Our Most Popular Longform Stories of 2013

Final Bell

By Robert Sanchez (December)

Frank DeAngelis has been in charge of Columbine High School since the mass shooting there nearly 15 years ago. That’s about to change.

Fragile

By Chris Outcalt (October)

When Jillian Groh checked in to the downtown Westin Hotel one cold night almost seven years ago, everything felt certain. Then things changed forever.

Escape

By Natasha Gardner (May)

Each year, more than 18,000 victims of domestic violence call SafeHouse Denver’s hot line. Meet one of them.

Will.

By Robert Sanchez (April)

For more than a month this past summer, a 28-year-old man from Colorado Springs survived alone in the southern Utah desert on little more than plant roots and river water. Will LaFever was on a personal journey to repair a life broken by misunderstanding and misfortune. Fixing himself, though, might cost him everything.

Whoomp! (There It Was)

By Robert Sanchez (June)

Twenty years ago, two guys from North Denver released one of the most popular rap singles of all time. An inside look at the weird, wild ride of DC the Brain Supreme and Steve Rolln, hip-hop’s ultimate one-hit wonders.

Rude Awakening

By Natasha Gardner (October)

In Colorado and nationwide, girls are starting puberty earlier and earlier. But the real concerns begin once they grow up.

Dudley Brown’s War

By Eli Stokols (August)

The executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners has been aiming to remake Colorado politics using hyper-aggressive and confrontational political strategies.

Bill Koch’s Wild West Adventure

By Kelley McMillan (February)

The controversial businessman is building an Old West town near Paonia that’s a full-scale reproduction of a 19th-century settlement. But is the town simply the project of an eccentric billionaire, or is there more to the story? 5280 got an exclusive look at the controversial project—and spoke with the man behind the classic Western dustup.

Riders on the Storm

By Natasha Gardner (December)

Colorado has pumped nearly $25 million into mental health crisis care since the Aurora theater shooting in 2012. Those on the front lines of this battle know it isn’t nearly enough, but they’ll take all the help they can get.

In Defense of Big Dreams

By Lindsey B. Koehler (August)

Colorado native Mitch Unrein finally got the chance to be a Bronco—now all he has to do is keep the job.