Denver, CO

Denver gets first Little Free Library filled with books by Indigenous authors

Published

2 years ago

June 14, 2024

Denver gets first Little Free Library filled with books by Indigenous authors

DENVER — Across Denver, dozens of Little Free Library stands make books available to communities that otherwise wouldn’t have access. A new location in the Westwood neighborhood, outside of the Denver Indian Center, is now offering a selection of books as diverse as the kids who will read them.

Little Free Library, in partnership with Crayola and HarperCollins’ imprint for Indigenous authors known as Heartdrum, donated the new book stand and a collection of children’s and young adult books written by Black, Indigenous and People of Color authors.

The Denver Indian Center, an urban cultural gathering place that offers resources to the local American Indian and Alaska Native community, requested for the new library box to be installed in front of their building.

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“They will be the first ones in Denver with an Indigenous library,” said Talia Miracle, who runs Little Free Library’s Indigenous Library Program. “Tribal communities sometimes don’t have great access to books and literacy resources. So, the program was really intended to just be able to provide those resources where they’re most needed,” Miracle said.

Drew Smith, Denver7

The new Little Free Library is installed just outside of the Denver Indian Center in Westwood.

The books will include We Are Water Protectors, Firekeeper’s Daughter and Rez Ball, written by Byron Graves, who grew up on an Indian reservation and now lives in Denver.

Graves said as a child, he didn’t see himself portrayed in books.

“When I was in high school, and they were getting me to try to understand Shakespeare, it made me not like reading,” Graves said. “It’s really important to show kids that the books that represent them are out there.”

That’s why he wrote Rez Ball.

Byron Graves reading Rez Ball — Byron Graves introduces young people to Rez Ball through book readings and conversations on social media.

“One of the best writing tips you’ll ever get is write what you know,” he said. “I grew up playing basketball. I grew up on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota.”

Once Graves decided to capture that unique experience in writing, “the book just kind of poured out of me,” he said.

“Basketball on a lot of Indigenous reservations is everything,” he said. “You’re playing in packed gymnasiums and the energy and the excitement and being able to go anywhere on your reservation and have people support you and high five you.”

Byron Graves playing basketball — Byron Graves harnessed his experience playing basketball to inspire his storytelling.

It’s an excitement he harnessed to draw young readers into his book. And by portraying his own experience, he hopes to show that Indigenous people are diverse and very much still present.

“We’re not just a homogenous group,” he said. “Every tribe has their own language, their own culture, their own history. And we’re not dead, we’re here.”

Rez Ball has won the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award and the American Library Association William C. Morris Debut Award. But Graves said the recognition that means the most comes from readers who finally feel represented.

“It was an afro-indigenous kid on the reservation where I’m from,” Graves said. “He came up to me and he said, ‘I never thought I would see myself in a book, and one of the characters in your book, that’s me.’”

But even with inclusive books like his more widely published now, access is still a challenge.

“On a lot of Indian reservations or in a lot of Indigenous communities, we don’t have a lot of public library access,” he said. “The cool thing with Little Free Libraries is it promotes literacy, and it makes the accessibility of books easier to get to.”

With a new location in Westwood, books like his will be even more accessible.

“I was writing Rez Ball for not only Indigenous readers, but reluctant readers,” Graves said. “And if they can start reading one book, like Rez Ball, then hopefully they go grab another book.”

See an interactive map of Little Free Library locations below, courtesy of LittleFreeLibrary.com

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Denver, CO

Over 400 consumers file complaints over contaminated fuel at Denver-area gas stations

Published

5 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Over 400 consumers file complaints over contaminated fuel at Denver-area gas stations

More than 400 consumers have filed complaints with the Division of Oil and Public Safety after a contaminated fuel mix was distributed to several gas stations across the Denver metro area last week.

Consumers quickly turned to social media and OPS for answers after learning that diesel fuel was mixed with regular unleaded gasoline and distributed to gas stations operated by Costco, Murphy Express and King Soopers. At least 13 King Soopers gas stations were affected.

