Commentary
Why is the National Guard investigating peaceful protests?
By Alan Kennedy From Kent State to hovering helicopters, the National Guard has never had an easy relationship with peaceful protest and free speech. That was supposed to change after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain. Colorado’s top general, Maj. Gen. Michael Loh, wrote that we must “protect our fellow Americans as […]
Turn ‘tough on crime’ into ‘effective on crime’
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, the Colorado state Legislature passed sweeping bipartisan police reform. It took a mere 16 days to pass, yet it’s only the beginning. Today’s criminal justice system is not only steeped in racial and gender bias, it’s at odds with emerging science. A growing number of long-held practices are […]
Denver during the 1918 pandemic offers lessons for today
Coronavirus infection rates continue to rise, with the number of new cases climbing in dozens of states and the U.S. reporting record numbers of cases on individual days. Hospitalization across the U.S. has dramatically jumped; some cities are seeing surges that threaten to overwhelm their health care systems. Meanwhile, the demonstrations over the police killing […]
How can we be ‘safer at home’ without a home?
When I was 15 years old, my mom, my brother and I came home in Arizona to find an eviction notice on the door. If you receive an eviction notice, you’re entitled to a court hearing, but we didn’t know this at the time. We packed what we could, including our two dogs, into our […]
Americans more than America worthy of celebration
July 4th is supposed to be a celebration of American independence and, to a greater extent, America itself. In 2020, this is a fraught proposition. The year’s events have shaken many Americans’ faith in their country. Sixteen days into 2020, the U.S. Senate began its impeachment trial of Donald Trump, who is only the third […]
Coronavirus recovery requires end to environmental racism
By Alexis Schwartz “Safer at Home” they say. But all who are weathering the pandemic at home do not have the same level of safety; many people’s health has already been compromised precisely by the location of their residence. A lot of things are unknown about COVID-19, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Where […]
No, Colorado is not a progressive paradise
Colorado Democrats appear to have it all. Gov. Jared Polis’ popularity is on the rise, with broad public approval of his handling of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. His party holds a highly-coveted “trifecta” in the wake of a 2018 electoral wave that dealt Republicans a clobbering the likes of which we haven’t seen since the […]
Welcome to Colorado Newsline. We are here to serve you.
In preparing to launch Colorado Newsline, the question I heard more than any other was, “How will you fit in with all the other news outlets in Colorado?” Great question. And at first I didn’t have a good answer. But here, as part of this inaugural editor’s commentary, and by way of extending to you […]
How operatives use ‘dark tech’ to sway voters
With the 2020 general election underway, voters once again can expect to be inundated with ad hominem attacks for the next four months. But gone are the days of mass adverts and generic robocalls. Today’s political marketing is far more sophisticated. While campaigns have always relied on targeting voters, no election has ever been more […]