Bente Birkeland
Public Affairs Reporter
Twitter @BenteBirkeland
bente.birkeland@cpr.org
Bente is an award-winning journalist who joined Colorado Public Radio in August 2018 after a decade of reporting on the Colorado state capitol for the Rocky Mountain Community Radio collaborative and KUNC. In 2017, Bente was named Colorado Journalist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and she was awarded with a National Investigative Reporting Award by SPJ a year later.
Professional Background:
Before joining CPR and KUNC, she was a reporter at KMOX Radio and KOMU TV, and also worked as a research analyst for the U.S. Department of Justice.
In 2017, Bente was named Colorado Journalist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and she was awarded with a National Investigative Reporting Award by SPJ a year later. She also won an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2015 for her work on KRCC's series on the Southwest Chief, "Railroad West."
Throughout her career, Bente has been honored with various accolades from the Colorado Broadcaster's Association, the Association of Statehouse Reporter and Editors, the Third Coast International Audio Festival, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Mortar Board National Honorary Society and the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Economics Honorary Society.
Bachelor's degree economics with a mathematical emphasis, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Master's degree in journalism, University of Missouri
Hickenlooper Q & A: 'We Have Some Very Difficult Choices to Make'
Governor John Hickenlooper said he was intentionally vague at times during his annual state of the state address, which he delivered to the legislature on Thursday. He recently sat down to discuss his speech and what it means for the year ahead with statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland.
State Of The State Is 'Strong' As Hickenlooper Outlines 2015 Plans
Originally published on January 15, 2015 6:38 pm Governor John Hickenlooper received a warm reception from lawmakers in both parties during his annual State of the State Address.
Hickenlooper, State Lawmakers Take Oath of Office
Governor John Hickenlooper was sworn into office Tuesday for his second term. The ceremony took place on a chilly morning outside the west steps of the state capitol.
Capitol Conversation: 2015 Legislative Session Opens
Colorado's legislative session opened last week. As part of our Capitol Conversation series, statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland discusses the beginning of the session with other political reporters, and touches on some of the bills that were introduced during opening week.
Colorado's Legislative Session Opens
One hundred lawmakers from across Colorado converged on the state capitol Wednesday for opening day of the annual legislative session. Freshman lawmakers from both parties were officially sworn in and both chambers which have new leaders.
Legislative Preview: Q & A with Morgan Carroll, Colo. Senate Minority Leader
In a series of interviews with legislative leaders, statehouse correspondent Bente Birkeland discusses the upcoming legislative session and the change of control in the state Senate. Morgan Carroll [D-Aurora] is going from senate president to minority leader.
Legislative Preview: Q & A with Colo. House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
Dickey Lee Hullinghorst [D-Boulder] will be the next speaker of the House. She discusses her priorities and her party's agenda for the session, as a part of a series of interviews with legislative leaders.
Legislative Preview: Q & A with Brian DelGrosso, Colo. House Minority Leader
House minority leader Brian DelGrosso [R-Loveland] discusses his thoughts on the upcoming legislative session as part of a series of interviews with legislative leaders. DelGrosso was the minority leader for the last two years, and his party made gains in the house last November to narrow the Democratic majority.
Capitol Conversation: Previewing the 2015 Session
State lawmakers return to the capitol for the annual legislative session on Wednesday, January 7th.
Draft Water Plan for Colorado Unveiled
Governor John Hickenlooper unveiled a draft of the state's first ever water plan on Wednesday.
Lawmakers to Consider Physician-Assisted Suicide
Colorado is one of several states that will take up the issue of physician-assisted suicide. The topic is once again in the national spotlight with the recent death of Brittany Maynard. The terminally ill 29 year-old moved to Oregon to take advantage of that state's Death with Dignity law.
Restoration at the State Capitol
Colorado's state capitol is getting a major upgrade. A two-year renovation of the building's signature gold dome was recently completed – and on the inside, work is underway on both the House and Senate chambers.
In Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Sand Creek, Governor Hickenlooper Apologizes
Governor John Hickenlooper has apologized on behalf of the state of Colorado for the Sand Creek Massacre. The Massacre happened in the early morning of November 29th, 1864. U.S. Calvary soldiers converged on a sleeping group of mostly women, children and elderly Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians.
Agreement Reached For Colorado's Roan Plateau
Originally published on November 21, 2014 3:25 pm The Bureau of Land Management, environmentalists, and the energy industry have reached an agreement on a proposal to drill for oil and gas on the Roan Plateau. The new plan cancels 17 out of 19 oil and gas leases that were issued in 2008.
Capitol Conversation: A Divided Statehouse
Colorado's statehouse will have divided control in January. Republicans gained a one-seat majority in the state senate, while Democrats held onto their house majority.
Hickenlooper Wins Re-Election
Democratic incumbent Governor John Hickenlooper narrowly won re-election after a race that was too close to call on Tuesday night. Hickenlooper faced off against former Congressman, Republican Bob Beauprez. It's the second time Beauprez has lost the Governorship. Democratic Bill Ritter defeated him in 2006 by a much wider margin of double digits.
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