Tom Tancredo, the always-controversial former Colorado congressman who retired in 2008 and then ran for president on an anti-illegal immigration platform, is being pelted for his statements during the first-ever Tea Party convention, which took place over the weekend in Tennessee.

Tancredo slammed President Barack Obama, as well as fellow Republican John McCain, stating that the former was elected because “we do not have a civics literacy test before people can vote in this country,” a reference to a Jim Crow policy that once prevented blacks from being able to vote.

Tancredo seemed less interested, however, in turning the clock back to the days before the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and more interested in taking another shot at immigrants, hinting at one point that Obama’s supporters probably can’t even speak English (via Time).

Clarence Page at the Chicago Tribune dubs Tancredo the “Tea Party Crack Pot,” and even some conservatives, like former GOP House majority leader Dick Armey, who now runs Freedom Works, a group aligned with the Tea Party movement, see such rhetoric as counterproductive: “It feeds into the hands of the left and allows [the Tea Party] to be portrayed as people who are angry and accusatory, inflammatory.” (more…)

The once-mighty Qwest Communications “appears to be on the block,” writes The Denver Post, “with a growing number of Wall Street analysts speculating that the company is a prime acquisition target and senior management speaking more freely about consolidation.” Rumors that the Denver-based company—worth about $20 billion—could be swallowed by a corporate predator have been swirling for some time, but talk has turned increasingly serious in the past few weeks.

UBS analyst John Hodulik thinks “the final leg to the story comes in the form of M&A” (mergers and acquisitions). But what kind of company would cough up that kind of cash for a firm whose most valuable asset—phone landlines—is a dying business? The answer is smaller rural phone operators, such as CenturyLink and Windstream. Still, Qwest spokeswoman Diane Reberger declines to comment on that matter.

Meanwhile, Qwest is apparently intervening in what its customers are doing online, according to an article about Pueblo’s Cathi “Cat” Paradiso on CNET. Paradiso’s Internet service was suspended after Hollywood studios accused her of copyright violations when her account downloaded 18 films and TV shows, including Harry Potter films and South Park.

As a 53-year-old grandmother, she says she wasn’t watching the shows but rather was a victim of Internet siphoning. She fears if she is cut off by Qwest, she won’t be able to get service with any other providers. (more…)

The Denver metro-area’s vast light-rail dream took a step closer to reality as the Federal Transit Administration announced $304 million in loans to convert Denver Union Station into a regional commuter rail hub.

The FTA’s administrator, Peter Rogoff, says additional millions in grants for two commuter rail corridors—Denver International Airport and Arvada-Wheat Ridge—in President Barack Obama’s proposed 2011 budget should be taken as a clear signal that the region’s rail dreams are on track, notes Kevin Flynn at Inside Lane. Rogoff told a crowd of about 200 people at the Union Station transit platform the money would mean “thousands of jobs” locally.

The grants and loans are expected to spark a new round of development in LoDo, clearing a major obstacle that stood in the way of construction in the surrounding area, private developers claim. But the loan won’t exactly trigger a building spree in the difficult market for commercial projects, reports The Denver Post.

“Everybody knows that eventually Union Station will get developed, but this doesn’t automatically translate into real-estate development,” says Randy Nichols, president of Nichols Partnership. “The market dictates what can get built.” He adds, however, that the loan announcement gets “us over the hump.”

Photo courtesy denverunionstation.org.

It can be hard to convince people to consider their environmental footprint in a struggling economy. It’s hard to push, say, expensive solar panels while many folks are struggling to pay their utility bills.

So I raised an eyebrow when I heard about Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s “Take 5 for the Environment” pledge. Was he asking us to invest time and money we don’t have?

Fortunately, that’s not the case. Hick’s suggestions are not only affordable (many are free), but the impacts are so significant they’re tough to ignore. And they’re incredibly simple. (more…)

The announcement of inductees to the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame is a mixed bag for Denver Broncos fans. Floyd Little, a running back with the team from 1967-75, was up for his last shot at the honor—and finally made the cut. He tells The Denver Post (free registration required) he fell to the floor when he heard the news, relieved after 30 years of waiting for the distinction.

