City Cast Denver

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Ski Traffic Sucks. But is Widening I-70 Really Going to Help? Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

You know that spot on I-70 on the way into the mountains? That spot where it goes from three lanes to two, and there’s always traffic? Well, it’s called Floyd Hill, and last week the Colorado Department of Transportation kicked off a new $700 million effort to fix it. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was even in town to celebrate the occasion! But is their plan really going to address the root of the problem? Host Bree Davies talks to Colorado Sun environment reporter Michael Booth about why our elected leaders are so eager to cheer on the project and how CDOT is planning to mitigate the climate impact.

For more on the Floyd Hill project, check out Michael Booth’s full report for the Colorado Sun, including the impact this project will have on the people who live in the area. Imaging getting on I-70 and sitting in an hour of traffic just to pick up groceries!

They’re finally demolishing the old Ramada Inn on East Colfax, so Bree is sharing stories and reminiscing in the newsletter today. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

What do you think about adding an extra lane to I-70 at Floyd Hill? Let us know @citycastdenver

Is the Acclaimed Cherry Creek School District Hiding a Toxic Workplace? Mar 01, 2022

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Search for the “best” schools in the Denver metro area, and you’re going to find your way to the Cherry Creek School District. They’ve got 67 schools in and around Greenwood Village, Glendale, and Cherry Hills Village that consistently rank among the best in the state, academically. But one former administrator and several current and former employees say that A+ reputation is obscuring a toxic culture of discrimination, racism, and sexual misconduct. Today on the show, host Bree Davies talks with Denver Gazette reporter David Migoya about his investigation into the school district’s alleged issues, including a look into a Title IX investigation launched last summer by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.

Read David Migoya’s full investigative reporting on the school district for the Denver Gazette here.

Newsletter writer Peyton Garcia has a round-up of all five film festivals happening across Colorado this week. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Colorado is Fitness-Obsessed. Is there Space For Bigger Bodies to Be Fit, Too? Feb 28, 2022

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Lots of people move to Colorado to enjoy our mountains and sunshine, and that means that Denverites tend to be outdoorsy and relatively fit. But for Andrea Parés — a self-proclaimed fat-positive yoga teacher — growing up here meant she never felt welcome in aerobics classes, Zumba sessions, or a simple yoga flow with friends. That all changed a few years ago when Parés found a yoga workshop for people with bigger bodies like hers. Today, Parés joins Host Bree Davies to talk about why it’s important for bigger bodies to have dedicated spaces for fitness, what it means to identify as “fat” in Colorado, and how she unlocked the pent-up demand for her new, monthly Yoga for Bigger Bodies class.

Follow Parés’ yoga pursuits and get updates on her latest yoga classes via @AndreaParesYoga on Instagram. You can also check out her class and other offerings at Courageous Yoga.

Today, City Cast Denver newsletter writer Peyton Garcia shares a “moment of joy” for your Monday. Subscribe here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Have a favorite teacher or place you do yoga? Tell us on Twitter: @citycastdenver

BONUS: So You’re Getting a Buc-ees… (via City Cast Houston) Feb 26, 2022

Show notes

Earlier this month, Texan transplants in Colorado were hit with some life-changing news: We’re getting a Buc-ees. So what's the deal with this legendary convenience store? Why does it hold such a special place in Texans’ hearts? And should the rest of us be excited, too? When newsletter writer Peyton Garcia heard the news about a Buc-ees opening near Johnstown, she had questions about this cult-favorite convenience store with the allegedly award-winning bathrooms, so she checked in with our colleagues at City Cast Houston, where host Lisa Gray and producers Ferrill Gibbs and Dina Kesbeh were happy to oblige.

Please enjoy this bonus episode of City Cast Houston (Original airdate: 2/11/22) and tell your Texan friends to subscribe! They’ve got a podcast and Lisa writes their daily newsletter, too.

For more on what and where to expect the new Colorado-based Buc-ees, here’s a write-up from 303 Magazine: https://303magazine.com/2022/02/buc-ees-announces-first-colorado-location-to-open-by-2024/

The “Sh*tstorm” Heading For Lauren Boebert, and Yet Another LGBTQ Discrimination Case Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

No, it’s not deja vu. The Supreme Court is going to hear yet another LGBTQ+ discrimination case out of Colorado. But aren’t we supposed to be on the vanguard of LGBTQ rights? Producer Xandra McMahon and host Bree Davies are joined by Westword editor Patty Calhoun to chat through this new case involving a wedding website maker’s Christian views, the legacy of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, and the evolution of the LGBTQ community in Denver. Plus, nine Democrats are running to replace Lauren Boebert in Congress, and we’re talking about the “shitstorm” brewing on the Western Slope.

The Democrats running for Boebert’s district, CD-3, will be in conversation with each other for the first time on Saturday. You can watch the virtual forum starting at 4 p.m.

Local musician Sedrick Avenue is featured in today’s show. Check out his latest release, 39, on Bandcamp.

