Ben Markus
NPR
Denver, CO, United States
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Past articles by Ben:
Examining Why Fatal Shootings Involving Colorado Police Have Increased
Colorado has among the highest per capital rates of police shootings, and an unrecognized connection between them and meth use. You can find the full investigation at Colorado Public Radio. → Read More
There Aren't Enough Houses On The Market To Meet Demand
During the Great Recession, investors bought up a lot of homes and are now renting them out. In cities like Denver, even as home prices soar, investors are still not putting those properties back on the market. → Read More
Denver’s Investor Landlords Don’t Want To Sell Their Houses. The Rents Are Just Too Good
Homeownership in the Denver area fell from 71 percent in 2005 to 53 percent in 2018. → Read More
Colorado’s Governor’s Primary Was The Campaign Where Rich People Dug Into Their Pockets
The race, start to finish, cost $34.7 million, with about half of the contributions coming from the candidates themselves. → Read More
The Colorado Sun To Launch With Former Denver Post ‘A-Team’ Stars And Tech Cash
“Build something impressive, do great work, and do journalism that people value and that they will want to support,” said co-founding editor Larry Ryckman. → Read More
Have Marijuana Sales In Colorado Reached A Plateau?
The legal weed industry is growing at its lowest rate since recreational stores opened four years ago. → Read More
Federal Crackdown On States' Legal Marijuana Drives Private Investors Away
After U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions told prosecutors they are free to go after marijuana businesses, investors started getting worried. And that's having a ripple effect on the industry. → Read More
The Taxman: Colorado Learned To Live With TABOR, But Not With Douglas Bruce
Douglas Bruce defends TABOR from attacks, and tries to defend himself from what he sees as retribution. Meanwhile, politicians who don�t like what TABOR’s done to Colorado attempt to get around the law. → Read More
The Taxman: How Douglas Bruce And The Taxpayer's Bill Of Rights Conquered Colorado
What some politicians call a prison, others call freedom. This is the story of Colorado's most notorious freedom fighter, Douglas Bruce, and his Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. → Read More
Natural Gas Drilling May Never Boom Again For Western Colorado
Even with advances and efficiencies, not every energy company can make it work in Western Colorado — the costs are just too high. → Read More
Colorado Issued Big Fines For Big Oil And Gas Operators
Since 2014, the state's regulator has handed out an unprecedented $12,693,534 in penalties. → Read More
A Dive Into Colorado Crime Data In 5 Charts
New data from police departments across the state show an increase in almost every crime category. → Read More
Colorado Allows Oil And Gas Drillers To Abandon Old Pipes In Place. Should They?
Colorado's top regulator says as long as the rules are followed, “there’s very little risk, very little potential harm of having empty, abandoned, plugged, capped lines in the subsurface.” → Read More
As Colorado Gets Ready To Allow Pot Clubs, Indoor Smoking Still An Issue
Recreational pot is legal in Colorado, but using it in public is against the law. Pot clubs are slated to open this summer, but the governor says he'll veto the bill if it allows indoor smoking. → Read More
As Colorado Gets Ready To Allow Pot Clubs, Indoor Smoking Still An Issue
Recreational pot is legal in Colorado, but using it in public is against the law. Pot clubs are slated to open this summer, but the governor says he'll veto the bill if it allows indoor smoking. → Read More
Colorado Votes On A Ballot Measure To Make It Harder To Pass Ballot Measures
Voters can amend their state's constitution: Think legalization of pot. But some Coloradans say citizen initiatives are out of control, and a well-funded push is underway to raise the bar. → Read More
The Difficulty Of Enforcing Laws Against Driving While High
Five states will vote on legalizing recreational marijuana in November. For police, it's more challenging to assess if people are driving while high than it is to test for the influence of alcohol. → Read More
As Adults Legally Smoke Pot In Colorado, More Minority Kids Arrested For It
The state legalized marijuana at the start of 2014 for anyone 21 or older. An increasing rate of Latino and black youths were arrested for violating that age limit, even as the white arrest rate fell. → Read More
White, Black And Latino Kids Smoke Pot At The Same Rates. Arrest Rates? That's Different
Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson rejects the idea that DPD targets black and Latino kids for pot offenses. → Read More
Sick Of Political Parties, Unaffiliated Voters Are Changing Politics
More voters identify as independent than Republican or Democrat. And they're changing the political system around the country. → Read More