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Tag: university of colorado

  • New report shows CU system generates $12.2 billion in economic impact across state

    A new economic study reveals the University of Colorado system generated $12.2 billion in economic impact across the state last year. This is an increase of more than half a billion dollars from 2024.

    The report says most of that impact about $7.1 billion dollars, is right in the Denver metro area.

    Campus by campus, CU Anschutz led the system with $5.7 billion in economic impact. That means it generated the most for nearby businesses.

    CU Boulder followed with $5 billion, while CU Denver and UCCS contributed $667 million and $567 million.

    Vibe Coffee & Wine is one of the businesses near CU Denver and staff say students play a major role in keeping their business steady.

    “I think students play a significant role for small businesses. I think there’s also for this generation that’s coming up, they’re a lot more focused on the quality, and they’re willing to pay more for something that is created with care,” said Liza Giles, Vibe Coffee & Wine, brand operations.

    Staff say student foot traffic drops during spring, winter, and summer breaks though, tourists make up for that loss, especially during the summer months.

    For more information on the economic report, click here.

    Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos

    Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.

    Sophia Villalba

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  • Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups charged in Mafia-backed poker scheme

    NEW YORK — Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday along with more than 30 other people accused of participating in schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia, authorities said.

    Rozier is accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information, officials said. Billups, a Denver native who starred for the Nuggets during a long playing career, is charged in a separate indictment alleging a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families, authorities said.

    Both men face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges and were expected to make initial court appearances later Thursday.

    In the first case, six defendants are accused of participating in an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams, said Joseph Nocella, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”

    The second case involves 31 defendants in a nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games, Nocella said. The defendants include former professional athletes accused of using technology to steal millions of dollars in underground poker games in the New York area that were backed by Mafia families, he said.

    “My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out,” Nocella said.

    A message seeking comment was left Thursday morning with Billups. A message was also left with Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty. Trusty previously told ESPN that Rozier was told that an initial investigation determined he did nothing wrong after he met with NBA and FBI officials in 2023, the sports network reported.

    In the sports betting scheme, players sometimes altered their performance or took themselves out of games early, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. In one instance, Rozier, while playing for the Hornets, told people he was planning to leave the game early with a “supposed injury,” allowing them to place wagers that raked in thousands of dollars, Tisch said.

    The indictment of Rozier and others says there are nine unnamed co-conspirators, including a Florida resident who was an NBA player, an Oregon resident who was an NBA player from about 1997 to 2014 and an NBA coach since at least 2021, as well as a relative of Rozier. Billups played in the NBA from 1997 to 2014 and currently resides in Portland as the Trail Blazers’ head coach.

    Rozier and other defendants “had access to private information known by NBA players or NBA coaches” that was likely to affect the outcome of games or players’ performances and provided that information to other co-conspirators in exchange for either a flat fee or a share of betting profits, the indictment says.

    The NBA placed Billups and Rozier on immediate leave Thursday and released a statement: “We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

    Rozier was in uniform as the Heat played the Magic on Wednesday evening in Orlando, Florida, in the season opener for both teams, though he did not play in the game. He was taken into custody in Orlando early Thursday morning. The team did not immediately comment on the arrest.

    The case was brought by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn that previously prosecuted ex-NBA player Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors center pleaded guilty to charges that he withdrew early from games, claiming illness or injury, so that those in the know could win big by betting on him to underperform expectations.

    Billups was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year. The five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA point guard led the Detroit Pistons to their third league title in 2004 as NBA Finals MVP.

    The Denver-born phenom graduated from George Washington High School and played basketball at CU before being selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.  Known as Mr. Big Shot nationally and the King of Park Hill locally in Denver, Billups also played for Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Billups won the Joe Dumars Trophy, the NBA’s sportsmanship award, in 2009 while playing for his hometown Nuggets.

    The 49-year-old Billups is in his fifth season as Portland’s coach, compiling a 117-212 record. The Trail Blazers opened the season Wednesday night at home with a 118-114 loss to Minnesota. Billups’ brother, Rodney, is currently the Nuggets’ director of player development and an assistant coach on David Adelman’s staff.

    A game involving Rozier that has been in question was a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans on March 23, 2023. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of that game — and not only did not return that night, citing a foot issue, but did not play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so it did not seem particularly unusual that Rozier was shut down for the season’s final games.

    In that game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period — a productive quarter but well below his usual total output for a full game.

    Posts still online from March 23, 2023, show that some bettors were furious with sportsbooks that evening when it became evident that Rozier was not going to return to the Charlotte-New Orleans game after the first quarter, with many turning to social media to say that something “shady” had gone on regarding the prop bets involving his stats for that night.

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  • Feds allege Chauncey Billups was ‘face card’ in high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker scam

    Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups — a Denver native and former basketball star at the University of Colorado and with the Denver Nuggets — allegedly participated in a years-long scheme to rig Mafia-led poker games through sophisticated technological means, scamming wealthy players out of millions of dollars, according to a sweeping federal indictment unsealed Thursday.

    Billups was arrested Thursday in Oregon and faces federal charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The NBA said he was placed on immediate leave.

    The 49-year-old coach appeared in court later in the day, and attorneys from both sides told the judge they had agreed on Billups’ release from custody on the condition he secure “a substantial bond,” though the amount wasn’t discussed in court. He is also prohibited from gambling-related activity.

    Chris Heywood, Billups’ attorney, released a statement to ESPN on Thursday night denying the allegations.

    “To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his hall-of-fame legacy, his reputation, and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game,” the statement read.

    “Furthermore, Chauncey Billups has never and would never gamble on basketball games, provide insider information, or sacrifice the trust of his team and the League, as it would tarnish the game he has devoted his entire life to.”

    The arrest came as part of a massive federal investigation into illegal, high-stakes poker games with ties to organized crime families. A second, related criminal case involved professional basketball players and coaches allegedly using inside information to set up fraudulent bets for their associates.

    The 22-page indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleges the poker games began as early as 2019 and spanned New York state, Las Vegas and Miami.

    Victims of the scheme thought they were playing in “straight” illegal poker games, according to the indictment.

    In reality, a group of people — referred to as the “cheating team” — worked together to scam them out of more than $7 million, investigators said.

    They used a variety of high-tech methods to rig the games, federal authorities alleged. Wireless technologies to read the cards dealt in each hand. Rigged shuffling machines. Electronic poker chip trays that could secretly read cards placed on the table. Card analyzers that could surreptitiously detect which cards were on the table. Playing cards that had markers visible only to people wearing specially designed contact lenses or glasses.

    Billups, investigators allege, was known as a “face card.” He and other former professional athletes were used to attract victims to the poker games. In exchange, they received portions of the criminal proceeds, authorities said.

    The indictment spells out one game in April 2019, in Las Vegas, when the group defrauded poker players of at least $50,000. Billups, along with four others, “organized and participated in these rigged games using a rigged shuffling machine,” according to the indictment.

    ‘Threats of force and violence’

    Authorities say the games operated “with the express permission and approval of” members of certain organized crime families of La Cosa Nostra.

