A Tents Situation Homeless is where the heart is: Amy Haimerl’s “Pitching Tents,” in the April 15 issue, was a thought-provoking, well-written article by a woman who chose not to make it an article about the politics of Denver’s homeless population, but rather chose to put a human face on…
It’s dark and rainy outside, but in here it’s warm. Keith has just put another piece of scavenged wood in the stove, and the fire’s popping brightly, illuminating the surrounding faces. Ed, Dog Dave, Tim, JP, Shaun, Mark. A train whistle cuts through the incessant sound of rain beating on…
Although Portland’s Dignity Village is by far the most prominent — and vocal — tent city in the United States, a handful of other cities have also harbored such communities, with varying degrees of success. Seattle is already on its third tent city in a decade. The first, Tent City…
In Denver, a pack of Camels runs about three bucks; in New York City, smokers pay at least $7.50. The discrepancy is because Colorado still charges just twenty cents in tax on a pack, while New York raised its rates from that to $1.50 in July 2002. If the backers…
Nathanael Justin McIntosh, the 28-year-old man accused of shaking his infant daughter to death, was sentenced to ten years in prison on March 29 after accepting a plea bargain. Justin had been caring for three-month-old Jasmine Danae on November 29, 2002, while the baby’s mother, Caleena Burch, then twenty, crashed…
The steps of the State Capitol are getting a real workout these days, as politician after would-be politician climbs to that point at exactly 5,280 feet — the ideal spot for pushing a cause or proclaiming a candidacy. The most recent stairmaster: Peter Coors, who announced his run for the…
On April 8, Boulder High School students, supplemented by a few media members, packed the school’s auditorium to see a mini-film festival and panel discussion about the school’s video-production department. Before any talk could take place, however, teacher Matt Greenman introduced a Channel 4 news clip broadcast a week earlier…
America, some critics have noted recently, is falling behind its rivals in the developing world. Our dependence on technology and a decadent ease of living have dulled this country’s once-sharp competitive edge. They are speaking, of course, of the depressing plight of the American marathon runner. Once the swift pride…
Logos a-Go-Go Litter bug: Kenny Be’s clumsy swats at the Denver logos are entirely too easy (“Pick of the Litter,” April 8). In fact, they’re expected and boring. They’re a nine-year-old trying to sneer. What? You didn’t like Denver’s logo choices? Well, isn’t that just a fucking surprise? I would…
The town of Branson’s baby boom started last spring, although at the time, no one knew that Kate and Jaxon Autry’s pregnancy portended anything special. By summer, when the number of expectant families had grown to five, all of Branson was abuzz. As residents gathered at the single-story post office…
In 2001, House of Blues took on the task of promoting a double bill featuring classic-rockers Styx and Bad Company, picking a station then known as the Hawk as its radio partner. Apparently, this choice didn’t thrill the folks at Clear Channel Communications, whose concert-promotion and radio branches were bypassed…
At 7:32 a.m. Monday, I’m waiting for the B-line Boulevard Shuttle at Hampden Boulevard and Dahlia Street — where a student living in southeast Denver would start his journey to West High School next fall if Denver Public Schools goes ahead with its decision to swap schoolbus service for RTD…
We never did get a tally on Kenny Be’s “Quick Poll: Who Wears the Sexier Underpants? Democrats or Republicans?” from his January 8 Worst-Case Scenario. But no matter. Republicans in the Colorado Statehouse know a good moneymaking scheme when they see one. Using his imaginary camera phone, Be had captured…
On March 22, after years of avoiding questions about when they would launch an early newscast, managers at Channel 31, Denver’s Fox affiliate, provided their answer: the debut of Good Morning Colorado, a programming block between 5:30 and 8 a.m.. Suddenly, cable-challenged Denver viewers who’d grown accustomed to getting their…
Welcome to sweet April, when anything is possible. The Colorado Rockies can still win the National League pennant this year and beat the Yankees in five hard-fought games in the World Series. Donald Trump might propose to Omarosa. Topeka could get Italian food. And, if a thousand things go perfectly…
You Can Fool Some of the People… Censor and sensibility: I just finished reading John Reidy’s “Silencing Radio 1190” in the April 1 issue, and I am pissed! Quoting CU’s Betsy Hoffman: “To keep the barbarian madness of our football team from spreading to the lily-white student body who lap…
John Elway to the rescue! The former Broncos quarterback has been offered the head coaching job at the University of Colorado, and he’s expected to accept the $1.6 million-a-year position pending final negotiations, which have reportedly snagged over university cutbacks in dental coverage. The 43-year-old Broncos great would replace embattled…
The University of Colorado football program recruiting scandal has claimed an unlikely casualty. Radio 1190, the popular student-run radio station broadcast from the basement of the University Memorial Center on the Boulder campus, has been sanctioned by the university for apparent violations relating to the football program. You can now…
Editor’s note: These writings, scribbled in a tiny, cramped hand, graced the flyleaf of a battered copy of Are You Running With Me, Jesus? recently discovered in an abandoned locker at fulsome Folsom Field. Although their authenticity has not been verified, the handwriting expert consulted in the JonBenét Ramsey ransom-note…
When Roxanne Whittles decided to further her education, she soon had a good problem on her hands: too many grad schools to choose from. At 21, Whittles already had a reputation as a rising star in the field of biological research. In 2002, she’d graduated summa cum laude from Stanford…
Denver’s Civic Center was born at the turn of the last century, when legendary mayor Robert W. Speer, creator of the “City Beautiful” concept, began pushing the idea of building a grand city hall and park facing the brand-new State Capitol. Speer’s dream was greeted with jeers in the press…
The following item violates the City of Denver Solid Waste Management Department’s recently issued guidelines concerning media coverage of graffiti and graffiti-related issues. Reader discretion is advised. Spray it, don’t say it: Last month, a criminal artist or artists unknown spray-painted a dozen stencil-graffiti images of commander-in-chief George W. Bush,…
