Good morning, fair Denver metro. Today we've got an absolute bunch of local journalism to review, from the Cold Crush closure to the significant reduction in the number of local speeding tickets.
Thanks to those of you who wrote in with feedback on this column yesterday. For those just jumping in: I read a few dozen local news sources and summarize the stories that most interest me. I aim to publish by 9:15 a.m. every weekday morning. Feel free to send your links and suggestions.
It's fall again.
Pack a sweater in Denver these next couple days (a high of 58 today, 62 tomorrow) and expect snow near and north of I-70 in the mountains.
It's still too early to tell what our ski season might look like, but the last few storms have been kindest to the northern part of the state (Winter Park, for example). Meteorologists now expect a weak La Niña phenomenon this winter, which may continue to slightly favor northerly points for snow. (Denverite/USA Today/Denverite)
More on the Cold Crush shutdown:
There was an instant uproar when the city shut down the popular restaurant and club in River North, which happened following the murder of Tyrone Adair Jr. outside its doors. A lot of people have asked whether Cold Crush was unfairly targeted because it draws a diverse crowd in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
Ashley Dean ran the numbers and found that the place has indeed generated more calls for service than similar downtown clubs, though most of Cold Crush's were non-violent. Westword, meanwhile, finds email records of complaints among neighbors and business players in the area. (Denverite/Westword)
Denver police are giving way fewer tickets.
I found that citations for speeding and other traffic violations have dropped by a collective 50 percent since 2010. What gives? (Denverite)
The A Line may quiet down in a few months.
Software glitches have plagued the road-crossing gates along the train's route to the plane, which means that the feds have refused to fully certify the A Line's safety system, which in turn means that the trains have to blow their horns a lot. RTD is hoping for the safety certification next week, and the "quiet zone" could follow at least 90 days later. (Front Porch Stapleton)
Meanwhile, the opening of G Line has been delayed until the A and B lines are fixed. The train to Arvada and Wheat Ridge was expected to open in October, but now it's "this fall." (DBJ)
Come watch an elephant smash giant pumpkins at the Denver Zoo tomorrow.
A bunch of D.C. reporters were weirdly interested in this event. 11:30 a.m. (Twitter/Denverite)
Donald Trump debuted a new policy point in Colorado Springs.
He promised a few times to "drain the swamp" in D.C., and then called for limits on how many times U.S. Senators and Representatives may be re-elected. He wants three terms (six years) for the House and two terms (12 years) for the Senate. There are no term limits currently; Republicans last really pushed for them in 1994. (NYT)
Trump also warned "darkly of a stolen election," and told folks in Colorado Springs to vigilantly monitor polling sites. (NYT)
Big Tobacco is spending a bunch of money to stop a new tax on tobacco?!
Hard to believe, I know, but the parent company of Philip Morris has put $16.2 million up against Amendment 72. The opposition has countered with $2.2 million. The measure would add $1.75 in tax per pack of cigarettes, sending the new funds to health-related programs. (DP)
Here's a nice feature on the "Jewels of Highland."
Read up on the history and architecture of the area between 32nd and 38th avenues, where I like to go hypothetical home shopping. (North Denver Tribune)
The big prize in Colorado's elections is the state senate.
Democrats are very likely to keep control of the House, and the Republicans' one-seat majority in the Senate is up for grabs. Colorado Public Radio names the races to watch as District 19 (Westminster-ish), District 25 (Northern Aurora, Thornton, etc.) and District 26 (Arapahoe County). In other news, I'm mailing my ballot today. (CPR)
The U.S. Air Force's chemical woes continue in Colorado Springs.
Peterson Air Force Base dumped 150,000 gallons of contaminated water into the local sewer system and Fountain Creek. It contained PFCs, the same potentially carcinogenic chemicals that have seeped from the base into groundwater and nearby towns' drinking water systems. This spill, however, reportedly did not reach any drinking water. (DP)
Robert Dear says he is being drugged against his will.
He's accused of murdering three people at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs last November. At a court appearance yesterday, he claimed that he was being medicated against his wishes. These mental competency proceedings will determine how his trial proceeds. (Reuters)
Developer plans 150 hotel rooms, plus office and retail, for RiNo.
With pictures! (Denver Infill)
$320,000 of meth, 51 pounds of pot seized in Yuma County.
Man gets shot in hand. Sheriff's office tracks down man in Chevy Equinox. Sheriff's office finds some drugs. Sheriff's office finds another guy, this one suspected of doing the shooting. Sheriff's office gets a warrant. Sheriff's office finds lots of drugs. (Westword)
Libertarianism is popular too.
The Libertarian Party has grown its registration rolls by almost a third this year. It now has just more than 1 percent of Colorado's active voters. (CPR)
Andy stuff:
What I'm listening to this morning: George Gershwin.
A song I'm singing to my dog: "Sweet puppy, good puppy – gotta pet that soft puppy," to the tune of Lady Marmalade.