    These individuals — with nicknames like “Spanish G,” “Flapper Poker,” “Sugar” and “Albanian Bruce” — provided support and protection for the games and collected debts in exchange for a portion of the illegal proceeds

    The organized crime families used “threats of force and violence” to secure repayment of debts from these poker games, according to the indictment.

    All told, the poker scheme defrauded participants of at least $7.15 million, investigators said.

    “Using the allure of high-stakes winnings and the promise to play alongside well-known professional athletes, these defendants allegedly defrauded unwitting victims out of tens of millions of dollars and established a financial pipeline to La Cosa Nostra,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said in a statement. “This alleged scheme wreaked havoc across the nation, exploiting the notoriety of some and the wallets of others to finance the Italian crime families.”

    Thursday’s indictment “sounds the final buzzer for these cheaters,” said Joseph Nocella Jr., the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

    The second criminal case involved NBA players and coaches divulging nonpublic information to their associates for the purpose of placing bets.

    The 23-page indictment does not name Billups, but does list nine unnamed co-conspirators, including an Oregon resident who was an NBA player from about 1997 to 2014 and an NBA coach since at least 2021. Billups played in the NBA from 1997 to 2014 and was hired by the Blazers in 2021.

    That individual, referred to as “co-conspirator 8,” allegedly told a bettor that several of the Blazers’ best players would be sitting out a March 23, 2023, game against the Chicago Bulls in order to increase their odds of getting a better draft pick.

    The gamblers wagered more than $100,000 that Portland would lose the game. The Blazers lost by 28.

    Chauncey Billups with the Denver Nuggets during practice at the Pepsi Center in Denver on April 6, 2010. (Photo By Craig F. Walker/The Denver Post)

    ‘The King of Park Hill’

    Billups was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year. The five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA point guard led the Detroit Pistons to their third league title in 2004 as NBA Finals MVP.

    The Denver-born phenom graduated from George Washington High School and played basketball at CU before being selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.

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  • CU Denver just opened an easier path to college for thousands of Denver students

    FILE, The University of Colorado Denver campus on Monday, March 13, 2023.

    Hart Van Denburg/CPR News

    Thousands of Denver Public Schools students are set to receive admission letters from the University of Colorado Denver in the coming months — even if they didn’t apply.

    For the first time, CU Denver is granting automatic admission and fee waivers to all DPS seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Juniors can also apply, but must maintain their GPA.

    If students apply by Nov.1, they will receive an official decision by mid-November for the next year’s fall semester, university officials told Denverite.                                                      

    The new pathway is the result of an agreement between DPS and CU Denver, which went into effect with a signing ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

    “Denver Public Schools is deeply committed to expanding higher education opportunities for our students,” DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero said in a press release. “Higher education is one of many paths for our students after high school, and this partnership with CU Denver is a milestone that provides accessible, quality education, empowering them to thrive personally and professionally in Colorado.”

    According to CU Denver, in 2024-25, nearly 1,500 degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled from DPS schools to their institution. Of these, more than 475 were new enrollees last year. CU Denver officials are anticipating an increase with the DPS agreement.

    It builds on other automatic admission programs in the state. CU’s undergraduate schools in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver already grant automatic admission to qualifying Colorado Community College students. The University of Northern Colorado admits qualifying 3.0 students from schools across the state, and Colorado School of Mines is making a similar offer to certain Jeffco graduates with a 3.8 GPA.

    Christensen said in a release that the partnership will make higher education more accessible.

    “As Denver’s premier public urban research institution, today’s announcement reinforces our deep commitment to the city and, most importantly, to the students of Denver Public Schools,” Christensen wrote. “Guided by our public service mission, we are proud to expand pathways to CU Denver and help drive economic mobility for DPS students, their families, and their communities.”

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  • Things to do in Denver this weekend, Aug. 29-Sept. 1

    By Cassidy Ritter, Special to Denverite

    From parades and hot air balloon shows to half marathons, 5Ks and fun runs, there are plenty of events taking place this Labor Day weekend.

    A few businesses are also hosting Oktoberfest celebrations, and the Colorado Buffaloes football team kicks off its first home game of the season on Friday. (If you can’t make the game, a watch party is taking place at Number Thirty Eight in Denver.) There’s something for everyone this weekend.

    Whatever you do, make it a great weekend!

    Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually or outdoors.

    Worth the Trip

    Friday and Saturday: *Keystone’s Oktoberfest. River Run Village, 116 River Run Road, Keystone; Warren Station Center for the Arts, 164 Ida Belle Drive, Keystone; and Buffalo Lodge Courtyard, 150 Dercum Square, Keystone. 4-6 p.m. (Friday) and 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday). Prices vary by event (several are free).

    Friday-Monday: *Colorado State Fair. Colorado State Fairgrounds, 1001 Beulah Ave., Pueblo. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free (admission for children ages 4 and under, when accompanied by an adult), $7 (admission for children ages 5-12), $15 (admission for adults/general admission).

    Saturday and Sunday: Odell Oktoberfest. Odell Brewing – Fort Collins, 800 E. Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins. Starting at 11 a.m. No cover.

    Saturday-Monday: *Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. Memorial Park, 1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs. 5:15-10 a.m. and 3:30-10 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday) and 5:15-10 a.m. (Monday). Free (attendance).

    Saturday-Monday: *Windsor Harvest Festival. Boardwalk Park, 100 N. 5th St., Windsor; Eastman Park, 7025 Eastman Park Drive, Windsor; and Main Park, 300 Locust St., Windsor. 6:30 a.m.-9:20 p.m. (Saturday) and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sunday and Monday). No cover.

    Saturday-Monday: *Estes Park Labor Day Arts & Craft Show. Bond Park, 321 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday) and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Monday). No cover.

    Friday, Aug. 29

    Just for fun

    Nan Desu Kan – Japanese Culture Convention. Gaylord Resort & Convention Center, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora. 9 a.m.-midnight. $40 (Friday only),$70 (weekend pass).

    The National Campaign of Financial Education. Aurora Public Library – Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora. 11 a.m.-noon. Free.

    Denver Girls Club Event! Bead Soup Embroidery. Makeshift Crafts, 2751 W. 120th Ave., Suite 150, Westminster. 5:30-7 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m. $35. Advanced registration required.

    *Bright Nights. Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St. 7-11 p.m. $19-$48.

    Kids and family

    2theXtreme. Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 3 and under), $12.95 (children ages 4-16), $15.95 (active military and veterans, guests ages 65 and older), $19.95 (guests ages 17-64). Ideal for all ages.

    In-Be-TWEEN: DIY Your School Supplies. Aurora Public Library – Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora. 4-5 p.m. Free. Ideal for ages 9-12.

    *Movies Around Town: Moana 2. Clear Creek Valley Park, 5900 Tennyson St., Arvada. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free. All ages.

    Comedy and theater

    Ms. Pat. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 6:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. $35-$45.

    Alex Edelman. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. $25-$35. 

    Sweet & Lucky: Echo. DCPA Off-Center at Broadway Park, 407 S. Broadway. 7 p.m. $59. 

    Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1400 Curtis St. 7:30 p.m. $56.64.

    Thank You Sketch Show. Chaos Bloom Theater, 70 S. Broadway. 8-9 p.m. $10. 

    *Cinema in The Sky: Karate Kid (2010). Halcyon, 245 Columbine St. 8 p.m. $25.

    Art, culture, and media

    Titanic: An Immersive Voyage. Exhibition Hub Art Center, 3900 Elati St. 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. $22.90-$41.90. (Read more about this exhibit here.)

    Ms. Destiny. Center for Colorado Women’s History, 1310 Bannock St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (members and guests ages 18 and under), $8 (guests ages 60 and older), $10 (guests ages 19-59).

    Expedition 1776: The Journey of Domínguez & Escalante. History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children and members), $15 (adults).

    Ink & Thread. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults). 

    Untethered. Walker Fine Art, 300 W. 11th Ave. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

    Nepali Art Reception. Aurora Public Library – Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora. 3-6 p.m. Free.

    Parallel Visions Opening Reception. D’art Gallery, 900 Santa Fe Drive. 4-9 p.m. Free.

    Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$28.52.

    Eat and drink

    *Huerta Urbana Farmers Market. Focus Points Family Resource Center, 2501 E. 48th Ave. 2-5 p.m. No cover.

    Italian Regional Cooking: Piedmont. Cook Street, 43 W. 9th Ave. 6-9:30 p.m. $132. Advanced registration required.

    A Night in Barcelona. Stir to Cooking School, 3215 Zuni St. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $120. Advanced registration required.

    Music and nightlife

    *Music in the Gardens. 17th Street Community Gardens, 1945 17th St. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

    Live Music: Tony Medina. The Local Drive Hangar, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora. 5-8 pm. Free.

    *Alley Soundscapes: Bottlerocket Hurricane and Andy & Lara. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 5-7 p.m. (Bottlerocket Hurricane) and 6-8 p.m. (Andy & Lara) Free.

    *Little Big Town. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    Uncle Lucius. Meow Wolf, 1338 First St. 8 p.m. $34.25.

    Want more live music? Check out the Indie 102.3 concert calendar.

    Sports and fitness

    Colorado Football Watch Party. Number Thirty Eight, 3560 Chestnut Place. 5 p.m. No cover.

    *Colorado Buffaloes vs. Georgia Tech. Folsom Field, 2400 Colorado Ave., Boulder. Watch on ESPN. 6 p.m. Prices vary.

    *Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs. Coors Field, 2001 Blake St. Watch on Rockies.TV, Channel 20 or 9News, or listen at 850 AM. 6:40 p.m. Prices vary.

    Saturday, Aug. 30

    Just for fun

    Raku Pottery Workshop. Friend Assembly, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (each class is one hour). $40.

    Nan Desu Kan – Japanese Culture Convention. Gaylord Resort & Convention Center, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora. 9 a.m.-midnight. $50 (Saturday only), $70 (weekend pass).

    Stay True – A Writing Workshop Series. Lighthouse Writers Workshop at Montbello Branch Library, 12955 Albrook Drive. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. 

    *Bright Nights. Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St. 7-11 p.m. $19-$48.

    Kids and family

    2theXtreme. Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 3 and under), $12.95 (children ages 4-16), $15.95 (active military and veterans, guests ages 65 and older), $19.95 (guests ages 17-64). Ideal for all ages.

    The Learning Lab: Camping. Ross-Broadway Branch Library, 33 E. Bayaud Ave. 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 5 and under, when accompanied by an adult.

    Kids Create. Athmar Park Branch Library, 1055 S. Tejon St. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Ideal for ages 5-12, when accompanied by an adult.

    Comedy and theater

    Sweet & Lucky: Echo. DCPA Off-Center at Broadway Park, 407 S. Broadway. 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Starting at $47.20 

    Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1400 Curtis St. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $56.64.

    Ms. Pat. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. $35-$45.

    Afterschool Power Hour. Chaos Bloom Theater, 70 S. Broadway. 7-8 p.m. $5. 

    Alex Edelman. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. $25-$35.

    Art, culture, and media

    Titanic: An Immersive Voyage. Exhibition Hub Art Center, 3900 Elati St. 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. $29.90-$49.90. (Read more about this exhibit here.)

    Ms. Destiny. Center for Colorado Women’s History, 1310 Bannock St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (members and guests ages 18 and under), $8 (guests ages 60 and older), $10 (guests ages 19-59).

    Expedition 1776: The Journey of Domínguez & Escalante. History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children and members), $15 (adults).

    Ink & Thread. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults). 

    The Future is Present, The Harbinger is Home. Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (visitors ages 18 and under), $11 (students), $14 (adults).

    Boulder Art Festival. Pearl Street Mall, Boulder. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. No cover.

    The Six: The Untold Story of the Titanic’s Chinese Survivors – Author and Panel Discussion. Molly Brown House Museum,1340 Pennsylvania St. 3 p.m. $10 (Historic Denver members), $15 (non-members), $35 (includes book).

    Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$28.52.

    Eat and drink

    *City Park Farmers Market. City Park Esplanade, 2551 E. Colfax Ave. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.

    *Cherry Creek Fresh Market. East side of Cherry Creek Shopping Center, on Steele Street next to Macy’s. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.

    King Arthur Baking Pop-Up. 2800 Walnut St., Suite 100. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. No cover.

    DTMF Coffee & Mimosa Party. Number Thirty Eight, 3560 Chestnut Place. 11 a.m. $22.13.

    15th Annual Mediterranean Festival. St. Elias Church, 7580 Pierce St., Arvada. Noon-10 p.m. $5 (before 4 p.m.), $10 (after 4 p.m.).

    Oktoberfest. Odyssey Beerwerks, 5535 W. 56th Ave., Arvada. Starting at 1 p.m. No cover.

    Music and nightlife

    *Big Something. Levitt Pavilion, 1380 W. Florida Ave. 6:30 p.m. Free (lawn seating), $52.57 (reserved section and one drink). Advanced registration recommended.

    Denver Municipal Band. The Savoy, 2700 Arapahoe St. 7 p.m. Free.

    *Chris Lake. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    Mehro. Meow Wolf, 1338 First St. 8 p.m. $29.25.

    Want more live music? Check out the Indie 102.3 concert calendar.

    Sports and fitness

    Rainforest Yoga. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 7:45 a.m. $15 (member), $18 (non-member). Advance registration required.

    *Bike Repair Clinic. Decker Branch Library, 1501 S. Logan St. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

    *Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs. Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., or watch on Rockies.TV or listen at 850 AM. 6:10 p.m. Prices vary.

    *Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids. Watch on Apple TV. 6:30 p.m.

    Sunday, Aug. 31

    Just for fun 

    Nan Desu Kan – Japanese Culture Convention. Gaylord Resort & Convention Center, 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd., Aurora. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $45 (Sunday only), $70 (weekend pass).

    Bingo. BarBox at Aspen Grove, 7301 S. Santa Fe Drive, Suite 860, Littleton. 4-6 p.m. No cover.

