Denver Post: All Local News

Moab man embraces simple life living in cave

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:21:25 -0700

48-year-old Daniel Suelo kneels in front of the desert cave he calls home, sips cedar tea from a chipped mug and explains, again, why he has intentionally lived the past nine years without using money.

Three firefighters accused of certification forgeries

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:42:17 -0700

Three firefighters, including former Sheridan Fire Chief Ron Carter, are charged with felonies related to the forgery of firefighter-training paperwork.

Racial assaults disturbing to LoDo patrons, but not enough to keep them away

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:40:14 -0700

Many regulars in LoDo night spots were unfazed Saturday by the news of a string of assaults by black gangs on whites and Latinos.

Littwin: Wolf man's billboard a Colorado weirdness successor to Ballon Boy

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:38:44 -0700

Billboards, I'll confess, are not my favorite form of advertising. But if I had a billboard of my own, I'd start with this message:

Couple killed in shootout with cops were "very pleasant," neighbor says

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:34:25 -0700

The neighbor of a couple slain by police after a bank robbery said Saturday the pair made a "desperate, ridiculous mistake."

Actress/photographer's works on sale to help Denver elementary school

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:32:35 -0700

Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid is "easily bored," and that's why she started taking pictures of doors.

Scouts sort holiday cards for troops

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:31:59 -0700

A Boy Scout troop is sorting more than 5,000 holiday cards that will be delivered to active-duty military personnel and veterans around the world.

Activists at Capitol sing, read from historic documents

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:31:24 -0700

Small-government "tea party" activists observed Thanksgiving on Saturday by reading the Mayflower Compact outside the state Capitol in Denver.

About 8,000 families get food for holiday dinners

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:31:17 -0700

Volunteers gave out about 8,000 dinner baskets Saturday to needy families.

Officer faces theft, drug charges

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:30:45 -0700

A Longmont police officer who was arrested last week on suspicion of giving prescription drugs to a confidential informant, with whom investigators suspect he was having a relationship, was charged Friday with numerous crimes including two felonies, the Daily Camera reported.

United plane with hydraulic problem lands safely at DIA

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:30:29 -0700

A United Airlines Airbus 320 landed safely Saturday morning at Denver International Airport after the pilot notified traffic control that he was having hydraulic problems.

Police have no record of threats to then-candidate Bill Ritter

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:26:00 -0700

Explanations for the contacts between the Denver district attorney's office and Bill Ritter's gubernatorial campaign have started to focus on a "serious safety concern" for Ritter during the 2006 campaign.

Colorado lawmakers approach budget cliff

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:22:16 -0700

The budget cliff that Colorado lawmakers have long talked about is expected to arrive in July as the 2010-11 fiscal year starts and federal stimulus money begins to run dry.

Highlands Church takes all-inclusive approach to homosexuality

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:20:15 -0700

An evangelical church can be a scary place for gay people, yet the Rev. Mark Tidd's Highlands Church in Denver is trying "to live and love without labels" in an inclusive community.

Greene: Slam my hair if you must, but hands off my hereafter

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:19:30 -0700

"You, Susan Greene, will burn in infinite misery," warned Terry Robinson, a reader, in response to a column on gas drilling.

Greeley man convicted of sexual assault at 2nd trial

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:17:36 -0700

A Greeley man has been convicted of sexual assault for a second time after his first conviction was thrown out because his lawyers weren't allowed to tell jurors that he is developmentally disabled.

California cop urges Colorado to sort out its medical-marijuana laws

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:16:59 -0700

The top cop in a California town that has become a poster child for a well-intentioned medical-marijuana law gone wrong has some advice for Colorado legislators.

Clinton among mourners at former N.M. governor's funeral

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:15:39 -0700

Former President Bill Clinton joined more than 2,000 mourners Saturday at a funeral for former New Mexico Gov. Bruce King, recalling him as an astute politician with a sharp sense of humor and folksy mannerisms.

Hours after fight, man returns to club and kills patron

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:15:18 -0700

Two men who had been kicked out of Saturday's Night Club on East Colfax Avenue returned to the club early Saturday morning, and one of them fatally shot a man, police say.

Ringing in his 41st year with Salvation Army

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:11:40 -0700

A 91-year-old man is ringing the bell at a Salvation Army kettle for the 41st year.

Jeremy Hillhouse, exhibit designer for Denver Art Museum, dies at age 69

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:11:10 -0700

Jeremy Hillhouse could come up with "elegant and beautiful designs on a bare-bones budget," said Ronald Otsuka, Asian arts curator at the Denver Art Museum.

Denver arrests may be part of trend of gangs videotaping attacks

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:10:38 -0700

Racial attacks like the ones behind the arrest of 32 suspects in Denver are part of a trend spreading across the country, gang experts said Saturday.

Miller Farms opens gates for 5,000 to glean tons of remaining veggies

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:09:06 -0700

Miller Farms didn't have the 40,000-person turnout to glean produce like it did last year, but then again, last year people didn't walk away with 150 pounds of food.

Arapahoe libraries brace for uptick in patrons from Aurora

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:07:55 -0700

Arapahoe Library District officials expect to feel some effects of four public libraries closing in nearby Aurora.

Thirty years of pain over missing daughter

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:07:05 -0700

A northwest Colorado couple say they still weep at the memory of their missing daughter, who was last seen 30 years ago this weekend, when she was 15.

Kaiser Permanente Colorado gains healthy boost in national ranking

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:06:17 -0700

Kaiser Permanente Colorado is climbing its way to the top among the state's health-insurance companies, snagging a No. 1 national ranking and along with it, a significant chunk of the competition's business.

Living without money, possessions has long tradition worldwide

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:05:42 -0700

Cave-dwelling Daniel Suelo is one of many across the planet who happily live without money.

Urban debate contests sharpen learning, skills for college-bound students

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:17:11 -0700

The Baker Hostetler Debate Classic is a razor-sharp competition featuring students from Denver Public Schools who thrive on uncertainty and go for the kill.

Denver police arrest 32 in series of downtown assaults

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:38:53 -0700

The Denver Police Department arrested 32 men and juvenile boys after a months-long undercover investigation into what police said were racially motivated assaults and robberies in downtown Denver, including the LoDo entertainment district.

3 medical providers launch rapid sharing of patient data

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:34:38 -0700

Children's Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Colorado and Exempla Healthcare have begun sharing patient information electronically, which they expect will improve the quality of care they offer.

"President or Jihad?" billboard in Wheat Ridge sparks boycott, threats

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:51:31 -0700

A billboard at a Wheat Ridge car dealership — with a caricature of President Barack Obama as a turban- wearing jihadist — has sparked a boycott and death threats, but even more support, its sponsor said.

Griego: Young mentors give middle school girls reason for hope

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:45:32 -0700

We started the week with first lady Michelle Obama spreading the mentoring message, so it seems fitting we end it in a place where such work is actually being done: Kepner Middle School, Room 107.

Pilot in treatment; London trial delayed.

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:45:07 -0700

The Lakewood-based pilot charged with being drunk on a Chicago-bound United Airlines flight at London's Heathrow Airport did not appear in court Friday in London.

Corrections

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:39:36 -0700

The Denver Post will correct all errors occurring in its news columns. If you find a problem with a story — an error of fact or a point requiring clarification — please call the city desk at 303-954-1201.

Bank robbers killed in Westminster gun battle were couple from Loveland

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:20:28 -0700

The bank robbers killed in a shootout with Westminster police Thursday afternoon have been identified as a Loveland couple neighbors say were in financial trouble.

RTD lifts ban on expanding Neighborhood Eco Pass program

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:52:38 -0700

Despite unanswered financial questions, RTD last month lifted a moratorium on expanding its deeply discounted Neighborhood Eco Pass program and Boulder officials subsequently increased their subsidies to prop up the venture.

GOP, Dems jockey for position concerning Villafuerte's nomination

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:48:25 -0700

Republicans and Democrats on Friday took a step forward in trying to advance or thwart Stephanie Villafuerte's nomination for Colorado U.S. attorney.

Restaurateur Tang takes plea deal in pot case

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:47:08 -0700

Thornton restaurateur Dan Tang's aspirations of political connections and influence vanished Friday after he pleaded guilty in federal court to funding a marijuana-growing operation that yielded 4,000 pot plants.

Inmate at Cañon City prison killed in attack

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:30:53 -0700

A 51-year-old convicted killer who fatally shot his ex-wife and fiancee 16 years ago in Oregon allegedly killed a 50-year-old inmate in a Cañon City prison, authorities say.

Boulder teachers reject 2nd offer

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:30:52 -0700

Boulder Valley School District teachers voted to reject a contract settlement for the 2009-10 school year, according to a statement released Friday by the Colorado Education Association.

E. coli outbreak apparently started at stock show children's exhibit.

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:09:47 -0700

Exposure to animals at Denver's National Western Stock Show was the likely cause of an E. coli outbreak that occurred in the Denver area in January and February, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said Friday.

