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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2012 Stories by Melanie Asmar

• University of Denver unveils October presidential debate logo, website

  published Feb 20, 2012

  The University of Denver has unveiled the logo for the first presidential debate, to be held at DU's Magness Arena on October 3. The university also launched a website today dedicated to the debate, ... More >>

• Child welfare: Hickenlooper's new plan calls for "common practice approach" in all 64 counties

  published Feb 20, 2012

  State officials have a new plan for improving Colorado's child-welfare system, one that will beef up training for caseworkers, make data about child deaths more readily available, and employ a "commo... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Lone Ranger, starring Johnny Depp, to film in Colorado and Utah, is looking for extras!

  published Feb 17, 2012

  Hollywood is coming to Colorado (again)! In the midst of a push by movie boosters to increase the state's film incentives, an initiative born of the fact that filmmakers have largely abandoned the st... More >>

• Film incentives bill clears first hurdle, passes House committee

  published Feb 17, 2012

  A bill to increase Colorado's film incentives has won its first victory, passing the House Economic and Business Development Committee by a vote of nine to three. Though the victory celebration came ... More >>

• Ricardo Flores Magon Academy hires security guard because of "concerns"

  published Feb 16, 2012

  The turmoil continues at the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy charter school in Westminster, the subject of our recent cover story, "A Hard Line." Facing two lawsuits and many more complaints, the school ... More >>

• Hollywood, Colorado exhibit at the Boulder History Museum showcases films made here

  published Feb 16, 2012

  Colorado is no Hollywood, but the state does have a rich film past, if not an active film present, as detailed in our cover story "The Reel West." Today, in an effort to jump-start the state's movie ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Valentine's Day photos: Denver clerk's office goes all out for marrying couples

  published Feb 14, 2012

  The Denver Clerk and Recorder's Office does not mess around when it comes to love. They love love. They love it so much that they converted their bland beige conference room -- known today as the "Swe... More >>

• Colorado movie stars: Ten of the state's most famous actors...and Kristin Cavallari

  published Feb 13, 2012

  Colorado has starred in hundreds of movies -- and more recently, watched as filmmakers pass up the Centennial State for cheaper locales, even if their films are set here. (Thanks for nothing, Dr. Qui... More >>

• Ten movies and TV shows set in Colorado -- but filmed somewhere else

  published Feb 10, 2012

  Colorado has a rich film history. Nearly 400 movies have been shot here in more than 100 years. But, as explained in this week's cover story "The Reel West," Colorado is experiencing a bit of a film ... More >>

• "Cottage food bill" that would allow growers to sell directly to consumers passes Senate

  published Feb 09, 2012

  The so-called "Local Foods, Local Jobs Act," a bill sponsored by state senator Gail Schwartz that would allow small growers and producers to sell their goods directly to consumers, has passed the ful... More >>

• Movies filmed in Colorado: Watch clips and a photo slideshow

  published Feb 09, 2012

  Once upon a time, lots of movies were filmed in Colorado. The first was an 1897 flick called Festival of Mountain and Plain. One of the last was a 2009 Eddie Murphy movie, Imagine That. In between, t... More >>

• Movies in Colorado: Industry, politicians rally for bill to increase filmmaker incentives

  published Feb 08, 2012

  On a small stage on the steps of the Capitol this morning, surrounded by more than a hundred local film industry folks, House Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino ticked off movies made in Colorado: City ... More >>

• Ethan Hemming named executive director of Charter School Institute

  published Feb 08, 2012

  Ethan Hemming, charter school whiz and former interim executive director of the Charter School Institute, is no longer interim. The institute's board of directors has made him the official executive d... More >>

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  COVER STORY

  Colorado hopes to lure filmmakers with a new plan

  published February 9, 2012

  Colorado's film industry is a bit like Billy Crystal, whose 1991 hit movie City Slickers was set in the modern-day Wild West and largely... More >>

• Remedial college courses: More Colorado students need them, report shows

  published Feb 07, 2012

  More Colorado college students are taking remedial courses once they arrive on campus, according to a report released today. In the 2010-11 school year, 31.8 percent of recent high school graduates w... More >>

• Louis Hampers: Prosecutors want former ER doc to serve prison time for Rx drug fraud

  published Feb 07, 2012

  Last month, defense attorneys for Louis Hampers filed a motion asking that the former doctor be sentenced to probation for the crime of writing phony prescriptions to feed his pill addiction. This we... More >>

• Marcos Martinez, head of Ricardo Flores Magon Academy, on leave during investigation

  published Feb 06, 2012

  Is Marcos Martinez, principal at the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy and the subject of our recent feature "A Hard Line," on his way out as head of the Westminster charter schoolr Westword just received... More >>

• "Cottage food bill:" Will Laura Bradford's troubles affect home bakers proposalr

  published Feb 02, 2012

  GOP lawmaker Laura Bradford has been making headlines lately -- and not for her adorable "cottage food bill," also now being called the "sweet bill," which would allow bakers and cake-makers to sell t... More >>

• Nancy Werkmeister, former AP at North High involved with credit recovery, now at Montbello

  published Feb 01, 2012

  Nancy Werkmeister, a former assistant principal at North High School involved with the problem-ridden credit recovery program, is now working at Montbello High School. Denver Public Schools spokesman ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Lingerie and silk boxers come together for the Super Bowl

  published Jan 31, 2012

  If you think the Super Bowl and sexy men's underwear have nothing in common, you'd usually be correct. But this year, there's a connection -- and a local one at that. Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie ... More >>

• Michael Hancock's economic development plan: Small biz development, big biz retention

  published Jan 30, 2012

  Today, Mayor Michael Hancock unveiled a new economic development strategy -- the NASCAR-y sounding "JumpStart 2012: Revving Up Denver's Economic Engine." It includes a host of specific initiatives in ... More >>

• Emily Griffith program to teach job skills to refugees to graduate 1,000th student today

  published Jan 27, 2012

  Five years ago, teachers at the Emily Griffith Technical College Language Learning Center, which offers free English classes to refugees, recognized a problem: Even when refugees landed jobs, they ha... More >>

• "Cottage food" bill would allow home cooks to sell goods directly to consumers

  published Jan 26, 2012

  Home cooks are rallying at the State Capitol today in support of a bill that would make it legal for bakers and cake-makers to sell their goods directly to consumers. The bill would require certain i... More >>

• "Cottage food bill," being heard today, would allow home cooks to sell goods on their own

  published Jan 26, 2012

  Should bakers and cake-makers be able to sell delicious wares made in home kitchens at farmer's markets and roadside standsr That's the question lawmakers will debate today when they take up House Bil... More >>

• Ricardo Flores Magon Academy: Petition outlines concerns about charter school

  published Jan 25, 2012

  A group of parents associated with the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy is airing its concerns about the charter school, which was the subject of our recent feature story, "A Hard Line." They're circulat... More >>