    *Bright Nights. Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St. 7-11 p.m. $19-$48.

    Kids and family

    Lazy Sunday Movie. Central Library, 10 W 14th Ave. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Ideal for ages 13-18.

    Kids Create. Central Library, 10 W 14th Ave. 4-4:30 p.m. Free. Ideal for ages 13-18.

    Family Game Night. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 4-9 p.m. Free. All ages.

    Comedy and theater

    Sweet & Lucky: Echo. DCPA Off-Center at Broadway Park, 407 S. Broadway. 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Starting at $53.10. 

    Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull. Garner Galleria Theatre, 1400 Curtis St. 2 p.m. $56.64.

    The Nasty Show. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7 p.m. $14.

    Interrogation: True Crime Stories. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $14.

    Art, culture, and media

    Titanic: An Immersive Voyage. Exhibition Hub Art Center, 3900 Elati St. 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. $29.90-$49.90. (Read more about this exhibit here.)

    Ms. Destiny. Center for Colorado Women’s History, 1310 Bannock St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (members and guests ages 18 and under), $8 (guests ages 60 and older), $10 (guests ages 19-59).

    Ink & Thread. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults). 

    Boulder Art Festival. Pearl Street Mall, Boulder. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover.

    2theXtreme. Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd. Noon-5 p.m. Free (children ages 3 and under), $12.95 (children ages 4-16), $15.95 (active military and veterans, guests ages 65 and older), $19.95 (guests ages 17-64).

    Eat and drink

    *People + Produce Farmers Market. Belleview Beer Garden, 6791 E. Chenango Ave. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.

    *South Pearl Farmers Market. 1400 and 1500 blocks of South Pearl Street between Iowa and Arkansas. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. No cover.

    *Lafayette Farmers Market. Downtown Lafayette, two blocks along Public Road between Cleveland and Geneseo streets. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover.

    Secret Coffee Party. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St., Suite 100. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $15.15-$20.22.

    Drag Queen Bingo Brunch. Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover.

    15th Annual Mediterranean Festival. St. Elias Church, 7580 Pierce St., Arvada. Noon-8 p.m. $5 (before 4 p.m.), $10 (after 4 p.m.).

    American Regional Cooking: California. Cook Street, 43 W. 9th Ave. 6-9:30 p.m. $132. Advanced registration required.

    Music and nightlife

    *Dustbowl Revival with Heavy Diamond Ring. Levitt Pavilion, 1380 W. Florida Ave. 5 p.m. Free (lawn seating), $42.28 (reserved section and one drink). Advanced registration recommended.

    *Gregory Alan Isakov. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    Want more live music? Check out the Indie 102.3 concert calendar.

    Sports and fitness

    Rainforest Yoga. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 7:45 a.m. $15 (member), $18 (non-member). Advance registration required.

    *Denver Broncos 7K. Empower Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St. Starting at 8 a.m. $34.09 (kids fun run), $60.83 (virtual 7K), $76.88 (7K)

    Introduction to Technique. Movement Golden, 700 Golden Ridge Road, Golden. 1-2:30 p.m. $60 (Movement member), $75 (nonmember). Advance registration required.

    *Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs. Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., or watch on Rockies.TV or listen at 850 AM. 1:10 p.m. Prices vary.

    Monday, Sept. 1

    Just for fun 

    *Labor Day Parade. Downtown Louisville, along Main Street between East Lafayette and Rex streets. Starting at 10 a.m. Free.

    Bowlero and Cars. Bowlero, 2530 E. County Line Road, Highlands Ranch. 5-7 p.m. Free.

    Kids and family

    Play and explore / juega y explora. Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Branch Library, 1498 Irving St. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 5 and under, when accompanied by an adult.

    Cuentacuentos para la familia. Westwood Branch Library, 1000 S. Lowell Blvd. 11:30-noon. Free. All ages, when accompanied by an adult.

    Art, culture, and media

    Titanic: An Immersive Voyage. Exhibition Hub Art Center, 3900 Elati St. 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. $26.90-$41.90. (Read more about this exhibit here.)

    Ms. Destiny. Center for Colorado Women’s History, 1310 Bannock St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free (members and guests ages 18 and under), $8 (guests ages 60 and older), $10 (guests ages 19-59).

    2theXtreme. Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 3 and under), $12.95 (children ages 4-16), $15.95 (active military and veterans, guests ages 65 and older), $19.95 (guests ages 17-64).

    Expedition 1776: The Journey of Domínguez & Escalante. History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children and members), $15 (adults).

    Ink & Thread. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $22-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $25-$30 (adults).

    Music and nightlife

    *Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts. Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Greenwood Village. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    *Gregory Alan Isakov. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    Want more live music? Check out the Indie 102.3 concert calendar.

    Sports and fitness

    *Labor Day Half Marathon. Salisbury Park, 11920 N. Motsenbocker Road, Parker. Starting at 7 a.m. $36 (5K, in advance), $40 (5K, day of), $50 (10K, in advance), $55 (10K, day of), $80 (half marathon, in advance), $85 (half marathon, day of).

    *Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants. Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., or watch on Rockies.TV or listen at 850 AM. 2:10 p.m. Prices vary.

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  • CU Boulder issues shelter-in-place amid reports of shots fired near Norlin Library

    The University of Colorado Boulder Police Department is investigating a report of shots fired near Norlin Library.

    According to a 5:28 p.m. alert from the campus, there were no signs of injuries or a suspect, but a shelter-in-place order for Main Campus issued at 4:54 p.m. remains in effect.

    CU earlier evacuated Norlin Library and Sewell Hall in a 5:16 p.m. alert.

    East Campus is not in a shelter in place at this time.

    People are asked to avoid the area.

    This is a developing story.

    Originally Published:

    Julia King

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  • CU’s Colorado Springs campus thought it could avoid Trump’s education crackdown. Here’s what happened

    By BYRON TAU, The Associated Press

    COLORADO SPRINGS — Administrators at the University of Colorado’s campus in Colorado Springs thought they stood a solid chance of dodging the Trump administration’s offensive on higher education.

    Located on a picturesque bluff with a stunning view of Pikes Peak, the school is far removed from the Ivy League colleges that have drawn President Donald Trump’s ire. Most of its students are commuters, getting degrees while holding down full-time jobs. Students and faculty alike describe the university, which is in a conservative part of a blue state, as politically subdued, if not apolitical.

    That optimism was misplaced.

    An Associated Press review of thousands of pages of emails from school officials, as well as interviews with students and professors, reveals that school leaders, teachers and students soon found themselves in the Republican administration’s crosshairs, forcing them to navigate what they described as an unprecedented and haphazard degree of change.

    Whether Washington has downsized government departments, clawed back or launched investigations into diversity programs or campus antisemitism, the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs has confronted many of the same challenges as elite universities across the nation.

    The school lost three major federal grants and found itself under investigation by Trump’s Education Department. In the hopes of avoiding that scrutiny, the university renamed websites and job titles, all while dealing with pressure from students, faculty and staff who wanted the school to take a more combative stance.