Wild-horse advocates let sentiments fly

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:09:39 -0700

Wild-horse advocates tried to challenge a federal relocation proposal by flying a banner over Denver on Friday afternoon that called Interior Secretary Ken Salazar "the slaughter czar."

Breckenridge skiing accident kills Colorado Springs teen

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:09:38 -0700

A 14-year-old girl died Friday in a skiing accident at Breckenridge.

Barbara Kelley to head regulatory department.

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:09:38 -0700

Gov. Bill Ritter has appointed Denver attorney Barbara Kelley as executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

Bryant-Webster nominee wins Teacher of the Year

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:09:37 -0700

A science teacher at an impoverished elementary school in north Denver has been named Colorado Teacher of the Year for 2010.

Wyo. ex-trooper gets prison term

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:22:57 -0700

A former Wyoming state trooper was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for kidnapping a truck driver in what prosecutors say was an aborted murder plot.

Harsanyi: The geeks had a word for it ...

dharsanyi@denverpost.com ( / By David Harsanyi) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:11:08 -0700

Like other books Americans have a duty to own — the Bible or "Atlas Shrugged," for instance — the dictionary does not require an absurd marketing ploy to sell itself.

2 bank robbers killed, 2 cops shot in Westminster shootout

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:55 -0700

A late-morning bank robbery turned frantic and violent Thursday, ending with both suspects dead and a police officer hospitalized after a gun battle near West 120th Avenue and Federal Boulevard. A deputy chief also was injured.

Hit hard by times, Colorado woman still standing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:26 -0700

She watched her rewarding job in the mortgage industry disappear and her financial security dissolve in a $3 million bankruptcy. Then she embraced a total career change — only to have her first steps toward the health care industry interrupted by a frightening turn as a patient.

Tancredo links gubernatorial candidacy to GOP's policy platform

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:48:57 -0700

A policy platform being crafted by top Republicans to pre-empt additional candidates from challenging GOP gubernatorial hopeful Scott McInnis also would provide the campaign messages for dozens of downticket GOP candidates.

U.S. attorney nominee Villafuerte denies any role in accessing restricted database

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:59:36 -0700

President Barack Obama's nominee to be Colorado's next U.S. attorney has denied any involvement in the access of a restricted federal database to help Bill Ritter's 2006 campaign for governor.

Suspect in 1997 Colorado murder arrested in England

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:55:09 -0700

Scotland Yard agents arrested a 46-year-old English poker champion Wednesday for the 1997 murder of his wife in Garfield County.

Corrections

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:49:40 -0700

Driver accused in fatal hit-and-run near DIA is back in jail

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:46:46 -0700

A woman who was out on bail after being accused of causing an accident that killed two librarians is back in jail, this time for driving on a suspended license. It is the third time Sandra Jacobson, 40, has been accused of ignoring terms of her bail in the drunken-driving case.

Denver credit union robbers foiled by quick action

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:45:01 -0700

A credit union manager fleeing an early-morning robber ran for help only to find that her would-be savior was the robber's accomplice.

Witness-killing suspect guilty in separate case

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:43:37 -0700

Shun Birch, accused by Denver prosecutors of killing a witness, was found guilty Thursday by a federal jury in a separate firearms-possession case.

Yale Huffman, well-kinown Denver attorney, dies at 93

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:42:20 -0700

Yale Huffman, a well-known Denver attorney for many years, died of heart-lung failure on Oct. 27. He was 93.

Gunfire in "sheltered suburb" sent Westminster bystanders to cover

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:40:28 -0700

Construction workers laying concrete near West 104th Avenue and Federal Boulevard hit the ground Thursday afternoon as a pair of bank robbers being chased by Westminster police fired a shot through the rear window of their Subaru.

Colo. bank robberies on rise, but reasons unclear

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:37:01 -0700

The number of bank robberies has risen this year in Colorado, but investigators are at a loss to explain exactly what makes the statistics rise or fall.

Federal agency wants to ban public from hearing for former agent Cory Voorhis

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:20:30 -0700

A federal agency has cited "security concerns" as the reason to bar the public from attending a former immigration agent's administrative hearing in a Denver conference room, according to e-mails from one of its lawyers.

DPS wins Gates Foundation grant for teaching study

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:55:13 -0700

In a quest to find out the best teaching practices, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is giving $45 million to six school districts, including Denver, for a two-year study of teaching.

Johnson: Sibling of infant abducted 23 years ago holds fast to hope

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:51:30 -0700

If you have kids, the story just draws you in. Of course, it happened so long ago. Still, I can't imagine losing a child that way, and for these many years being suspected of killing him.

Littwin: Playing politics an unhealthy game

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:49:10 -0700

If my clock is right, we are approaching the eleventh hour on health care reform. And there's every chance — even in the closing minutes — that we may not make it to midnight.

Ballot initiative submitted to allow beer, wine sales in grocery stores

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:14:09 -0700

If lawmakers don't allow full-strength beer and wine in grocery stores during the upcoming legislative session, voters could get a shot to approve it on the 2010 ballot.

Murder-for-hire convict appeals, saying fake lawyer messed up her case

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:14:08 -0700

Gwen Bergman appealed her murder-for-hire case to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver on Thursday in hopes that a three-judge panel will overturn the conviction on grounds she had ineffective counsel.

Air panel urged to deny pollution permit for Xcel coal plant

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:46 -0700

Neighborhood, university, religious and other group representatives packed a state air-quality regulators' hearing Thursday night — pushing for cleaner energy.

Ski resort yanks critic's season pass.

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:45 -0700

Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort has yanked the season ski pass of a woman who criticized changes to its operating schedule.

Springs doctor gets home detention in prescription case.

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:42 -0700

Federal prosecutors say a Colorado Springs doctor has been sentenced to 180 days of home detention for illegally distributing prescription narcotic drugs.

Greeley man reports being kidnapped, ransomed.

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:41 -0700

A Greeley man said he was kidnapped in Kersey, beaten and robbed before his family paid a $1,000 ransom for his release.

Person in chicken costume interrupts Durango council meeting

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:34 -0700

A person in a chicken costume ruffled the feathers of the Durango City Council as its members discussed rules for backyard fowl.

Two bodies found in Denver alleys over two days

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:32 -0700

A body was found Thursday morning in a Denver alleyway, the second such discovery in two days.

Brighton discounts permit fees to spur newhome construction

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:27:42 -0700

Officials here are slashing permit fees and deferring other costs in an attempt to ignite the stagnant home construction business.

Troubled Brighton charter school fights district's takeover

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:27:41 -0700

A Brighton charter school is battling its temporary takeover by School District 27J and says it plans to take its fight to the State Board of Education.

Wyoming soldier who died in Iraq had mind st on service

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:27:27 -0700

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Zorn, who died this week in a vehicle accident in Iraq, knew early in life that he wanted to join the military, and he planned to spend his career in the service, his mother said.

Denver school board receives input on reforms

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:15:13 -0700

About 40 parents, teachers and others weighed in Monday on reform plans by Denver Public Schools — criticizing and applauding the district's proposed changes.

Conservative Independence Institute celebrates its 25th anniversary

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:19:22 -0700

Asked what has allowed Colorado's free-market think tank, the Independence Institute, to live long enough for a 25th-anniversary celebration tonight, the organization's famously bawdy president offers a joke.

CU sophomore wins "America's Next Top Model"

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:10:10 -0700

University of Colorado at Boulder sophomore and fine arts major Nicole Fox beat 13 other modeling hopefuls in Season 13 of the modeling reality show hosted by Tyra Banks to become "America's Next Top Model," petite version, the Daily Camera reported.

Arvada homicide suspect held

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:02:08 -0700

A man was arrested in Kentucky early Wednesday in connection with a homicide in Arvada.

Protesters want Colorado to "stop clowning around" on clean air

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:24:07 -0700

Colorado air-quality regulators will face orchestrated pressure at a hearing tonight on whether to renew a pollution permit for Denver's biggest coal-fired power plant — just as new studies show nitrogen- oxide emissions are turning once-clear mountain lakes cloudy.

Ft. Carson soldier convicted of two slayings

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:31:49 -0700

A Fort Carson soldier convicted Wednesday of killing two people with an AK-47 and of wounding a soldier in two drive-by shootings last year will face a mandatory life sentence without parole.

Halfway house for accused fake veteran

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:31:28 -0700

Richard Glen Strandlof will be released to a halfway house pending his upcoming trial on charges that he made false claims about being a decorated military veteran.

Pilot of private plane is injured in crash near Montrose airport

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:50:41 -0700

The pilot of a private plane was injured Wednesday morning in a crash on the Western Slope.

Many Colorado water waivers revoked after taint

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:58:40 -0700

Colorado has revoked waivers from as many as 72 public drinking-water systems and is now requiring chlorine treatment of most public supplies as part of the response to a salmonella-poisoning epidemic that ravaged Alamosa last year.

Marrack served as "grandpa" for a neighborhood

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:03:46 -0700

John and Betty Marrack were "grandpa and grandma" to scores of Park Hill kids — and adults — for almost 30 years.

