City Cast Denver

Leora Joseph, former prosecutor and current head of the Office of Behavioral Health, talks about safety concerns in Denver, addressing the fentanyl crisis and criminal justice reform, community-oriented district attorney aspirations, challenges in policing, and shares her favorite hangout spots in the city.

Primary ballots are officially out and Denverites will be voting on the city’s next District Attorney. Two Democratic challengers are up for the task, which includes addressing growing issues around gun violence, police misconduct, fentanyl-related crimes, and more. Host Bree Davies chatted with both candidates individually ahead of the upcoming election. Today, meet candidate John Walsh, a longtime Denver resident and former U.S. Attorney for Colorado. Tomorrow, hear Bree chat with candidate Leora Joseph.For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverWhat do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Meow Wolf Monarch Casino Pine Melon Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Navajo tribal member and comedian Joshua Emerson discusses the Denver Art Museum's issues with returning stolen Indigenous artifacts and the making of Casa Bonita 2.0. They talk about the complexity of repatriation laws, the importance of community involvement, and insider insights into the Casa Bonita documentary.

Discover which Denver tourist spots are gems versus traps, like Royal Gorge's commercialism and Manitou Cliff Dwellings' questionable origins. Uncover recommendations for fun attractions like Tiny Town, Denver Zoo, and Winter Park, while reconsidering popular spots' true value. Dive into summer activities in ski towns for a different kind of adventure.

This is the third episode of a special, limited-run podcast series, Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose, from City Cast Denver. Don’t miss the first episode, “The Escort Rumors,” or the second, “How The Boebert Brand Was Born.”As a first-term member of Congress, Lauren Boebert made a name for herself by doing exactly what the conservatives of rural Colorado sent her to Washington to do: Confront Democrats. She accused a fellow representative of being a terrorist, attempted to impeach President Joe Biden, and heckled the president during his 2022 State of the Union. But being a member of Congress isn’t just about headline-grabbing antics. So on the third episode of this limited podcast series, we’ve got the story of what this celebrity MAGA warrior has actually done as a legislator and how it affected a very important group of her constituents — veterans in Pueblo, Colorado. Bree Davies is our host. Paul Karolyi reported and produced this episode with tons of support from the rest of the team at City Cast, including but not exclusively Wil Fulton, Olivia Jewell Love, Andi McDaniel, Xandra McMahon, David Plotz, Andrea Silenzi, and Noah Sniderman. Our music is by Don Chicharrón and Los Mocochetes. Thanks also to Joshua Emerson for production support.Paul mentioned a Boebert profile that ran in Politico on September 13, 2023, with the headline “Lauren Boebert Ditches the MAGA thing in Colorado,” featuring quotes from Colorado senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO).Thanks to Colorado League of Women Voters for their permission to play a clip from their candidate forum, dated October 12, 2022. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverWhat do you think about Congresswoman Lauren Boebert? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

It’s Friday and we’re rounding up the news of the week. First, Kyle Clark’s stellar performance as a moderator for the Congressional District 4 debates caught the attention of Jimmy Kimmel, so we had to ask him about it. The 9News anchor also joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the Colorado GOP’s weird week involving the slandering of Pride and a friendly nod to the Westboro Baptist Church. Then, an epic city council sidewalk disappointment, a celebration of the zipper merge, and more wins and fails of the week.We talked about our special series Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose, as well as both Kyle and Bree’s interviews with congressional district candidate Valdamar Archuleta. Kyle mentioned 9News’ review of the handling of the initial investigation into Elijah McClain’s death and Paul shouted out Representative Steph Vigil’s legislation supporting gig workers. Bree talked about American Culture’s show this weekend at D3 Arts — and you can hear “Hey Brother, It’s Been a While”, the band’s latest release on Bandcamp.For more on the Westboro Baptist Church, Paul recommends this interview with former Westboro member Megan Phelps-Roper. It’s from a podcast he produced a few years ago, hosted by the badass local pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber. What do you think about Kyle Clark’s performance at the CD4 debate last week? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/DenverLearn more about the sponsors of this episode: Central City Opera Arvada Center Summer Concert Series Museum of Outdoor Arts  PineMelon Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Valdamar Archuleta, a gay Republican, rejects his party's endorsement over anti-LGBTQ messaging. He discusses the controversial email from the Colorado GOP during Pride Month and the need for new leadership. The conversation also touches on divisive language in politics and setting boundaries in the queer community, as well as challenging a Democratic incumbent in Denver.

For two summers in a row, RTD ran its “Zero Fare for Better Air” free transit promotion to combat emissions. This year riders won’t be so lucky, with state funding for the program going elsewhere. That could be the least of Denverites’ worries however, with multiple central light rail lines downtown being shut down over the next few months for maintenance. And what about Governor Polis’ dream of a Front Range Passenger Rail? CPR growth and transportation reporter Nathaniel Minor joins host Bree Davies to breakdown these big transit stories, plus dig into concerns over a new law targeting cell phone usage while driving and more.Nate’s story on pedestrian activist Phyllis Mack: https://denverite.com/2024/05/17/honoring-late-denver-pedestrian-activist-phyllis-mack/For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverWhat do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Central City Opera Arvada Center Summer Concert Series Museum of Outdoor Arts  Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Some residents living within smelling distance of the Nestlé Purina PetCare plant in Elyria-Swansea have had enough, and have filed a class action lawsuit against the global enterprise. Could the operation’s odiferous offenses be bad enough to be considered unlawful? Then, Governor Polis signed HB 1051 into law last week, taking aim at the predatory towing practices of Wyatts Towing in particular. Host Bree Davies is joined by Westword editor Patty Calhoun to talk the gentrification of stinky air issues, private business-specific legislation, carpetbagger Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, and more news of the week.Bree mentioned a previous episode about Senator Julie Gonzales’ towing woes and Skyler McKinley’s deep dive into the history and water-conscious future of Riverside Cemetery. Patty talked about her co-ownership of the Wonder View Tower, which resides in congressional district 4.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverWhat do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Central City Opera Arvada Center Summer Concert Series Museum of Outdoor Arts  PineMelon Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Colorado Politics statehouse reporter Marianne Goodland joins to discuss the intense primary battles in Colorado, record fundraising numbers, and growing divisions within the Democratic and Republican parties. They delve into the challenges faced by incumbents, shifting alliances, and the importance of grassroots support in various state races.