City Cast Denver

The conversation around transportation in Denver can often feel like two steps forward, one step back. RTD built out a massive network of light rail lines thirty years ago, but now thousands of Denverites have abandoned the trains. Our elected officials talk a lot about ending traffic fatalities, but hesitate on making transformative changes to our streets. For almost ten years, Nate Minor has rep...

A Coloradan named Michael Clark walked free this week after spending 12 years in prison for a murder he says he did not commit. But Clark’s story is just one of hundreds of cases potentially affected by the alleged mishandling of DNA at the hands of a star forensic scientist with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation who is now under investigation herself. Host Bree Davies sits down with Senior Inv...

After months of rumors and speculation, Sen. Michael Bennet announced on Friday that he is officially running for governor — but he also wants to stay in the Senate while he campaigns so he could appoint his own successor if he wins. So host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are talking about the campaign announcement that’s got local Dems abuzz — plus, we share a follow-up on the turmoil at I...

It’s a simple question with a deceptively complicated answer: Does Denver have a dog poop problem? When our CEO David Plotz came to Denver, he was overwhelmed with Mile High piles of dog poop, and he asked us to figure it out. So we put the call out to listeners, and dozens and dozens of you called and wrote in with tips, ideas, and steaming hot takes. Producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love...

President Trump’s tariffs have already hit Denver, causing massive drops in stock prices and higher costs for businesses and consumers. But are they hitting us harder than other cities? Then, the Nuggets canned their beloved coach, Michael Malone, and opted not to renew the contract of General Manager Calvin Booth. Fans and sports analysts alike flipped out — but could this be the vibe shift the N...

Despite the steady increase in annual sales of vinyl records since 2008, record stores across the country have been closing — except in Denver! The Mile High record store scene is as strong as ever. We’ve got new shops popping up and old favorites like Wax Trax expanding to new locations. Record Store Day, aka Black Friday for music lovers, is this Saturday, April 12, so host Bree Davies is sittin...

Is biking downtown a dream or nightmare? Could Ezra Klein’s “Abundance Agenda” work in Denver? Where do local liberals really stand on President Trump’s immigration crackdown? We've been getting tons of texts, voicemails, and emails about recent episodes of the podcast, so today host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are dipping into the mailbag to discuss these topics and more! Do you have a...

Two weeks ago Sundance Film Festival announced it was leaving Utah and moving to Colorado. Following nearly a year of negotiations, the potential offer of millions in tax incentives for the local film industry, and a battle against Cincinnati and Sundance’s original home of Park City, Boulder ultimately won the bid. After decades in one place, what made this movie institution decide to head to Col...

International students from Colorado State University in Fort Collins and the University of Colorado’s Boulder and Colorado Springs campuses recently had their visas revoked by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. But reasoning for the revocations remains unclear, and the schools have not provided much information on the status of their students. Denver Post reporter Elizabeth Hernandez sits d...

Monday was Trans Day of Visibility and Senate Democrats introduced two new bills that would expand protections for trans Coloradans — and in particular, trans kids — and no GOP Senators supported the legislation. Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love are joined by KUNC government and politics reporter Lucas Brady Woods to dig into how these bills could impact everything from school dres...

Old Denver vs. new Denver. It’s a fight as old as the city. But as the Mile High inevitably changes, can these opposing forces work together to make something great? After a 50 year run, the Mercury Cafe closed its doors and this month, The Pearl opened up in its place. The new owners say they want to honor the legacy of the Merc, but — are they obligated to? New owners Dom Garcia, Ashlee Cassity,...

More sunny days are on the way and we know you want to be outside to make the most of the Mile High’s gorgeous spring weather. But we know a good patio is more than just an umbrella and some chairs, so we went looking for the outdoor spots to hang in the Denver metro and beyond. From downtown rooftops to earthy, cozy patios on riverbanks, host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love are joined...

It’s been two weeks since ICE picked up immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra and her lawyers are now arguing that her detainment is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment. Meanwhile at the statehouse, lawmakers are debating the financial impacts of reproductive healthcare access on the state’s budget after voters enshrined the right to abortion in the Colorado constitution last year....

