Sister City

By Rita Healy

At first glance, Denver and Baghdad don't have much in common, so the White House's recent announcement that the two will be sister cities came as a surprise. Denver city officials were the most surprised of all. Encouraged by a Denver reservist serving in Baghdad, the partnership is still being negotiated with a Denver-area council of local governments. City Hall was left in the dark. Given the city's $33 million budget shortfall, some residents balked at a White House suggestion that Denver will provide "humanitarian assistance" to its new sibling. But the two cities may yet find common ground: they both have pothole problems.

--By Rita Healy