    “Uncertainty is compounding,” the school’s chancellor told faculty at a February meeting, according to minutes of the session. “And the speed of which orders are coming has been a bit of a shock.”

    The college declined to make any administrators available to be interviewed. A spokesman asked the AP to make clear that any professors or students interviewed in this story were speaking for themselves and not the institution. Several faculty members also asked for anonymity, either because they did not have tenure or they did not want to call unnecessary attention to themselves and their scholarship in the current political environment.

    “Like our colleagues across higher education, we’ve spent considerable time working to understand the new directives from the federal government,” the chancellor, Jennifer Sobanet, said in a statement provided to the AP.

    Students said they have been able to sense the stress being felt by school administrators and professors.

    “We have administrators that are feeling pressure, because we want to maintain our funding here. It’s been tense,” said Ava Knox, a rising junior who covers the university administration for the school newspaper.

    Faculty, she added, “want to be very careful about how they’re conducting their research and about how they’re addressing the student population. They are also beholden to this new set of kind of ever-changing guidelines and stipulations by the federal government.”

    A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

    Misplaced optimism

    Shortly after Trump won a second term in November, UCCS leaders were trying to gather information on the Republican’s plans. In December, Sobanet met the newly elected Republican congressman who represented the school’s district, a conservative one that Trump won with 53% of the vote. In her meeting notes obtained by the AP, the chancellor sketched out a scenario in which the college might avoid the drastic cuts and havoc under the incoming administration.

    “Research dollars –- hard to pull back grant dollars but Trump tried to pull back some last time. The money goes through Congress,” Sobanet wrote in notes prepared for the meeting. “Grant money will likely stay but just change how they are worded and what it will fund.”

    Sobanet also observed that dismantling the federal Education Department would require congressional authorization. That was unlikely, she suggested, given the U.S. Senate’s composition.

    Like many others, she did not fully anticipate how aggressively Trump would seek to transform the federal government.

    Conservatives’ desire to revamp higher education began well before Trump took office.

    They have long complained that universities have become bastions of liberal indoctrination and raucous protests. In 2023, Republicans in Congress had a contentious hearing with several Ivy League university leaders. Shortly after, the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania resigned. During the presidential campaign last fall, Trump criticized campus protests about Gaza, as well as what he said was a liberal bias in classrooms.

    His new administration opened investigations into alleged antisemitism at several universities. It froze more than $400 million in research grants and contracts at Columbia, along with more than $2.6 billion at Harvard. Columbia reached an agreement last month to pay $220 million to resolve the investigation.

    When Harvard filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s actions, his administration tried to block the school from enrolling international students. The Trump administration has also threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status.

    Northwestern University, Penn, Princeton and Cornell have seen big chunks of funding cut over how they dealt with protests about Israel’s war in Gaza or over the schools’ support for transgender athletes.

    Trump’s decision to target the wealthiest, most prestigious institutions provided some comfort to administrators at the approximately 4,000 other colleges and universities in the country.

    Most higher education students in the United States are educated at regional public universities or community colleges. Such schools have not typically drawn attention from culture warriors.

    Students and professors at UCCS hoped Trump’s crackdown would bypass the school and others like it.

    “You’ve got everyone — liberals, conservatives, middle of the road,” said Jeffrey Scholes, a professor in the philosophy department. “You just don’t see the kind of unrest and polarization that you see at other campuses.”

    The purse strings

    The federal government has lots of leverage over higher education. It provides about $60 billion a year to universities for research. In addition, a majority of students in the U.S. need grants and loans from various federal programs to help pay tuition and living expenses.

    This budget year, UCCS got about $19 million in research funding from a combination of federal, state and private sources. Though that is a relatively small portion of the school’s overall $369 million budget, the college has made a push in recent years to bolster its campus research program by taking advantage of grant money from government agencies such as the U.S. Defense Department and National Institutes for Health. The widespread federal grant cut could derail those efforts.

    School officials were dismayed when the Trump administration terminated research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Defense Department and the National Science Foundation, emails show. The grants funded programs in civics, cultural preservation and boosting women in technology fields.

    School administrators scrambled to contact federal officials to learn if other grants were on the chopping block, but they struggled to find answers, the records show.

    School officials repeatedly sought out the assistance of federal officials only to learn those officials were not sure what was happening as the Trump administration halted grant payments, fired thousands of employees and shuttered agencies.

    “The sky is falling” at NIH, a university official reported in notes on a call in which the school’s lobbyists were providing reports of what was happening in Washington.

    There are also concerns about other changes in Washington that will affect how students pay for college, according to interviews with faculty and education policy experts.

    While only Congress can fully abolish the U.S. Department of Education, the Trump administration has tried to dramatically cut back its staff and parcel out many of its functions to other agencies. The administration laid off nearly 1,400 employees, and problems have been reported in the systems that handle student loans. Management of student loans is expected to shift to another agency entirely.

    In addition, an early version of a major funding bill in Congress included major cuts to tuition grants. Though that provision did not make it into the law, Congress did cap loans for students seeking graduate degrees. That policy could have ripple effects in the coming years on institutions such as UCCS that rely on tuition dollars for their operating expenses.

    DEI and transgender issues hit campus

    To force change on campus, the Trump administration has begun investigations targeting diversity programs and efforts to combat antisemitism.

    The Education Department, for example, opened an investigation in March targeting a Ph.D. scholarship program that partnered with 45 universities, including UCCS, to expand opportunities to women and nonwhites in graduate education. The administration alleged the program was only open to certain nonwhite students and amounted to racial discrimination.

    “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news UCCS is included on the list” of schools being investigated, wrote Annie Larson, assistant vice president of federal relations and outreach for the entire University of Colorado system.

    “Oh wow, this is surprising,” wrote back Hillary Fouts, dean of the graduate school at UCCS.

    UCCS also struggled with how to handle executive orders, particularly those on transgender issues.

    In response to an order that aimed to revoke funds to schools that allowed transwomen to play women’s sports, UCCS began a review of its athletic programs. It determined it had no transgender athletes, the records show. University officials were also relieved to discover that only one school in their athletic conference was affected by the order, and UCCS rarely if ever had matches or games against that school.

    “We do not have any students impacted by this and don’t compete against any teams that we are aware of that will be impacted by this,” wrote the vice chancellor for student affairs to colleagues.

    Avoiding the spotlight

    The attacks led UCCS to take preemptive actions and to self-censor in the hopes of saving programs and avoiding the Trump administration’s spotlight.

    Emails show that the school’s legal counsel began looking at all the university’s websites and evaluating whether any scholarships might need to be reworded. The university changed the web address of its diversity initiatives from www.diversity.uccs.edu to www.belonging.uccs.edu.

    The Associated Press

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  • Opinion: Could Kamala Harris fix Colorado’s cannabis monopoly problem? – The Cannabist

    Opinion: Could Kamala Harris fix Colorado’s cannabis monopoly problem? – The Cannabist

    As the first Black person in America to be granted a license to open a dispensary, I have witnessed how the cannabis industry can empower entrepreneurs while also reinforcing systemic barriers. Now, with Vice President Kamala Harris pledging to legalize marijuana federally and ensure cannabis access becomes “the law of the land,” we must confront an issue that threatens to undermine the potential of this moment: monopolistic control over the industry.