Little retired in 1975 as a decorated player. The six players ahead of him on the list are already in the Hall of Fame, and as the Post points out, all of them played on teams with much more stability from their quarterbacks and offensive lines.

But not all Broncos-related news from the Hall of Fame was good this weekend. Longtime tight end Shannon Sharpe retired in 2003 as his position’s all-time leader in touchdowns, catches, and receiving yards. He has three Super Bowl rings with two different teams and is one of the best smack-talkers of all time. But that apparently wasn’t enough to be inducted.

It was Sharpe’s second chance, and he tells the Post he’s disappointed, but Broncos owner Pat Bowlen isn’t as polite about the snub. (more…)

During yesterday’s Super Bowl advertising blitz, one commercial forever changed the game. It waded outside the usual bounds of provocative and fun, into the stuffy worlds of religion, morality, and politics, as Yahoo! Sports writes. Yet Focus on the Family’s ad featuring Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow wasn’t the no-holds-barred, anti-abortion screed many expected. Rather, the Colorado Springs evangelical group’s commercial was soft on the themes, pushing them nonetheless.

In the ad, Pam Tebow holds a baby photo of Tim, now 22, saying, “I call him my miracle baby. He almost didn’t make it into this world…. You know, with all our family’s been through, we have to be tough.” The tagline, “Celebrate Family. Celebrate Life,” refers viewers to Focus’ Web site.

NOW president Terry O’Neill rails against the ad: “I think CBS should be ashamed of itself,” she tells The Los Angeles Times. Entertainment Weekly’s Ken Tucker also launches some criticism at the ad, theorizing that “what we’re seeing here is FF backing away from a more aggressive statement in order to get its spots on CBS’ air. The result is classic bad advertising: The personalities on display distract from the message this deeply conservative organization wants to spread.”

Tucker adds that the real controversy is CBS’ decision to reject an ad from the gay dating service Mancrunch.com. “No matter how benignly phrased the Tebow ad is, it’s advertising for a conservative organization, as opposed to the rejected ad, with its presumed liberal politics.”

Every week we study dozens of menus looking for the rise of trends. Lately, we’ve noticed Brussels sprouts—long the bane of children and many adults—showing up on plates roasted, caramelized, deconstructed, and fried. And it seems the James Beard Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to celebrating America’s culinary culture, predicted the uptick.

Recent examples of knock-out dishes include Duo Restaurant’s Brussels sprouts, bacon, and apple ragoût (served alongside the arctic char); Opus Restaurant’s sea scallops with crispy pancetta and cranberry-dusted sprouts; Shazz Cafe and Bar’s savory Brussels sprouts leaf salad with roast sweet potato, confit mushrooms, a poached heritage egg, and bacon-balsamic vinaigrette; and Table 6’s addictive fried Brussels sprouts with Parmesan, lemon, and truffle oil.

As further proof, recently at 50 Top (an underground, chef-driven supper club in Denver), three of 15 recent dishes contained the cruciferous veggie. (My favorite was Troy Guard’s inventive duck-fat-roasted sprouts and fingerling potatoes spooned with heady banana curry.)

Tip: The vegetable’s season is coming to an end, so don’t delay in making chef David Chang’s spicy Brussels sprouts with mint, a no-fail recipe that ran in the November 2009 issue of Food & Wine magazine.

Duo Restaurant, 2413 W. 32nd Ave., 303-477-4141

Opus Restaurant, 2575 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-703-6787

Shazz Cafe and Bar, 4262 Lowell Blvd., 303-477-1407

Table 6, 609 Corona St., 303-831-8800

A loud boom thundered about 8,000 feet above Boulder Saturday as two small planes collided, killing three people: pilot Bob Matthews, 58, a longtime Boulder lawyer, his brother, Mark A. Matthews, 56, and Evergreen pilot Alexander Howard Gilmer, 25. Bob Matthews’ Cirrus SR20 plane crashed with the Piper Pawnee that Gilmer used to tow a Schweizer 2-32 glider. Rueben Bakker, the pilot of the glider, and his two passengers, a woman and her 11-year-old son, survived.

Bakker saw the Matthews’ plane “out of the corner of his eye,” says Jennifer Rodi, the National Transportation Safety Board’s lead investigator, and cut the tow line just in time, navigating through a ball of flame and landing safely at Boulder Municipal Airport about three miles southeast of the crash site, reports the Daily Camera.

