Colorado Politics News

Gov. Bill Ritter on Monday plans to sign into law a ban on texting while driving. The bill also makes it illegal for any driver under 18 to talk on handheld cell phones while driving. Hands-free devices are allowed, and there are exceptions for emergencies.

The text message ban takes effect in December. Drivers could be fined $50 for texting while they drive.

At least a dozen states and the District of Columbia have laws that ban the practice or that take effect this year. Text message bans also await governors' signatures in Illinois and Tennessee.

As talk radio and the blogosphere blew up with claims that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is a racist, scholars of ethnicity and politics called for a quick truce.

A one-time poor choice of words on Sotomayor's part, perhaps, was their view. The New York appellate judge said in a 2001 speech, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

But Sotomayor's other, voluminous words — even in the same controversial speech — scream moderation, said academic experts who are following the debate.

Nine Democrats are vying to be appointed to the state Senate seat vacated by Denver attorney Jennifer Veiga, who resigned to move to Australia.

Her successor will be chosen tonight by the Senate District 31 vacancy committee. The district includes central Denver and portions of Adams County.

The candidates are:

Patrick Byrne

Age: 28

Occupation: Fiscal policy analyst at the Colorado Department of Transportation

Time in district: Two years

Why you? I am ideally suited to do this because of my budget experience in municipal, county and state government in Colorado.

Jill Conrad

Age: 40

Occupation: Ph.D. student in educational policy, education consultant, at-large member of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education

Time in district: Six years

Why you? I want to create new opportunities for everyone in the community to become engaged and empowered in our government, our schools, our communities and our state.

A Denver Nuggets banner joined The Stars and Stripes and Colorado's red, gold, blue and white billowing over the state Capitol this afternoon as Gov. Bill Ritter proclaimed May 2009 "Nuggets May-nia Month."

Emerging from the Capitol building flanked by seven go-go boot-clad Nuggets dancers, Ritter said he'd not yet been able to reach Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to make a little wager - but he's still trying.

"We're confident of a Nuggets victory," Ritter said just two hours before tip-off.

Receiving the honor for the Nuggets was team mascot Rocky, complete with party poppers that threw blue and gold confetti and streamers into the air during the press conference.