    Vice President Harris has made it clear that her administration aims to “break down unjust legal barriers by legalizing marijuana nationally.” This pledge signals a long-overdue shift toward equity, justice, and the dismantling of the drug war’s harmful legacy.

    But we must also recognize that true equity cannot exist if the legal cannabis market is still controlled by a few powerful players, as is the case in Colorado. We cannot move into a post-prohibition climate with antitrust issues woven into the fabric of this new economy.

    Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

    The Cannabist Network

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  • Why vets recommend CBD to treat dogs with chronic pain and anxiety – The Cannabist

    Why vets recommend CBD to treat dogs with chronic pain and anxiety – The Cannabist

    Kristy Rosenberger swears by cannabidiol – more commonly known as CBD – not for herself, but for her dogs.

    Rosenberger was first introduced to CBD more than a decade ago when searching for something to help her dog, Punkie, who was anxious and epileptic. When thunderstorms rolled through, the Yorkie would whimper and shake. Rosenberger was afraid her behavior might trigger a seizure.

    Punkie’s neurologist recommended giving her CBD in combination with the dog’s seizure medication to sooth her symptoms. Rosenberger thought it couldn’t hurt to try, but was genuinely surprised when she noticed behavioral changes.

    Read the rest of this story on DenverPost.com.

    The Cannabist Network

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  • Travis Hunter Delivers Heisman Level Performance As Deion Sanders & Colorado Dominate Central Florida

    Travis Hunter Delivers Heisman Level Performance As Deion Sanders & Colorado Dominate Central Florida

    Travis Hunter – Source: Don Juan Moore / Getty

    Travis Hunter puts on a show in Central Florida during Colorado’s dominating win over UCF and takes over the Heisman conversation.

    Saturday’s during college football season are unpredictable and despite how good or bad a team is you have to watch just in case. Yesterday in central Florida we saw Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes give their first true dominate performance.

    Since Sanders became coach Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter have shined but we have yet to see the entire team click at a high level.

    Colorado won 48-21 and it was more of a coming out party and a huge I told you so. For those who thought Colorado wouldn’t be a problem, eyebrows were raised.

    Travis Hunter led the way and after a nice interception did the unthinkable hitting the Heisman pose in the end zone.

    Travis Hunter is undoubtedly the best player in college football and should be in the running for the trophy regardless of Colorado’s standing. However, down in Tuscaloosa, 17-year-old true freshman Ryan Williams is putting on a show every Saturday as well. It’s shaping up to be a back-and-forth battle between the two however Travis playing on offense and defense is just spectacular.

    Who has your vote in the Heisman race of 2024?

    Noah Williams

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  • New app connects Denver youth to resources they need – without law enforcement stigma – The Cannabist

    New app connects Denver youth to resources they need – without law enforcement stigma – The Cannabist

    A new app created by Denver youth and University of Colorado Boulder scholars allows users to anonymously report safety and wellbeing concerns to community organizations trained to help, without immediately involving law enforcement.

    The app, Power of One, was inspired by the 20-year-old Safe2Tell program that allows Colorado students and community members to report issues to local law enforcement anonymously. The new app offers an alternative for young people reluctant to talk to police.

    “Some historically marginalized communities have been reluctant to use Safe2Tell due to a strong code of silence, stigma associated with ‘snitching,’ concerns about possible retaliation and cynicism toward police,” said Beverly Kingston, director of CU Boulder’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. “We need ways to reach them, too.”

    Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

    The Cannabist Network

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  • How wildfire smoke, retardant slurry impact human health, environment – The Cannabist

    How wildfire smoke, retardant slurry impact human health, environment – The Cannabist

    While flames may be the most visual wildfire danger, experts say smoke and fire retardant slurry can have long-lasting effects on human health and the environment.

    New research has linked wildfire smoke exposure to higher rates of dementia, reproductive health issues and lung and heart disease, and forest service employees say the iconic, red fire retardant slurry dropped out of planes has been linked to thousands of fish kills.

    “There are hundreds of gases that are emitted from wildfire smoke, some of them in very, very small quantities,” National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist Rebecca Hornbrook said. “Some — like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides — are emitted in higher quantities, but some of those smaller quantity gases are actually even more toxic.”

    Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

    The Cannabist Network

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  • Opinion: Protesters came to our homes, with antisemitic chants to “globalize the intifada”

    Opinion: Protesters came to our homes, with antisemitic chants to “globalize the intifada”

    Having sniper-trained police in our neighborhoods to protect us and our homes was not anything we thought we would see when we were elected to the University of Colorado Board of Regents – an unpaid elected position.

    Yet, this was exactly what happened to both of us this month when a group of anti-Israel protesters came to both of our homes. We are extremely grateful to law enforcement for protecting us and our families, and we continue to be grateful to the many community members from all faiths and backgrounds who supported us during the protests at our home.

    Involving our families and our neighbors in protests at our homes is unacceptable, and is a tactic that we hope every leader, Democratic, Republican, or unaffiliated, can join in denouncing, as our colleagues on the CU Board of Regents did in a 9-0 vote.

    The agitators leading these protests say that the regents have not listened to or responded to them. They have been protesting on our campus since October, sharing their demands with multiple parties. They have come to CU Board of Regents meetings to speak in public sessions. They have emailed us.

    We have listened to them just as we do with any other group or individual. There is a difference between not listening and not agreeing. On May 16, 2024, the regents put out a statement that read, in part, “No regent is offering any policy changes in response to the demands.”

    As elected officials, we know all too well that you don’t demand things in a democracy. You make your arguments and hope people agree with you. We certainly hope we can all agree the amount of suffering happening in our world right now is unbearable. It is complex. It is unjust. Violence and pain inflicted upon babies, children, the elderly, and other innocent civilians is the worst of humanity.

    Criticism of Israel and/or of Hamas is acceptable and protected speech, and as regents, we encourage deep and complex debates about difficult topics because that is the role of an American university.

    A pro-Palestine demonstration continues on the Auraria Campus in Denver on April 29, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

    The decades-old Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement these protesters are part of, however, aims to dismantle the Jewish state and end the right to Jewish self-determination. The movement does not encourage people-to-people exchanges, dialogue opportunities, or interactions between those with opposing viewpoints.

    What we do not condone is purposely creating a dangerous environment for any student, staff, faculty – including Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, Christians and Arabs and atheists–  or any other member of our community.

    At both Denver Pride last week and in front of our homes, people changed racist phrases like “From the River to the Sea,” which has been used to call for Jews to be exterminated from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. This is unacceptable.

    They were chanting “Globalize the Intifada” and “Resistance by any means necessary” – both racist calls for the murder and displacement of Jews throughout the world – in front of our homes. This is especially deplorable in front of the Spiegels’ home, an American Jewish family who are descendants of Holocaust survivors.

    Much of the commentary and sloganeering used by the protesters oversimplifies an ancient history of a land that is in no way comparable to the United States, South Africa, or any other nation. The binary story that is being told results in the spread of disinformation, incites hate, and perpetuates dangerous antisemitic tropes.

