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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2013 Stories by Melanie Asmar

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  COVER STORY

  For Aurora theater shooting victim Carli Richards, the worst isn't over yet

  published April 11, 2013

  Carli Richards watched as a man dressed all in black walked into the crowded movie theater through the emergency exit farthest from where she... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  "Show Me Your Papers" law on the road to repeal as new report condemns it

  published Apr 09, 2013

  State lawmakers have passed a bill that repeals a much-criticized 2006 law requiring local law enforcement to report anyone they suspect of being undocumented to federal immigration authorities. The b... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Fox News's Jana Winter won't face choice of jail or testimony tomorrow in theater shooting case

  published Apr 09, 2013

  Fox News reporter Jana Winter won't face such a tough decision tomorrow after all. The judge in the Aurora theater shooting case has delayed a ruling on whether to compel Winter to testify about her ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes's psychiatrist says he made "homicidal statements," documents reveal

  published Apr 04, 2013

  The judge in the James Holmes case has unsealed an arrest affidavit and several search warrants in the case. Among the details revealed by these documents -- that psychiatrist Lynne Fenton reported t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Immigration: Supporters rally to stop the deportation of Imelda Valenzuela Gonzalez

  published Apr 04, 2013

  As Imelda Valenzuela Gonzalez headed into the Denver Immigration Court just before 8:30 this morning for a hearing on her deportation case, a crowd of supporters that had gathered on the sidewalk in f... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes prosecutor: "For James Eagan Holmes, justice is death"

  published Apr 01, 2013

  Update: After DA George Brauchler announced at today's Aurora theater shooting hearing that he plans to seek the death penalty against James Holmes, Judge Carlos Samour turned his attention to defense... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting judge to hear oral arguments about Fox News reporter subpoena

  published Mar 29, 2013

  The judge in the Aurora theater shooting case has agreed to hear oral arguments on Monday about whether Fox News reporter Jana Winter should have to testify about her unnamed sources. But he is requir... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Animal cruelty case: Shelter upset at deal that returned animals to part-time Santa Bill Lee

  published Mar 27, 2013

  Last week, we told you the latest in the case of Bill Lee, an Idaho Springs rancher and mall Santa whose animals were seized in a cruelty investigation. Lee has agreed to plead guilty to one count of... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes case: Subpoenaed Fox News reporter asks to postpone April 1 hearing

  published Mar 26, 2013

  Attorneys for Fox News reporter Jana Winter, who reported that Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes sent a notebook "full of details about how he was going to kill people" to a psychiatrist, ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting families join call for national protocol to streamline donations

  published Mar 26, 2013

  Family members of the victims in several mass murders, including Columbine and the Aurora theater shooting, are calling on the federal government to establish a protocol for a "national compassion fun... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Bill Lee, mall Santa charged with animal cruelty, pleads guilty to one count, gets reindeer back

  published Mar 22, 2013

  Bill Lee, an Idaho Springs rancher and mall Santa charged with 32 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, has agreed to plead guilty to one of those counts. He's been granted a two-year deferred judgmen... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Hemp symposium tonight in Loveland to cover growing it, selling it and what to expect

  published Mar 21, 2013

  Thanks to Amendment 64, industrial hemp is on its way to becoming a legitimate crop in Colorado. Tonight in Loveland, hemp industry bigwigs will gather to discuss how hemp is grown and processed, the... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Film incentives could bring Hallmark Channel show set in rural town to Colorado

  published Mar 19, 2013

  A Hallmark Channel television series about a young woman in 1910 who takes a teaching job in a rural coal-mining town could be shot in Colorado if the state legislature sets aside more money during th... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Grindr, Manhunt, Blendr: Police say predators are using apps to lure kids into sex

  published Mar 18, 2013

  "Strangers are using smartphone apps with GPS to track down children and have sex with them." That's the word from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Top ten hemp legends: Which myths are true -- and which went up in smoker

  published Mar 18, 2013

  Did Henry Ford really make a car out of hempr Was the Declaration of Independence written on hemp paperr Did Abraham Lincoln use hemp oil in his lampsr The hemp plant, a variety of Cannabis sativa ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aborted-fetus photos: Should protestors be allowed to display them where kids might seer

  published Mar 13, 2013

  Should abortion protestors be allowed to wave signs featuring "gruesome images" in places where children might see themr That's the question two Colorado anti-abortion advocates and the Chicago-based... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Hemp for Victory: Watch 1942 USDA film encouraging farmers to grow crop during WWII

  published Mar 13, 2013

  This week's cover story, "Green Acres," is all about hemp: its past (outlawed by the feds), its present (resurrected thanks to Amendment 64) and what advocates say is a promising agricultural future. ... More >>

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  COVER STORY

  Can hemp escape the role of marijuana's sober stepsister?

  published March 14, 2013

  George Washington loved hemp. Our nation's first president thought so much of the plant that he once famously wrote to his gardener,... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes: Not-guilty plea entered in Aurora theater shooting

  published Mar 12, 2013

  Update below: James Holmes, the suspect in the July 20 shooting at an Aurora movie theater that killed twelve people and wounded seventy others, was widely expected to plead not guilty by reason of in... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes: Read advisement judge will give him if he pleads not guilty due to insanity

  published Mar 11, 2013

  The judge in the Aurora theater shooting case has settled on the advisement that he will read to James Holmes should the suspect plead not guilty by reason of insanity at tomorrow's arraignment. It... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Celena Hollis murder: Possible plea deal with suspect Rollin Oliver in death of Denver copr

  published Mar 11, 2013

  A plea deal in the case of Rollin Oliver, the 22-year-old charged with murder in the shooting death of Denver police officer Celena Hollis last June, may be in the works, according to a court document... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting case: DA says insanity defense laws are constitutional

  published Mar 07, 2013

  Colorado's insanity defense laws are constitutional and any court-ordered mental evaluation that Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes might undergo would not violate his right against self-inc... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  RiNo odors lawsuit: Judge throws out dog-treat-factory complaint against city, neighbors

  published Mar 06, 2013

  A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the owner of a pet treat factory in the River North neighborhood, who sued the city and three neighbors for conspiring against him. As explained in our... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting suspect considering insanity plea: Read the motions here

  published Mar 01, 2013

  Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes "is considering entering" a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, according to motions filed by his attorneys. The motions -- which are on view belo... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Syringe access program distributes more than 100,000 clean needles in 2012

  published Mar 01, 2013

  Colorado's largest legal syringe access program gave out 116,671 clean needles in 2012 -- and safely disposed of 71,323 dirty ones. An infographic of statistics from the Harm Reduction Action Cente... More >>