USP Florence seen from a distance, which is how authorities like it.

​Since its first issue, slapped together in a prison cell two decades ago, Prison Legal News has run hundreds of articles on abuse and corruption in local jails and state and federal prisons, shining a light where few of the ladies and gents of the mainstream press care (or dare) to go.

One of the maverick monthly's boldest moves has been to take on the federal government over video materials related to a gruesome inmate-on-inmate slaying in the high-security U.S. Penitentiary in Florence. Although the materials were presented in two death-penalty trials, to an audience of horrified jurors and reporters, the U.S. Attorney's Office has opposed their release.

The case is now in front of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals -- and PLN is no longer alone in contending that release of the video involves an important constitutional right of public access to court records.

Medicine or not? You be the judge.

​The North Metro Task Force has been busy with marijuana busts in Adams County of late. There were two significant arrests in Broomfield during late February, with suspects in both cases claiming the weed was being grown for medical purposes. And the same assertion was made following two more marijuana-related arrests in the county, both of which involved injured children: One boy shot himself in the foot, while an infant ingested some edible pot and had to be hospitalized.

In some ways, a Sunday evening arrest fits this pattern. For one thing, it took place in Broomfield. For another, a juvenile was found on site, resulting in a child abuse charge against Mitchell Good, 51, in addition to a marijuana cultivation count. Surprisingly, however, the Broomfield Police Department explicitly states that the 39 plants seized were not reported to be medical marijuana. Strange: Did you know the stuff could still be used recreationally?

Look below to see a graphic of the area where the arrest took place (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map") and a BPD release:

Dennis Leonard will be a tough act to follow.

​Back in February, Local TV LLC, the company that owns Channel 31 and The Deuce, announced that controversial general manager Dennis Leonard would be moving on -- voluntarily, everyone swore, although neither Leonard nor Local TV exec Pam Taylor returned numerous requests for comment. (Taylor wasn't available to chat this afternoon, either.)

Now, however, the stations are moving forward, with the announcement today that Peter Maroney, currently the GM at a station in Richmond, Virginia, will be taking over the Denver operation. A statement quotes Maroney as saying, "KWGN is a legendary station in Denver, and one of the original superstations. People in the market grew up watching Channel 2. KDVR is a Fox affiliate that has nothing but upside on the news and programming front. The two stations together are a blockbuster, and I can't wait to get started in the market. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities."

Maybe so, but it'll also be a challenging one, thanks in part to a certain Mr. Leonard.

"I haven't had one of these taken in a long time..."

​What a perfect day to read some blogs about Denver.

Blackshirt4Broncos, writing at Mile High Report, shares a News Tribune column by Dave Boling, who suggests that Brandon Marshall is "troubled" and "not worth the gamble." Or, presumably, the number six pick in the draft.

Colorado Pols sings a verse of "Kumbaya, Natural Gas Edition." Hope it's better than "Classical Gas."

Alan Gottlieb at Education News Colorado considers proposed nuptials involving a neighborhood school and a high-performing charter school. Sounds like a class act.

These may not have been the good old days for A.I., but there were sure as hell better than now.

​Nuggets fans may not have loved everything Allen Iverson brought to the team -- but it's still hard to watch his slow-motion disintegration from afar without feeling melancholy about a player who defied expectations by being a perfect gentleman during his stay in Denver.

Iverson had already taken a leave of absence from the Philadelphia 76ers, reportedly due to health issues with his daughter, and been the subject of a divorce filing when columnist Stephen A. Smith reported that he was dealing with twin demons: alcohol and gambling problems.

A.I. has responded to these assertions in a typically modern way -- via Twitter. Here's what he tweeted about the latest rumors:

"But brochures make great collector's items!"

​Shortly after most politicos take office, they begin marking their territory via photos, publications, web pages and lots of other aggrandizers. And Colorado Springs Senator Bill Cadman wants it to stop.

Cadman is reportedly sick at the thought of the state chucking tons of brochures featuring Governor Bill Ritter, who's announced that he won't run for reelection this year. So, in an attempt to stop such waste in the future, he's authored a bill, co-sponsored by fellow senators Josh Penry, Ken Kester and Mike Kopp and due to be presented to the veterans and military affairs committee tomorrow, that would put the kibosh on such items -- and a helluva lot more. Here's the bill's summary:

"Do you think they'll let me use a walker?"

​Yesterday morning, I wrote about how important Kenyon Martin's knee is to the Nuggets championship hopes. Then, a few hours later, the Denver Post reported what's been characterized as good news in most quarters: Martin won't need surgery, but he'll be sitting out for a while -- possibly until the playoffs.

Somehow, though, I don't feel like cheering -- and not only because the Nuggets' playoff seeding position may slide from two to three to possibly even four without K-Mart's typical double-double, not to mention inspirational defense of the sort that even gets Kobe Bryant's attention. (Kobe recently said of Orlando's tenacious Matt Barnes, "Him bumping me and Kenyon Martin bumping me are two different things.")

Worse, there's the strong possibility that the prediction of Martin's return is overly optimistic.

#10 of the 22 Major Arcana: Andrew Romanoff, the Hermit

Kenny Be

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Prosecutors say Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams (left) was shot and killed by 26-year-old Willie Clark (right) on New Year's Day 2007.

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Westword is covering the trial of Willie Clark, accused of murdering Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams early on New Year's Day 2007. The most recent updates for the day will be at the top; to check out the account chronologically at day's end, read from the bottom up. Click here for accounts and links related to the first week of testimony, here for week two, and here for day ten.

10:50 a.m.: Prosecutors called two rebuttal witnesses this morning to refute testimony given by witnesses called by Willie Clark's lawyers. The first was Tanisha Lintz, Clark's cousin. On the stand, Lintz confirmed Clark's alibi -- that he was at an after-hours club at 18th Avenue and Glenarm Place in the early hours of New Year's Day 2007, when Williams was shot. Lintz said she was in the parking lot of the after-hours club with her other cousin, Jazelle Hudson, when they saw Clark pull up in his black Chevy Tahoe.

Trevor Douglas says he uses marijuana religiously.

​At 2 p.m. today, Trevor Douglas, 25, will step into a Clear Creek County courthouse and defend himself against possession accusations involving marijuana and paraphernalia when he was pulled over for expired vehicle registration last August.

His assertion? He's a member of both the Church of Universal Sacraments and The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, aka the THC Ministry, and he uses marijuana in the practice of his religion.

This approach has the blessing, literally, of THC Ministry founder Roger Christie. And even though he notes that Douglas wasn't a member of his church until after his arrest, he predicts that he'll prevail in court anyhow, based on what he insists is an impressive track record for believers in similar situations.