Department of Human Services

Marijuana legislative update: Dispensary tax deductions and more

Yesterday we told you about HB 1114, the THC DUI bill, which is headed to the floor of the House, where it could come up for approval as early as this week before being sent off to the Senate. While that and the pending legislation surrounding Amendment 64 are hot topics, a few lesser-known marijua ... More >>

Paul Rosenthal's bill would boost voting rights for those in youth correctional facilities

If they are eligible to vote, individuals in youth correctional facilities should be able to cast ballots. That's the thinking of Representative Paul Rosenthal, who is pushing a bill that would make clear the voting rights of those in Division of Youth Corrections custody. The proposal is personal ... More >>

As Denver's food assistance requests jumped in 2012, the city struggled to meet the need

In 2012, requests for emergency food assistance increased in cities across the country -- and a new report shows that in Denver, the need was especially high. Over the past year, requests jumped by 56 percent in Denver, the U.S. Conference of Mayors says, and the city was unable to meet roughly twen ... More >>

Marijuana is real medicine for a long list of ills

Abused kids may mingle with delinquents at a privately run facility

Christian Valdez, Colorado prison escapee, killed in Cali shootout, Jose Herrera captured

Strange but true: The local media has all but ignored a police chase and shootout in California that left one Colorado prison escapee dead and another one in custody. Why? Perhaps because Christian Valdez, who was killed, and Jose Herrera, back behind bars, were juveniles when they were imprisoned - ... More >>

Animal abuse registry bill fails over concern people listed would be hounded forever

During the same week that Debe Bell was convicted on 35 counts of animal cruelty (see the photo at right), a bill to establish a registry for animal abusers failed to get out of the agriculture committee. Why? Here's the take of Representative Jeanne Labuda, the measure's sponsor.

SNAP Judgment: State officials hope to get food to the needy faster

Child protection ombudsman office up and running, investigating 50 calls thus far

​ In the six months since it opened, the Office of Colorado's Child Protection Ombudsman has investigated fifty calls ranging from complaints that entire counties are corrupt to more specific cries for help, says ombudsman Becky Miller Updike. Still, she'd like to hear from even more people wh ... More >>

How victim rights became a juggernaut shaping spending, laws and the future of punishment

Colorado's juvenile corrections rates drop substantially; two detention centers to close

The state's focus on youth crime is adjusting to a substantial drop in numbers as the result of a big announcement from the Department of Human Services yesterday. As of last month, the number of Colorado youth committed to juvenile detention programs has decreased to a total lower than any document ... More >>

Eddie Maestas Park is an insult to the Ballpark pioneer's memory

Becky Miller Updike chosen to serve in new child protection ombudsman position

​ Colorado has chosen its first child protection ombudsman: Becky Miller Updike, whose résumé includes sixteen years of child advocacy, most recently at the Tennyson Center for Children in Denver. As ombudsman, she will review complaints about the state's child welfare system -- a job that w ... More >>

Letters: "Kids should not be anywhere near that monstrosity"

Kristen Stillman puts her family first. That's why she's letting her four kids go

Kristen Stillman survived unspeakable horrors of abuse -- and the nightmare isn't over

Kristen Stillman.​What happened to eight-year-old Kristen Stillman and her twin brother after their mother left them in northwest Denver was unspeakable. And after a few frustrating attempts to tell adults of the abuse, Kristen quit trying. A prisoner, she stayed silent through four pregnancie ... More >>

Jeff Puckett's helicopter gets Denver closer to God

Child welfare ombudsman: Panel looking to prevent deaths like Chandler Grafner's

Chandler Grafner.​Today, a fifteen-member panel is meeting for the first time to hammer out the details of Colorado's forthcoming child welfare ombudsman office. The office will provide parents, caregivers, neighbors and others with a place to be heard if they have concerns about a child's wel ... More >>

Bill Ritter vetoes sex offender bill over Joyce Foster's controversial amendment

Bill Ritter just says no.​Senator Joyce Foster's last minute amendment to House Bill 10-364, which allowed sex offenders to choose among three treatment options, stirred plenty o' controversy, owing largely to her subsequent admission that the action was inspired by her brother-in-law, Julian ... More >>

Tom Gallagher, Colorado Springs councilman, votes against ordinance targeting tent cities -- because he was once homeless

A Flickr photoColorado Springs is trying to do away with sights like these.​On Monday, we told you about the face-off between columnist/AM 760 host David Sirota and Colorado Springs councilman Sean Paige over the perception that the Springs' conservative policies have made bad problems worse d ... More >>

Counting the errors in 9News's "Pot is number-one Denver drug" story

Compared to good old booze, this stuff's still the first loser.​"For the first time in years, people in Denver are abusing marijuana more than any other drug," trumpeted a January 8 Channel 9 investigative story on citywide drug stats. That's quite the announcement. Too bad the story itself i ... More >>

Operation Dead-Beat Parent sweeps up almost half of top child-support avoiders

"If I win, I hope to hell he pays child support."​One reason so many parents skip out on child support after a divorce: Given how overburdened the system is, there's seldom anyone in authority to make them keep the money train rolling. In an attempt to change that equation, the Arapahoe Count ... More >>

Cold weather -- and cold realities at the Denver Rescue Mission

Outside the Denver Rescue Mission's Lawrence Street shelter on a nicer day than today.​Last night was the coldest of the season thus far, and with the bitter chill expected to linger for several more days at least, the Denver Rescue Mission is well over capacity. According to DRM spokeswoman ... More >>

John Hickenlooper's budget-cut pitch

John Hickenlooper.​The first specific cut listed by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper in a letter to the citizens of the city about his budget-cut proposal involves reducing the programming on Denver's Channel 8 to "public-meeting coverage and select programming." The latter apparently includes a ... More >>

Roxane White is Hickenlooper's new chief of staff

Roxane White.​Roxane White knows a little something about the power of prayer, having graduated with a degree in religious studies from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon back in 1985 -- and she'll need all the faith she can get in her new job, as Mayor John Hickenlooper's new chief of ... More >>

Jane Norton for Senate: The next great GOP hope

Jane Norton.​Last month, the National Republican Senatorial Committee registered a couple of domain names on behalf of former Colorado Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton -- and today, Norton's using one of them, JaneNortonForColorado.com. Up-front: A news item that declares, "Jane Norton official ... More >>

From the week of December 18, 2008

Barack Obama gives principal Michael Johnston extra credit

The Lords of Payback

Jefferson County officials show Mike Zinna that what goes around comes around.

East Colfax Motel Hell

No room at the Inn.

Of Meth and Men

The drug fuels gay parties -- but the party was almost over before Rod finally found help.

Bad Boys

Denver's Juvenile Court just turned one hundred. The next years could be rough.

Consumed

The Basement Tapes

The Bum's Rush

City Hall's plan for dealing with the homeless is very short term.

The Gay Nineties

Since Amendement 2 passed seven years ago, Colorado Springs has learned a lesson in Family Values.

Feature

The Young and the Restless

As the turks of Denver's black politics grow old, what's to be made of their legacy?

Family Values

When the state's foster-care system doesn't work, there's always the private sector. but sometimes that doesn't work, either.

Juvenile Behavior

What's the real reason the state pulled forty boys from a controversial private prison?

Bad Boys, Bad Boys

Whatcha gonna do? Let a private company try to handle your juvenile delinquents?

Letters

SUFFER THE CHILDRENWILL A LANDMARK LAWSUIT SPUR CHANGES IN THE STATE'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM?