Richard Heene

"Smells like dead animals" and other complaints made about a pet treat factory in RiNo

One neighbor said the air smelled like a dead body. Another described the odor as akin to the stench of "a lot of dead rodents." Yet another said he "literally dry heaved into my mouth." Those are just a few of the complaints made to the city's 311 helpline about a pet-treat factory in the hip River ... More >>

Falcon "Balloon Boy" Heene and his brothers are flying high in a heavy-metal band

See also: Richard Heene, Balloon Boy's dad, invents crazy stuff, makes crazier infomercials

Denver charities can't find way to pick up 1,200 pounds of free food?

Flickr​Beth Allison never thought she'd have so much trouble donating food. After all, the economic downturn means there's plenty of need, and the items she had to give were staples -- mainly rice and beans -- that can be easily stored. Moreover, she had a lot of it: approximately 1,200 pounds ... More >>

"Balloon Boy" balloon flying high at an Aurora store

The new owner of the balloon boy ballon.​Almost two years after Falcon Heene did not float away in his father's homemade helium balloon, the legend is still flying high. And Michael Fruitman, the owner of Mike's Stadium Sportscards in Aurora, plans to enjoy the ride. He just bought this "uniqu ... More >>

Balloon Boy family auctioning their helium-filled hoax: Now if only the Heenes would float away

Richard Heene.​Balloon Boy hoaxers Richard and Mayumi Heene have been prohibited by a judge from making money off their story until 2013 (and make no mistake, they will start trying one tick into New Year's Day). But that doesn't mean they can't still make some hay. Earlier this week, the Heen ... More >>

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

The 120 most memorable mug shots of 2010

More photos below.​Over the past few weeks, we've shared the top 2010 mug shots of women, arrestees with face-and-neck tattoos and bad hair, plus busted teachers and caretakers, as well as celebrities and notables. But today, we offer the whole lollapalooza -- our monster batch of the 120 most ... More >>

Top 10 mug shots from 2010 of celebrities and notables

Photos below.​We're almost ready to unveil our top mug shots of 2010, after sharing galleries of women, tattoos, bad hair and accused teachers and caretakers. But as one last tease, check out booking photos of the famous and infamous that appeared here this year. Some you'll immediately recogn ... More >>

La La Vazquez: Top 5 reasons she should stay in Denver (and convince Melo to stay, too)

iamlala.com​ If the Nuggets lose Carmelo Anthony in a complicated trade deal, our fair city will lose another asset, too: Melo's wife, the fabulous La La Vazquez, she of the custom pink Range Rover, gold Gucci heels and VH1 reality show. Because while Denver has a trendy bike share program, l ... More >>

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt admit divorce stunt, surpass Richard Heene in crassness

Well hello​Ah, Heidi Montag. How do we take pleasure in your misfortune? Let us count the ways: First, there was The Hills, one of the most boring reality-drama-fests ever created. Then, there was the messy split from husband/ultra-douche Spencer Pratt. Then, there was the will-they-won't-they ... More >>

"I hate the Raiders!": We understand, but don't give up on football, little man! (VIDEO)

​Fans angered by the Broncos' 59-14 loss to the dreaded Oakland Raiders -- and by the destruction of the team by Coach Josh McDaniels -- will relate to this video, in which a kid responds to the walloping by wailing, "I hate the Raiders!" over and over again. But then he transitions into "I ha ... More >>

Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene's Bear Scratch ad shows he's crazier than we thought (VIDEO)

Richard Heene.​You figured former Fort Collins resident Richard Heene was a little off after that whole Balloon Boy hoax thing that got a little bit of attention a while back, right? But the way he's pimping his latest money-making plan, the Bear Scratch, is so off-the-charts loony that it ma ... More >>

Balloon Boy, Heene family fly to Florida: Here's our favorite videos to remember them by

Falcon Heene heaving.​Balloon Boy alert!: Richard Heene, Falcon Heene and the whole Heene gang have reportedly moved from their home in Fort Collins to Bradenton, Florida, where paterfamilias Dick is said to be working in construction, not starring in the TV-reality show of his (deflated) drea ... More >>

Douglas Bruce linked to Balloon Boy and Ward Churchill by group fighting 60, 61 and 101

Douglas Bruce.​Coloradans for Responsible Reform has tons of money to fight tax-cutting amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101, not to mention some heavy hitters in its corner; for instance, its spokesman, Dan Hopkins, used to do the same job for Governor Bill Owens. So what's one of its key ... More >>

Gary Faulkner, if you think Osama's put a bounty on you, you really are crazy

Watch out, Gary!​The vote is in: Here's our latest Shmuck of the Week: Bend over, media. You -- and by "you," I mean "us," too -- have been enabling self-proclaimed Osama hunter Gary Faulkner. With Greeley's latest micro-celeb now claiming bin Laden's put a hit on him, the story's gone from e ... More >>

Top 5 reasons Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene wanted his "experimental craft" back

Will Falcon soon be taking flight?​Channel 9 reveals that the Larimer County Sheriff's Office has returned Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene's "experimental craft". Heene reportedly measured the balloon before accepting it, presumably to make sure the LCSO hadn't swapped his brilliant creation for ... More >>

