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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The Denver Broncos are in the market for a running back.
Just two days after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver wants to have the running back position addressed before the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos are “poised to make a splash” at running back during NFL free agency.
“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn’t get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match,” Jones wrote for CBS Sports.
Jones said the Broncos would be an obvious potential landing spot for Kenneth Walker, and he noted that Travis Etienne could be a cheaper alternative. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider also reported this week that Denver is expected to “closely examine” the RB market, and he name-dropped Walker, Etienne and Rico Dowdle.
The Broncos also have an in-house free agent at RB in J.K. Dobbins, who has expressed his desire to remain in Denver. The Broncos can begin negotiating with pending free agents from other clubs on March 9, but no deals can become official until the new league year begins on March 11. In-house free agents can be re-signed at any time.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Class 5A Sweet 16 has arrived, and both Grand Junction and Palisade are still standing with trips to the Great Eight in Denver on the line.
At The Jungle, the No. 2 seed Grand Junction Tigers set the tone early against No. 18 Golden. Defense carried the Tigers from the opening tip as they held the Demons to nine first quarter points while scoring 16 of their own.
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Grand Junction added eight points in the second quarter while Golden managed six, sending the Tigers into halftime with a nine point lead.
Golden responded in the third quarter, outscoring Grand Junction 16 to 11 to cut the deficit to five entering the fourth. The Tigers answered in the final period, attacking the rim and converting key shots to win the quarter 19 to 10. Grand Junction secured a 54 to 41 victory to protect its home court and advance to the Great Eight in Denver.
Top seeded Palisade also defended its home floor with a trip to Denver at stake. The Bulldogs opened with nine straight points to energize a packed gym, but Frederick settled in and closed the first quarter on a run to tie the game at nine.
Frederick continued to respond in the second quarter and took an eight point lead into halftime.
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Palisade shifted momentum after the break. The Bulldogs tightened defensively, holding Frederick to 21 points in the second half while scoring 39 of their own. Palisade completed the comeback to advance to the Great Eight.
Colorado Mesa University Women Deliver Historic RMAC Tournament Win
In collegiate action, the top seeded Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team defeated Colorado School of Mines 96 to 51 in the RMAC Tournament, marking the largest margin of victory in the tournament this century.
Olivia Reed-Thyne led the Mavericks with 34 points on 11 of 15 shooting, her third 30 point performance this season. Mason Rowland added 22 points and Hallie Clark contributed 10 as Colorado Mesa matched a program record with its 31st win. The Mavericks will host the semifinals Friday with a berth in the championship game at stake.
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Colorado Mesa University Men Survive Overtime Thriller
The Colorado Mesa University men’s basketball team faced New Mexico Highlands University for the third time this season. The Mavericks scored 36 first half points and led by four at the break.
New Mexico Highlands shot 50 percent in the second half, received 21 bench points and outscored Colorado Mesa 43 to 39 to force a late push. With the season in the balance, Ty Allred hit a game tying 3 pointer to make it 75 and send the game to overtime. Allred scored seven points in the extra period as Colorado Mesa earned a 91 to 90 victory to advance to the next round.
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