Bente Birkeland

1 week ago | ksjd.org | Bente Birkeland

The sponsors of a bipartisan bill intended to strengthen age restrictions for accessing sexual content online are pulling the measure this session despite widespread support, because of concerns from Gov. Jared Polis, as well as an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision on the issue. In a statement on Monday, Democratic Sen.

1 week ago | coloradosun.com | Bente Birkeland

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has sent nearly a third of its backlogged sexual assault evidence kits to outside labs for testing, as it tries to bring turn-around times back within state guidelines. This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at cpr.org. The legislature gave the bureau $3 million to outsource examination of one thousand kits because right now the state doesn’t have enough DNA scientists trained to process evidence more quickly.

1 week ago | rmpbs.org | Lucas Brady Woods |Bente Birkeland |Andrea Kramar |Jenny Brundin

This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at kunc.org. DENVER — In front of descendants of Sand Creek Massacre survivors, Colorado lawmakers unanimously greenlighted a memorial sculpture Monday to commemorate the 1864 atrocity at the State Capitol. “Our hope is that this memorial will be a turning point when Colorado says, ‘We are not afraid to confront our past because we believe in a just and honest future,'” said Sen.

1 week ago | rmpbs.org | Bente Birkeland |throughout Colorado

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has sent nearly a third of its backlogged sexual assault evidence kits to outside labs for testing, as it tries to bring turn-around times back within state guidelines. The legislature gave the bureau $3 million to outsource examination of one thousand kits because right now the state doesn't have enough DNA scientists trained to process evidence more quickly.

1 week ago | ksjd.org | Bente Birkeland |Lucas Brady Woods

Walking down Main Street in the small Western Slope town of New Castle, there’s no missing the pastel rainbow sign for the Queer Resource Space that juts out above a brick building right next to the library. “It is a very visible location and that’s not an accident,” Ashley Stahl, who runs this space, explained. “We want to make sure that we’re a part of the community, that everyone knows we’re here.