Shooter’s dad ‘He was always a really excellent kid’

July 29, 2015

On Tuesday afternoon, day 58 of the Aurora theater shooting trial, Robert Holmes took the witness stand to testify about his son. He spoke about James Holmes’ life, from their family beginning on Prairie Dog Street to the first night they found out about the shooting. “Our first thought was...

Family Business

July 29, 2015

Osceola County Democrats Chair Kathy Winter, 60, and her son Jason, 28. Photo: Lars Gesing/CU News Corps SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the longest time, Kathy Winter never put up campaign yard signs on her front lawn. She just didn’t want to hurt her husband’s business. She firmly believes a...

Anecdotal Evidence – July 29: Passing the handshake test

July 29, 2015

In our Anecdotal Evidence column, each day movers and shakers share personal stories of how intriguing (and often odd) presidential campaigning in their respective swing state can be. From Wall Street boardrooms to Iowa barns Des Moines Register Political Columnist Kathie Obradovich. Photo: Lars Gesing/CU News Corps Kathie Obradovich –...

A Charmed Life: Mom testifies

July 29, 2015

Killer's mother says her son never 'ever . . . ever' harmed anyone until July 2012. One of the most anticipated defense witnesses in the trial of convicted movie theater shooter James Holmes took the stand today in hopes of saving his life. Arlene Holmes smiled at her son as...

Anecdotal Evidence — July 28: Shooting hoops with Obama

July 28, 2015

“Little Dude… My man lost a tooth!” Iowa GOP Presidential Campaign Veteran Eric Woolson. Photo: Lars Gesing/CU News Corps Eric Woolson — Iowa presidential campaign veteran, Scott Walker communications director “In the summer of 1999, my wife was traveling, and I ended up with my then 8-year-old son Brooks. Gov...

Will mental illness save the Aurora theater shooter’s life?

July 27, 2015

Colorado has executed only one person in the last 40 years. The Aurora theater shooter’s attorneys hope their client’s mental illness will save him from being added to the state’s death row. The trial is now in the second part of the penalty phase. Jurors must decide whether the defendant,...

Shooter’s sister: ‘I still love him’

July 27, 2015

The picture Chris Holmes kept for herself. The picture Chris Holmes kept for herself. Two minutes after Chris Holmes received the news of what happened the night of July 20,2012, she grabbed a photograph of herself and her brother. She didn’t know if the FBI was going to take everything...

What happens to political debate if we live only among like-minded people?

July 26, 2015

Journalist and author Bill Bishop BOULDER, Colorado – Ask yourself this question: When you go knock on your neighbor’s door, when you see your friends in a café in town, when you pick a new place to live – how much diversity do you encounter? Not very much, argues Bill...

Introducing “States in Play”

July 26, 2015

Dispatches from the 2016 presidential battlegrounds BOULDER, Colorado – Only about a dozen states are truly up for grabs when Republicans and Democrats square off in 2016 in their pursuit for the White House. Welcome to the States in Play. Colorado – Iowa – Wisconsin – Ohio – Pennsylvania –...

Holmes' Cell Header

July 25, 2015

You can see the defendant in the fuzzy picture above getting ready to fall backward. I remember that time in November 2012. We had a hearing but it was abruptly cancelled because of an emergency. We later learned that James Holmes had fallen backward on purpose and hit his head...

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