Salazar called on as mediator in Senate health care debate

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:42:59 -0700

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar returned to his old Senate haunt Wednesday in a unique role as White House fixer, tasked by President Barack Obama with helping to pass health care reform.

Greene: Employee fleecings ignored

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:19:24 -0700

As a rule, I try to avoid writing about issues with designated days. National Lefthanders Day, Eating Disorders Awareness Day and the National Day of Listening, for example, will get no space in this column.

Griego: College president stands with victims

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:18:18 -0700

A ribbon-cutting was held recently on the Auraria campus for a center to help students, staff and faculty who may be in abusive relationships or are being stalked or have been sexually assaulted.

Denver needs volunteers to ring in holidays

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:16:02 -0700

Every holiday season since 1979, Robert Gift has plinked out Christmas and Hanukkah songs on the wooden keyboard that controls huge bells in the tower of Denver's City and County Building.

Corrections

editor@denverpost.com (Denver Post Wire Services) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:11:21 -0700

Colorado stimulus-reporting errors explained

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:54:15 -0700

Colorado has received millions in stimulus funding for projects in the 8th, 24th, 45th and 64th congressional districts, according to a federal website tracking the money.

Jeffco study: Hundreds in government underpaid; 66 overpaid

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:52:39 -0700

A long-awaited Jefferson County government-compensation study shows that 324 workers and 558 sworn sheriff employees are underpaid, while 66 workers are overpaid compared with employees in similar counties and cities in the West.

Stolen credit card used to buy Buffaloes tickets

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:09:10 -0700

University of Colorado police say stolen credit-card numbers were used to buy more than 110 tickets to the Buffaloes' season-opener. Police say they want to talk to anyone who bought a ticket to the Sept. 6 Colorado State-Colorado football game from an online seller.

U.S. Army drops appeal of judge's ruling on Piñon Canyon study

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:07:46 -0700

The federal government is dropping an appeal of a court ruling related to the Army's plans to step up training at Piñon Canyon.

Pot dispensary provision dropped

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:05:12 -0700

Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown has stripped one of the more controversial provisions from his proposed regulations for the burgeoning medical-marijuana industry.

Foul play possible in Aspen woman's death

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:54:38 -0700

Aspen police said Wednesday that foul play has not been ruled out in the death of a 54-year-old woman because of the findings from a Pitkin County coroner.

Former pilot sought in alleged sexual assault of two teen brothers

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:54:38 -0700

A man identified by authorities as a former pilot for the Heritage Christian Center is being sought on allegations he repeatedly sexually assaulted two brothers over a period of years.

Police probing death of man found in alley as homicide

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:50:17 -0700

The death of a man found Wednesday morning in an alley behind 3376 Blake St. in Denver is being investigated as a homicide.

Colorado appeals court hears two free-speech cases

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:50:16 -0700

Lawyers for Coloradans who say their political free-speech rights were violated argued two cases Wednesday before judges at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Marijuana dispensers welcome ruling they must pay taxes

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:56:47 -0700

They might be the only businesses in Colorado begging for their products to be taxed. But a number of medical-marijuana dispensaries say taxation is critical for their industry's long-term health.

Fugitive unlikely to return from Argentina to Denver for murder trial

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:35:22 -0700

A man wanted in Denver on suspicion of killing his wife in 2002 has become a celebrity in Argentina for his anti-U.S. conspiracy theories, making it increasingly unlikely that he will ever stand trial here for murder.

Wolverine settles in Colorado; more may follow

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:27:07 -0700

State wildlife biologists say they think M56, the solo male wolverine that migrated more than 500 miles to Colorado from Wyoming last spring, appears to have settled in at the snowy edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, raising hopes for the survival of the species and other threatened carnivores.

Man accused in road rage death says it was an accident

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:43:34 -0700

At first, Travis Smith wasn't even involved in Friday night's Westminster road-rage incident.

Colorado teachers, school advocates marshal forces against state cuts

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:32:14 -0700

As lawmakers stand poised to cut $260 million in K-12 education funding, the state's teachers union and other school advocates are playing defense and keeping their options — including a possible lawsuit — open.

Coast Guard plane's mishap delays flights at Eagle County airport

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:54:12 -0700

Commercial flights into Eagle County Regional Airport were delayed after a Coast Guard plane's nose gear collapsed upon landing Tuesday.

Kindness, blankets warm hearts of homeless

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:52:50 -0700

In less than 10 minutes, three undergrads from the Auraria campus handed out 50 blankets at Denver's Civic Center on Tuesday for National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week.

Johnson: Six cops who wear their hearts like a badge

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:52:04 -0700

This life is all about perceptions — the cops are all bad, nothing the papers say about them will ever be good and female police officers give the best interviews.

No careless-driving charge in death of young bicyclist

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:48:15 -0700

A volunteer firefighter who struck and killed a 14-year-old girl on a bike while he was driving to a fire station will not be charged with careless driving.

Colorado State Patrol urges drivers to use more caution after wrecks injured troopers

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:45:17 -0700

Motorists in Colorado need to pay greater attention, slow down and drive with caution — lives are at stake.

Students protest resignation of KIPP principal

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:44:49 -0700

Richard Barrett, founder of Denver's successful Knowledge Is Power Program Sunshine Peak Academy charter school, resigned suddenly last week, and students held a protest Tuesday.

Colorado in top 10 for health

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:44:27 -0700

Colorado scored a top-10 spot in national health rankings released Tuesday from the United Healthcare Foundation.

Lakewood man held in pedestrian hit-and-run

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:44:06 -0700

Thomas William Boyle, 48, of Lakewood is being held for investigation of vehicular homicide, felony hit-and-run and driving under the influence in connection with the death of a pedestrian killed Monday night in Lakewood.

Crash victim found wearing only underwear

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:41:41 -0700

Lake Dillon firefighters found an incoherent Illinois man suffering hypothermia and wearing only his underwear Tuesday morning, hours after an unusual car crash.

Colorado doctors not revising breast-cancer screening stance

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:38:30 -0700

Breast-cancer doctors in Colorado say they have no plans to change their recommendations based on a government task force's suggestion that women don't need mammograms until they are 50 — and then every two years, not annually.

Bioscience Park at Fitzsimons offers fertile ground for seedling biotech companies

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:38:00 -0700

Inside the Bioscience Park Center building at the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, small bioscience technology companies are dreaming big.

RTD: Without grant and sales-tax hike, only West, DIA rail lines will be built

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:36:12 -0700

If Denver-area voters do not approve a sales-tax hike and if the federal government fails to contribute $1 billion for the FasTracks public-private partnership, RTD will only be able to build one more rail line — the train to DIA, agency planners told area mayors Tuesday.

Republicans on sidelines of crafting healfh care reform

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:30:43 -0700

While for Democrats the week before the health care vote in the House was a haze of 18-hour days and unending negotiations, Republican Mike Coffman used the time to whittle his to-do list.

Littwin: Reaction to Palin is the real story

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:34:16 -0700

The main problem with Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" is that it doesn't. In fact, despite all the hype, the book doesn't go either rogue or anywhere else of much interest in 413 easy-reading pages.

CSU team to develop levee guidelines

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:23:46 -0700

A water researcher at Colorado State University will design and build a levee-testing facility that will help lead to ways to prevent the type of devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina.

Bicycling bank robber can't out-pedal cops

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:23:43 -0700

Bikes are nice.

Greeley mayoral race settled: Norton sworn in

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:23:32 -0700

Greeley swore in its new mayor Monday night, ending two weeks of speculation over who would lead the city, but at least three other races in the metro area are headed for a recount.

Rapper "Gorilla" sought in home invasion

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:23:31 -0700

A rapper previously known only as "Gorilla" to Denver police has been identified as 25-year-old Daniel Montoya.

DPS board member doesn't like plans for Lake Middle School

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:23:31 -0700

Denver school board member Arturo Jimenez wants the district to rethink plans to transform struggling Lake Middle School into a shared campus.

Three in running as state's top teacher

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:23:25 -0700

Three teachers are vying to be Colorado's teacher of the year, an award that will be announced at a special reception Friday.

The Palin Experience

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:52:40 -0700

These days, where you fall on the crucial issue of Sarah Palin tells the rest of us all we need to know about your character. You're either a:

Colorado doctors not revising breast-cancer screening stance

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:44:52 -0700

State Patrol urges drivers to use more caution after wrecks injured troopers

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:01:33 -0700

Motorists in Colorado need to pay greater attention, slow down and drive with caution — lives are at stake.

AG Suthers says Colorado can tax medical marijuana

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:00:21 -0700

In an opinion that could generate more revenue for cash-strapped governments and give additional legitimacy to a fledgling industry, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said Monday that the state can collect sales tax on medical marijuana.

Denver gets spruced up as bond projects completed

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:13:21 -0700

Joggers and bikers along Cherry Creek have a new paved, scenic trail to zip down.

