Email AuthorSam Levin
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Homeless women in Denver: Julie Hale tells her story about the struggle to survive
December 05, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.In this week's feature, "Bed Check," we take an in-depth look at the services available in Denver for homeless women, some of whom describe a daily struggle filled...
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Scott Gessler says Boulder election results not certified yet, city says they are
December 05, 2012 in The Latest Word
Scott Gessler.Yesterday, the Boulder County Clerk's office announced that its election results are finally certified. However, a spokesman for Secretary of State Scott Gessler says just the opposite -- a...
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Amendment 64: Business organizations ask feds to clamp down on Colorado marijuana measure
December 05, 2012 in The Latest Word
In the wake of the Amendment 64's passage, Democratic and Republican officials have proposed a bill that would exempt Colorado from federal laws prohibiting marijuana use. Now, a coalition of...
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Colorado Springs not yet enforcing law against panhandling -- but is "educating" people
December 04, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.Last week, we reported on a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union against Colorado Springs, which is pushing forward with a controversial anti-panhandling law that critics see...
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Scott Gessler: Boulder clerk protesting election non-certification sang a different tune in 2004
December 03, 2012 in The Latest Word
Scott Gessler.We reported last week that the canvass board in Boulder County, responsible for certifying the results of the election, decided against it, arguing that there were serious flaws in...
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Amendment 64: If it's a disaster, other states won't move to legalize pot, says GOP's Ryan Call
December 03, 2012 in The Latest Word
Ryan CallSince Amendment 64 passed in Colorado, Republican officials have been tasked with responding to a policy that the party didn't embrace but a majority of voters supported. With small...
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Aurora's Steve Hogan: Why didn't he join anti-illegal gun mayors group after theater shooting?
November 30, 2012 in The Latest Word
Steve HoganSteve Hogan, mayor of Aurora, the city where Century 16 shooting suspect James Holmes allegedly killed twelve people and injured dozens more, is not joining a nationwide coalition of...
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ACLU sues Colorado Springs for panhandling ban, says it violates free speech rights
November 30, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.In what's called an effort to support the economic vitality of downtown Colorado Springs and stop panhandling, the city passed an ordinance this week that bans solicitation. But...
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Drunk cyclists: Under new Denver policy, DUIs for bike riders won't affect driving records
November 29, 2012 in The Latest Word
The news that the Denver Police Department will now be enforcing state drunk cycling laws and giving out DUIs to intoxicated riders has sparked a lot of debate. But...
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Scott Gessler calls for fewer limits on campaign finance -- to protect free speech
November 29, 2012 in The Latest Word
Scott GesslerRestrictions on campaign finance are ultimately violations of free speech rights and do little to foster fair elections. At least that's the argument of Colorado Secretary of State Scott...
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Denver named new program's first official "Solar Friendly Community"
November 28, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.After several negative headlines around solar energy locally -- including the bankruptcy of Abound Solar and news of major delays on a planned Aurora solar plant -- Colorado...
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Drunk cycling: Is Denver's new bike DUI policy harsher than rules in other states?
November 27, 2012 in The Latest Word
Yesterday, we reported that Denver Police are now enforcing state drunk-cycling laws -- meaning intoxicated cyclists can be charged with DUIs just like inebriated drivers. Some cycling advocates question whether...
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Boulder election results not certified by canvass board -- only county rejection in Colorado
November 27, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.Election day may seem like a fading memory in Colorado. But the divisiveness of the race is alive in Boulder County, where members of the canvass board has...
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Drunk biking targeted by Denver: Advocates worry policy could encourage drunk driving
November 26, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.Cyclists in Denver will now be subject to a new Denver Police Department enforcement policy that says drunk bikers, like drunk drivers, can be charged with DUI. The...
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The dispute over a Black Hawk bike ban heads to the Colorado Supreme Court
November 23, 2012 in The Latest Word
Tensions between cyclists and motorists on the road seem to be at an all-time high in Colorado given several recent incidents where drivers and bikers have clashed dramatically. Now, three...
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After Scott Gessler's anti-fraud efforts, more than 500 registered voters removed
November 23, 2012 in The Latest Word
Scott GesslerColorado's Secretary of State Scott Gessler maintains that voter fraud is a serious problem -- and after launching initiatives to prevent illegal ballots from being cast, his office says...
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Denver Police Department finishes major reorganization, with many demoted
November 21, 2012 in The Latest Word
Robert White.Denver Police Chief Robert White's controversial reorganization of the department is now in effect, and top officials say the major restructuring will create a stronger agency -- even if...
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Chiefs of Police Association: College campuses should have the right to set gun policies
November 21, 2012 in The Latest Word
The contentious debate over the rights of permit-holders to bring guns onto college campuses was back in the spotlight last week with news that a University of Colorado staffer accidentally...
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Amendment 64: Are drug-free businesses actually required to have drug tests?
November 21, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.Since Colorado voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana, there have been concerns about contradictions that now exist between state and federal laws -- including a contentious debate...
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James Ernst, driver in bike-rage harassment video, pleads not guilty to all charges
November 20, 2012 in The Latest Word
Video below.On a Sunday morning in September, two cyclists on an open road in Longmont filmed their bizarre encounter with James Ernst, 75, who drove an SUV and honked nonstop...
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Wayne McDonald, fired employee accused of sex harassment, sues Michael Hancock, Denver
November 19, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.Wayne McDonald doesn't want his job back, but he would like to clear his name. That's the main reason McDonald -- a friend and former staffer of Mayor...
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Scott Gessler shares letter from Canadian immigrant who accidentally registered to vote
November 16, 2012 in The Latest Word
Scott GesslerIn addition to facing criminal and ethics investigations into his alleged misuse of public dollars, Secretary of State Scott Gessler has spent months responding to criticisms that he has...
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Marijuana: Mike Coffman, Amendment 64 opponent, to back federal exemption bill
November 16, 2012 in The Latest Word
Update below: Representative Mike Coffman, a Republican, is announcing today his support of legislation that would exempt Colorado from federal marijuana policy. It's a noteworthy move from Coffman, who is...
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Election day in Colorado: How did it stack up on voter-review site My Fair Election?
November 15, 2012 in The Latest Word
Big photos below.There was a lot of talk this election season about access to voting -- which is one reason Karen Suhaka, who runs a Denver-based online research company, decided...
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CU-Denver accidental shooting: Now ex-staffer trying to unjam gun when it fired
November 15, 2012 in The Latest Word
Update: A University of Colorado staffer who accidentally fired a shot on campus last week, injuring herself and a colleague, is no longer employed by the university. A police report...