State officials said the contaminated fuel originated from the HF Sinclair terminal in Henderson, and was then sent out to “numerous” gas stations. The fuel was distributed to the gas stations between 2 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday.

“OPS continues to log and process these complaints,” the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment wrote in an email to The Post on Monday evening.

“Inspections and fuel sample testing remain ongoing with a focus on smaller locations that may not have as robust of a claims filing process. All retailers are being encouraged to honor customer claims.”

OPS said it has also requested that Sinclair produce a list of retailers that received the contaminated fuel from the HF Sinclair terminal in Henderson.

Sinclair has not yet produced such a list, but OPS said it is hopeful Sinclair will release a list in the coming days.

Consumers who have been impacted are encouraged to contact their point of sale to start a reimbursement process. Individual gas stations will work with each customer through their specific claims process.

Those affected are encouraged to keep all receipts and repair records.

To file a complaint, call 303-866-4967 or fill out a consumer complaint form and email it to cdle_oil_inspection@state.co.us.

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Denver, CO

Broncos healthy compared to Bills

Published

18 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

With the Wild Card round of the playoffs officially in the books, the Broncos are looking to welcome the Buffalo Bills to Mile High this Sunday. Things are different this year than they were last year. The Broncos are no longer a team just happy to be there. They’re a 1-seed juggernaut of football awesome, a real force to be reckoned with.

Truth be told, I think playing the Bills was the most ideal outcome for this weekend. After losing to each during the regular season, Denver wanted nothing to do with the Jaguars or the Chargers. While I’m confident the Broncos would have found a way to come out on top against either team, I’m glad this Sunday’s opponent is one Denver didn’t play during the regular season.

Most importantly, the Broncos are not facing the Bills team from last year, they’re facing thes year’s team who featured no fewer than 16-players on the injury report going into their Wild Card tilt. Versus the Jaguars, the Bills suffered further injury to QB Josh Allen (he was one of the 16 listed), RB James Cook, WR Gabe Davis, S Jordan Poyer, and WR Tyrell Shavers.

By the time the Denver Broncos take the field on Sunday, they will have had 14-days rest and has the opportunity to return guys, like Drew Sanders who may come off IR this week, that needed time to heal up to return to the field. The benefit to rest and health can’t be underestimated when you see teams like the Bills staggering into Sunday bandaged and bruised.

By contrast, the Broncos featured just 6 players on IR before their regular season finale against the Chargers. Sure, the injuries to S PJ Locke, T Garett Bolles, and CAlex Forsyth were less than ideal. We’ll get an idea soon how recovery has gone with the extra week rest, but we all know they’re better off for having the time off.

The playoff bye week is over. It’s time to get to work, Denver. You’ve got the Bills coming into town and it’s your task to show them their way out of town and into the postseason. It’s a tall order, but there’s no better time than the present to show the world exactly who you are.

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Denver, CO

Broncos will face Chargers or Bills in divisional round (date coming soon)

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Broncos will face Chargers or Bills in divisional round (date coming soon)

The Denver Broncos are just hours away from learning their opponent for the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

As the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, the Broncos have a bye for the wild-card round this weekend. They will play the lowest advancing seed from the conference, and there are now two candidates.

The Buffalo Bills (the No. 6) seed defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The only lower seed in the AFC are the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 7), who will face the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football this evening. So if L.A. wins, they will face Denver next weekend. If the Chargers lose, the Broncos will host the Bills next weekend.

Broncos divisional opponent

If Chargers win: Chargers @ Broncos
If Chargers lose: Bills @ Broncos

The NFL will likely announce the date, time and television channel for the Broncos’ playoff game during or just after SNF. Denver is coming off a bye and there’s another AFC wild-card game scheduled for Monday, so the Broncos will likely be scheduled to play on Saturday, Jan. 17 (but that hasn’t been confirmed yet).

Stay tuned. We will know Denver’s opponent later today, and the game date should also arrive soon.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

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