The 30 most memorable mug shots of 2010 (so far)

John Angerer's name fits his face.​The mug shot seen here of John Angerer, who was charged with murder yesterday in the 2006 slaying of Longmont's Angela Wilds, is among the most vivid we've seen lately -- but it's hardly the only memorable mug that's arrived of late. We're only a little over ... More >>

David Lane threatens to sue University of Wyoming over refusal to let Weather Underground founder William Ayers speak on campus

David Lane has given the University of Wyoming a very short deadline.​Attorney David Lane loves big issues and controversial clients, including former CU professor Ward Churchill, wrongfully convicted Timothy Masters or Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene. And now, he's taken on another cause that' ... More >>

Balloon Boy goes mad -- as in Mad Magazine

The Heenes go "Mad" (click to enlarge).​Months after the ill-fated flight of Richard Heene's "experimental craft," the Balloon Boy saga remains almost as fresh in the nation's consciousness as the vomit that spewed from young Falcon Heene live on the Today show last November. For proof, look ... More >>

Richard Heene, Balloon Boy dad: His hard-ass home detention, complete with ankle bracelet

"I've got to do what?"​Yesterday, we told you that Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene had been given permission to serve the remainder of his ninety-day sentence for attempting to influence a public servant (by insisting that his young son Falcon was in an "experimental craft" floating over Norther ... More >>

Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene returns to his home/launch site: Watch out for next "experimental craft"

Next time the Today Show crew stops by, they'll know where to set up the camera.​It seems like only yesterday that a silver balloon floating across Colorado caused a nation to stop -- and celebrities to tweet -- about Richard Heene and his young son Falcon, who reacted to the publicity his non ... More >>

Marijuana advocate Mason Tvert on why he joined a ballot-petition lawsuit -- and the future of his marijuana-legalization initiative

Mason Tvert doesn't think many current rules about petitioning make sense.​On Tuesday, we told you about a lawsuit over the rules pertaining to ballot initiatives that's supported by some strange bedfellows -- among them the Independence Institute's Jon Caldara and Mason Tvert, the marijuana a ... More >>

Marijuana and right-wing politics get together: Mason Tvert and Jon Caldara sign on to lawsuit about ballot petitions

"I agree with Mason Tvert about something? AARGH!"​At first blush (and second) (and third), marijuana advocate Mason Tvert and Jon Caldara, frontman for the conservative Independence Institute, are strange bedfellows. But today, they're partners in a legal love match. They're among the plaint ... More >>

Ward Churchill appeal: If he doesn't win, "tenure means nothing anymore," says lawyer David Lane

Ward Churchill hasn't given up on getting his CU job back.​Last April, a jury found that controversial CU professor Ward Churchill had been fired from his job in part because of statements he'd made. But jurors like Bethany Newell only awarded Churchill $1 in damages -- and in July, Judge Larr ... More >>

Are Denver cops auditioning for Crank Yankers?: DPD officers allegedly make prank call about suicide scare

Wonder if that cop was named Seymour Butz...​Colorado's become Hoax Central lately thanks to the bizarre case involving a certain Balloon Boy. But the latest alleged pranksters are hardly Richard Heene clones. Rather, they're members of the Denver Police Department. As first reported by Chann ... More >>

Balloon Boy family shouldn't have to pay for sheriff to "look pretty on TV," lawyer says

Wasn't chasing this sucker more fun than rescuing Mr. Whiskers?​Two weeks ago, David Lane, attorney for Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene, griped that a $47,000-plus restitution charge for leading law-enforcement officials on a wild experimental-craft chase was way too high. That complaint has no ... More >>

Balloon Boy dad's latest bitch: Restitution costs are too high

"On second thought, you guys should pay me!"​We knew Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene wouldn't go away quietly. But with the help of attorney David Lane, he's managing to make noise even while serving a jail sentence for pretending that his son, Falcon, had floated away in an inflatable silver ch ... More >>

Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene's latest TV appearance nearly causes more vomiting

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Remember that beautiful day in October when Balloon Boy Falcon Heene puked on the Today Show as his dad, Richard Heene, tried to convince America that the entire fiasco involving his runaway "experimental craft" had been genui ... More >>

From the week of January 7, 2010

Balloon Boy dad's balls bigger than his "experimental craft"

You knew Richard Heene had to have a helluva nerve (or severe brain damage) to even attempt to pull off his now-infamous October stunt -- insisting that his son, Falcon Heene, was inside an inflatable silver chef's hat that floated away from his Fort Collins home. But even the guilty pleas he and h ... More >>

Top 10 Colorado shmucks of decade

​It ain't easy being a shmuck. Not as mean as an asshole, not as ignorant as a shithead, a shmuck takes idiocy to an epic level, a moron whose fall from grace has far-reaching repercussions. We've been celebrating weekly shmucks for a long, long time -- but to be named one of Colorado's top 10 ... More >>

Wake-Up Call: Top Ten Turkeys for 2009

​There's still a month to go before the year ends -- plenty of time for more people to join the elite flock of fuck-ups for 2009 (and for Josh McDaniels to get back on the list, after his last-second reprieve with yesterday's win). Still, there's been no shortage of Colorado turkeys this year ... More >>

