This afternoon, residents are invited to participate in something referred to as a “spirit rally:” Come down to Bannock between 14th and Colfax sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., hang out with the cheerleaders and Mayor Michael Hancock and use blue, white and orange chalk to transform the street…
This week’s cover story, “A World Away,” tells the story of Drucie Bathin, a 46-year-old refugee from Burma who has made it her life’s work to help other, newer refugees. She has a soft spot for the teenagers. To help them connect to their heritage, and stay out of trouble,…
In the past four years, more than 2,000 Burmese refugees have arrived in Colorado. Though the state provides support, some of them struggle to navigate language, laws and customs of their new home. But Drucie Bathin, who came to the U.S. in 1999, can help. She heads the Colorado Rangers…
Update: Peter John Jentsch, current Occupy Boulder protester and bodyguard of Occupy Denver’s canine leader, Shelby, was released from jail last night after he was arrested early Sunday morning for third-degree trespassing. For now, a newly approved restraining order keeps him from returning to Occupy Boulder’s current home. Although Jentsch…
It was the sixteenth anniversary of the Million Man March, October 16, 2011, and thousands gathered in Washington for a ceremony dedicating the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Steve Justino, co-chair of Colorado’s Move to Amend, remembers sitting by his computer in Colorado losing sleep — he and his colleagues…
Colorado Congressman Jared Polis has called for a government investigation into alleged abuse suffered by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender immigrants detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Here we have people who are at their most vulnerable — many without access to any legal assistance — who are being…
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…
This has been a busy month for Shelby, Occupy Denver’s temporarily absent leader and erstwhile scapegoat for those who’d like the group to have one. The political Border collie celebrated New Year’s in style: On her first trip to Zuccotti Park, Occupy Wall Street’s capitol, Shelby was greeted with a…
The defeat of a bill to legalize civil unions in the last legislative session was a heart-breaker for those in favor of marriage equality. After passing in the Senate, the bill was defeated in a House committee by one vote — with all six of the panel’s Republicans voting against…
The Santa Fe offices of the Colorado Progressive Coalition contain no front desk or really any lobby, just a series of colorful hallways unevenly decorated with Chicano and Native American artwork. The tables are covered with snacks and political literature, and the back wall marks a recent round of staff…
The Center for Responsive Politics has released a personal finance overview for each member of Congress. We did a little number crunching and found some interesting figures regarding Colorado’s congressional members. Collectively, Colorado’s nine-person delegation is worth $166,900,678…
Colorado’s first caucuses were modestly attended affairs that didn’t have a sizable impact on the presidential choices of either major party. But turnout jumped four years ago, especially for the Democratic caucus that boosted Barack Obama. Predictably, Colorado Republican Party chairman Ryan Call is the opposite of an Obama fan…
Tim Tebow’s stock as a quarterback may be falling — ESPN’s Mike and Mike have less confidence in him than any other QB in the playoffs this weekend — but he remains a cultural lightning rod. Note that even The New Yorker’s Ben McGrath is weighing in on him, albeit…
Wilma Webb was one of the first African-American representatives in the Colorado legislature — and she pushed through a measure making Martin Luther King Day a state holiday in 1984, two years before it was recognized nationally. In 1991, her husband, Wellington Webb, became Denver’s first black mayor. But then…
Colorado’s Democratic leaders are worried that last night’s win for Mitt Romney in the Iowa caucus could spell trouble for immigrants in Colorado. “Folks, it takes an alarming event to bring the likes of us together to weigh in on the Republican nomination,” Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio said…
After hearing comments from the public and city council last night, Boulder City Manager Jane Brautigam is finalizing an ordinance that will close all city parks to residents from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. daily. Despite debate from Occupy Boulder, city officials backed the bill mirroring Denver’s own park curfew…
A recent Occupy Denver general assembly looked suspiciously different than the group’s typical gatherings. The 21 people who took part facilitated the agenda, proposed their own resolutions, voted on them, passed them, and even communicated with spirit fingers as the meeting went on. The only difference: All of that day’s…
During Tuesday night’s broadcast of the 34th annual Kennedy Center Honors, the cameras frequently swept over the President’s box occupied by Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as honorees Sonny Rollins, Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Meryl Streep and Yo-Yo Ma — and there, just to the president’s right…Colorado governor John…
Occupy Wall Street became an unofficial part of history the moment it spread to all seven continents, but now it’s becoming one for the books. At least six big-name museums and cultural organizations have launched quests to gather evidence, ephemera and relics from the movement for future collections. Should History…
In a way, Joanne Kron’s political problem-solving began in high school. It was there, at the Denver Center For International Studies, that the future executive director of ProgressNow Colorado got her subtle start in activism and advocacy through the combination of Model United Nations and something called World Affairs Challenge…
It’s holiday week in Aspen, and this New Year’s weekend is shaping up as the busiest party binge at the resort in years — a time for Hollywood celebs and other one-percenters to pack the slopes and the clubs, to ogle and to be ogled, and call 911 about Charlie…
In the week since Occupy Denver was evicted on December 21, the Denver Police Department has kept Chief Robert White’s promise to remove any and all structures on a daily basis. Last night, this feat involved nine officers, eight police cars, two Public Works trucks and one arrest when police…
