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	<title>Politics &amp; Government Archives | Denver Westword</title>
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	<description>The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:29:16 +0000</pubDate>
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				<title>Denver Westword</title>
				<description>The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado</description>
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		<title>Johnston Signs Executive Order Targeting Denver ICE Activity</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-mayor-executive-order-expands-local-protection-ice-40849816/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40849816</guid>
					<dc:creator>Bennito L. Kelty</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-mayor-executive-order-expands-local-protection-ice-40849816/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:51:57 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/johnston_flag_bennito_kelty.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/johnston_flag_bennito_kelty.jpeg" alt="denver mayor gives speech" /><p>The new policy aims "not to provoke, but to protect."</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-mayor-executive-order-expands-local-protection-ice-40849816/">Johnston Signs Executive Order Targeting Denver ICE Activity</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
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		<source url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Feds Have &#8220;Lost Credibility&#8221; on Elections After FBI Call, Colorado Secretary of State Says</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-secretary-of-state-feds-election-credibility-40849745/</link>
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					<dc:creator>Thomas Mitchell</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-secretary-of-state-feds-election-credibility-40849745/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:39:36 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/SUPER-TUESDAY-0688-2048x1366-1.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/SUPER-TUESDAY-0688-2048x1366-1.jpg" alt="election workers in 2024" /><p>“It was deeply unsettling the DOJ and DHS refused to acknowledge that, according to the U.S. Constitution, states run elections in America."</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-secretary-of-state-feds-election-credibility-40849745/">Feds Have &#8220;Lost Credibility&#8221; on Elections After FBI Call, Colorado Secretary of State Says</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Who Gets the Dog? Colorado Considers New Pet Custody Law for Breakups</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-considering-new-pet-custody-law-40848903/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40848903</guid>
					<dc:creator>Hannah Metzger</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-considering-new-pet-custody-law-40848903/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:05:00 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/dog1.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/dog1.jpg" alt="Who Gets the Dog? Colorado Considers New Pet Custody Law for Breakups" /><p>State lawmakers advanced a bill to establish legal standards for pet custody rulings, directing courts to consider the animals' best interests.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-considering-new-pet-custody-law-40848903/">Who Gets the Dog? Colorado Considers New Pet Custody Law for Breakups</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Law Enforcement Call Colorado State Rep &#8220;POS,&#8221; &#8220;GARBAGE&#8221; in Email Exchange</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-police-call-state-rep-garbage-slur-emails-40849284/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40849284</guid>
					<dc:creator>Thomas Mitchell</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-police-call-state-rep-garbage-slur-emails-40849284/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:57:58 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/velasco-speech-newsline-e1772027369402.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/velasco-speech-newsline-e1772027369402.jpg" alt="lawmaker gives speech during anti-ice protest" /><p>Police officials in Glenwood Springs, Parachute, Rifle and Silt all took part in the digital bashing.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-police-call-state-rep-garbage-slur-emails-40849284/">Law Enforcement Call Colorado State Rep &#8220;POS,&#8221; &#8220;GARBAGE&#8221; in Email Exchange</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Denver City Council Advances ICE Mask Ban</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-city-council-advances-ice-mask-ban-40848700/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40848700</guid>
					<dc:creator>Bennito L. Kelty</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-city-council-advances-ice-mask-ban-40848700/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:53:41 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/sandoval_council_bennito_kelty.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/sandoval_council_bennito_kelty.jpeg" alt="city council president amanda sandoval" /><p>ICE agents would face a $1,000 fine and close to a year in jail if the law passes, but questions still remain about enforcement. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-city-council-advances-ice-mask-ban-40848700/">Denver City Council Advances ICE Mask Ban</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Denver Mayor Wants to Pull the Plug on New Data Centers&#8230;for Now</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-mayor-wants-moratorium-new-data-centers-40848561/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40848561</guid>
