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Michael Roberts

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword‘s news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor’s degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master’s degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

michaelrobertscolo@gmail.com

Activist: In Trump Age, Verbal Racism Aimed at Denver Kids of Color Is Rising

By Michael Roberts

Donald Trump certainly didn’t invent racism. But since Trump’s election this past November, verbally racist attacks hurled at Denver kids of color are on the rise, sources tell Westword. Even before this week’s release of executive orders calling for tougher immigration enforcement, local children of Latino or African descent riding on buses, gathering in public spaces or even playing against white opponents in school-sanctioned sporting events were hearing hateful comments about deportation and more whether they’re U.S. citizens or not. Such remarks, from young and old alike, may have been whispered in the past, but now, they’re increasingly being announced loud and proud, as if the speakers feel empowered by the assumption that the nation’s president feels the same way they do.

Why CU Denver, Winter Park Won’t Let Their Ads Appear on Breitbart News

By Michael Roberts

Breitbart News, the online spawning ground of Steve Bannon, a powerful adviser for President Donald Trump, is an alt-right outlet pilloried by critics for what they see as racism, sexism and the sort of vile invective spewed by Milo Yiannopoulos, who resigned from his gig as editor of Breitbart Tech yesterday after video surfaced of him defending sexual relationships between adult men and thirteen-year-old boys. It’s also the target of a Twitter campaign intended to convince advertisers not to support the site. But while the University of Colorado Denver and Winter Park ski area are among several Colorado enterprises to have removed Breitbart from their media plans, representatives of both say they’re not trying to make a political statement.

Anti-Topless Rule Stripped, All Nipples in Fort Collins Are Free

By Michael Roberts

Since 2015, an organization now called Free the Nipple Fort Collins has fought to remove the words “the breast or breasts of a female” from the community’s public-indecency ordinance. Now, a federal judge has issued an injunction against the city over the rule on Constitutional grounds, essentially killing it.

Judge Disagrees That Child-Abusing Ex-Cop Jeremy Yachik Isn’t a Threat

By Michael Roberts

Former Berthoud police officer Jeremy Yachik has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for two counts of child-sex abuse. He will serve sixteen years for each offense. His victims in these crimes have not been publicly identified, but Yachik made a statement in court that he is “very open to treatment, and very remorseful of past decisions that have affected my family…. I’m definitely not a threat to anyone.”

Bronco Emmanuel Sanders’s Wife, Gabriella, Calls Him a Cheating Horndog

By Michael Roberts

Beneath the gorgeous and glamorous public image of Gabriella and Emmanuel Sanders roiled a marriage in deep trouble. This past October, Gabriella filed for divorce, and now, in court documents obtained by TMZ, she accuses Emmanuel of cheating on her multiple times, spending big on his conquests and lying to the Broncos about attending the birth of his child so that he could party instead of practice.

Ever Valles’s Deportation Status Before Light-Rail Killing Goes National

By Michael Roberts

Ever Valles, one of two men arrested after the February 7 RTD light-rail station murder of Tim Cruz, is due in court today after being formally charged with murder and more by the Denver District Attorney’s Office. The case has garnered national attention, especially in the conservative press, thanks to the revelation that Valles, who’s from Mexico, was released by the Denver Sheriff Department in December 2016 after his arrest for another crime despite him being targeted for deportation.

See Memo About Using National Guard to Find the Undocumented in Colorado

By Michael Roberts

A memo sent under the name of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and shared below says that National Guard troops could be deployed in Colorado to round up immigrants. And while the spokesman for President Donald Trump has declared the document to be “not true,” the prospect of troops known in Colorado for actions like helping victims of the 2013 Lyons flood being used for such a purpose is likely to send shock waves through the community.

Sports Anchors Like Drew Soicher Will Be a Thing of the Past for 9News

By Michael Roberts

In late December, mere weeks after 9News anchor Adele Arakawa announced that she would be leaving the station in June 2017 while blasting a blog post that had predicted her exit, the outlet’s longtime sportscaster, Drew Soicher, disappeared from its airwaves. Since then, a permanent replacement for Soicher hasn’t been announced, and there’s no plan to name one in the future.

See Peyton Manning Pitch Gazebos and Sheds on Modern Family

By Michael Roberts

Sure, Tom Brady just won his fifth Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. But even though he’s now retired and can claim a mere two NFL titles, former Denver Broncos superstar Peyton Manning is still winning 2017 thanks to his starring role in a slew of hilarious commercials, including one delivered during last night’s edition of the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family for gazebos and sheds.

Day Without Immigrants: Jeanette Vizguerra’s Sanctuary Story Goes National

By Michael Roberts

Jeanette Vizguerra is well-known to Westword readers as a symbol of the fight for immigrant rights thanks to her years-long struggles to stay in this country with her four children; three of them are U.S. citizens, while the fourth is a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Now, Vizguerra is taking on the same role nationally. Media outlets ranging from Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC program to National Public Radio are covering her entry into sanctuary at Denver’s First Unitarian Church in an effort to avoid deportation.

Academic Evidence That Colorado Sucks at Romance

By Michael Roberts

In the period leading up to Valentine’s Day, the Internet spits out list after list about the most romantic places across the country. But “Is Virginia for Lovers? Geographic Variation in Adult Attachment Orientation” stands out from the pack.

Five Years Later, Too-Sexy-For-Her-Yearbook Sydney Spies Is All Grown Up

By Michael Roberts

Believe it or not, it’s been five years since then-Durango High School student Sydney Spies was thrust into the national spotlight, making appearances on the Today show and numerous other outlets after her senior pictures were rejected for inclusion in the DHS yearbook after being deemed too sexy. And she’s got plenty to say about the experience and everything that’s followed.