Fires on the Front Range, a Chocolate Heist, and Hundreds of Dead Fish

Aug 2, 2024

Lauren Gifford, a climate geographer from CSU, joins to discuss the alarming impact of climate change, including how it's affecting fish populations in Sloan's Lake. Wildfires are wreaking havoc, sending smoke over Denver and sparking urgent conversations about community resilience. In a lighter vein, the hosts play a hilarious game analyzing absurd one-star reviews of beloved local spots. They also reflect on a quirky chocolate heist that left its mark on the community, showcasing the challenges faced by small businesses and the importance of local support.

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Intro

00:00 • 4min

Climate Change and Community Resilience

03:40 • 15min

Ecosystem Challenges and Climate Change Awareness

18:13 • 4min

One-Star Review Shenanigans

21:50 • 10min

Reflections on Community and Crime

31:41 • 5min

Wildfires and Police Challenges

36:41 • 5min

Exploring Interactive Exhibits in Denver's Museums

41:56 • 3min

Nostalgia and Music in Denver

44:48 • 6min

It’s Friday, and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, wildfire smoke shrouded the Mile High skyline all week long as multiple wildfires on the Front Range spread to more than 9,000 acres, as of Thursday afternoon. CSU climate geographer Lauren Gifford joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about how climate change is moving so fast that even the fish in Sloan’s Lake are feeling the heat. Then, to celebrate Colorado’s 148th birthday, we’ve got another installment of our famous “1-Star Review Game” where we guess what local something disgruntled internet reviewers are complaining about! Finally, our Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows of the week.

It's not too late to win cool prizes and have fun on your bike in our Bike Scavenger Hunt! We partnered with Bike Streets to share riddles every week in our newsletter, and all you have to do for the chance to win is snap a selfie at the secret bike-friendly destination around Denver. Sign up now!

The Kiltro song we played at the end of this episode is “The Drunk.”

Bree talked about Cultura Craft Chocolate. Paul mentioned a lawsuit against DPD, our limited-run special series about Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert, and played a funny reel shared by a fav librarian follower on our Instagram about the Rockies.

Paul also recommends this article on the question of firefighting budgets in cities like Denver: “As Wildfires Burn, Are U.S. Cities Spending Too Much on Their Fire Departments?”

We need your help! Do you have a favorite off-the-beaten-path tourist destination? Denver saw record tourism last year, and the hot spots are packed. So we’re compiling a list of underrated destinations to take out-of-towners. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear your take on the show: 720-500-5418‬

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Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Culinary Dropout
PineMelon: Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $75 off your first delivery

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