Ahh April, a time of rebirth, rejuvenation, of coming back to life after a long winter. So what new and interesting things are popping up around town? Where are the fresh and exciting ideas that will define the rest of Denver’s year? We’ve got plenty of recommendations and tips on our monthly guide to Denver, from a surprising strawberry and olive cocktail to a Rockies Opening Day party you don’t...

While President Trump is dealing with his own group chat drama, Mayor Mike Johnston is under fire for using the encrypted messaging system Signal to conduct official city communications. But is the mayor’s secret “Strike Force” an issue of transparency or just business as usual? Then, City Council made a surprise move this week, rejecting a $3 million contract with the service provider Salvation A...

One of our infamous spring blizzards could still be on the horizon — but for now the weather in Denver is gorgeous! It’s a great time to pump up those tires, grease up that chain, and hop on your bike. Whether you’re exploring a new part of the city, navigating an unfamiliar route, or swerving around potholes, biking in Denver can be kinda of hairy. So we’re revisiting a great chat host Bree Davie...

Spring is here, and the Mile High has no shortage of arts events to fill your calendar. From provocative museum exhibitions and twilight art tours to festivals big and small, there are so many ways to enjoy the creativity of this city! Host Bree Davies sits down with radio host and venue owner Bruce Trujillo and City Cast Denver regular Joshua Emerson to share our top picks for arts happenings in...

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) spoke to a massive crowd when their “fight oligarchy” tour stopped in Civic Center Park on Friday. Sanders claims it was the “largest rally” he’s ever had, but just how many folks were there? Host Bree Davies and Producer Paul Karolyi were at the park and dug into all the conflicting claims. Then we open up the City Cast Denver ma...

An overwhelming 64% of Denver’s firefighters voted last month that they have “no confidence” in their fire chief, Desmond Fulton. But Mayor Mike Johnston holds the power to hire and fire the chief, and he brushed off the firefighters’ vote. So as the fire union prepares for another round of collective bargaining with the city, producer Paul Karolyi is sitting down with CBS investigative reporter B...

It was a big week for rallies and protests — supporters of detained immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra took to the streets, union workers gathered at the Capitol, and Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are slated for a big rally in Civic Center Park this evening. Will Denver Dems show up to “fight oligarchy”? Our politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins...

For almost 30 years, Illegal Pete’s has been a local darling. While Chipotle went global, Pete’s Mission-style burritos came with killer queso and great margs — and they supported local artists and community groups, too. But over the last couple years, something has changed. People are swapping stories of food poisonings, cuts to worker benefits, and less-than-awesome queso. So what happened? Prod...

While on lunch break from her job at Target, ICE officers detained local immigration rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra on Monday afternoon, immediately drawing the country’s attention to Denver. Back during the first Trump administration in 2017, Vizguerra first captured national attention when she took sanctuary in Denver churches to avoid deportation. She was even named to Time Magazine’s list...

The Democrats in Washington are divided over how best to resist the new Trump administration, so we’re looking today at how local liberals are doing it. Some are vandalizing Tesla dealerships. Some are filling the rooms at our congressional delegation’s town halls. And some are looking forward to the big Bernie/AOC rally at Civic Center Park this Friday. Progressive champion and at-large councilwo...

When it comes to green energy, Colorado Governor Jared Polis likes solar and wind. He’s open to nuclear. But he’s ALL IN on geothermal, and his allies in the state legislature are pushing a measure this session to accelerate geothermal drilling across the state. So what does that mean for our many beloved hot springs? Colorado Sun reporter Parker Yamasaki has been hearing from hot springs operator...

When the South Park guys bought Casa Bonita, their credo was simple: Change Nothing, Improve Everything. Now another iconic Denver institution is changing hands — this time The Mercury Cafe — and the new operators are promising the same. But they’re changing the name to The Pearl, so what else is in store for the 50-year-old bastion of alternative culture and community? Denverite neighborhoods rep...