Peter Marcus

Education was in the spotlight in Colorado this week, as local politicians and school leaders joined with federal education and health officials on Monday to tout the state’s progress. The event at Denver’s Lowry Elementary came just prior to a Great Education Colorado luncheon on Wednesday when elected officials were told to do more to raise money for education reform in the state.

The Transportation Legislation Review Committee met on Sept. 14, voting to introduce eight bills when the legislative session begins in January, including revisiting a bill to establish penalties for driving while under the influence of marijuana.

GRAND JUNCTION — The illustrious Club 20 — offering a “voice to the Western Slope” — held its annual fall meeting and candidate debates at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction on Sept. 8, showcasing seven statewide races for the House and Senate.

The debates offered a comprehensive examination of candidates views from the races, including House Districts 26, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, and Senate District 8.

GRAND JUNCTION — The gloves came off on the evening of Sept. 8 at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction when the major party candidates for the 3rd Congressional District threw around allegations of fiscal irresponsibility, tax-dodging and partisan gamesmanship.

State Rep. Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, and incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, leveled most of the political punches. But they were joined on stage by unaffiliated candidate Tisha Casida, who participated in her first formal debate in CD 3 after the Western Slope interest group Club 20 invited her to its annual fall meeting and candidate debates.

GRAND JUNCTION — Embattled Republican State House District 54 candidate Jared Wright made a last-minute decision not to attend the politically critical Club 20 annual fall meeting and candidate debates on Sept. 8, opening the door for Libertarian candidate Tim Menger to speak at the event.

Club 20 policy bars Libertarians and other third-party candidates from participating in their biennial debates unless they represent at least 1 percent of the registered voters in the district. That wasn’t the case in HD 54, so Menger was initially not invited to participate.

The anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution will be celebrated on Sept. 17, and members of Colorado’s congressional delegation are planning events and offering statements surrounding the day.

The federal observance, known as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, recognizes the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. A federal law established the holiday in 2004, and requires observance on Sept. 17, the day members of the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787.

Luis Serrano came to Denver with his family from Juarez, Mexico in July 2001 when he was just 10 years old. He came with a six-month visitor visa. But when that visa expired, his parents decided to stay.

“We became permanent tourists,” explained Serrano.

Ever since, he has been looking over his shoulder, afraid that a traffic stop for a broken windshield or a cracked taillight will lead to deportation.

President Barack Obama stopped in Colorado on Sept. 2 for the second time in a week, offering those gathered on a sunny afternoon at the University of Colorado at Boulder a more combative and fiery campaign speech.

The president took aim at the three-day Republican National Convention, which ended just days before on Aug. 30.

Student leaders, school administrators and lawmakers gathered on Aug. 30 at North High School in Denver to celebrate the start of the school year with legislation that they hope ends the so-called “school to jail track.”

The group — led by Padres & Jovenes Unidos — highlighted their hopes for the new Smart School Discipline Law, which aims to reduce the number of students referred to law enforcement for less serious infractions.

“If we win Colorado, we will win this election; if we win Fort Collins, we will win this election,” President Barack Obama told a crowd of about 1,300 cheering students and supporters on a blazing hot afternoon on Monfort Quad at Colorado State University Tuesday.

Obama’s campaign stop in Fort Collins was part of a two-day “grassroots” event that took aim at college students, highlighting what the campaign believes to be a “fundamental” difference between Obama and Romney. School officials said it was the first time a sitting U.S. president had visited the Fort Collins campus.