Denver, CO
Denver City Council votes 8-5 to lift distance restrictions on needle exchange sites
DENVER — In an 8-5 vote, the Denver City Council on Monday removed certain restrictions for syringe exchange sites in an effort to expand such services.
Under the city’s Syringe Access Programs (SAP), participating centers can provide “sterile hypodermic syringes in exchange for used hypodermic syringes, needles or other objects used to inject substances into the body.” The centers provide education surrounding the transmission of diseases as well as treatment referrals.
SAPs are not safe use sites, meaning people cannot use drugs on center property.
Under a 1997 law, syringe exchange programs needed to be 1,000 feet from schools, and only three were allowed in the city at a time. The city council voted Monday to remove those restrictions.
There are still restrictions for needle exchange sites. According to the ordinance, centers must conform with state law and operate in compliance with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE). Centers must also reach a voluntary agreement with surrounding residents before they can operate.
“We see about 200 people per morning being proactive about their health,” said Lisa Raville, executive director of the Harm Reduction Action Center, the largest syringe access program in the state. “We served about 5,100 unduplicated folks last year for 27,000 access episodes.”
Raville said needle exchange sites keep used needles off the streets, help prevent the transmission of diseases and give people access to other opportunities.
“Resources with those referrals on site, service providers on site, testing on-site, Hepatitis C treatment and also Naloxone,” she said.
- Read DDPHE’s rules and regulations for Syringe Access Programs (SAP) below
According to DDPHE, people who use syringe access programs are five times more likely to also access treatment for substance use. Organizers are hopeful that by removing the restrictions, they may be able to help more people in need.
“It’s an archaic ordinance where we have shown — not only for the last 22 years as an agency, and for the last 13 years being heavily regulated — this is a professional organization. Syringe and pipe access programs are needed in the community. We push forward for a healthier and safer Denver,” Raville said.
During a discussion of the ordinance change, the five dissenting city council members — Flor Alvidrez, Kevin Flynn, Amanda Sawyer, Darrell Watson and Diana Romero Campbell — expressed concerns over drug use and crime in the areas surrounding the programs. They also saw the buffer as a way to protect children from exposure to drug use.
The ordinance change now heads to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s desk. According to our partners at The Denver Post, Johnston, who has expressed skepticism about the change, has five days to either sign or veto the ordinance.
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Denver, CO
Dale Kistler Obituary | The Denver Post
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Denver, CO
Where to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Playoffs: TV channel, start time, streaming for April 18
The 2026 NBA postseason is finally here after a thrilling Play-In Tournament saw the Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers officially earn their spot in the playoffs
The postseason action continues on Saturday as the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the first round. We’ve got you covered on everything you need to know to tune in for tip off.
Want to see the full National Basketball Association schedule for April 18 and how to watch all the games? Check out our sortable NBA schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Game 1?
Tip off between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, April 18.
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets on Saturday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11:45 a.m.
Watch the NBA Playoffs on Fubo
NBA scores and results
See scores, results for all of today’s games. .
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Denver, CO
Timothy Weil Obituary | The Denver Post
Timothy Weil
OBITUARY
Timothy Robert Weil 1952-2026 Tim Weil was born in Los Angeles, California.
In his early life he held many jobs, but he often commented that among his most memorable and rewarding roles was using his Spanish fluency to teach elementary school students in East LA. It instilled in him the importance of social justice which he in turn emphasized to his children.
On April Fool’s Day, 1981, he and “NC” (Nancy) married, a partnership that launched a unique and fulfilling life. Theirs was a union of sly, poetic witticism; they collaborated in writing jokes, songs, stories, and mythologies for over four decades. They maintained a high level commitment to wordplay and the celebration of silliness for most of their marriage. Tim and Nancy lived together in Boulder, CO, Chico, CA, Alexandria, VA, and Takoma Park, MD, before finally landing back in Denver as empty-nesters.
Tim found community in many places: Taking on a role as Assistant Scoutmaster with Page and Louis’ Boy Scout troop in Takoma Park; crafting an award-winning beer with his homebrewing group; staying in the game of baseball in the Ponce de Leon (over 50) league; playing bluegrass and folk music with other enthusiasts; performing stories with creatives at Denver venues; and joining Jewish congregations Temple Shalom in Maryland, and Temple Micah in Denver.
Tim’s creativity and playfulness were among his most defining features. Nothing was brighter than the gleam in his eye when he prepared to tell a joke, with a setup spanning about ten minutes of vivid details, often ending in a personalized, spectacularly delivered pun of his own design. To label those jokes mere “groaners” would be a disservice to his masterful storytelling. A piece he submitted to Rolling Stone about his jocular parasocial relationship with actor Lou Ferrigno received a personal rejection letter, noted as “very interesting” by the editor.
His professional work in the field of network security computing provided an outlet for his intellect as well as many professional and personal relationships throughout a career that spanned over 30 years. His writing was published in IEEE magazine and other tech journals.
Throughout his life he engaged deeply with visual art, literature, film, and music. He traveled far and wide, including to Jerusalem, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Vancouver, Seoul, Paris, Ipswich, London, and Edinburgh.
His recent struggle with severe depression was devastating for him and those close to him. It robbed him of his light and kept him in isolation from which sadly he was unable to escape. He will be remembered as the person who, despite the pain he carried, led an incredibly full life and touched the hearts of countless people with his witty humor and warmth.
He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 45 years, sons Page and Louis, daughter-in-law Jessica, grandsons Felix and Calvin, and cats Shackleton and Whiskey, along with many family and friends coast to coast.
A celebration of his life will be held in Denver at 1pm on Sunday, May 17th at Temple Micah, 1980 Dahlia Street. Bring your fondest memories of Tim. Please, no gifts or flowers. If you would like to make a donation in his memory, please consider American Foundation for Suicide Prevention https://afsp.org/.
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