest ‘government takeover’ of student lending

A group of Republicans this afternoon will meet with reporters to protest the Democrats’ plans to eliminate tens of billions of dollars in government subsidies to private companies that lend to students. The Democrats’ bill would have students borrow directly from the U.S. Treasury, which makes sense to supporters because it’s the Treasury that currently assumes all the risk for those loans anyway — a boon to private companies that assume no risk. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that eliminating the private middleman will save $67 billion over the next decade, most of which will go toward expanding college scholarships to low-income students.