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 many officers were forced to face demotions. In an effort to reduce “stagnation,” White opened up positions, so that many officers…
Shortly after 8 a.m. on Sunday, 911 got a call from Christopher Perea, who said that his wife, Loretta Barela, was “cold and her jaw is stiff.” Denver officers soon arrived at the couple’s home in southwest Denver, found Barela’s lifeless body, and arrested Perea on suspicion of homicide. But…
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 fired her handgun, injuring herself and a colleague. Now a representative of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police says…
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 about workplace regulation. One Denver CEO told us that legal pot will make it hard for him to hire people, because he…
The worth of athletes is so highly quantified — by their physical measurements, their stats, their contracts, the numbers on their backs — that it’s easy to take football players for granted as tools designed specifically to dominate the gridiron. Easily overlooked is the hard work and personal sacrifice offered…
Shocking but true: A number of video makers are linking the passage of Amendment 64 to the impending end of Hostess, manufacturer of the much-lauded Twinkie — a move that will reportedly result in the closure of a Colorado plant and 160 jobs lost. Below, see three clips that make…
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 without passing them. Despite the video, which has now more than 450,000 hits on YouTube, Ernst has pleaded not guilty to…
Gayle Jetchick of the Havana Business Improvement District has waited years for Aurora’s old Fan Fair building to turn into something — anything! — else. Last night, her wish came one step closer to reality, when the Aurora Urban Renewal Authority (which is made up of city council members) voted…
Denver blog posts have plenty to be thankful for. Predominantly Orange’s Eric Mergens delves into the Broncos’ running back dilemma in the wake of Willis McGahee’s knee injury and suggests that any of the RBs on the current roster should be able to compliment Peyton Manning’s aerial attack. Denver Egotist…
Eighteen legislators have signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to respect voters in Washington and Colorado, a majority of whom opted for marijuana reform exemplified by the latter’s Amendment 64. Today, members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) followed suit, delivering their own letter to…
Update:The Denver coroner’s office has identified the victim of a weekend homicide at South Carlan Court as Loretta Barela, 44. But beyond the tragedy of her death and the arrest of her husband, Christopher Perea, for the crime, additional questions have arisen. Among them: Did the Denver Police take hours…
Update: Yesterday, we reported about a murder in Wheat Ridge for which 25-year-old Nate Fischer was arrested; see our original coverage below. Now, the Wheat Ridge Police Department has identified the victim as Howard Benjamin Adler, who celebrated his 26th birthday just two weeks ago. We’ve also got more details…
In September, we told you about the tragic murder of Zach Sare. Since then, unfortunately, there have been no breaks in the case, and his loved ones are struggling financially to purchase a headstone to mark his grave. So a family friend has set up an account for those who’d…
Update: Yesterday, Boulder DA Stan Garnett declined to act against proponents of Amendment 64 based on a complaint from Kathleen Chippi, a pro-pot activist behind Initiative 70, an A64 alternative that failed to qualify for the ballot; see previous coverage below. But she’s not ready to quietly accept this decision…
When William Costello was arrested in June, for allegedly breaking the hip of an elderly man, he seemed like little more than a combustible creep. But after a DNA test run on him under a provision of Katie’s Law scored several hits, the Denver District Attorney’s Office has concluded that…
The passage of Amendment 64, is big news in Colorado and nationwide — so it’s no surprise that entrepreneurs are looking for ways to cash in. But what’s just as intriguing as the commemorative merchandise available at a website called Colorado Rocky Mountain High — see photos of everything from…
Steven Unruh is having a hard time convincing anyone that he spent hours talking to Aurora theater shootings suspect James Holmes shortly after his arrest last July. Jail officials say there’s no way that Unruh could have had that kind of access. Yet certain elements of the story — which…
Last week, Representative Diana DeGette announced the introduction of a bill asking the federal government to respect the marijuana policies in Washington and Colorado after voters in each state passed pot-law-reform acts, including Amendment 64. Since then, however, the list of legislators co-sponsoring the measure has grown, and among those…
Denver blog posts are cyber-friendly. Big Media’s Jason Salzman quotes Colorado Springs Gazette editorial page editor Wayne Laugesen on how difficult it is to control the Rush Limbaughs of the world for Republicans wanting to broaden their base. Denver PR Blog features a photo that captures a great moment in…
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 Michael Hancock who was fired amid sexual harassment allegations — has filed a lawsuit against the city, his attorney says. The lawsuit…
On Friday, Congresswoman Diana DeGette’s office announced the introduction of the Respect States’ and Citizens’ Rights Act, a bill intended to ensure that federal marijuana laws don’t exempt the Colorado voter-approved Amendment 64 and a similar measure in Washington state. DeGette’s also signed a letter with seventeen fellow legislators asking…
Our post about marijuana and banking quoted entrepreneur Wanda James as noting that her now-shuttered edibles business was a legal enterprise, not a criminal one. A reader quoted her words before weighing in on the contradictions between state and federal pot law — an issue brought into stark relief by…
