Email Author Melanie Asmar

Awards

• 2012 - GLAAD Media Awards, published May 5, 2011

  "Coming Out in America"

• 2012 - National Association of Black Journalists Awards, published March 17, 2011

  "Say What?"

• 2012 - Clarion Awards/Association of Women in Communications, published May 26, 2011

  "Passing on Education"

• 2011 - Education Reporting Awards/National Education Writers Association, published June 10, 2010

  "Teacher's Fret"

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2010 Stories by Melanie Asmar

• DPS school turnaround: Those opposed to plan have their say, but board approves it anyway

  published Nov 19, 2010

  Last night, the Denver Public Schools board narrowly approved a turnaround plan for six struggling schools in far northeast Denver, including Montbello High, largely by hiring entirely new staffs or ... More >>

• Louis Hampers: Is indicted doctor's lawyer using restraining order case to get evidencer

  published Nov 17, 2010

  Indicted children's ER doctor Louis Hampers, featured in our article "Doctor Strange Love," is also the subject of yet another restraining order request filed by his ex-girlfriend, Sandra Ebersohl. B... More >>

• Human smuggling: In first case after '06 state law passed, federal prosecutors took over

  published Nov 16, 2010

  Most human smuggling cases in Colorado are handled by state prosecutors using a 2006 state law -- the effectiveness of which is questioned in this week's feature story, "Disappearing Act." But human... More >>

• Get cheap Nuggets tickets and help Denver's homeless community: Win-win, we say!

  published Nov 16, 2010

  Everyone likes cheap stuff, rightr And cheap stuff is even better when it benefits a good cause, like the Denver VOICE. Enter the VOICE's latest deal: wicked super-cheap Nuggets tickets to tonight's... More >>

• Roller derby: Denver Roller Dolls to host 2011 national championships in Broomfield

  published Nov 15, 2010

  The Hydra, the roller skate-shaped trophy bestowed annually upon the best roller derby team in the country, won't have far to travel in 2011. It's now on display at the Denver warehouse that's home t... More >>

• Colorado Border School conference in Aurora to discuss border security, gangs, drug trafficking

  published Nov 12, 2010

  Colorado Border School sounds like an illegal immigration forum. But founder Pam Faraone, a chaplain with the Southwest Border Sheriffs Coalition in Texas, insists that's not the case. "Border School ... More >>

• Human smuggling: Defense attorneys question whether law is too harsh on alleged smugglers

  published Nov 11, 2010

  This week's cover story, "Disappearing Act," examines the difficulties of enforcing Colorado's anti-human smuggling law, which was passed in 2006. Though the law was well-intentioned, prosecuting the... More >>

• Human smuggling: Does Colorado's law, designed to catch coyotes, have any teethr

  published Nov 10, 2010

  In 2006, Colorado passed what lawmakers called "the toughest immigration laws in the nation." Among them was a law that made it a state crime to smuggle humans. Four years later, Westword takes a look... More >>

• Denver Zoo welcomes Rinny the tapir, the first new inhabitant of the Asian Tropics exhibit

  published Nov 09, 2010

  Rinny, the Denver Zoo's new tapir, looks like what happens when an elephant knocks boots with a pig, and then they have a baby and it's Halloween and they dress the baby like an Oreo. But despite t... More >>

• 

  COVER STORY

  Road to nowhere: The men who are caught transporting illegal immigrants rarely pay the price

  published November 11, 2010

  The gray, fifteen-passenger Ford van barreled down a rural stretch of U.S. 40 in eastern Colorado, headed west toward Limon. It was just before... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  La La Vazquez: Top 5 reasons she should stay in Denver (and convince Melo to stay, too)

  published Nov 09, 2010

  If the Nuggets lose Carmelo Anthony in a complicated trade deal, our fair city will lose another asset, too: Melo's wife, the fabulous La La Vazquez, she of the custom pink Range Rover, gold Gucci he... More >>

• Rocky Mountain Rollergirls win national championships, crowned best derby team

  published Nov 08, 2010

  Update: Rollergirls' spokeswoman PJ "Dangerous Leigh A'Zon" Shields called us back, after arriving in Denver from Chicago late Monday night with The Hydra trophy in tow. See her comments below the or... More >>