In the CCD newsletter today, producer Lizzie Goldsmith has got her monthly rundown of all the best live theater happening in Denver. Get it here: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Hang out with us on Twitter? @citycastdenver

EXTRA: Scenes From a Ukraine Solidarity Rally Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has been dominating the news over the last 48 hours, impacting Ukrainians at home and all over the world. Denver is no exception. The city’s Ukrainian community and allies gathered on the steps of the state capitol this afternoon and City Cast Denver producers Paul Karolyi and Xandra McMahon were there to document the scene.

UPDATE: Since this episode was originally published, we decided to remove a short excerpt from the very end. It featured clips from a brief exchange Paul had with a protester holding a sign featuring Russian president Putin with a mustache that looked like Hitler’s mustache. We removed the excerpt for a couple of reasons. One, the protester did not agree to our offer to explain the sign. Two, we neglected to add sufficient context to the exchange. So it was confusing and, we feel, not representative of the event we were intending to document.

A Brewing Conflict: How Craft Brewers' Battle With Ball Corp. is Hurting Beer Lovers Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

A frothy mix of supply chain issues has set two longtime collaborators on a collision course: Westminster’s aluminum can giant, Ball Corporation, and the local brewers who like to sell their beer in cans. Ball’s always been good to small craft breweries, but the past two years have put the company in an impossible predicament. So what does this mean for your favorite neighborhood brewery? Will you still be able to buy their beer in a store? Will a 6-pack cost you an arm and a leg if you do? City Cast Denver producer Paul Karolyi sits down with Denver Business Journal beer reporter Ed Sealover to talk through the whole story.

For more of Sealover’s reporting on the Ball Corp./craft brewing situation, click here.

After the interview, we asked Sealover for a local beer rec, and he did not disappoint. You can read all about it in today’s newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

What do you think about those plastic wraps and stickers on craft beer cans? Let us know on Twitter @citycastdenver

How Denver's Tech Industry Put Roadblocks in Front of a "Modern Green Book” Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

When Parker McMullen Bushman and her business partner, Crystal Egli, founded Inclusive Journeys, they were on a mission to bring the idea of the Green Book into the 21st century. While they found enthusiastic support for their idea of an internet-based inclusive spaces travel guide, the financial backing other tech companies seemed to attract wasn’t as easy to come by. Today on the show, Host Bree Davies talks with McMullen Bushman about the struggles and triumphs Inclusive Journeys has experienced as a tech company founded and operated by Black women in Colorado.

Learn more about Inclusive Journeys and how to support the project on their GoFundMe page.

Sign up for our newsletter, where today producer Paul Karolyi unpacks Police Chief Paul Pazen’s response to our previous reporting on the recent spike in vehicle thefts across Colorado https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

Hang out with us on Twitter @citycastdenver

“More Like Poisoning Than An Overdose”: AG Phil Weiser on the Fentanyl Crisis Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

The overdose deaths of five people in Commerce City over the weekend were a harsh reminder that fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is wreaking havoc in our communities, and has been for some time. Fentanyl’s growing presence in Denver’s drug supply the last few years directly correlates to alarming spikes in overdoses. According to the Denver Post, “An average of two Coloradans died of fentanyl overdoses every day in the first nine months of 2021, state data shows.” Back in December, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said enough is enough and announced steps to tackle the crisis alongside state lawmakers. Today, he joins City Cast Denver host Bree Davies to talk through those plans and consider the question: Is this just an extension of the war on drugs? Or could it be a turning point for harm reduction and destigmatization?

In the interview, the attorney general mentioned a New York Times story about the opioid crisis. Here’s a link to that: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/13/briefing/opioids-drug-overdose-death-toll.html

If you or someone you know needs access to fentanyl testing strips, just fill out this form and Denver will ship them to you for free:

https://us.openforms.com/Form/0b3ab074-c139-481b-9912-331b3c9b147b

Did you know you can earn free City Cast Denver swag? All you have to do is refer a friend to subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. Learn more and refer now, right here: https://denver.citycast.fm/referrals/?email=%2A%7CHTML%3AEMAIL%7C%2A&autoDetect=1

Stay in touch on Twitter: @citycastdenver

BONUS: Why Salt Lake Said Yes to the Olympics... and Denver Said No (via City Cast Salt Lake) Feb 19, 2022

Show notes

Denver has a unique relationship with the Olympics, that's for sure. But our friends on the other side of the Rockies have been grappling with the Games lately, too. Utahns are currently discussing a bid for the 2030 Olympics, so City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta invited CCD host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to hash it out. We had a ton of fun recording this and there are a bunch of interesting parallels between Denver and Salt Lake when it comes to the Olympics, so we wanted to share the episode with you!

Please enjoy this bonus episode of City Cast Salt Lake (Original airdate: 2/17/22) and tell your friends in Utah to subscribe! They’ve got a daily newsletter, too.

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