Public Finance

Gaylord in Aurora: New developer found to build 1,500-room, $800 million hotel

A new developer will take over the stalled Gaylord hotel project in Aurora, which won an estimated $81.4 million tax rebate from the state last year before hospitality giant Gaylord Entertainment announced it was restructuring -- and that building the 1,500-room hotel and conference center here wasn ... More >>

Marijuana: How an Amendment 64 repeal measure almost passed last night

When Amendment 64 was passed last November and signed into law by Governor John Hickenlooper the following month, most Coloradans figured it was a done deal -- unless the federal government decided to oppose it, that is. But no: Last night, Senator John Morse, seen here, and a slew of colleagues cam ... More >>

A64 task force recommends 15-25 percent pot taxes, Hick warns of homeless youth increase

The final meeting of the Amendment 64 Task Force began with a warning from co-chair Jack Finlaw: "I'll be happy to be out of here by six." And as the hours dragged on, it appeared he would get his wish -- right down to the minute. The task force used all of its allotted four hours plus one in a mee ... More >>

Black Comedy

Fiscal cliff: Why did Democratic Senator Michael Bennet vote against Obama's deal?

On Tuesday, at 12:29 a.m., just as Colorado began celebrating the New Year, Senator Michael Bennet's staff released a statement explaining why, in a break from his Democratic colleagues and the president, he voted against the plan to avert the fiscal cliff. The decision made him one of only eight se ... More >>

Obama in Golden, Colorado: Is the ninth time the charm?

Ninth time's a charm. President Barack Obama was back in Colorado this morning, marking his ninth visit to the state this year and his third campaign stop here in just three weeks. The crowd of thousands flocking to Golden -- and the surrounding traffic jams and street closures -- served as yet an ... More >>

Marijuana: Amendment 64 Blue Book changes, legislator criticism don't worry proponent

Yesterday, members of the Legislative Council Committee asked for changes in the Blue Book description of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, suggesting along the way that the initiative is likely to spur lawsuits. Opponents pounced on these assertions and others, but a 64 backer ... More >>

Rape kits: Michael Bennet touts bill to enhance evidence processing

Rebecca Gershten and Becca Beall Oschner know the importance of rape kits. In 2005, both women were victimized by serial rapist Brent Brents. Their rape kits helped lead to his capture. "Thankfully, our rape kits were processed in record time, which provided the proof necessary to arrest him," Gers ... More >>

Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland takes ABC challenge, releases tax returns after bashing Romney

Put up or shut up. After a group of Democratic leaders staged a press conference last week to demand that Mitt Romney release more of his tax returns, ABC News asked the group if they would make public their 1040s, too. Several refused to do so -- but not Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland, whose tax posture ... More >>

Michael Hancock's State of the City speech: Police reform and e-Denver

A year after taking office, Mayor Michael Hancock delivered his first State of the City address this morning, promoting a range of priorities, including restructuring the police department, increasing programs for children and a new online initiative he is calling "e-Denver." That's right, Denver is ... More >>

Boulder waste oil recycling company recycOil settles libel suit and disparagement claims

A feud between Boulder waste oil recyclers has reached a legal conclusion after a libel suit and disparagement claims filed by recycOil, a recycling and biofuel company, were settled in its favor. The firm filed the former against Jennifer Hronkin, a Boulder biofuel advocate, for making false and de ... More >>

"Start-Up Colorado:" House Democrats announce job creation package

Colorado House Democrats and representatives from CU, CSU and Colorado Technology Association met with the press to introduce "Start-Up Colorado." The package brings together three jobs bills focusing on promoting small business growth.

Despite challenge, Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 keeps its name (for now)

Doug Bruce​As we mentioned earlier this week, Colorado Springs conservative Douglas Bruce had petitioned the Colorado Title Board to change the title of the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 to include TABOR-related tax language. The hearing on that challenge was yesterday morning, b ... More >>

Jared Polis has ideas for closing federal budget gap other than legalizing marijuana -- really

Jared Polis.​Although the so-called Gang of Six's proposal for averting debt-ceiling catastrophe is getting the lion's share of attention right now, Representative Jared Polis has floated some revenue-raising ideas of his own, which the media has largely winnowed down to this: Legalizing marij ... More >>

Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act targeted by Douglas Bruce over prominence of word "TAX"

Brian Vicente.​The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 continues to be a target more than a year before the November 2012 election for which it's aiming. First, rival organization Legalize2012 objected to any association with the terms "legalization" and "similar to alcohol." Now, prop ... More >>

Brenda Stewart, who fronted prostiution ring linked to Michael Hancock, cops a plea

A past Player.​Amid the controversy over a report tying just-elected Denver mayor Michael Hancock to Denver Players, the prostitution ring that brought down Judge Edward Nottingham, much of the attention has focused on previous Players owner and alleged burglary victim Scottie Ewing. But there ... More >>

Today: Tax-day deals for accountants

Courtesy of www.seniorliving.org.​It's tax day, and few people are feeling the heat like the town's overworked CPAs. If a certified accountant remembered to "file" at either Morton's locations for a complimentary three-course steak-and-seafood dinner for two, the winners can claim their prize ... More >>

Douglas Bruce, father of TABOR and controversy magnet, indicted for tax evasion

Big pic below.​Douglas Bruce has made no shortage of enemies over the years -- and plenty of them are likely grinning at the sight of his mug shot, released in conjunction with word that he's been indicted for failing to pay taxes he earned in 2005-2007. His alleged method of evasion? Funnelin ... More >>

Carmelo Anthony selling Baltimore-themed car in Denver: Readying for big move? (PHOTOS)

Big pics below.​One clue that Carmelo Anthony might actually stay in Denver: He hasn't reduced the price of the house he's selling. But heis lightening his load, by selling a cherry '71 Chevelle on eBay to benefit his charity, just as bride LaLa Vazquez did last year with a pink SUV. Look belo ... More >>

Raped and extorted by a prison gang, Scott Howard was called a "drama queen" by corrections officials

Why do Mexicans cut down agave plants?

