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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  FEATURED STORY

  Fetuses-aren't-people lawsuit: Bishops to review Catholic hospital's argument

  published Jan 25, 2013

  Colorado's Catholic bishops say they will "undertake a full review" of a lawsuit in which Catholic Health Initiatives, an Englewood-based operator of 78 Catholic hospitals in seventeen states, has arg... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Insanity defense: Frank McNulty wants to shift burden of proof from state to defendant

  published Jan 24, 2013

  When a defendant pleads not guilty by reason of insanity in Colorado, the burden falls on prosecutors to prove otherwise. A bill sponsored by state Representative Frank McNulty would shift the respon... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Denver Zoo welcomes an effing adorable red panda named Chewbacca, ready for love

  published Jan 24, 2013

  A red panda named Chewbacca has come to live at the Denver Zoo. His purposer To mate with the zoo's female red panda, Daisy. His other, more important purposer To be effing adorable. Continue read... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Fetuses aren't people, says Catholic hospital: Does argument contradict church doctriner

  published Jan 23, 2013

  Is a fetus a personr Colorado-based Catholic Health Initiatives, which operates 78 Catholic hospitals in seventeen states, is arguing in court that it's not, as explained in this week's cover story, "... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Racial justice hotline report: 39 percent of callers say they were injured by police

  published Jan 22, 2013

  A year ago, the Colorado Progressive Coalition relaunched its Racial Justice Hotline. The goal was to collect stories and statistics about racial profiling and police misconduct in the hopes of chang... More >>

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  COVER STORY

  Is a fetus a person? The Colorado Supreme Court may have to decide.

  published January 24, 2013

  On the morning of the day she died, 31-year-old Lori Stodghill balanced her breakfast plate on her very pregnant belly and watched it bob up... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Marvin Booker's family upset at delay in lawsuit against city, deputies they say caused his death

  published Jan 22, 2013

  Justice for the family of Marvin Booker may have to wait. On Monday, Booker's brother, sister-in-law and cousins stood in front of the statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. in City Park and expressed the... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting judge allows subpoena of Fox News reporter about info "leak"

  published Jan 18, 2013

  The judge in the James Holmes case will allow Holmes's defense attorneys to subpoena a New York-based Fox News reporter who first reported that the accused Aurora theater shooter sent a notebook "full... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora Century theater reopens six months after shooting with speeches, The Hobbit

  published Jan 18, 2013

  The smell of buttered popcorn drifted into the parking lot as survivors of the July 20 shooting that killed twelve people and injured seventy made their way last night toward the front doors of the re... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting: City asks judge to consider lifting gag order against it

  published Jan 17, 2013

  The City of Aurora has asked the judge in the theater shooting case to revise a gag order that prohibits law enforcement agents from discussing what happened. "The city has refused numerous requests.... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Michael Hancock bet-losing Ray Lewis dance delayed due to injuryr

  published Jan 15, 2013

  Before Saturday's Broncos-Ravens playoff game, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock made a friendly wager with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. If Denver won, Rawlings-Blake promised to send a platt... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Video: Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel shows off her aquatic skills at the Denver Boat Show

  published Jan 14, 2013

  This past weekend we fulfilled a journalistic dream, Anchorman-style, when we filmed a water-skiing squirrel named Twiggy performing at the Denver Boat Show. You haven't lived until you've seen a tin... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes hearing: "Rot in hell, Holmes" outburst prompts judge to reconvene hearing

  published Jan 11, 2013

  This morning, Judge William Sylvester granted a defense motion to continue the arraignment of alleged Aurora theater shooter James Holmes until the week of March 12. But just after the brief hearing w... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes case: Judge gives trial go-ahead, defense wants more time to enter plea

  published Jan 11, 2013

  A judge has ruled that there's enough evidence to try alleged Aurora theater shooter James Holmes for murder. Holmes is accused of killing twelve people and injuring seventy others by opening fire ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes: Read timeline of his actions before and after Aurora theater shooting

  published Jan 10, 2013

  Through witness testimony, prosecutors this week laid out a timeline of the actions accused Aurora theater shooter James Holmes took in the months before the July 20 attack. The earliest date mentione... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting hearing, day 3: James Holmes took photos of himself dressed to kill

  published Jan 09, 2013

  Editor's note: Melanie Asmar is covering day three of the preliminary hearing into the July 20 Aurora theater shooting allegedly committed by James Holmes. Sergeant Matthew Fyles continued his testim... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting hearing, day two: Youngest victim's story, death of a military man

  published Jan 08, 2013

  Editor's note: Melanie Asmar is covering day two of the preliminary hearing into the July 20 Aurora theater shooting allegedly committed by James Holmes. The latest update is immediately below, follow... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting hearing: James Holmes's eyes lit up, said victim's dad

  published Jan 07, 2013

  Editor's note: Melanie Asmar is covering today's preliminary hearing into the July 20 Aurora theater shooting allegedly committed by James Holmes. The latest update is immediately below, followed by p... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  James Holmes: Post-its in courthouse bathroom promote film that says he was set up

  published Jan 03, 2013

  Accused Aurora theater shooter James Holmes was in court yesterday for a short hearing to determine whether lawyers were ready to proceed with what will likely be a revealing preliminary hearing next... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aurora theater shooting: Preliminary hearing in James Holmes case to start Monday

  published Jan 02, 2013

  An important hearing in the case of Aurora theater shooting suspect James Holmes will start Monday, January 7 at 9 a.m. This morning, prosecutors and Holmes's defense attorneys told the judge in th... More >>