    Finally, the fact that the protestors use overt displays of support for internationally recognized terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah in conjunction with anti-Israel protests is also unacceptable.

    Ilana Spiegel, Callie Rennison

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  • Odesza at Folsom Field ushers in a new concert era for CU Boulder – The Cannabist

    Odesza at Folsom Field ushers in a new concert era for CU Boulder – The Cannabist

    If anyone in Boulder hears a rumbling sound emanating from the University of Colorado Boulder campus this weekend, fear not. No volcano is brewing. It’s just the sound of Folsom Field gearing up to burst back into action.

    Crew members prepare for a concert as electronic duo Odesza will perform a sold-out show on Saturday at Folsom Field. (Steve Hurlbert/Courtesy photo)

    The renowned Buffs football stadium will turn into a vibrant musical venue on Saturday night when electronic musical duo Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight — aka Odesza — will perform a sold-out show to 40,000 fans from all around the country.

    Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

    The Cannabist Network

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  • Renck: In career defined by humor and fearlessness, broadcaster Vic Lombardi has left stamp on Colorado sports. “I am not supposed to be here.”

    Renck: In career defined by humor and fearlessness, broadcaster Vic Lombardi has left stamp on Colorado sports. “I am not supposed to be here.”

    Sports found Vic Lombardi. And he has spent his adult life finding ways to make it more fun and interesting for the rest of us.

    The son of Italian immigrants Ezio and Bambina, Lombardi did not speak English until around the age of 7. He remembers watching neighborhood kids play football, not knowing the rules, but joining the game anyway.

    “It was my way to assimilate into the culture. A way to be American,” recalled Lombardi, a TV and radio host for Altitude Sports. “It made me want to be part of something bigger. I thank sports for giving me a light.”

    By the age of 12, Lombardi found his purpose, enthralled by watching nightly sportscasts of Ron Zappolo, Les Shapiro and Tom Green. Sitting in front of his TV in North Denver, he promised himself that he would pursue a career in broadcasting.

    After more than three decades in the media, it is clear Lombardi made the right decision. Beyond having what he calls “the most punchable face in the Denver media for 25 years running” is a fearless interviewer, a journalist with a passion for storytelling and a reporter with a slapstick sense of humor.

    Lombardi’s excellence and longevity were honored as he was recently inducted into the Silver Circle of the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. It recognizes 25 years in the industry with a meaningful and significant contribution to broadcasting. Lombardi is the first sports-exclusive anchor in the group — an honor revealed to him by the Altitude crew in a surprise ceremony last week.

    What is it like to achieve the status of living legend?

    “I had no idea. I thought I was going to a cookout, so I was wearing cookout clothes,” Lombardi said. “I am humbled and flattered.”

    Lombardi’s greatest strength is being driven without losing his identity. He makes people laugh, he makes them mad and he makes them feel like they would like to hang out with him.

    “One of the most authentic TV anchors I have ever worked with, and someone who loved to get involved in his stories. Sometimes too involved,” said Tim Wieland, president and general manager of CBS Colorado. “His stories often included buying or breaking something. I eventually just created a line in my expense budget titled ‘Vic’ because I knew I’d need it for something.”

    Lombardi, 55, remains busy as the husband to wife, Terri, and father to son, Dante, and daughters Alexis and Isabella. Sports are never far from his reach. He golfs and plays a mean game of pick-up hoops — competitiveness and versatility that define his career.

    Troy Renck

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  • Auraria student organizers reject $15,000 donation offer to remove pro-Palestine encampment

    Auraria student organizers reject $15,000 donation offer to remove pro-Palestine encampment

    Auraria student organizers on Thursday rejected a proposal from campus officials to remove the week-old Denver encampment in exchange for a $15,000 donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

    In a letter posted online, campus leaders said a group of donors came forward with a “nonpartisan humanitarian solution to restore order to the Quad by removing the encampment.”

    The donation on behalf of Students for a Democratic Society was contingent on the pro-Palestine encampment being removed by 5 p.m. Thursday and for future protests to comply with campus policies, campus officials wrote.

    In posts on Instagram and X, SDS’s Denver chapter said campus administrators were trying to buy them out and students will not end the encampment until their demands are met.

    A second campus demonstration began in Colorado Springs on Thursday, where protesters set up an encampment on Colorado College’s Tava Quad.

    The encampment had at least 10 tents, student journalists at The Catalyst reported.

    An Instagram page for the encampment described it as a “community-liberated zone” in solidarity with Gaza and listed demands similar to those made by Auraria organizers, including transparency about the private college’s endowment, divestment from weapons companies and canceling summer study abroad trips in Israel.

    Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.

    Katie Langford

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  • Deion Sanders Grabs Ryan Garcia, Lil Wayne, YG & More For Colorado’s Annual ‘Black & Gold Weekend’

    Deion Sanders Grabs Ryan Garcia, Lil Wayne, YG & More For Colorado’s Annual ‘Black & Gold Weekend’

    Deion Sanders – Source: The Washington Post / Getty

    For the 2024 spring game and Colorado’s annual ‘Black & Gold’ weekend Deion Sanders enlists the help of YG, Ryan Garcia, and Lil Wayne.

    College football season is only a few months away which means teams are hosting their annual spring games to showcase new talent for the fans. Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes hope to build upon their previous 4-8 season which was a vast improvement from 2022’s 1-11 season.

    Colorado’s annual ‘Black & Gold Weekend’ has always been exciting for Buff fans but under Coach Prime, it has undergone serious upgrades.

    According to Fox Sports, Shedeur Sanders shined and the latest portal additions showcased an upgraded offense and defense.

    “I feel like we got all the negative energy out the building,” Shedeur Sanders said. “So now it’s just a positive vibe.”

    Shedeur didn’t shy away from addressing the massive reconstruction of the team and drama surrounding former #1 prospect Cormani McClain. McClain entered the transfer portal and immediately created a YouTube video to discuss his decision and Deion Sanders.

    After the business was handled on the field fans and the players enjoyed a concert headlined by Lil Wayne. Before Wayne hit the stage Shedeur blessed the crowd with a performance of his single “Perfect Timing”.

    Afterward, Ryan Garcia hit the stage with YG before Lil Wayne shut it down giving everyone a weekend to remember.

    You can watch a full recap of the entire concert below.

    Noah Williams

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  • Despite two police sweeps and a weekend snowstorm, the antiwar camp at the Auraria campus still stands

    Despite two police sweeps and a weekend snowstorm, the antiwar camp at the Auraria campus still stands

    Denver news

    Students are protesting the war in Gaza, as well as calling on the University of Colorado’s to divest from corporations that operate in Israel.

    Tents set up by students on Tivoli Quad at the Auraria Campus in Denver. April 28, 2024.

    Paolo Zialcita/CPR News

    Students protesting the war in Gaza are still camped out on the Auraria campus Sunday — even after 40 were arrested on Friday and an unexpected weekend snowstorm. 

