Denver Westword | The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado

Naropa University president Charles Lief (right) speaks at a Naropa retreat in 2022.

Naropa University Spins Off Psychedelic Clinic Into Memoru Center

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jul 24, 2025

Memoru Center for Visionary Healing Arts will conduct psychedelic facilitation training, clinical care and research in a new Boulder campus.

AI Will Live On: Will You Leave Behind a Generative Ghost?

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jul 8, 2025

"I'm the intersection between a psychologist and a computer scientist, and these types of things tend to be right up my alley."

How Bren Bigelow Fosters Queer Joy Through Pole Dancing

By Sara Rosenthal

Jun 17, 2025

Pole in the Pearl is a queer-friendly, trans-run pole-dancing event held every third Saturday of the month at The Pearl.

A stage of people with their backs turned

Funds and Games: Checking in With the Colorado Arts Organizations That Lost Their NEA Funding

By Kristen Fiore

May 20, 2025

Colorado arts organizations comment on their lost NEA funding.

Visitors Still Need a Pass to Visit Air Force Academy, Including Nearby Bike Trails

By Brendan Joel Kelley

May 15, 2025

A Denver visitor was rebuffed when trying to visit the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion via the New Santa Fe Regional Trail.

Timothy Leary's Son, Zach, Releases Guide on Using Psychedelics

By Brendan Joel Kelley

May 14, 2025

Leary will be in Boulder this week to discuss his new book and the evolving world of psychedelics, from DMT to LSD.

Eritrean-Coloradan Teen Raises Thousands of Dollars for Refugees, Plans Documentary About Crisis

By Hannah Metzger

May 14, 2025

Rodas Tewelde escaped the east African nation of Eritrea as a child — but she's "never going to turn [her] back" on other refugees.

New Colorado Psychedelics Safety Campaign Targets Gen Z

By Brendan Joel Kelley

May 13, 2025

"From a public health perspective, we know that harm reduction strategies are effective, and we are supportive of the ‘Pause. Learn. Reflect.’ message approach."

Unkindest Cuts: DU Projects Hit by Science, Higher Ed Grants Purge

By Cassis Tingley

May 12, 2025

“Conducting research on DEI or women or LGBTQ communities is not some woke political agenda."

Plant Now, Eat Later: The DIY Food Revolution Starts Today

By Linda Appel Lipsius

May 10, 2025

Perhaps now more than ever, we need our food to nourish us, literally and figuratively.

A Chromebook laptop is burnt and melted after being tampered with in order to make the lithium batter ignite.

Viral TikTok “Challenge” Concerns Local School Districts...and Tempts a Reporter

By Brendan Joel Kelley

May 9, 2025

Boulder Valley School District and Denver Public Schools are asking families to help stop the Chromebook Challenge.

Senator speaks at podium before bill vote

Reader: Senator Bright, Is This Why They Call It Potty Training?

By Westword Readers

May 4, 2025

According to the Weld County Republican, kids are showing up at preschool with backpacks full of pot.

Denver Students' Poetry Anthology Revived for DPS STEAM Expo

By Teague Bohlen

Apr 30, 2025

The collection debuts at the DPS STEAM Expo on May 3.

Perfect Brownies Are Possible, Thanks to Home Economics Pioneer Inga Allison

By Tobi Jacobi and Caitlin Clark

Apr 27, 2025

The Colorado State University food scientist solved the mysteries of high-altitude cooking.

Colorado Senator Claims Preschoolers Bring Backpacks of Weed to Class

By Thomas Mitchell

Apr 25, 2025

We can't find any reports of Colorado children arriving at preschools with backpacks full of marijuana.

Army Black Hawk Helicopter Mistakenly Lands at Colorado High School

By Hannah Metzger

Apr 25, 2025

The helicopter was supposed to go to a different school four miles away.

Latino Cultural Arts Center Hosting Celebratory Groundbreaking Ceremony for Las Bodegas on Earth Day

By Tim Weighart

Apr 16, 2025

After almost a decade of planning, connecting and fundraising, LCAC will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the cultural hub.

A chef plating multiple salad dishes at Denver EATSS

Denver EATSS Raises Funds as Well as Awareness of Indigenous Cuisine and Art

By Abigail Bliss

Apr 9, 2025

“It's an opportunity for students to share the things about themselves that they want people to know — to share their culture and their ancestral knowledge, as well as the experiences that they're having in today's world."

Conference on World Affairs Tackles Topics Like AI, Oligarchy and Censorship

By Kristen Fiore

Apr 1, 2025

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo is the 2025 CWA keynote speaker.

A man in reflective sunglasses speaks into a headset.

Deion Sanders's Mega CU Contract Extension, by the Numbers

By Catie Cheshire

Mar 28, 2025

What components add up to equal Sanders's new, $54 million deal?

Education

Colorado's Prison Arts Programs Break Free

CU Denver Launching Psychedelic Training Program

Education

Colorado's Prison Arts Programs Break Free

CU Denver Launching Psychedelic Training Program

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