Can abolishing the death penalty help solve cold cases?

On Friday, a bill to abolish the death penalty and redirect those funds toward investigating unsolved murders passed the House Appropriations Committee by an 8-4 vote. The next step is the House floor. That’s where a 2007 version of the bill was narrowly defeated. Proponents, led by the non-profit Families…

Ken Salazar’s Colorado cabal at Interior

This week’s feature, “The Zen of Ken,” deals with the formidable challenge facing Colorado’s own Ken Salazar at the Department of the Interior. It also notes in passing the growing contingent of politicos with Colorado connections that the new Secretary is adding to his leadership team, including former Senate candidate…

The Westword.com blog shortcut, April 6 edition

That’s the last strawb… Today in Cafe Society: • The Boulder Farmers’ Market gets a chilly start. • Stinky Cheese Tour starts at Bistro Vendome. • Colorado Bartenders Guild hosts first cocktail competition. • Milking It: Kellogg’s Corn Pops. • Quiznos’ take on toasty oven love. • Women rule the…

Denver Blogs: Perhaps this neck-bearded party boy can play

Our daily blog foraging. Send tips. Happy thoughts about Kyle Orton. Yes, there are such things. (Mile High Report) Could Colorado be the next state to adopt same-sex marriage rights? (Colorado Independent) The Rockies are entirely homegrown — the only such team in the Majors. For whatever that’s worth. (Inside…

Kenny Be’s Yard Arteology: Neighborhood horse house

The study of neighbors through their lawn ornaments… Figure 14. Sloan Lake: Equus Christ and the fence mounts The major trend in yard arteology has been to provide a “holistic” account of yard artists without any connotation of “inferior.” Most arteologists strive to use terms such as “conceptual” or “imaginative”…

Our March Madness predictions: The end is near

The March 18 blog “Our March Madness Predictions: A Prelude to Humiliation…” shared NCAA men’s and women’s basketball picks made by my daughter Lora and me, which fell short of flawless. True, we had Connecticut making it to the women’s finals on Tuesday, but not Louisville, which surprised Oklahoma over…

Keep it positive, Bronco fans!

Okay, at first glance, it looks the Broncos got the royal screw in the Jay Cutler trade. But I offer you three reasons why this could be one of the better deals Denver sports has seen. 1. We no longer have Cutler! This seems like a bad thing, but it…

Kyle Orton, DrunkAthlete.com poster boy

Last Friday’s blog about new Broncos QB Kyle Orton and his party-hearty proclivities turns out to be the tip of the ice tray when it comes to snapshots of Mr. O getting his drink on. Indeed, type “Kyle Orton” into Google and the second word that comes up — after…

Colorado Public Radio and giving credit where it’s due

In a March 25 blog, Colorado Public Radio executive Sean Nethery insisted that CPR isn’t abandoning its much-ballyhooed news initiative despite its decision to drop plans for adding a talk show and expanding its Colorado Matters program. If a report on this morning’s newscast is any indication, however, the effort…

The Deuce declares war on neckwear

Since their debut, Channel 2’s new-look newscasts, presented under the banner of “The Deuce,” have tried to woo a younger demographic in a number of fairly goofy ways — including clumsy wardrobe tweaks. During my occasional viewings of the outlet’s morning and evening news programs, for instance, I have yet…

The Westword.com blog shortcut, April 3 edition

Here’s some stuff. Today in Backbeat Online: • Freaky Friday: Ukranians love Katy Perry. • Strange Condition lands development deal. • Update: Lee Ball, RIP. • Record Store Day preview: April is the month for the Decemberists. Today in Cafe Society: • Wine on First Friday. • It’s a battle…