• Social studies: Education officials debate adding it to state tests, as Americans get dumber

  published Nov 05, 2010

  Do you know from which country the U.S. of A. declared its independence in 1776r If so, consider yourself among the 74 percent of Americans who do. If not, consider yourself dumber than a first grade... More >>

• Angie Zapata: Local filmmaker capturing life of transgender teen in doc Photos of Angie

  published Nov 04, 2010

  Photos of Angie, a documentary about the life and death of transgender Greeley teen Angie Zapata, is one step closer to being finished. Alan Dominguez of Loco Lane Films has now added a score perform... More >>

• Sex ed: Will talk of condoms be banned if state wins $3.2 million abstinence education grantr

  published Oct 28, 2010

  The Republican-heavy state Board of Education is going after a $3.2 million abstinence-only education grant that Governor Bill Ritter's administration passed up in favor of a $3.9 million grant that ... More >>

• Ken Buck: GLBT community attacking him now lauded transgender murder prosecution (video)

  published Oct 26, 2010

  Ken Buck ran afoul of the GLBT community when he likened being gay to alcoholism on Meet the Press, prompting activists to demand a retraction. So is Buck prejudicedr He didn't appear to be in April 2... More >>

• Is a Wells Fargo ATM a sign of gentrificationr

  published Oct 26, 2010

  What are the tell-tale signs of gentrification in Denverr Higher home pricesr Brightly painted condosr Whole Foodsr How about fancy baby strollers and yoga studiosr Or, most tell-tale of all, peopl... More >>

• It Gets Better Project: KTCL/Channel 93.3's Alf tells his triumphant coming-out story on video

  published Oct 26, 2010

  Last week, we posted five "It Gets Better Project" videos with Colorado connections, in which regular folks and local celebrities assured gay teens suffering from bullying that the harassment will one... More >>

• Nadine Montoya sentenced to life in prison plus extra 32 years for Burger King hit-and-run

  published Oct 22, 2010

  Nadine Montoya has been sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 32 years for murdering a 49-year-old Aurora woman in a hit-and-run at a Denver Burger King last May. Montoya, 27, was convict... More >>

• Rocky Mountain Rollergirls are the No. 1 derby team in the country, new rankings say

  published Oct 20, 2010

  The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls are on top. Going into next month's national WFTDA Championships, Denver's oldest roller derby league is currently ranked No. 1 in the country by the Derby News Network... More >>

• It Gets Better Project: Videos from Colorado encourage gay teens not to let the bullies win

  published Oct 19, 2010

  Last month, syndicated columnist Dan Savage -- whose advice column, Savage Love, is published in Westword -- started the It Gets Better Project in response to recent gay teen suicides. Savage called... More >>

• Carmelo Anthony and La La Vazquez's VH1 reality show: You'll never guess how it ends!

  published Oct 18, 2010

  Last night was the season finale of La La's Full Court Wedding, the VH1 reality show that followed La La Vazquez as she planned her wedding to Nugget-for-now Carmelo Anthony. Not to ruin the ending... More >>

• Denver Zoo's new animal babies: Four itty-bitty Komodo dragons with teeth that could kill you

  published Oct 15, 2010

  Here's to you, Hagrid. The Denver Zoo is hatching dragons! In the past week, four Komodo dragons have hatched at the zoo. And the keepers are expecting even more: Four eggs remain in the incubator. ... More >>

• Child protection ombudsman: Detailed plan outlines the who, what and how of new position

  published Oct 15, 2010

  In 2008, Governor Bill Ritter formed a committee to study Colorado's child-welfare system. (The year before, Chandler Grafner and twelve other children involved with the system died at the hands of t... More >>

• Louis Hampers: ER doctor accused of writing phony scripts also charged with harassment

  published Oct 14, 2010

  Louis Hampers, the doctor charged with writing 654 fake prescriptions, will be in court Monday on a different charge: harassment. Authorities have not named the victim, a woman. Two women, including ... More >>