Richard Glen Strandlof pleads not guilty to posing as wounded Marine

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:53:45 -0700

Richard Glen Strandlof pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he made false claims about being a decorated military veteran. Strandlof, 32, is charged in U.S. District Court in Denver with five misdemeanor counts related to portraying himself as a wounded Marine captain.

Hunger in Colorado drops as it rises nationally

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:57:16 -0700

Colorado was one of 13 states where the percentage of households struggling with hunger dropped over the three years ending in 2008 despite a surge nationally, according to a federal report released Monday.

Rep. Betsy Markey, actress Tracee Ellis Ross encourage young women to look to the future

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:53:09 -0700

Faviola Juarez, a soft-spoken high school senior, wants to be the first in her family to attend college, but she sometimes worries that a difficult past could block her way.

Familial DNA software may catch on in catching criminals

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:59:27 -0700

Denver criminal investigators have connected a man to two car thefts through the DNA of a family member, a first in Denver and one of the only cases in the country solved using the controversial technique.

Scouts to honor 5th-grader's help

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:24:13 -0700

A 9-year-old from Arvada will receive the National Medal of Merit from Boy Scouts of America at a ceremony this morning at the Denver Country Club.

Cabinet member Christina Romer, journalist Helen Thorpe urge girls at Denver Center for International Studies to dream on, march on

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:23:15 -0700

Gianina Horton, 17, is determined. She was raised by a single mom who gave birth to her at 18, lives in a troubled Denver neighborhood and is accustomed to hearing gunshots at night.

Actress Fran Drescher inspires students with stories of obstacles that became opportunities

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:22:29 -0700

Actress Fran Drescher sure didn't disappoint the 30 or so girls who gathered at Aurora Central High School on Monday, talking about obstacles in her life and explaining how she overcame them.

Astronaut Ellen Ochoa captures fascination of budding scientists

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:21:25 -0700

In a room filled with aspiring rocket scientists and engineers, NASA astronaut Ellen Ochoa upstaged Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Actress Alfre Woodard, Colorado first lady inspire young women at Regis Jesuit High School

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:20:22 -0700

They talked about resilience, careers, self-doubt and the importance of spiritual nourishment.

Actress Sarandon, Labor Secretary Solis tell high schoolers to pursue dreams

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:17:50 -0700

Actress Susan Sarandonan Oscar winner and mother of three — told a rapt audience at Ralston Valley High School on Monday that girls who want to achieve more should give themselves a break.

Griego: Women bring powerful message to girls

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:12:20 -0700

Among the 80 girls invited to lunch with first lady Michelle Obama and a host of other powerful women were Jennifer De where, a senior at William Smith High School in Aurora, and Rosa Ballesteros, a Sheridan High School senior.

First lady talks with Denver high school girls

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:59:12 -0700

First lady Michelle Obama told Denver students Monday that there is a sure-fire way to succeed: hard work, focus and confidence.

Coloradans recycled more, hauled less to landfills in 2008, state officials say

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0700

State health officials say Coloradans are recycling and keeping more of their trash out of landfills, though the economic downturn has weakened demand for recycled material.

Lobbyists' townhomes in D.C. woo both parties

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:44:41 -0700

Influence comes in many forms in the nation's capital, and twin fundraisers this week for two Colorado Senate candidates shows one of those can be real estate.

Denver police seek suspect in shooting

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:42:54 -0700

Police released the description of a suspect wanted in the shooting of a man at 19th and Lawrence streets Monday afternoon.

Man slain in shooting was from Broomfield

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:42:17 -0700

A 21-year-old man fatally shot in an apparent road-rage incident has been identified.

Aurora puts 6-month moratorium on medical-marijuana dispensaries

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:23:01 -0700

The Aurora City Council on Monday night agreed to a six-month moratorium on medical-marijuana dispensaries, joining other municipalities across the state that are developing similar guidelines.

Woman accused of credit-card theft points to former boss' spending

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:23:00 -0700

Eagle County taxpayer dollars were spent by the county attorney and others in his office on gifts for himself and a fellow employee, Christmas brownies for several law firms and office decorations, according to court records.

State Sen. Dan Gibbs won't seek re-election

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:13:51 -0700

Citing a desire to effect change at the local level, Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, announced Monday that he's making a 2010 bid for the Summit County commission instead of running for re-election to the upper chamber.

Troopers hurt in crash ID'd

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:13:48 -0700

Three Colorado state troopers are recovering from injuries suffered in two separate accidents over the weekend as they worked to keep roads safe.

Deteriorating concrete closes bridge over South Platte River

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:13:47 -0700

The Colorado Department of Transportation on Monday closed the bridge that takes East 104th Avenue over the South Platte River after engineers discovered significant deterioration of concrete on key portions of the structure.

Denver City Council raises youth fees for rec centers

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:13:46 -0700

After a lengthy debate, the Denver City Council increased recreation center fees Monday for youths 17 and younger.

Golden homeowner holds man at gunpoint; police say suspect broke into home, posed as owner

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:13:44 -0700

A homeowner in Golden held a burglary suspect in stolen boxer shorts at gunpoint last week, police said Monday.

Suthers: Medical marijuana dispensaries subject to sales tax, retail license laws

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:49:24 -0700

Attorney General John Suthers said in a legal opinion released late today that the sale of medical marijuana is subject to taxation.

As more toddlers get cochlear implants, they face a strange new world

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:37:54 -0700

A growing number of deaf babies are receiving cochlear implants soon after their first birthday — the Food and Drug Administration has approved the surgery for children as young as 12 months.

Woman accused of credit-card theft points to former boss' spending

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:46:08 -0700

Colorado officials: No call on taking Gitmo detainees at Supermax

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:23:48 -0700

Colorado officials have not been contacted by the federal government about housing Guantanamo Bay detainees at federal prisons in the state, despite public comments that a facility in Florence is under consideration.

Westminster police: Road rage fueled fatal shooting

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:41:35 -0700

A driver may feel he's entitled to thrust his hand out his car window and give an obscene gesture when someone cuts him off in traffic.

Two Colorado state troopers hurt when vehicle loses control

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:47:37 -0700

Two Colorado state troopers were injured when a Ford Explorer spun out of control and into their vehicle on Interstate 225 on Sunday evening, at the conclusion to a snow day that brought pleasure and problems to the metro region.

Black Hawk mining business pans Colo. 119 projects

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:32:22 -0700

The wildlife bridge is only part of a proposed $80 million project that would also widen 1.4 dangerous and clogged miles of 119 just below Black Hawk's booming casinos.

Lowriders clubs collect food for needy

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:31:47 -0700

When Fidel Felan, "Pops" to his friends, goes for a cruise in one of his favorite lowrider cars, he typically takes a friend along for the ride — but rarely 104 frozen turkeys.

Leonid meteor shower peaks early Tuesday

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:15:37 -0700

The annual Leonid meteor shower peaks early Tuesday across North America, although experts say there should be good viewing in the hours before and after the peak.

After 55 years, Boulder Jane Doe's story finally coming together

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:55:14 -0700

Before she was Jane Doe, before she was "the battered blond of Boulder Canyon," before her murder became a Colorado sensation, she was Roy and Eunice Howard's little girl.

House fires rise as temps fall

editor@denverpost.com () — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:40:51 -0700

Two home fires struck families in the metro area Sunday, bringing words of caution about fireplace safety from authorities.

Salvation Army sees uptick in applications for bell-ringers

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:39:11 -0700

One more sign the economy is still struggling: The Salvation Army is seeing a rush for its bell-ringer jobs.

Senate candidates Bennet, Norton outraise rivals

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:05:12 -0700

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet raised about twice as much money as Democratic challenger Andrew Romanoff during the three weeks that the two candidates were competing for donations in September.

Arapahoe County OKs fairground master plan

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:35:06 -0700

County commissioners have approved a new master plan for the county fairgrounds and an adjacent park, but funding for part of the project is still in question.

Johnson: Writer Mike Lupica is on the same page with young readers

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:33:25 -0700

The best thing was that I got to speak with Mike Lupica, which was a good thing because I greatly admire his writing, and really, really respect his hustle.

Survivors of van crash mourn 2 who died

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:32:19 -0700

Keta Smith flew from the tumbling van onto the frozen median of an Oregon highway and struggled to her feet to find two of her friends close to death and others shocked and injured.

New Rio Grande Scenic Ski Train gears up for this winter

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:30:19 -0700

All aboard the Rio Grande Scenic Ski Train. The company seeking to run winter excursion trains to Winter Park as a successor to the Anschutz Co.'s Ski Train is selling tickets for the upcoming season.

Boulder council considers passing resolution on climate change

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:20:25 -0700

One of the first acts of the newly elected Boulder City Council could be approval of a resolution supporting next month's climate change summit in Copenhagen.

Aurora authorities stress safety after two house fires

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:19:18 -0700

Two house fires struck families in the metro area Sunday, bringing words of caution about fireplace safety from authorities.

Aspen residents concerned about hydroelectric plant's impact on wildlife

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:18:41 -0700

The city of Aspen says building a hydroelectric plant would reduce the community's greenhouse-gas emissions.