Meanwhile, families and friends are mourning the three who lost their lives.

“He was your classic great guy,” Neal Cohen, a law partner of Bob Matthews, says of his friend. “He was the center of gravity for his friends. He was devoted to his family. We’re all just incredibly stunned.”

With no black box data, investigators are left to rely on video, photos, and witnesses’ testimony to determine what led to the crash (via The Associated Press). They also have some radar information from the Cirrus plane for their probe, which could last six to nine months, notes 9News, although a preliminary report could be issued much sooner.

Béla Fleck and the Africa Project, Boulder Theater
Monday, February 8 | Details | Read more

Banjo master Béla Fleck explores his instrument’s African roots in the documentary film and soundtrack Throw Down Your Heart. Witness Fleck continue his musical journey onstage as he picks along with some of Africa’s finest musicians.

This weekend was an important one for the Denver Nuggets, even though they came out on top in only one of two games. They started things off right in Los Angeles Friday night, smacking the Lakers 126-113 and pulling within three games behind L.A. for the top spot in the Western Conference. It was a great game for the Nuggets, with All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups raining three-pointers and other players stepping up big (recap via Denver Stiffs).

Saturday night wasn’t as good, however, as the Nuggets fell 116-106 to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. The Denver Post points out that at one point Johan Petro, Malik Allen, J.R. Smith, and Joey Graham—who, besides Smith, are all reserves and generally see little playing time—were on the floor together in the game’s fourth quarter. It proves how good this team could be if all our players were healthy and suiting up every game.

The Jazz game marked the seventh consecutive contest missed by star forward Carmelo Anthony, who is still hobbled by a sprained left ankle. Coach George Karl says Melo should be back by Tuesday, but his return has been unsuccessfully projected at other points over the last few games. Billups also tweaked his ankle during the Lakers game Friday night, missing the Jazz game. Other players dealing with injuries: Chris “Birdman” Anderson (knee), Aaron Afflalo (ankle), and Nene (left foot).

Let’s hope the Nuggets can get healthy for tomorrow night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, one of the Western Conference’s most potent teams. A peek at the current NBA standings shows that Dallas sits just three games behind the Nuggets and is a likely playoff foe.

William Barnason, a 57-year-old man who was released from prison in 2001 after serving more than 14 years for the rapes of three Long Island girls, had the keys to more than 50 apartments in New York City as the superintendent. But after being exposed by news reporters, Barnason’s keys have been taken away by the landlord (via the New York Post).

National outlets are dissecting the drama, while a couple of Colorado’s own sex offenders make local headlines for similar reasons.

Edward Quintana, the 65-year-old housekeeping manager at the Sleep Inn near Denver International Airport, is another offender who was allowed access to private rooms. Quintana was fired after 9News‘ Kyle Clark raised questions about the housekeeper’s several misdemeanor sex crime convictions. Eric Lee, the hotel’s owner, admits he hadn’t been aware of Quintana’s past: “I’m just dumbfounded.”

Moreover, the news station found that motel employees do not face criminal background checks. In January, Aurora police investigated a report that Quintana sexually assaulted a special needs student involved in a job-training program at the motel, but police are not seeking charges because they don’t believe an assault took place.

Meanwhile, at Colorado State University, Thomas Skillman, a sex offender who admitted to abusing a middle school student while working in the Poudre School District, was asked to move out of on-campus housing he shares with his girlfriend, according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

Colorado’s top Democratic politicians will gather in Washington, D.C., next week for a fundraiser to back the gubernatorial campaign of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, reports Politico. With suggested contributions of $250 to $1,050 a pop, Hickenlooper’s campaign is sure to get a needed jolt.

Hick was coy about his views on the latest hot issue in the state: whether tax exemptions should be eliminated to salvage the state budget. Hickenlooper told yesterday’s 760-AM morning listeners he prefers not to insert himself into other elected lawmakers’ business (listen to the podcast).

Meanwhile, Scott McInnis, a leading Republican candidate for governor, has taken the advice of Denver’s Patti Shyne, an image coach who has worked with dozens of celebrities, by ditching his mustache and John Denver-style glasses, notes The Denver Post.

