April 22nd, FTS re-examined Denver’s claim that the new justice center was completed “on-budget.” An excellent work of follow-up journalism, new FTS reporter Jared Jacang Maher essentially proved that any project can come in on-budget as long as you move the goalposts.

May 3rd, FTS broke the news that east plains Democrat Wes McKinley was being hit with a sexual harassment suit by a former capitol lobbyist.  Whether the charges are merited or not, we’ve yet to find out.  Still, the allegation was newsworthy in-and-of itself, and FTS broke a story that is still bubbling under the surface.

June 1, somewhat off the usual political beat but great reporting nonetheless, FTS managing editor Brad Jones authored a story that broke news adding a new evidentiary link between the murder of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, and the possible witness-killing of Denver resident Kalonnian James-Clark.  If Colorado gave their attention to the Williams murder trial, let’s hope they’ll do the same for the Kalonnian Clark murder trial as well…witness killings (if there was one in this instance) aren’t just about circumventing justice once, they cast a pall over the entire justice system and the rule of law.  The murder of Kalonnian Clark is a topic even we at CompleteColorado.com have editorialized about.

June 10, FTS out-digs other local news outlets for documents, and comes up with the gem that Denver International Airport “fired two key staffers who oversaw contracting last year after an internal city investigation found instances of fraud.”  Then, proving that luck is the result of hard work, FTS obtained an embarrassing email from DIA after publishing their original findings about the DIA firings:

…when FTS’s Maher followed up on the city’s refusal with another appeal challenging the city’s arguments [for the denial of documents], he got a terse acknowledgment via e-mail from Assistant City Attorney Debra Overn and a promise that a more substantive response would follow. Overn also inadvertently forwarded the following e-mail she had sent to Day and other DIA officials:

“FYI. I will respond, but he obviously does not like my answer (which will not change, though I will send more on why the exceptions apply). This may require smoothing by PRM? Is there some other way to help him feel he has been answered that would not include releasing protected docs?”

The inadvertent email ended up being a microcosmic warrant of FaceTheState’s mission, and a not-so subtle reminder as to why watchdog reporting is so critical in the first place.

Finally, check out this great piece that mixes localism with great questions and overarching implications for government efforts to provide public transportation. FTS followed up on reporting by the Longmont Times Call and asked the question: Can Longmont secede from the Regional Transportation District?

At CompleteColorado.com, everyday we try to bring you the best mix of important news from across the state, and we knew when FTS suspended operations last August that our news content would be poorer as a result.  Now that they’re back, we’re glad for our own benefit, but mainly glad for news consumers in Colorado.

Welcome back FaceTheState, we’ve missed you.

The Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) and the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) are championing the suit, Lobato v. Colorado. In January of this year a letter signed by both organizations (and linked to on Face the State) urged every school district to donate $1 per student to pay for legal expenses.

Greeley Evans School District 6, which suffered an electoral shellacking last November when it asked voters for an enormous mill levy override, acquiesced and gave $17,856 to the cause of demanding more from taxpayers.

The letter also reveals the true intent of the lawsuit: to get rid of the popular Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).  Talking points that accompanied the letter stated:

…this lawsuit is a powerful lever to move forward fixing the constitutional restrictions that prevent Colorado from adequately funding its public schools. This will be the catalyst for funding reform that has been needed for years.

“Constitutional restrictions” is a code phrase for TABOR.  What the education/industrial complex and those who make their living off it find most annoying is having to ask taxpayers for more money. They would rather just lobby the legislature, where they enjoy a lot of influence, to raise taxes.

Learn more on Monday, when Brad Jones, managing editor of Face the State joins me at 9:30 am on the Amy Oliver Show on News Talk 1310 KFKA.

Both Palin and Obama were shaking hands and kissing babies in Colorado today, so the 600 AM KCOL Morning Show attempted to contact both the McCain Camp and the Obama Camp to provide them the opportunity to communicate each candidate’s message in this Colorado leg of their campaign tours. 

Host Brad Jones speaks with Bill Riggs, spokesman for the RNC, about Governor Palin’s visit to Colorado and he states her talks today will discuss “her record of reform and shaking things up in Alaska” and “she’s going to be citing actual results.”  However, after trying to reach the Obama Colorado Press line all morning long and not having any of his calls returned, at the end of the final hour of the morning show, Brad calls them on air. 

First they put Brad on hold.  And then they Hung up on him.  Jennifer from the Obama Camp quickly called KCOL back and was unwilling to discuss Obama’s message to Colorado on the air.  She stated  “unfortunately we weren’t able to locate any of our surrogates today with Senator Obama being here in Grand Junction and in Pueblo” and she apologized that she wasn’t able to provide someone to speak on the air this morning.  When Brad asked her if the Obama Camp planned to let KCOL know that they didn’t have an available spokesman today, you guessed it, she hung up on him.  Again.  Tough crowd, Brad.  You made your best effort to let them get their message out. 

How is the traditional media supposed to do their job (well, what used to be their job) of providing a balanced perspective if some campaigns refuse to talk to them?