					<dc:creator>Thomas Mitchell</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-mayor-wants-moratorium-new-data-centers-40848561/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:22:05 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/pexels-brett-sayles-4508751-e1769006378733.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/pexels-brett-sayles-4508751-e1769006378733.jpg" alt="inside a data center" /><p>According to a tracking map, 47 of Colorado's 57 data centers are in the Denver area. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/denver-mayor-wants-moratorium-new-data-centers-40848561/">Denver Mayor Wants to Pull the Plug on New Data Centers&#8230;for Now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Aurora Settles With Notorious &#8220;Slumlords&#8221; for $300,000</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/aurora-settles-with-slumlords-who-blamed-gang-40846984/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40846984</guid>
					<dc:creator>Bennito L. Kelty</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/aurora-settles-with-slumlords-who-blamed-gang-40846984/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:51:12 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/dallas_exterior2_bennito_kelty.webp" length="0" type="image/webp" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/dallas_exterior2_bennito_kelty.webp" alt="Aurora Settles With Notorious &#8220;Slumlords&#8221; for $300,000" /><p>The cases involving Venezuelan gang members are winding down, too.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/aurora-settles-with-slumlords-who-blamed-gang-40846984/">Aurora Settles With Notorious &#8220;Slumlords&#8221; for $300,000</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<source url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</source>
		
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		<title>Colorado Proposal to Consider Misgendering in Child Custody Cases Fails, Again</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-push-to-consider-misgendering-child-custody-fails-40846692/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40846692</guid>
					<dc:creator>Hannah Metzger</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-push-to-consider-misgendering-child-custody-fails-40846692/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:12:00 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/protect_trans_youth_transgdener_sign.webp" length="0" type="image/webp" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/protect_trans_youth_transgdener_sign.webp" alt="pro-transgender protest in denver" /><p>"We look forward to fighting another day for this effort," Senator Katie Wallace said.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-push-to-consider-misgendering-child-custody-fails-40846692/">Colorado Proposal to Consider Misgendering in Child Custody Cases Fails, Again</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Northeast Denver Elected Officials Vow Protection from ICE, Data Centers</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/northeast-denver-elected-officials-vow-protection-from-ice-data-centers-40846652/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40846652</guid>
					<dc:creator>Bennito L. Kelty</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/northeast-denver-elected-officials-vow-protection-from-ice-data-centers-40846652/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:10:52 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/gilmore_coleman_bennito_kelty.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/gilmore_coleman_bennito_kelty.jpeg" alt="woman speaking" /><p>"I cannot tell you that the police are going to be where we need them to be when and if those times come."  </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/northeast-denver-elected-officials-vow-protection-from-ice-data-centers-40846652/">Northeast Denver Elected Officials Vow Protection from ICE, Data Centers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<title>Colorado Moves to End Child Marriage&#8230;But Some Senators Say &#8220;I Don&#8217;t&#8221;</title>
		<link>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-moves-to-end-child-marriage-gop-senators-oppose-40846091/</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/?p=40846091</guid>
					<dc:creator>Hannah Metzger</dc:creator>
				<comments>https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-moves-to-end-child-marriage-gop-senators-oppose-40846091/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:37:44 -0700</pubDate>
				<category domain="foundation:section-category">News</category>
						<enclosure url="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/pride-3-copy-e1771460016619.jpg" length="0" type="image/jpeg" />
				<description><![CDATA[<img src="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/pride-3-copy-e1771460016619.jpg" alt="A man signs his marriage license during Denver&#039;s annual marriage marathon event in 2025." /><p>Minors as young as sixteen years old can get married in Colorado. A new bill seeks to raise the minimum age to eighteen.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com/news/colorado-moves-to-end-child-marriage-gop-senators-oppose-40846091/">Colorado Moves to End Child Marriage&#8230;But Some Senators Say &#8220;I Don&#8217;t&#8221;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://westword-dev-wpvip.md-staging.com">Denver Westword</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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