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	<title>Opinion &amp; Commentary Archives | Denver Westword</title>
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	<description>The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:10:01 +0000</pubDate>
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				<description>The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado</description>
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		<title>These are challenging times for Colorado&#8217;s renewable energy laboratory</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/renewable-energy-lab-work-in-colorado-more-critical-than-ever-40898130/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Chuck Kutscher</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/renewable-energy-lab-work-in-colorado-more-critical-than-ever-40898130/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 08:31:46 -0600</pubDate>
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				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/nreldoe.webp" alt="big federal facility golden" /><p>Why its mission is now more important than ever.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/renewable-energy-lab-work-in-colorado-more-critical-than-ever-40898130/">These are challenging times for Colorado&#8217;s renewable energy laboratory</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Why voting to reintroduce wolves in Colorado was a mistake</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/why-voting-to-reintroduce-wolves-in-colorado-was-a-mistake-40900757/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Ellen Kessler</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/why-voting-to-reintroduce-wolves-in-colorado-was-a-mistake-40900757/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 11:23:14 -0600</pubDate>
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				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/graywolf.jpg" alt="gray wolf in snow" /><p>"I blame Colorado Parks &#38; Wildlife for the program's failure."</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/why-voting-to-reintroduce-wolves-in-colorado-was-a-mistake-40900757/">Why voting to reintroduce wolves in Colorado was a mistake</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/opinion/why-voting-to-reintroduce-wolves-in-colorado-was-a-mistake-40900757/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Commentary: Public roads need public solutions</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/metro-denver-public-roads-need-public-solutions-40898193/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Erik Clarke</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/metro-denver-public-roads-need-public-solutions-40898193/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 07:34:00 -0600</pubDate>
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				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/bowmar.webp" alt="town with trees and lake" /><p>The Bow Mar dispute should force a larger conversation about how we maintain, manage and design the roads and bridges that we rely on. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/metro-denver-public-roads-need-public-solutions-40898193/">Commentary: Public roads need public solutions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>&#8220;Same mediocre store with new parking lot&#8221;</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/shoppers-discuss-new-king-soopers-store-in-southeast-denver-40896726/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Patricia Calhoun</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/shoppers-discuss-new-king-soopers-store-in-southeast-denver-40896726/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:35:39 -0600</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">Opinion &amp; Commentary</category>
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				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/Image_20260606_201353_460-1.jpeg" alt="new king soopers in denver" /><p>A new King Soopers just opened in southeast Denver. Some shoppers aren't impressed.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/shoppers-discuss-new-king-soopers-store-in-southeast-denver-40896726/">&#8220;Same mediocre store with new parking lot&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>&#8220;I think homelessness is down&#8230;farther down the street&#8221;</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/denver-homelessness-down-but-readers-see-rise-elsewhere-40896669/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Patricia Calhoun</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/denver-homelessness-down-but-readers-see-rise-elsewhere-40896669/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 08:14:27 -0600</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">Opinion &amp; Commentary</category>
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				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/tentaurora.webp" alt="tent for homeless" /><p>Denver officials say homelessness is down. Some readers think they know why.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/denver-homelessness-down-but-readers-see-rise-elsewhere-40896669/">&#8220;I think homelessness is down&#8230;farther down the street&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Colorado just blinked on AI and we&#8217;re going to pay for it</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-ground-zero-for-ai-2008-moment-40896640/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Eduardo Samayoa</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-ground-zero-for-ai-2008-moment-40896640/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 06:40:29 -0600</pubDate>
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				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/AI-Image-1.jpg" alt="Colorado just blinked on AI and we&#8217;re going to pay for it" /><p>A plain-language description of AI's role is not the same thing as an explanation of its reasoning. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-ground-zero-for-ai-2008-moment-40896640/">Colorado just blinked on AI and we&#8217;re going to pay for it</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Cow tipping or drinking raw milk: Which is the bigger dare?</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/drinking-raw-milk-at-denver-event-could-have-consequences-40895189/</link>
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					<dc:creator>David Kim</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/drinking-raw-milk-at-denver-event-could-have-consequences-40895189/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:06:01 -0600</pubDate>
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				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/pajarete.webp" alt="hand holding cup with milk straight from cow" /><p>Pasteurization has been around for over a hundred years and is tightly woven into U.S. food safety regulations — for good reason. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/drinking-raw-milk-at-denver-event-could-have-consequences-40895189/">Cow tipping or drinking raw milk: Which is the bigger dare?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Colorado&#8217;s 2026 budget crisis absorbed by poor and working class</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-budget-crisis-absorbed-by-poor-and-working-class-40891952/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Kayla Frawley</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-budget-crisis-absorbed-by-poor-and-working-class-40891952/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 11:46:58 -0600</pubDate>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/capitolwestword.webp" length="0" type="image/webp" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/capitolwestword.webp" alt="capitol building dome" /><p>"As a welfare program advocate I track how governments leave the poor to struggle."</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/colorado-budget-crisis-absorbed-by-poor-and-working-class-40891952/">Colorado&#8217;s 2026 budget crisis absorbed by poor and working class</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>&#8220;Shhh: I don&#8217;t want my favorite outdoor bar to get any more crowded!&#8221;</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/readers-respond-to-list-of-best-outdoor-bars-in-denver-40892044/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.westword.com/?p=40892044</guid>
					<dc:creator>Patricia Calhoun</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/readers-respond-to-list-of-best-outdoor-bars-in-denver-40892044/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 09:22:00 -0600</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">Opinion &amp; Commentary</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ww-media/mediaserver/den/2019-11/impropercity_patio.webp" length="0" type="image/webp" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/ww-media/mediaserver/den/2019-11/impropercity_patio.webp" alt="&#8220;Shhh: I don&#8217;t want my favorite outdoor bar to get any more crowded!&#8221;" /><p>Cheers! Opinions spill over regarding our lists of the best rooftop bars, beer gardens and outdoor patios in Denver.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/readers-respond-to-list-of-best-outdoor-bars-in-denver-40892044/">&#8220;Shhh: I don&#8217;t want my favorite outdoor bar to get any more crowded!&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>https://www.westword.com/opinion/readers-respond-to-list-of-best-outdoor-bars-in-denver-40892044/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>&#8220;Give Tina Peters enough rope, she&#8217;s obviously looking to hang herself&#8221;</title>
		<link>https://www.westword.com/opinion/election-denier-tina-peters-will-be-free-june-1-40891837/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Patricia Calhoun</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://www.westword.com/opinion/election-denier-tina-peters-will-be-free-june-1-40891837/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 07:03:54 -0600</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">Opinion &amp; Commentary</category>
						<enclosure url="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/tinagetty.webp" length="0" type="image/webp" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://www.westword.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/tinagetty.webp" alt="Tina Peters, election denier." /><p>The election denier and former Mesa County clerk will be free tomorrow.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.westword.com/opinion/election-denier-tina-peters-will-be-free-june-1-40891837/">&#8220;Give Tina Peters enough rope, she&#8217;s obviously looking to hang herself&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<source url="https://www.westword.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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