Morning headlines from DenverPost.com

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Today's Local Politics

Rep. Pace, GOP debate Dem's absence on key vote
Republicans blistered state Rep. Sal Pace for missing an oil-and-gas vote this week, saying he's more interested in campaigning for Congress than representing his constituents.  

• Bill to cap Colorado's enterprise-zone tax credits dies in GOP-controlled House
• Colorado legislators balk at spending millions more on troubled computerized benefits system
• Secretary of State Scott Gessler rewrites Colorado campaign finance rules; critics say he's out of bounds
• Photo-ID-to-vote bill advances in Colorado House
• Colorado senate rejects ban on red light cameras

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Today's Business

Vail Resorts' deal for California ski area expands holdings to seven
Vail Resorts expanded its stable of ski resorts to seven Wednesday, signing an agreement to buy Kirkwood Mountain Resort south of Lake Tahoe for $18 million.  

• Spec office building rises, land deal forged in Denver-area's U.S. 36 corridor
• Colorado coalition willing to pay $2.5 million to protect Thompson Divide Area from drilling
• Consumer bureau looks into bank overdraft fees
• Parker: Sur la Table to leave Cherry Creek mall for Cherry Creek North
• Colorado farmland goes dry as suburbs secure water supplies

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Today's Entertainment

Ostrow: "Top Chef" Denver contestants vie for a spot in Bravo's kitchen
Brother Luck, which he swears is his birth name, was first in line at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday for the "Top Chef" open casting call at Denver's Linger restaurant in the Highlands. Luck, 28, flew in from San Antonio, Texas, where he is executive chef at Hotel Contessa, having finished the 24-page application well in advance.  

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Today's Opinion

Littwin: The surge ebbs for a night
Rick Santorum got off easy. And it didn't help. Nobody asked him about phony theology or Satan or aspirins between the knees or about any other parts of the recent Santorum campaign/Saturday Night Live sketch. And it didn't help.  

• Editorial: Lower tax rates, greater revenue
• Orszag: The upside to high unemployment
• Putin: Russia's military must be rebuilt
• Rosen: A good year for a Coors run
• Guest Commentary: The future of Colorado's rivers is at stake