McInnis recently met with about 40 members of the metro area Tea Party but made it clear that he is a Republican and not a “Tea Party” candidate, as Neil Cavuto labeled him (via Fox 31).

“We called them after the interview and said, ‘Wait a minute, where did you come up with that?’” McInnis told the group.

I’m very happy to report that Maximillian Potter’s “The Great Buffalo Caper,” which appeared in our January 2009 issue, has been selected to appear in The Best American Crime Reporting 2010, to be published by Ecco later this year. This is the second time Max’s work has been included in the anthology; the first was for “The Body Farm,” which was written while he was a staff writer at GQ, and appeared in the 2003 edition of Best American Crime Reporting.

5280’s inclusion in these kinds of best-of collections seems to be happening with increasing frequency. “Dan Hawkins and the Power of Positive Thinking,” our profile of the beleaguered CU football coach, was recently cited in The Best American Sportswriting 2009. And Mike Kessler’s “Out in the Cold,” was featured in 2008’s The Best American Magazine Writing.

Congratulations to Max and our entire editorial team!

As Democrats face criticism from business leaders for pushing several bills that would end a variety of tax exemptions to help reap the cash-strapped state millions of dollars in revenue and prevent deeper cuts to areas like education, Republicans are renewing their pleas for more budget slashing.

Colorado, Senate Republicans argue, could forgo the elimination of some $150 million in tax exemptions and credits if lawmakers instead cut state payroll costs by 4.4 percent. The proposal, outlined in the Denver Business Journal, will soon be introduced as a bill, setting the stage for a political battle in which GOP politicians claim they are attempting to save some 15,000 jobs across the state.

At least one leading Senate Democrat is already calling the proposal, which could require the elimination of some government jobs, dead.

Meanwhile, in a column on AlterNet, Denver-based political journalist and commentator David Sirota chides politicians across the state for their desire to cut government to the bone, pointing to Colorado Springs as an example of what happens when tax reductions go too far.

“Inevitably, anti-tax zealots will attempt to obscure what this choice is about—but the choice is now crystal clear. Tax reform or draconian cuts, life or death—the decision is ours,” he writes.

Like most people, I hate being proven wrong—except when it comes to one thing: beer. And New Belgium Brewing Company has done it to me again.

As I’ve noted here before, I’d never been a fan of New Belgium’s beers until the release of Hoptober last fall. The brewery’s offerings always hit my palate as too sticky-sweet. But after trying the brand-new Ranger IPA, I find myself doing virtual PR, sending out texts asking if friends have tried it and g-chatting unsolicited reviews.

Ranger, I’ve been crowing to anyone who will listen, is a completely crisp, clean IPA. While I don’t tend to love the malts New Belgium uses, this hoppy brew is notably balanced using multiple hops: Cascade (which have a citrus flavor), Chinook (floral aromas and citrus flavors), and Simcoe (fruity).

The beer will be offered year-round as a part of New Belgium’s lineup. Congrats to the brewery for keeping this new convert: I’m officially on Team Ranger.

As state Representative Kent Lambert of Colorado Springs pushed the idea of taking severance-tax revenue from the extraction of gold and other precious metals to buy bars of gold for Colorado’s rainy days, a problem with the gold over his head lingered.

The Colorado state Capitol building’s gilded dome “has fallen into serious disrepair,” writes the nonprofit Colorado Preservation Inc., and the state can’t afford the costs—$30 million by some estimates—of fixing it (via the Denver Business Journal).

While such observations of the dome’s damage are certainly not new, the preservation group’s assessment is harsh, making it seem as if safety inspectors could walk in any day now and shutter the dome.

“The cast-iron superstructure is rusting to the point that an architectural inspection team declared that ‘the potential loss of strength as a result of deterioration is a significant hazard to the building and its occupants,’” the group says, citing a 10-pound chunk of iron that crashed from the dome in 2007.

Who’s to blame? Politicians, of course. Last year, the Colorado State Historical Fund approved a $3 million grant to get repairs started, but state lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement to contribute $8 million in matching funds. The group, which issued a list of several other “most endangered places” in 2010, such as Elkhorn Lodge in Estes Park, is now lobbying lawmakers to support repairs to the dome.