Two in church van crash no longer in critical condition

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:46:28 -0700

Two passengers who were airlifted to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, after a 15-passenger church van accident on Thursday have improved from critical condition, said Corey Minton, clinical coordinator at the hospital.

Sledding in the forecast for Sunday, a melt-off for Monday

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:44:26 -0700

Denver residents can expect to see another 4 to 6 inches of snow today as a winter storm from Idaho continues its march southward.

Colorado's Rep. Markey explains her vote against Democrats' health reform bill

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:40:02 -0700

U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey spent last week mending fences with her own party after voting against the House version of the health care reform bill.

Westminster police: Road rage fueled fatal shooting

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:38:56 -0700

A driver may feel he's entitled to thrust his hand out his car window and give an obscene gesture when someone cuts him off in traffic.

Bird strike in engine forces Denver-bound jet to return to Kansas City

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:37:30 -0700

A Frontier Airlines plane headed to Denver on Saturday night had to make an emergency landing in Kansas City after at least one of its engines was damaged when the aircraft struck a flock of birds.

Vail shooting suspect had guns seized in 2005, according to police reports

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:36:34 -0700

The suspect in a fatal Colorado bar shooting once begged authorities to return his guns after he pleaded guilty to illegal discharge of a firearm.

Feds agree to toss three-strikes rule for gray wolf in N.M.

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:35:31 -0700

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and environmentalists reached an agreement Friday that scraps a rule the agency had used to kill or permanently remove any wolf that killed three head of livestock in a year.

EspeciallyMe conference helps teenage girls with self-esteem, dignity

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:31:15 -0700

Christina Stephens beamed with mama pride when her daughter, Maya, accepted an achievement award Saturday during a conference that aims to instill the importance of self-love, dignity and respect to middle-school-age black girls.

Safeway, Kroger ready to post "last, best and final" contract

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:29:14 -0700

Grocery workers across Colorado now expect a vote this week on a "last, best and final" contract offered by Safeway and Kroger, the parent of King Soopers.

Woman jailed in stabbing of man, 72

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:27:37 -0700

Police arrested a 49-year-old woman Friday night after she allegedly stabbed a 72-year-old man in the chest, inflicting life-threatening injuries.

Trooper investigating crash is hit by pickup

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:26:45 -0700

A Colorado State Patrol trooper suffered serious injuries Friday night at a crash site in Grand Junction. The trooper, Randy White, was investigating a crash on eastbound U.S. 6 when he was struck by a GMC Sierra pickup driven by Tracy Conklin of Grand Junction.

Animals at Colorado Humane Society to move to new facility

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:26:18 -0700

Animals that have been kept at the Colorado Humane Society will be moved into the Humane Society of South Platte Valley when their new facility opens next year, according to Englewood deputy city manager Mike Flaherty.

Trespassing trial for anti-tax advocate Doug Bruce postponed

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:25:07 -0700

A judge postponed the trespassing trial for anti-tax crusader Doug Bruce because of leaflets handed out in front of the courthouse telling potential jurors to use their conscience to make their decision, not a judge's direction.

Westbound I-70 closed for work on light-rail line

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:24:05 -0700

All Interstate 70 westbound lanes between the West Colfax Avenue and West Sixth Avenue exits will continue to be closed until 5:30 a.m. Monday to make way for RTD's West Corridor light-rail project as crews set girders and repave the westbound interstate.

Boulder Valley schools, teachers union reach deal

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:23:44 -0700

After months of stalled negotiations, the Boulder Valley teachers union tentatively agreed Friday to a contract offer that's nearly identical to one they rejected in September, the Daily Camera reported.

Denver school board election highlights limitless spending

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:21:01 -0700

Campaign-finance rules keep the sums that can be donated to campaigns for governor, lawmakers and even the state school board in check.

Colorado's Rep. Markey explains her vote against Democrats' health reform bill

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:14:49 -0700

U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey spent last week mending fences with her own party after voting against the House version of the health care reform bill.

Defining candy and soft drinks not so easy for Colo. tax purposes

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:12:53 -0700

With Gov. Bill Ritter's proposal to start imposing sales tax on candy and soft drinks, the devil is in the details, says Lou Langdon. Or, in this case, a Twix wrapper.

Ritter's plan to tax soda and candy gets cheers, jeers

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:12:39 -0700

To Gov. Bill Ritter, a proposal to tax candy and soda-pop sales is nothing more than a way to help close a widening budget gap.

Boulder budget woes cancel holiday-tree cutting

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:10:34 -0700

There won't be any free cut-your-own Christmas trees in Boulder this year.

Del Plested, who had nose for news, dies at 101

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:10:04 -0700

Del Plested knew when and where to be if news broke out.

Colo. poacher caught on video; officials say illegal hunting's on the rise

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:07:12 -0700

The video shows two men twirling their guns, shooting from a moving ATV and drunkenly falling over barbed-wire fences to collect their trophies. The men joke with each other as they break the law and illegally kill animals.

Littwin: With friends like Tancredo, happy Dems are here again

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:06:43 -0700

Don't be alarmed. That loud sound you hearlouder even than the pop of the Balloon Boy hoax imploding — is just Tom Tancredo crashing another party.

Social conservatives still want McInnis to prove his credentials

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:06:22 -0700

GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis has largely cleared the field of Republican competitors — for now — but supporters of a former rival say he must prove his fiscal and social conservatism to win them over.

Sculpture of Denver's "Daddy" Bruce saved from trash

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:05:59 -0700

Nearing the 45th anniversary of the Thanksgiving food giveaway started by "Daddy" Bruce Randolph, a long-lost artifact from the philanthropist has been rescued from the junkyard and is being used to remind a new generation of givers to dig deep.

Boulder Valley teachers go full circle, reach tentative deal on contract

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:02:55 -0700

After months of stalled negotiations, the Boulder Valley teachers union on Friday tentatively agreed to a contract offer that's nearly identical to one they rejected in September.

Front Range snowstorms looming this weekend

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:53:05 -0700

A spike in snow-shovel sales is expected this weekend as two winter storm systems bring heavy snowfall to the mountains and Front Range.

Decorated Longmont officer accused of giving drugs to informant

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:03:01 -0700

A well-respected, senior Longmont police officer was out on bond Friday after being jailed on suspicion of providing a female confidential informant with a lifestyle and drugs she couldn't afford on her own.

A miracle any survived van crash, says Federal Heights pastor

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:01:26 -0700

After seeing the remains of a church van that rolled in icy conditions on an Oregon highway early Thursday morning, Pastor Bo Sosa said it was a miracle any of the ministers-in-training from his church survived the crash.

Colorado justice commission suggests lighter penalties for drug possession

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:00:07 -0700

A commission of Colorado criminal justice leaders voted Friday to recommend reduced penalties for possessing marijuana and other illegal drugs.

South High in high spirits over first lady's visit on Monday

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:58:48 -0700

When an announcement went over the intercom shortly before noon Friday at South High School, for once it wasn't reminding students to get to class. Instead, it let them know that first lady Michelle Obama would be visiting the school Monday.

Heenes plead guilty in balloon hoax

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:58:23 -0700

Richard and Mayumi Heene on Friday pleaded guilty to misleading deputies with a balloon hoax in an elaborate effort to resolve financial problems by hoping to land a reality TV show about their family.

Corrections

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:44:29 -0700

Mapleton School District's narrow bond-issue loss may cost it $32 million from state

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:47:38 -0700

Tucked away in the industrial parks and strip malls in the north Denver suburbs, the Mapleton School District is easily overlooked, say officials and parents.

Denver paramedic gets 12 years for beating patient

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:08:39 -0700

An ambulance paramedic was sentenced to 12 years in prison Friday for severely beating a patient while transporting him to the Denver Health Medical Center emergency room in January.

Woman on oxygen badly burned in home fire

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:08:35 -0700

A 60-year-old woman was in critical condition late Friday with severe burns on her face, arms and chest after a fire that destroyed her Aurora home.

Western Slope horse shot, left to die

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:08:35 -0700

As investigators on the Western Slope look for the person who shot a horse in the head and left the animal to die, horse-rescue groups say equine abandonment is on the rise because of the sour economy.

Hunter found dead in camp.

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:08:33 -0700

A hunter was found dead Thursday night inside a tent in a Pitkin County camp.

No jail time for "furry" relationship.

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:08:32 -0700

A Fort Collins mother will avoid jail time for a sexual relationship she had with a teen boy who went with her to "furry" gatherings, or meetings of people who like dressing as animals.

Humane Society shelter can't afford to stay openen

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:08:31 -0700

The state-appointed custodian in charge of the Colorado Humane Society says the nonprofit shelter will close Jan. 1.

Larimer County IDs dead man.

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:08:31 -0700

The Larimer County coroner Friday morning released the name of a man found dead in a Loveland backyard.

Pueblo graffiti rampage brings jail time, hefty fines, public service

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:04:39 -0700

A man who went on a graffiti-painting rampage in Pueblo was sentenced Thursday to two years in jail.