Brenda Stewart, Denver Players/Sugar owner & ex-escort, indicted for tax evasion, racketeering

Large photos below.​This week, Brenda Stewart was indicted on charges related to tax evasion, racketeering, money laundering and more in relation to Denver Players/Sugar, a notorious escort business. A former escort known to her staff as "Katrina Carter" or simply "Carter," Stewart potentiall ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensary bans pass in Aurora, Dougco: Fuel for legalization fight?

Brian Vicente.​Update: The Sensible Colorado staff has been hard at work trying to determine if any of the community or county attempts to ban medical marijuana dispensaries were unsuccessful -- and they've found seven bright spots amid the disappointments in places like Aurora and Douglas Cou ... More >>

Amendments 60 & 61, Proposition 101: Colorado Progressive Coalition hits road to battle them

​Twentieth century French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre was keen on constructing impenetrable monoliths of text about nothingness. But his notion that the absence of something is just as important to an experience as the presence of something ties directly into this year's Colorado ballot init ... More >>

Tom Tancredo gives KHOW's Peter Boyles his tax returns, challenges Dan Maes to do the same

Tom Tancredo.​While other Republicans are starting to cozy up to Dan Maes, there's no love lost between the Republican gubernatorial candidate and Tom Tancredo, now running for governor on the American Constitution ticket. Tancredo, who's on KHOW right now, just gave his tax returns to Peter B ... More >>

Chipotle is gunning for 50 percent local produce this year

​Chipotle Mexican Grill, the ever-expanding Denver-based burrito chain, which just opened its first international store in London, is now upping the ante in the local produce department by committing to use 50 percent of at least one produce item from locally grown sources in its restaurants. ... More >>

Commerce City fight: Editor takes on town over strange deal involving city manager's house

Kathy McIntyre believes she's found some muck -- and she's determined to rake it. The editor of Gateway News, she has devoted considerable resources to an investigation of a housing deal given to Jerry Flannery, city manager for Commerce City. As McIntyre writes in her summary of the story, entitl ... More >>

Kenny Be's Sign Language: Sun sets on hand-job van

​ Viewers don't even need to look at the rooftop ladders to know the van pictured above belongs to a person who is handy. This northwest-Denver-parked paint job tells us that the vehicle's owner is resourceful in the handling of materials and fearless about getting his hands dirty. There is a ... More >>

Wake-Up Call: No moratorium on dispensaries in Denver

​Think the lines at the airport are long? They're nothing compared to the lines at the Denver Treasurer's office, where would-be dispensary operators are lining up to get their sales-tax licenses before any city ordinance might put limits on dispensaries. But the dispensaries will definitely ... More >>

Hickenlooper finds more library funding -- by taking a chunk out of his homeless plan

Jeanne Faatz.​Moments from now, Mayor John Hickenlooper will be meeting with the media to talk about a revision in his budget plan -- additional bucks to save the Byers library , which had been marked for closure, and keep other branches open for longer hours. And where is he getting the dough ... 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 >>

Colorado's new Medicaid funding plan will leave disabled adults on the outside

Get wet with the Denver Squirt Gun Association

I'm pretty sure when DARPA was inventing the Internet back in the late '60s, organizing squirt gun fights and documenting them via tools such as YouTube and blogs were exactly what they had in mind (well, that and porn). Now Denver residents can fully reap the fruits of what DARPA sowed so long ag ... More >>

Our New Version of the National Anthem

Best Rumor Producer

Bill Owens

Smoke Detector

Anne Landman has dedicated her life to being a pain in the ash. Will it make a difference come election time?

Best Place to Score With a Fifty-Something Whose Ex-Spouse Got the Mercedes

Déjà Vu

Best political use of an art show to get a bigger building

Impressionism Denver Art Museum

Give Them a Hand

The city lays all its chips on the table in a risky play for a new hotel.

The Hundred Days' War

How hard is it to find 90,000 citizens who want a tax cut? Ask Douglas Bruce.

Stretching the Limits

Limo companies ride out a debate over longer vehicles, safety and lost tax revenues.

Calling to Collect

The City of Denver declares war on the state legislature over a telephone bill.

Pack Contributions

Tobacco lobbyists do a smokin' business with politicians.

Off Limits

Stealing Home

Sowing Discontent

The anti-crime Weed and Seed program is leaving behind a lot of scorn and thorns in Denver neighborhoods.

Walk Softly and Carry A Big Hockey Stick

LET US PAY

OFF LIMITS

MOUTHING OFF