Colorado: Linda Newell

Colorado lawmakers return to the golden dome today in a somber mood as they kick off a 2009 legislative session dominated by a bleak budget. But they're holding out hope they can pass a plan to fix the state's roads and craft a proposal that could boost health care coverage for the uninsured poor. Some see that hope coming by way of appeals to bipartisanship from leaders on both sides.

"I'm a firm believer that when you have great challenges," new House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, said, "you also have great opportunities."

Here are previews of six areas expected to provide the most action this legislative session.

Republican Lauri Clapp conceded the Senate District 26 race late Wednesday to Democrat Linda Newell, giving the Democrats a 21-14 majority in the Colorado Senate.

With provisional ballots counted by Tuesday, Newell led the race by 191 votes. Arapahoe County elections officials will still conduct an automatic recount of the race starting Nov. 24, but Clapp said in a statement that she didn't want to subject taxpayers to a lengthy and divisive process.

Democrat Linda Newell appears to have won the closely contested state Senate District 26 race, Senate Minority Caucus Leader Mike Kopp (R-Littleton) told the Rocky Mountain News on Wednesday.

But some say Kopp called the race too soon, as an automatic recount might be triggered.

With all provisional ballots counted, Newell holds a 191-vote lead over her Republican opponent Lauri Clapp, the News reported.

The Colorado Senate Democrats announced chair assignments for 10 state Senate committees on Thursday and seven of the 10 appointed Senators are new to the post.

State Sens. Jim Isgar (D-Durango), Paula Sandoval (D-Denver), and Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver) are the only committee chairs who will remain in their positions for next year.