Denver man charged in fatal stabbing of girlfriend

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:30:54 -0700

The Denver district attorney's office has charged a 28-year-old Denver man with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing to death his live-in girlfriend earlier this month.

Senior Israel diplomat seeks "Plan B" for Iran

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:30:49 -0700

A senior Israel official visiting Denver on Friday called for a U.S.-led "credible Plan B" for dealing with Iran, with Russia and China backing economic sanctions, to thwart what Israel sees as a threat.

Accused Lakewood pilot could face prison in U.K.

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:03:18 -0700

United Airlines pilot Erwin Vermont Washington of Lakewood could face jail time in Britain if convicted on charges that he was too drunk to legally fly this week.

Parents in "Balloon Boy" case expected to plead guilty today to hoax

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:04:19 -0700

Richard and Mayumi Heene, the parents who allegedly unleashed the "Balloon Boy" hoax on a rapt global television audience, today are expected to plead guilty to charges that they lied about the ploy.

Oregon van crash kills 2, injures 14 from Federal Heights church

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:29:02 -0700

The congregation of more than 400 gasped Thursday evening when the New Life Worship Center's manager called the names of a young man and woman killed in a church van rollover early that morning.

Harsanyi: C'mon, admit it. Twitter is useless

dharsanyi@denverpost.com ( / By David Harsanyi) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:30:29 -0700

Not long ago, Meghan McCain, maverick progeny and rising media star (due, no doubt, to her impressive intellectual gifts) posted a cleavage-intense picture of herself on her Twitter account.

Racial profiling at Denver Safeway store alleged

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:06:48 -0700

An African-American teen accused of stealing who was detained and searched by employees at Safeway was a victim of racial profiling, according to an investigation by Denver's Anti-Discrimination Office.

Afghans tour Colo. farms to pick up agriculture tips

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:30:52 -0700

If the United States really wants to stabilize Afghanistan, say six Afghans visiting Colorado farms, then it should focus more on building agricultural options beyond the illicit drug trade for the war-torn nation's mostly agrarian people.

Haggard holds prayer service at Springs home

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:25:55 -0700

Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard led worshipers for the first time since scandal forced his exile from his New Life Church congregation as about 110 people showed up for a prayer meeting in his home Thursday evening.

Suspect held in '81 slaying of Paonia miner

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:24:15 -0700

A Paonia man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a miner who disappeared nearly three decades ago while taking part in a national protest over cutbacks in black-lung- disease benefits.

Corrections

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:19:17 -0700

15-passenger vans have history of deadly rollovers

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:09:10 -0700

Fifteen-passenger vans have had a history of fatal rollovers long before the Thursday crash involving a 2002 Ford van that killed one and injured 15 other ministry students from Federal Heights.

"Precocious" 3-month-old hyena meets the public at Denver Zoo debut

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:37:10 -0700

Kai, a 3-month-old spotted hyena cub, has made his public debut at the Denver Zoo's Predator Ridge.

Scientifically Speaking, 11/15

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:03:58 -0700

Volunteers/Donations Needed, 11/15

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:02:51 -0700

Johnson: A fool and his compassion are soon parted

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:59:07 -0700

I hate being played for a fool. Oh, come on, you believed too, if only for a moment. It is OK to acknowledge this. I got jobbed even though my initial gut screamed that it was all hokum.

Colorado may be vying for smaller slice of school stimulus

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:27:22 -0700

With the starting gun sounding this week for the competitive, federal Race to the Top education-grant program, Colorado suddenly finds itself competing for a smaller prize.

Kaiser Permanente Colorado ranks high on U.S. News & World Report's best health plans

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:45:16 -0700

Kaiser Permanente Colorado was ranked the No. 1 Medicare plan in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the first time a Colorado plan has grabbed the top spot.

Haggard holds prayer service at Springs home

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:44:44 -0700

Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard led worshipers for the first time since his downfall, welcoming 110 people to a prayer meeting in his home Thursday evening.

Alaskan prisoners to be housed in new Hudson facility

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:44:03 -0700

About 800 Alaskan prisoners will be transported from a private prison in Arizona to a new, privately run prison in Hudson beginning around Thanksgiving, officials say.

15-passenger vans have history of deadly rollovers

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:43:36 -0700

Fifteen-passenger vans have had a history of fatal rollovers long before the Thursday crash involving a 2002 Ford van that killed one and injured 15 other ministry students from Federal Heights.

Brighton officers undergo animal training after 2008 dog shooting

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:20:22 -0700

An agreement reached in U.S. District Court requires the Brighton Police Department to train officers to safely handle animals they encounter while on patrol.

CU regents give students a say in fees (whether they want it or not)

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:20:21 -0700

A rule approved Thursday by University of Colorado regents guarantees that students will have a say in whether their fees are raised to pay for projects that require long-term debt — even if they don't want it.

Alaskan prisoners to be housed in new Hudson facility

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:20:17 -0700

About 800 Alaskan prisoners will be transported from a private prison in Arizona to a new, privately run prison in Hudson beginning around Thanksgiving, officials say.

4 Longmont workers to split $1 million Powerball prize

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:20:16 -0700

Four workers at a Longmont cabinet factory will split a $1 million Powerball lottery prize.

Lawmakers hear debate on value of state's tax incentives

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:20:15 -0700

Tax incentives don't create more jobs or economic activity and frequently do the opposite, an economist Thursday told a panel of lawmakers looking at more than $2 billion in tax breaks provided by the state.

I-70 westbound to shut for rail work.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:19:56 -0700

RTD's contractor on the West Corridor light-rail project plans to close all lanes of westbound Interstate 70 between the West Colfax Avenue and West Sixth Avenue exits from 8 tonight to 5:30 a.m. Monday so workers can proceed with tunneling under I-70.

Cold, wet weather blows in.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:19:56 -0700

Wet, cold weather is on the way.

Longmont police veteran jailed in drug thefts, sale

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:19:55 -0700

A Longmont police officer was arrested Thursday night, accused of taking Vicodin and other prescription drugs from his wife and providing them to a woman acting as a confidential informant, the Daily Camera reported.

Union Station transit-hub project wins loan rating

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:19:52 -0700

Officials promoting the $500 million redevelopment of Denver's Union Station as an expanded transit hub said Thursday that they have received an "investment grade" designation from Fitch Ratings for an all-important loan that the project hopes to get from the federal government.

Tancredo tells reporter he "fully intends to run" for governor

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:19:51 -0700

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo appears to be inching closer to getting into the Colorado gubernatorial race.

Kaiser Permanente Colorado ranks high on U.S. News & World Report's best health plans

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:12:28 -0700

Kaiser Permanente Colorado was ranked the No. 1 Medicare plan in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the first time a Colorado plan has grabbed the top spot.

Littwin: In the face of mass murder, stop shooting the questioners

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:02:29 -0700

It's 10 years later, and we don't fully understand what happened at Columbine. The fact that there's much we don't yet get is maybe the one thing we do understand.

Centennial house fire caused by contractor's cigarette left in rain gutter

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:28:55 -0700

A fire that damaged a Centennial house Wednesday was the result of a contractor's failure to extinguish a cigarette, according to Littleton Fire Rescue.

Paonia man arrested in 1981 Jeffco murder case

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:28:47 -0700

A Paonia man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a miner who disappeared nearly three decades ago while taking part in a national protest over cutbacks in black-lung-disease benefits.

Elite team to help wage beetle attack.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:28:45 -0700

A national team will help the U.S. Forest Service manage the attack against the pine-beetle infestation that has swept through about 2.5 million acres of forests in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming.

Loveland woman's kin believe she was victim of domestic violence

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:19:29 -0700

After co-workers held a memorial Wednesday afternoon for Kelly Burgess, the Loveland woman allegedly shot in the head by her husband, members of her family said they think her death was the result of domestic violence.

Weather station opens in heart of Denver

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:24:33 -0700

Live from City Park Golf Course, it's — the weather? For the first time since 1995, Denver has a weather station that measures temperatures and other conditions in the heart of the city.

State Sen. Schultheis' "let's roll" tweet criticizing Obama stirs ire

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:02:28 -0700

State Sen. David Schultheis said he didn't intend for a Twitter post accusing President Barack Obama of "flying the U.S. plane right into the ground" and ending with "let's roll" as a threat or a reference to United Flight 93, which crashed during the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Lawmakers pledge support for Colorado's veterans

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:07:13 -0700

Colorado lawmakers vowed to support troops on their way to war and when they return at a Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Five major health-insurance players dominate in Colorado

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:27:15 -0700

Five major companies dominate the health-insurance market in Colorado, edging out some smaller competitors that failed to stake out a turf.

Corrections

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:30:57 -0700

Republican Tipton intends to challenge Salazar in 3rd CD

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:30:34 -0700

Republican state Rep. Scott Tipton said Wednesday that he intends to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. John Salazar for the 3rd Congressional District seat.

