Even with no political experience, Colorado’s next U.S. Senator pledges to be an innovative thinker and a problem solver who brings people together. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Governor Bill Ritter is expected to appoint Michael Bennet to fill Colorado’s open U.S. senate seat. Bennet is the Superintendent of Denver Public Schools and Ritter will make the announcement on Saturday. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

As part of a series talking to lawmakers to preview the upcoming legislative session, Statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland talked to a Republican House member about what he hopes to accomplish during the session.

Colorado’s economy will be front and center during the state’s legislative session that starts in January. As part of our series previewing the session, Statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland talked to a northern Colorado lawmaker who sits on the powerful joint budget committee. He says 2009 is going to be a tough year when it comes to money.

The high cost of health care in America is a real drain on businesses. Every year the cost of insuring employees rises by double digits, that’s far faster than the general rate of inflation. So now, some of the country’s biggest businesses are trying something new - paying doctors more. It may not sound like a logical way to reduce costs, but it’s getting a big buy-in in Colorado. KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney has more.

Like many other cities around the country, Denver is trying to deal with rising numbers of residential foreclosures. And while the latest figures indicate a decrease in the number of overall foreclosures in Colorado this past quarter, certain neighborhoods are seeing rising numbers of homeowners not able to pay their mortgages. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KGNU’s Maeve Conran reports.

State government officials are bracing for a legislative session fraught with financial uncertainty in the midst of a national recession. Lawmakers say it’s still not clear just how bad things will get for Colorado, or how quickly the state’s economy may recover. As part of a regional series on the economy from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

Colorado resorts are hoping that skiers and snowboarders pay closer attention to the weather than the economy this winter. But bookings remain far behind last season’s numbers. While it’s doubtful that resorts will match last season’s record-setting number of skier days, there’s still reason for hope. In Telluride, Stephen Barrett reports for KOTO as part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio.

As last minute shoppers hit the stories today, holiday retail sales are shaping up to be the weakest since the early 1990s. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KGNU’s Claudia Cragg went out and about in Denver to ask people if the economic downturn would be affecting their holiday spending this year.

Not since January 2005 has the national average price of gasoline been as low as it is now. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Will Shoemaker reports for KBUT about what these prices could mean in the Gunnison Valley.

When it comes to charitable giving, many Coloradans are tightening their purse strings this holiday season. But there is a silver lining. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KUNC’s Grace Hood reports that seven nonprofits in Northern Colorado recently received an unexpected stocking stuffer this year: more cash…

As national lawmakers struggle with the economic climate, and official recognition of a recession has finally made headlines, Trinidad, and by extension, Las Animas County, finds itself in a unique situation. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin paid a visit to the area recently to find out how the southeastern Colorado area is weathering the storm.

There are signs that the Four Corners may weather the national economic downturn better than most of Colorado, thanks to tourism, non-residential construction and the gas industry. But businesses in the area are bracing for the worst. KSUT’s Victor Locke reports from Durango as part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio.

Across Colorado, charitable organizations that serve the poor say they’re experiencing an alarming increase in demand from those who’ve never needed help before. The resulting strain on non-profits has many worried about the future - and how they’ll keep up as the economy worsens. As part of a statewide economic series from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KUNC’s Kirk Siegler visits an emergency shelter for women in Denver.

As part of a series talking to lawmakers to preview the upcoming legislative session, statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland sat down with the new chair of the House Judiciary Committee. The previous chair vacated the post to become the new Speaker of the House. She says the new job will be exciting–but made more difficult by tough economic times.