Denver

Denver police worry that Democrats will bring unrest to the city, instead of hope, during next week's national convention. The city has built a secret jail just for the occasion. Officials say they need the extra facility, built in a former warehouse, just in case police make mass arrests during the convention.

Civil liberties activists think Denver should feel ashamed of its "Gitmo on the Platte." They say the police want to take short cuts by detaining people instead of using the courts and other proper methods to fight crime. Opponents also worry about the conditions, since the city is using a former storage facility as a jail. Nonetheless, the city says it needed the formerly-secret jail for the event, and officials note it even has air conditioning.

The Secret Service, Pentagon, and FBI will relocate thousands of agents to Denver next week. To find out what other security measures are in the works, read more

Summertime in an election year means convention cities are stocking up on confetti, balloons, and. . . pepper guns? Denver police hoping to prepare against disorder are stocking up on guns that fire a peppery powder instead of bullets in case they need to disperse crowds at the Democratic National Convention.

The department recently ordered 88 Mark IV launchers and projectiles at a cost "in the low six figures," spending a mere portion of the $50 million federal security grant. The hushed details of the budgeting have the American Civil Liberties Union filing a civil lawsuit alleging the city is violating the Colorado Open Records Act.

Denver authorities say releasing the information is "contrary to the public interest" because it could compromise important tactical information hampering security.

Some organizers of protest groups think police are amassing an arsenal of extended-range tasers and weapons that cripple people with high-intensity sound. The bullet balls ordered up are filled with powder "that's like a combination of cayenne pepper and baby powder" and can incapacitate a person like pepper spray.

Should Denver have to disclose how they're dishing out their security dough — or does that defeat the purpose? Do you expect violence or protests at the conventions?

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Get your furry buddies BuddyBeds to let them lounge in comfort and peace. Made with orthopedic memory foam, the beds prevent painful pressure points and have a waterproof, breathable fabric liner that products the precious interior or your precious exterior, too! In addition to their two rectangle sizes, they also have SnuggleBuddys doughnut-shaped beds, too.

Created by Denverite, Debra Holte for her 20-year-old cat, Rossignal S. Kamikaze, who suffered from arthritis and a heart murmur, she's expanded her product line to include ones that even fit her 104-lb. pooch, Webster, as well. The company donates a percentage of their profits to the Humane Society of Denver, commonly called The Dumb Friends League, as this organization prides themselves on giving a voice for animals that (obvs) cannot speak for themselves.

There's no shortage of wintertime outdoor activities in the state of Colorado. From hiking in the mountains to walking through town, it's a great place to experience that fresh mountain air. The Denver metro area is a must-stop for animal lovers with several easily-accessible trails and parks open to our four-legged friends. Personally, I pick Aurora's Cherry Creek Park for their 60-acre off-leash dog area at the southern end with room for running, fetching, chasing, and more! This state park also has 12 miles of trails including the paved Cherry Creek Trail which runs through the park from north to south, along with many other routes to explore with your outdoorsy pooch including a small creek for a (warm-weather) dip.

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