Ritter adviser cuts ties to liberal think tank

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:30:15 -0700

Colorado's top climate change guru told The Denver Post on Wednesday that she is severing ties with a liberal think tank that pays her $3,000 a month.

Griego: Broomfield Veteran Memorial Museum a labor of love

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:26:00 -0700

Wednesday, as the nation honored its veterans, the people of Broomfield did the same with the grand opening of the new-and-improved eight-room Veterans Memorial Museum.

Greene: No escaping this error in corrections

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:25:21 -0700

The Colorado State Penitentiary II is a $208 million mothership of a maximum-security prison near completion in Cañon City. It will sit unused now that the state has no money to staff it.

Colorado medical-pot backers form trade group

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:24:29 -0700

A group of medical-marijuana advocates — striving for legitimacy for their still-nascent industry — announced the formation of a new trade group Wednesday.

Ball Aerospace dedicates building to Tuskegee Airmen

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:31:07 -0700

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. honored military veterans Wednesday with a presentation by several members of the Colorado-based Hubert L.

Colo. coalition launches fund for homeless vets

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:30:51 -0700

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has launched a campaign to double a fund to provide housing and services for homeless veterans.

Health insurers' antitrust exemption becoming a focus of reform debate

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:24:03 -0700

Dr. John Bender, a family physician in Fort Collins, says his power to negotiate with health-insurance companies packs the might of a tiny bug: "We are like gnats to them."

Hit-and-run suspected in Weld County incident.

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:16:57 -0700

The discovery of a body along a rural road Wednesday morning in Weld County is being investigated as a likely hit-and-run, authorities said.

Minister arrested in case involving sex assault on child.

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:16:55 -0700

An Aurora minister has been arrested as a suspect in a sexual assault case involving a child, police said.

Interim principal appointed for troubled Brighton Collegiate High School.

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:16:54 -0700

Janet Wyatt was appointed interim principal of Brighton Collegiate High School, according to District 27J, which temporarily took over management of the charter school Tuesday.

Team ends its bid to build, operate Rtd line to airport

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:16:51 -0700

One of three teams vying to be the public-private partnership contractor to build RTD's commuter train to Denver International Airport and other projects has bowed out of the bidding.

Michelle Obama to bring student-mentoring push to Denver

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:16:46 -0700

First lady Michelle Obama will bring her newly created student- mentoring program to Denver on Monday, giving local kids a chance to meet with her and national and local female leaders.

Aurora minister arrested in child-sex assault

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:24:55 -0700

An Aurora minister has been arrested as a suspect in a sexual assault case involving a child, police said.

Michelle Obama to bring student-mentoring push to Denver

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:10:23 -0700

First lady Michelle Obama will bring her newly created student- mentoring program to Denver on Monday, giving local kids a chance to meet with her and national and local female leaders.

Medical marijuana rule change voided in Colorado

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:01:07 -0700

A Denver District Court judge rebuked the state Board of Health on Tuesday for changing rules about medical marijuana without providing adequate notice to patients.

Colorado GOP candidates for U.S. Senate get some jabs in

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:56:32 -0700

The four Republicans vying for a bid at the U.S. Senate spent Tuesday night's candidate forum thrashing Democrats for "out-of-control spending" and vowing to restore the Republican brand as fiscal conservatives.

New fund designed to get homeless veterans into housing quickly

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:56:03 -0700

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless estimates there are nearly 3,000 vets homeless in the state on any given day, including Veterans Day today.

Lincoln High boys soccer team plays for 5A title tonight

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:36:49 -0700

A space has been cleared in the trophy cases at Abraham Lincoln High School, just in case the unbeaten Lincoln Lancers boys varsity soccer team wins the 5A State Soccer Championships tonight.

FBI partnership gives students inside look at law enforcement

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:33:52 -0700

Learning about decomposing bodies and blood doesn't bother 16-year-old Carla Caro.

Purge of arrest warrants in Denver area went too far

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:33:18 -0700

Hundreds of arrest warrants have been purged in four metro counties, including one that could have prevented a drunken-driving crash that killed a grandmother.

Lakewood pilot on United flight arrested in Britain, accused of being over alcohol limit

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:21:52 -0700

A United Airlines pilot from Lakewood was arrested by Scotland Yard on charges that he was drunk before he was to lead a transatlantic flight from London to Chicago on Monday.

WWII Wyoming internment camp to get museum

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:21:13 -0700

The National Park Service announced a $292,252 grant Wednesday to help build a museum at Heart Mountain, an internment camp where almost 11,000 Japanese-Americans were detained during World War II.

Denver councilman scrutinized spending

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:20:50 -0700

Former Denver City Councilman Ted Hackworth "was never afraid to vote 'no,' " said City Auditor Dennis Gallagher, who served with Hackworth.

Senate bill would preserve acres in Colorado's San Juan Mountains

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:19:48 -0700

Democratic U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet introduced a bill Tuesday to preserve more than 61,000 acres in southern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, including 33,000 acres of new wilderness.

Sheriff Alderden cleared for his remarks in balloon case

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:19:27 -0700

Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett has decided that no criminal charges are warranted against Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden for his comments about the family in the runaway-balloon case.

Training "disaster" set this morning on Lowry campus

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:17:58 -0700

Emergency vehicles and "mass casualties" will be seen from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Lowry campus at 9235 E. 10th Drive in Aurora.

RTD committee approves use of ads on rail cars

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:17:34 -0700

The operations committee of RTD's board of directors voted overwhelmingly Tuesday night to allow advertising on the exteriors of light-rail cars, including ads that cover the sides of vehicles.

Swallow Hill to assist Denver Botanic Gardens with concerts

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:17:00 -0700

Denver Botanic Gardens will partner with Swallow Hill Music Association to produce shows for its popular summer concert series next summer.

Loveland man gets 12 years in sword killing

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:16:27 -0700

A Loveland man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for killing a man with a sword.

Forum tonight on Jeffco schools plan

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:16:04 -0700

The first in a series of four community forums about Jefferson County Public Schools' facility plan will be at 6 tonight at Alameda High School.

Veterans Day closures

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:41:24 -0700

Veterans Day closures in Colorado.

Penry explains exit from Colorado governor's race

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:59:05 -0700

Right after presenting himself as the best Republican candidate to take on Colorado's Democratic governor, state Sen. Josh Penry took his first step toward exiting the governor's race.

Aaron Thompson receives 114-year sentence in missing daughter case

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:57:35 -0700

Aaron Thompson had several chances Tuesday, but he refused to answer the last unresolved question in the case of his missing daughter.

Brighton school district to take over troubled charter school

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:56:37 -0700

The Brighton 27J school board voted Tuesday night for the district to take over a sex-scandal-plagued charter school that is again in the news for possible sexual wrongdoing by a teacher.

Johnson: A display of smoke and fears

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:45:10 -0700

They jumped him early, and they jumped him often. They called him everything but his mother's son.

Littwin: Penry's exit won't be duct tape for GOP's ideological fissures

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:44:16 -0700

On the morning after, the question of the day is whether Josh Penry jumped or was pushed out of the Republican gubernatorial race.

Ritter tells legislators everything on table in budget-cutting

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:06:15 -0700

Gov. Bill Ritter told state lawmakers Tuesday that everything is on the table in order to balance next year's budget, including proposed cuts to public education.

Freedom to confuse

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:18:15 -0700

If liberals are so disturbed by Congress dictating whether abortion is a legitimate health care issue or not, it only makes sense that they should be equally troubled by government management of other health care decisions.

Veteran's Day 2009 Events

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:16:43 -0700

A list of the events commemorating Veteran's Day throughout Colorado.

Penry to withdraw from governor race

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:26:07 -0700

Faced with the threat of an independent political machine opposing him and the prospect of lackluster fundraising, Republican state Sen. Josh Penry of Grand Junction has decided to end his campaign for governor.

Reservoir under construction south of Denver, but there's no water to hold

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:22:24 -0700

An armada of giant yellow earthmovers on the prairie south of Denver is racing to dig one of Colorado's biggest water-supply reservoirs in decades — a hole 180 feet deep across 1,400 acres — designed to wean suburbs off waning aquifers.

Ski-resort expansion at Crested Butte nixed

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:50:41 -0700

Crested Butte Mountain Resort's five-year effort to push its ski area onto nearby Snodgrass Mountain has hit a barrier.

Hospital helicopter makes emergency landing in Adams County

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:47:43 -0700

A North Colorado Medical Center helicopter made an emergency landing in eastern Adams County on Monday night. The three-person crew and the patient were not injured.

Former Denver City Councilman Hackworth dies

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:46:54 -0700

Theodore "Ted" James Hackworth Jr., a staunch fiscal conservative who served on the Denver City Council for 24 years, died Monday at his home. Hackworth, 83, last served on the council in 2003. He was known as a no-nonsense councilman who spoke his mind, especially when it came to financial matters. Memorial arrangements are pending.