    On Sunday morning, over 100 people were gathered around dozens of tents set up on the Auraria Campus’ Tivoli Quad. Since it formed on Thursday, the camp has expanded — campers have laid down tarps and torn-up cardboard to create makeshift paths over the mud brought by Saturday’s rain and snow, and a makeshift bathroom using privacy tents, buckets and cat litter has appeared on the perimeter. 

    Khalid Hamu, an organizer with the Students for a Democratic Society, said the camp has only grown stronger since Friday. 

    “We were able to get a lot of support from the campus and the surrounding community, and we’re still going strong,” he told Denverite Sunday. “We have systems in place that are solidifying a little bit. We have a lot more of a solid plan now.”

    Spirits were lifted Saturday, when longtime political activist, professor and author Angela Davis, who rose to prominence in the 1960’s for her involvement in civil rights and antiwar movements, visited the camp. Davis was in town for a private event at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. 

    “We were really happy for such a legendary civil rights activist to come and speak and talk about how there’s parallels between what’s happening today and what she did in the past,” Hamu said. 

    Students said they’re not going to budge until university leaders meet their demands

    A photo showing three large tents joined together and one smaller camping tent behind layers of cardboard laid on the ground.
    Following a spring snowstorm, protesters laid cardboard to create paths over a muddy Auraria Campus in Denver. April 28, 2024.
    Paolo Zialcita/CPR News

    The student organizers sent a list of demands to the University of Colorado on Thursday which included: a statement from the CU system “condemning the genocidal actions of Israel,” a meeting with CU Denver Chancellor Michelle Marks, divestment from any corporations operating in Israel, transparency around investments, and an end to University of Colorado study abroad programs in Israel. 

    The organizers also want CU’s administration to sever ties with and refuse grants from companies that contract with the U.S. military. 

    According to federal data, the University of Colorado Denver has accepted nearly $3 million in contracts with Israel since 2016.

    Student organizers said they haven’t heard from university officials as of Sunday morning. CU system officials have not responded to multiple requests for comment from CPR News and Denverite. 

    Harriet Falconetti, a CU student protestor who was arrested on Friday, said she’s prepared to camp out for as long as it takes. 

    “The only way that this is going to end is when CU and the Auraria campus meet our demands,” she said. 

    In a statement, the Auraria campus said it supported the free speech of students, however campus policy prohibited camping on premises due to health, safety and security considerations. 

    “While those who gathered at the onset of Thursday’s protest did so peacefully, some participants established an encampment as the demonstration progressed, which violates those policies,” another statement from campus officials said. “Campus administrators spoke with numerous protestors and advised them of our policy, including providing written copies.”

    Auraria students are joining a nationwide movement among college campuses

    Similar scenes are playing out across the United States, where students at other colleges are camping out to protest the war in Gaza. The camp-style protests first started in New York City’s Columbia University and quickly spread to campuses like the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Southern California.

    In many cases, universities have not bowed to student demands. However, Portland State University announced it would pause its connections to Boeing, which has a weapons manufacturing arm, until it could hold a campus-wide forum on the future of the partnership. 

    The Auraria campus — home to the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Community College of Denver — is so far the only Colorado campus to see students set up camps in protest of the war in Gaza. Hamu called on students at other campuses to start their own. 

    “I’m not exactly sure of the conditions of the other campuses in the state,” he said . “We’ve been able to see some wins and I just hope we can inspire other campuses to do the same because Columbia made the call nationwide and maybe we can make the call statewide.”

    Denverite reporters Kevin Beaty and Rebecca Tauber contributed to this report.

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  • Where to watch the CU Buffs face Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Sweet 16 rematch this weekend

    Where to watch the CU Buffs face Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Sweet 16 rematch this weekend

    Colorado guard Kindyll Wetta (15), Colorado guard Maddie Nolan (24) and Colorado guard Jaylyn Sherrod in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Boulder, Colo.

    David Zalubowski/AP Photo

    The rematch is set and the opposition is fierce, yet familiar, headed into the Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round this Saturday.

    The fifth-seed University of Colorado women’s basketball team will face the top-seed Iowa Hawkeyes, who are led by the NCAA men’s and women’s all-time leading scorer Caitlin Clark.

    The CU team will hope to avenge last year’s Sweet 16 outcome, bounced by the same Clark-led Iowa team in the 2023 tournament.

    Women’s sports and the Women’s March Madness tournament have been raking in record-setting viewership numbers as of late, and this match featuring the hometown CU team will be a must-watch.

    The game will kick off on Saturday, March 30, at 1:30 p.m.

    Here are seven places to catch this Saturday’s Colorado vs. Iowa matchup:

    Monkey Barrel

    Location: 4401 Tejon St.

    The Sunnyside neighborhood bar is hosting a CU vs. Iowa watch party equipped with a dog-friendly patio, outdoor televisions and a $9 burger and a Tivoli lager deal.

    The DNVR Sports Bar

    Location: 2239 E. Colfax Ave.

    The Colfax sports bar is curated for home team games and is also home to the DNVR sports podcast. The bar has hosted both men’s and women’s games all March Madness.

    Stadium Inn

    Location: 1701 E. Evans Ave.

    The University neighborhood dive bar with TVs and cheap drinks in the company of both neighborhood and college fans.

    Tight End Sports Bar

    Location: 1501 E. Colfax Ave.

    “Denver’s only gay sports bar” has shown March Madness games all month long, offering BOGO on wells, wines and beer from open to 8 p.m.

    Tom’s Watch Bar

    Location: 1601 19th St.

    The Ballpark sports bar features more than 100 HD screens, giveaways, emcees and watch party vibes.

    Lady Justice Brewing Company

    Location: 3242 S. Acoma St., Englewood, CO.

    Join The WNBA Club for a Colorado vs. Iowa watch party at the queer- and woman-owned brewery featuring a large dog-friendly patio.

    Esters Denver

    Location: 1950 S. Holly St.

    This one isn’t for the Buffs fans. Esters’ Virginia Village location is a dedicated Iowa Hawkeyes watch party location offering $5 and $6 beer specials as well as their regular brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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  • Judge orders competency evaluation for alleged CU Colorado Springs dorm shooter

    Judge orders competency evaluation for alleged CU Colorado Springs dorm shooter

    The 25-year-old man accused of fatally shooting two people in a University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus dorm room in February will undergo a competency evaluation, an El Paso County district court judge ordered Monday.

    Nicholas Trevon Jordan is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Feb. 16 deaths of his roommate, 24-year-old Samuel Knopp, and 26-year-old Celie Rain Montgomery of Pueblo.

    Police responded to the UCCS campus just before 6 a.m. on Feb. 16 when Jordan and Knopp’s other roommate called 911 after being awoken by gunshots, according to an arrest affidavit.

    Police found the bodies of Knopp and Montgomery, who was not a student at the university, with multiple gunshot wounds in Knopp’s room and Jordan’s room was emptied of his belongings.

    Jordan had previously threatened to kill Knopp over a dispute about trash in the dorm pod. He filed a request to withdraw from UCCS classes and housing the day before the shooting, according to an arrest affidavit.

    Katie Langford

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