Republic Airways, which recently purchased Frontier Airlines, plans to shut down regional carrier Lynx Aviation later this year. Lynx employees have been told that Republic aims to replace Lynx turboprop planes at Denver International Airport with small jets that will be flown by Republic pilots, reports The Denver Post.

Of Lynx’s 400 employees, 175 in all will be furloughed starting in April. The remaining employees will be let go in September, but company spokesman Peter Kowalchuk says those employees will be given priority hiring for any positions within the Republic network.

Lynx launched in December 2007 as a subsidiary of Frontier before Frontier became a subsidiary of Republic in an acquisition that rescued Frontier from bankruptcy last year. “Lynx” refers to one of the tail animals—”Larry the Lynx”—and the carrier connects smaller airports with the main Denver hub.

Republic says it will maintain most of Lynx’s current routes but will end service between Denver and Fargo, North Dakota, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, notes the Denver Business Journal.

Local athletes and politicians may capture much of the national spotlight when it shines on Denver, but I’m more interested in our fashion community’s reality TV debuts. Right now my eyes are on Matthew Morris as he takes his star turn on season three of Bravo’s hairstyling competition, Shear Genius.

Follow our determined and talented hero as he avoids the creative pitfalls developed by the celebrity judges, as well as the general bitchiness of the other contestants.

If you missed the recent premier, catch up on all the cutting, styling, and backstabbing at bravotv.com/shear-genius.

Shear Genius, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Bravo.

Matthew Morris Salon, 277 Broadway, Ste D., 303-715-4673, matthewmorrissalon.com.

Denver’s Nate Marquardt isn’t incredibly imposing at six feet tall and 185 pounds, but the guy is a bruiser and will likely prove it again tomorrow during the Ultimate Fighting Championship 109 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The mixed-martial-arts fighter is looking to take the top middleweight spot, if he can get past Oregon’s Chael Sonnen.

Marquardt tells The Denver Post he’s evolved and is prepared to lay it all on the line. In the past, he says, he fought conservatively, looking to simply earn a decision. Now? It’s all about going after knockouts and submissions. If he can accomplish that against Sonnen, he’ll earn a rematch of the 2007 middleweight title bout against Brazil’s Anderson Silva.

Bleacher Report calls Marquardt “the great one,” noting that he’s better in virtually every aspect of mixed martial arts except classic wrestling, and adding that he’s a “lethal, all around warrior.”

But Sonnen is no pushover. He’s also just one fight away from a title bout, and Bleacher Report writes that he’s in a “kill or be killed” mind frame. Sonnen is an interesting character in his own right, recently unveiling his Republican candidacy for a state legislative seat in Oregon (via USA Today).

In another article, USA Today calls the Marquardt-Sonnen bout the most impressive on the card. The paper has Marquardt ranked as the number two MMA fighter in the UFC, although it points out that both fighters have broad arsenals.

DINR (Denver Independent Network of Restaurants) is offering 18 reasons to take your sweetie—or your sassy single self—out for a cocktail. Between now and February 14, participating eateries are competing for the best love-inspired sip. And you get to vote for your favorite.

Swill Avenue Grill’s smooth Casanova (a blend of Milagro Silver tequila, Rosa Regale, fresh lime, house-made grenadine, Navan, egg white, and a dehydrated-strawberry garnish), or sip Root Down’s playful Hot Sticky Love (made with agave nectar, lemon juice, orange bitters, Hanger One Fraser River Raspberry vodka, Hangar One Chipotle vodka, cranberry juice, and a sage leaf).

One of my picks (along with Westword’s Lori Midson and Patty Calhoun, I’m also judging the contest) is the Bitter Blush from Jonesy’s EatBar. This pretty—and potent—mix of Leopold Bros. gin, hibiscus syrup, Cointreau, lemon juice, and Fee Brothers rhubarb bitters is shaken, strained over ice, and garnished with a lemon and dried hibiscus flower.

Jonesy’s owner Leigh Jones explains: “We didn’t want anything too sweet or girlish, so Leopold’s gin as our base was a natural choice.” As for the name, they opted for something edgy–something more anti-Valentine’s Day. As further inspiration, Jones e-mailed me the following haiku: (more…)