Wake-Up Call: Calling all Colorado turkeys

​Who's the biggest turkey in Colorado? We're accepting all nominations, fair or fowl, for the most unsavory characters in the state this year, and will post our Top Ten Turkeys of 2009 list here later today. And although it's hard to imagine anyone topping the antics of Richard Heene, whose ... More >>

Reality bites for Colorado and Richard Heene

Denver Blogs: You know the Nuggets kicked ass when Renaldo Balkman gets eleven minutes

"Don't you... forget about me."​These three worthy local blogs are just a click away. Denver Stiffs' Nate Timmons makes note of Renaldo Balkman sightings during the Nuggets' evisceration of the Raptors last night -- including some in the first half! What the hell? The folks at Coyote Gulch r ... More >>

Richard Heene and wife Mayumi to plead guilty in Balloon Boy hoax

Richard Heene during the infamous Today Show appearance when son Falcon puked for the nation.​That e-mail blast attorney David Lane mentioned around this time yesterday came through at 12:51 a.m. today. In it, Lane confirms that Richard Heene and his wife Mayumi will enter guilty pleas tomorro ... More >>

Are charges finally about to be filed against Richard Heene in Balloon Boy case?

David Lane represents Richard Heene. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.​Update below: Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett was appointed as special prosecutor after lawyer David Lane accused Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden of breaking the law by talking about a child-abuse inv ... More >>

Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene gives baby beer and cigar, makes Nancy Grace even crazier than usual

The Balloon Boy story is the gift that keeps on giving thanks to paterfamilias Richard Heene's proclivity for recording every stupid thing he did -- or at least enough of them to keep the tabloid press quivering with censorious excitement for the foreseeable future. The latest exhibit: Nancy Grace ... More >>

Balloon Boy family lawyer David Lane: Child-abuse-investigation release breaks the law

David Lane, attorney for Richard Heene, has got some fancy lawyering to do. And he's ready.​David Lane, attorney for Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene, says he doesn't have enough fingers to plug all the info leaks coming from the office of Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden. On Friday, Alderden ... More >>

From the week of October 22, 2009

Balloon Boy gets highbrow, thanks to NPR

And we thought Balloon Boy coverage was beneath NPR.​At last, the Balloon Boy saga has reached metaphysical ubiquity, with the last national media outlet seemingly immune to the appeal of little Falcon Heene -- National Public Radio -- finally surrendering. Of course, NPR being NPR, the appro ... More >>

The Jimmy Kimmel-Richard Heene connection takes off

Like every late-night yakker, Jimmy Kimmel has made his share of Balloon Boy jokes; witness the skit above, in which his security guard supposedly floats over Fort Collins. But Kimmel claims a closer connection to balloonatic Richard Heene than most of his colleagues, declaring that a few years bac ... More >>

The Balloon Boy family 911 call: comedy gold

"Take off, you little hoser!"​If you haven't heard the 911 call made last Thursday by Balloon Boy mom Mayumi Heene, with husband Richard Heene chiming in, you owe it to yourself to justify the time you wasted wondering if future national-TV puker Falcon Heene would be all right by wasting a li ... More >>

PR advice for the Balloon Boy family

With even defense lawyer David Lane acknowledging that charges are likely to be issued soon in the Balloon Boy saga, Richard Heene and the rest of his clan have stopped saying "yes" to every media interview request -- and that's probably for the best given the mistakes the family made before zippin ... More >>

Another Balloon Boy mystery: What happened to Richard Heene's hair?

Another indication that Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene wanted to make the most of the media attention he got in the wake of the desperate search for his not-quite-airborne son Falcon: Over the course of the past few days, his hair seems to have gotten a trendy makeover. Throughout an appearance on t ... More >>

David Lane ties himself to the Balloon Boy case

David Lane hits the national airwaves -- and doesn't have to talk about Ward Churchill.​Attorney David Lane tends to take cases that have Big Picture, constitutional issues at stake: His clients in recent years have included Carol Kreck, who was arrested for protesting a John McCain campaign a ... More >>

TV exec to Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene: "I don't believe you"

Authorities thought this thing could carry a boy? It doesn't look like it could carry a Twinkie...​The fame and fortune about which Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene was apparently dreaming looks to have flown away. But while Larimer County officials took a couple of days before voicing their doub ... More >>

Top ten celebrity tweets about Balloon Boy

Simon Pegg's advice for Falcon: Escape! Escape!​ The Twitterspere absolutely exploded yesterday with commentary about accidental-whistle-blowing, Today-show-vomiting Balloon Boy Falcon Heene, with celebrities among the countless thousands exercising their fingers on the topic both before and a ... More >>

Balloon Boy vomits on the Today show: How much weirder can this story get?

And the Balloon Boy story only gets stranger. First, Falcon Heene flies to fame when he's said to be aboard a runaway balloon. Then it turns out he was never on the balloon at all, but hiding in the family attic. A few hours later, he goes on CNN and seems to imply that the entire adventure had bee ... More >>