RTD gets Federal OK for Union Station to-DIA train plans

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:46:24 -0700

The Federal Transit Administration has given final approval to the environmental impact statement on the 23-mile East Corridor commuter train that will link Union Station with Denver International Airport, RTD said Monday.

Tancredo weighs governor race

editor@denverpost.com (Denver Post Wire Services) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:41:30 -0700

Former congressman and presidential candidate Tom Tancredo said he was hit with an avalanche of interest in his possible gubernatorial candidacy after a Douglas County supporter set up "The Draft Tom Tancredo for Governor" Facebook page Monday afternoon.

System for crime victims that tracks prisoners lacks cash to operate

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:32:09 -0700

Colorado is in the process of establishing the Victim Information and Notification Everyday network, or VINE, which will automatically advise crime victims throughout the state of any movement, release or escape of their offenders.

Stimulus-jobs count in Colorado overinflated

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:30:21 -0700

Click on the computerized map of the state of Colorado on the federal government's stimulus-spending Web page, and it displays 8,094 full-time jobs created or saved in the state.

Exit may lessen drama under dome next session

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:21:04 -0700

Sen. Josh Penry's apparent exit from the gubernatorial race floored his supporters Monday but may have lessened the level of drama under the gold dome next year.

No bond for suspect in Vail bar slaying

editor@denverpost.com (The Denver Post) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:16:39 -0700

Richard "Rossi" Moreau, who faces first-degree-murder charges after the fatal shooting of a man at a Vail bar Saturday, is being held without bail in the Eagle County Jail.

Coroner: Single shot killed Centennial man

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:13:00 -0700

University of Colorado engineering graduate Andrew Graham, 23, died from severe internal injuries from a single gunshot wound, the Arapahoe County coroner said Monday.

DPS unveils plans for changes in schools

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:43:31 -0700

Denver Public Schools officials recommended sweeping changes Monday to some of the district's worst schools and a change in how charter schools operate.

Heat is on Colorado climate-change guru

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:32:46 -0700

The coordinator of Colorado's efforts to combat climate change drew criticism from conservatives Monday after conflict-of-interest disclosures showed she accepts monthly stipends from a liberal think tank.

Coalition moves to reduce wildlife deaths on Colorado roads

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:57:07 -0700

A coalition of government and private groups mobilized Monday to try to reduce roadkill of wildlife, which has increased in recent years, with sensitive species such as the lynx among the deaths.

Greene: A bad feeling about feeling better

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:54:04 -0700

As clinical trials go, Bray Patrick-Lake's was a success. She supposes. But the manufacturer of the device that relieved her severe migraines apparently measured success in different terms.

Griego: Elaine Calzolari knew how to live simply

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:53:15 -0700

Elaine Calzolari died over the weekend. She was at home — actually her former mother-in- law's condo, the place where she moved after she sold her own place, envisioning a future of travel and simple living. Elaine's cancer returned before she could act on her plans.

Anti-abortion amendment put health reform in a bind

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:36:18 -0700

Health care reform's fragile chances took a turn for the worse Monday as pro-abortion-rights lawmakers led by Rep. Diana DeGette vowed to kill the bill if an anti-abortion amendment isn't stripped from the final version.

RTD directors to vote on revamped light-rail ad plan

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:43:36 -0700

RTD directors will vote tonight on a new proposal to allow exterior advertising on light-rail cars, but with some modifications to a plan presented — and rejected — previously.

Longmont native who won Army's Best Warrior contest among soldiers honored by NFL, ESPN

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:33:33 -0700

Sgt. Clancy Henderson prefers rock climbing to football, but on Monday, the NFL and ESPN honored him and other servicemen and women at a Denver luncheon.

Denver perilous for pedestrians

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:33:33 -0700

Denver is among the more dangerous big cities in the nation for pedestrians, according to a report released Monday by two national transportation groups.

Army appeals rejection of Piñon Canyon plans

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:33:32 -0700

The Army is appealing a federal judge's ruling that rejected its plans to increase operations at a disputed training site in southeastern Colorado.

Woman's body found at Boulder Falls

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:33:31 -0700

County detectives are investigating the death of a young woman whose body was found at Boulder Falls on Monday but say her death doesn't appear suspicious. The Sheriff's Office received a call from a passenger on an RTD bus who had spotted a body near the falls, sheriff's Cmdr. Joe Gang said.

Federal Heights tax worries entertainment venues

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:26:08 -0700

Two of this small city's key entertainment venues — a strip club and family-friendly Water World — are worried that a new entertainment tax will cut into their business.

RTD proposes to donate stretch of rail line to historical society

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:26:07 -0700

The Regional Transportation District is proposing to donate a portion of a freight rail line it acquired for FasTracks to the Boulder County Railway Historical Society for an excursion-train operation.

"South Park" creators build mansion in Steamboat

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:21:25 -0700

The creators of TV's "South Park" may have killed Kenny in the show, but not too many trees died when they built their environmentally friendly mansion in northwestern Colorado.

Ski-resort expansion nixed

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:41:37 -0700

Crested Butte Mountain Resort's five-year effort to push its ski area onto nearby Snodgrass Mountain has hit a barrier.

Train-semi crash snarls morning rush-hour traffic

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:28:32 -0700

A slow-moving train and a semi collided about 6 a.m. Monday, taking out an Xcel power pole and snarling traffic on South Kalamath Street and West Bayaud Avenue, east of Interstate 25, for about 3 1/2 hours.

Denver among most dangerous big cities for pedestrians, report says

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:14:39 -0700

Denver is among the more dangerous big cities in the nation for pedestrians, according to a report released Monday by two national transportation groups.

Ft. Collins High grad to be first Lambkin in space

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:58:05 -0700

Fort Collins High School graduate Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger will be the first Lambkin in space, and Clyde, a stuffed lamb in a handmade spacesuit, will be right there with her.

Centennial mom pleads for answers in her son's mysterious shooting

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:14:54 -0700

A grief-stricken mother made a plea Sunday for information about who shot and killed her 23-year- old son early Friday in what appears to be a random murder on the street near their home.

New Boys & Girls Club teen center draws inspiration from leader DeSantiago

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:49:05 -0700

The opening of the new Placido "Plazy" DeSantiago Teen Center in the J. Churchill Owen branch of the Boys & Girls Club last week was an event that evoked a mixture of tears and joy for the inspirational leader for whom the center is named.

New foster program offers care for ailing veterans in Colorado

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:00:54 -0700

When Steve Jackson speaks, the journey from one end of his sentence to the other can take a few minutes. The Navy veteran puts his hands in front of his face about a foot apart, as if to set the boundaries.

Vigil held in Boulder for detained hikers

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:10:12 -0700

BOULDER — Boulder's Shannon Bauer, the sister of one of three American hikers detained in Iran for more than three months, fought back tears Sunday evening as she shared stories about her

Arvada man who went camping before snowstorm is still missing

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:13:06 -0700

Boulder County Sgt. Lance Enholm said about 50 family members, deputies and rangers searched the West Magnolia Recreation Area on Sunday in a continuing search for 19-year-old camper Justin Pleiss.

Vail murder suspect is Vietnam veteran, avid skier

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:51:02 -0700

Richard "Rossi" Moreau, a Vietnam veteran, was known to push the extremes on the slopes and drink in the bars of this ski resort town where he lived.

Birds of Prey founder Sigrid Ueblacker dies at age 68

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:15:06 -0700

Sigrid Ueblacker, founder of Birds of Prey, an organization that saves injured and orphaned birds, died of unknown causes on Oct. 28. She was 68.

Nonprofits see long lines for energy help this winter

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:22:47 -0700

Colorado nonprofits that help lower home energy bills say the lines are long and growing for free energy-saving home repairs paid for by federal stimulus money.

Coroner says Routt can save $10,000 on autopsies

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:21:32 -0700

Routt County Coroner Rob Ryg has a suggestion for saving about $10,000 a year: eliminate unnecessary autopsies.

Johnson: Friend's torturous death inspires fight for end-of-life rights

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:14:03 -0700

She can still see those final days as if they were playing out before her all over again, the way Kathy looked up and begged her for help to die.

Original Broncos celebrate 50th anniversary

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:13:44 -0700

What defensive back Frank Bernardi remembers most about the Denver Broncos' inaugural game is letting the Boston Patriots score.

Man brings guns to gathering, is hit with hammer in Wellington

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:10:11 -0700

A man was hospitalized after being hit in the head with a hammer when he arrived at a gathering in Wellington armed with two guns on Saturday night.

BLM delays geothermal auction in Grand Junction

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:09:04 -0700

Federal officials are delaying what was to be the first auction of geothermal leases in Colorado to resolve questions about the increasingly popular form of renewable energy.

Burst pipe led to refinery explosion

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:12:03 -0700

A refinery explosion that severely damaged 10 homes last week was caused by a burst pipe that sprayed hydrogen gas onto a nearby heater, said the U.S. Chemical Safety Board's lead investigator.

Denver firefighters to swear in female division chief

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:12:02 -0700

A ceremony today will celebrate the first woman to be appointed to the command staff of the Denver Fire Department.