Denver news in 5 minutes: What you need to know today, May 16

3 min. read
Garden of the Gods in 1898. (William Henry Jackson, Library of Congress)

Hi. Today's news roundup runs from an Interstate 70 mining site to the latest on the immigration fight, not to mention Shark Tank auditions and a chicken festival.

Garden of the Gods in 1898. (William Henry Jackson, Library of Congress)
More like super-fun site?

The big, red Argo Gold Mine & Mill building along Interstate 70 sits atop of a rocky vault filled with 3 million gallons of water tainted by heavy metals. Denver developer Dana Crawford and a team of Idaho Springs investors hope to turn the Superfund site into a 160-room luxury hotel and convention center -- "think steampunk." They're already moving to reopen the tunnel for tours, as Jason Blevins reports. (DP)

"Plutonium playground:"

There's still plenty of protest against the plan to reopen the former Rocky Flats nuclear-weapons manufacturing site as a wildlife refuge northwest of Arvada. John Aguilar reports. (Daily Camera)

The next FBI director:

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers was said to be on the shortlist to replace James Comey, the fired FBI director. But Suthers hasn't yet been interviewed for the job and the media assessment of his chances is dimming. (Colorado Politics)

Not a sanctuary city:

Aurora leadership voted 6-4 to declare that their city is not a "sanctuary" that protects undocumented immigrants from the feds. (Denverite)

Meanwhile, a judge found "overwhelming" reasons that a legal resident should not be deported over a decades-old conviction. After three months in detention, Isidro Quintana can pick up the pieces of his life. Erica reports. (Denverite)

Tiny homes:

Construction is starting just about now on the tiny-home village proposed for 38th and Walnut. Volunteers are sought. (Denverite)

RiNo research:

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research both have signed five-year deals for space in the future World Trade Center in River North, as Monica Mendoza reports. (DBJ)

Also happening in RiNo is an all-you-can eat chicken wings and fried chicken festival next Thursday. (Denverite)

Also also in RiNo: The art district organization has a rather unusual plan to keep Ratio Beerworks open while the company resolves a licensing problem. Adrian reports. (Denverite)

Shark Tank:

Shark Tank will audition entrepreneurs who want to pitch their ideas on the show. It happens next Wednesday, May 24, at the Xfinity Store in Centennial. Some people will show up veryyyyy early. (ABC)

On the money:

Council members Kevin Flynn and Kendra Black wrote an op-ed calling for Denver to focus its proposed bonds spending (which could total hundreds of millions) on "outlying areas like southeast and southwest Denver," as well as Montbello, East Colfax, Globeville and other places. The key, they say, is "regional equity." (DP)

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