Hannah Metzger

1 week ago | westword.com | Hannah Metzger

Amidst a national political climate that increasingly prioritizes personality over policy, Gerald "Jerry" DiTullio is asking Colorado voters to reconsider. The soon-to-be term-limited treasurer of Jefferson County is running to become Colorado's next state treasurer in 2026, but it's expected to be a crowded race. He's already facing two fellow Democrats — State Representative Brianna Titone and former El Paso County party chair John Mikos — with more challengers likely on the way.

1 week ago | westword.com | Hannah Metzger

Denver residents took 5.2 million rides on Lime's rentable bikes and e-scooters in 2024. Nearly half of those trips were taken for free. That was thanks to Lime Access, a program that lets users ride without cost if they receive city, state or federal subsidies like SNAP and Medicaid. Over 20,000 people are signed up for the program in Denver — an increase of around 1,200 percent from 2022, according to Lime. Those users accounted for 45 percent of last year's rides in the city.

2 weeks ago | westword.com | Hannah Metzger

A new Denver event wants to take the stress and anxiety out of first dates, one microdose at a time. Plant Magic Cafe hosts a Mushroom Matchup every other month, where dozens of singles participate in a mixer and speed dating session after taking small doses of psychedelic mushrooms. "The plant medicine component allows folks to experience connection on a different level," says Kryss Dutt, director of marketing and programming at Plant Magic.

2 weeks ago | westword.com | Hannah Metzger

“Colorado is for everyone, no matter who you are or who you love," Governor Jared Polis declared on April 7 after signing a bill to repeal obsolete language in the state constitution banning gay marriage. Senate Bill 25-014 implements a ballot measure passed by voters in November that removes a sentence from the Colorado Constitution that said only unions “of one man and one woman" are valid. The measure, Amendment J, received support from over 64 percent of voters.

2 weeks ago | westword.com | Hannah Metzger

Max Cortel started 2023 at rock bottom. He had just moved into the Denver Rescue Mission after his roommate attempted suicide, leaving Cortel homeless, unemployed and depressed. The emotional turmoil impacted his physical health, gaining weight until he was nearly 300 pounds. By the beginning of 2025, Cortel had lost 115 pounds, secured a job as a security dispatcher at Denver Health and set a global record for riding the most miles on Lime bikes in the early mornings of 2024.