Since Denver cop Celena Hollis was shot and killed over the weekend, there has been a lot of speculation concerning the possible gang-affiliation of the suspect — but according to Mayor Michael Hancock, reporters are asking the wrong questions. In this case, the gang question, Hancock told Westword today, is…
Editor’s note: This election cycle, Westword is exploring the public records of television stations for information on how candidates are spending money on ads in Denver. Joe Coors, your average local candidate for Congress who is not a beer, appears to be trying to secure support from an unusual voting…
As we reported yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down portions of SB-1070, Arizona’s controversial immigration law, but left standing the “show me your papers” provision, which lets officers ask about the immigration status of those found to be suspicious. Many local immigration activists were upset by this last development…
Today, the United States Supreme Court rejected three of four core provisions in Arizona’s controversial immigration law — but allowed the most hotly contested to remain. It is still legal for state police to stop, interview and detain people they have “reasonable suspicion” to believe entered the country illegally, an…
Editor’s note: This election cycle, Westword is exploring the public records of television stations for information on how candidates are spending money on ads in Denver. In Denver, the Obama campaign is spending a lot more money on TV ads than is Romney’s. After digging through more public records, it’s…
When the members of local experimental rock band Eldren gathered themselves and their gear together for a June 4 show at Aspen’s Belly Up, they quickly noticed one person was missing: Josh Lee, the group’s violinist, vocalist and electric guitarist. And then they received a call. From inside the Immigration…
Unsurprisingly, reporters at Michael Hancock’s press conference this morning were more interested in the news that the mayor fired a close friend and aide, Wayne McDonald, than the stated topic of the event (his plan to solve the city’s structural budget gap). “We had received an accusation which we looked…
Throughout nine months navigating the shifting landscape of public perception, Occupy Denver has attracted attention, praise and criticism. And for the past two, occupiers have gathered stories in all three categories, which they will funnel this weekend into a two-hour performance light on props and heavy on perspective. In Stories…
With the fight for Latino votes in the presidential race heating up nationally this week, Colorado GOP leaders recently criticized President Obama in this space for playing politics via his new policy easing back on deporting undocumented youth. Today, local Democrats struck back by criticizing the GOP for criticizing Obama…for…
Editor’s note: This election cycle, Westword is exploring the public records of television stations for information on how candidates are spending money on ads in Denver. So far, Barack Obama’s campaign is spending more money than Mitt Romney’s on Denver TV ads. A lot more…
Since the High Park fire began raging nearly two weeks ago a mere fifteen miles or so from the city she calls home, Fort Collins Mayor Karen Weitkunat has been getting calls of fear like she’s never heard before. “I’ve had citizens call and say, ‘I’ve never been so scared…
Just a few weeks after Denver began enforcing its urban camping ban, Mayor Michael Hancock said the new policy is going well, adding that some of the folks who were sleeping on the street have since gone to live with friends and family. And they haven’t gone to the suburbs,…
Opponents huffed and puffed, but the Colorado Supreme Court did not allow the Colorado Bankers Association and the Independent Bankers of Colorado to blow the house down on Initiative 84’s official language. In a ruling made public yesterday, the court decided to allow the proposed foreclosure amendment to move ahead…
Over the weekend, while reporting at the launch of Mitt Romney’s Colorado campaign headquarters, we asked some of the state’s GOP officials in attendance, what they thought of President Barack Obama’s new policy about deportations and undocumented youth. Unsurprisingly, they’re not pleased…
Former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson, who is now running for president as a Libertarian, stopped in Denver yesterday for Pridefest. He took a break from schmoozing with potential voters to chat with Westword about his campaign, the Libertarian Party, marijuana, gay marriage and his ongoing battle to get…
In the Denver metro area, immigrants are more likely to own small businesses than folks born in the United States. Not that much more likely, but the data presented in a new national report should at least call into question notions that immigrants influence the economy simply by displacing U.S…
Mitt Romney’s in town! Well, actually, he’s not. But his campaign is — and the Colorado team is officially in full swing with the official opening of the presidential candidate and presumptive Republican nominee’s offices in Lakewood on Saturday…
The Boulder County ACLU has come out in firm opposition to a proposed ordinance that would require approval from the city manager to allow protesters to gather in city parks. Although the topic is still in the brainstorming stages and won’t merit a decision for months, its opponents fear it…
Update, 9 a.m. June 16: This event has been canceled. Original post: Although the protesters are expecting a showdown, the results could be more like a meltdown: Tomorrow, members of the Young Americans for Freedom (conservative and libertarian youth) and Denver’s South Suburban Freedom Fighters (formerly the South Suburban Young…
Today brings big news, high hopes and timid reservations about immigration. The Obama administration has announced it will halt the deportation of undocumented youth who immigrated to the country as children and don’t pose threats to national security, and will offer work permits to eligible students. The news follows years…
In the almost three months since the Colorado Progressive Coalition began a fight for Initiative 84, organizers have collected more than three dozen stories about Colorado foreclosures. In the near future, they will be part of a story map on the group’s website documenting personal horror stories while the CPC…
Editor’s note: This is the latest profile in Kelsey Whipple’s ongoing series highlighting local political activists. For anyone who’s ever seen Rushmore, Steve Fenberg’s college experience makes him sound like a much better-adjusted Max Fischer. “I started a lot of clubs and stuff,” he says modestly of his experience at…
