Jerry Kopel

Colorado continues to battle Maryland over which state is 22nd versus 23rd in number of prisoners in jurisdiction under state correct-ions. Nationally, seven out of every eight prisoners are in state jurisdiction prisons.

Long after the concern about medical marijuana is settled, the 2010 and 2011 legislatures will be dealing with reapportionment of the congressional districts and the state legislative districts. One person will decide which political party will control the state legislative districts. That person will be the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court.

It’s time for legislators to treat Colorado’s 42,000 deaf and 350,000 hard of hearing citizens like you would want members of your family treated.

People who have health insurance through Kaiser should know what is contained in “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Fourth Edition,” a 16-page directive drafted by — and designed to guide — Catholic bishops across the nation regarding treatment of hospital patients. The directive covers the “Catholic moral principles” that patients will have to deal with, whether or not they agree with that standard.

This coming Monday, Jan. 18, Colorado will celebrate the holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. The measure was successfully carried in the Legislature in 1984 by Rep. Wilma Webb, D, and Sen. Regis Groff, D, both of Denver. That ended 10 years of often bitter debate on the issue.

This column is for legislators who got into office without wearing out a pair of shoes. Some of you reached the Statehouse through Republican or Democratic vacancy committee votes. Some have never had a convention battle, or a primary, or an opposition party candidate in the November election. It’s also for the candidates who are waiting to take you on.

Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies wants to see the hodgepodge of insurance statutes compiled into a coherent whole under the upcoming Sunset review.

Doctor Dave is bored. After spending three decades as a specialist in internal medicine, he retired. Now he wants to again practice after three years of golf and travel. The Dept. of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) recognized the value of a reinvigorated Dave as part of the medical practice of Colorado.

Colorado legislators might have to wait a while on the weighty issue of a pilot program to treat obesity. At least that is the recommendation by the Department of Regulatory Agencies: Repeal a never-yet-used pilot program.

Wrestling your opponent to the ground is a foul in boxing or kickboxing. But it is quite ordinary in mixed martial arts, or MMA.