Denver news in 5 minutes: What you need to know today, June 13

3 min. read
Men pose in a billiards hall in Denver circa 1910. (History Colorado/William W. Cecil Collection/Denver Public Library)

Hi. We've got an update on where the city wants to spend its next big money package, the latest on the controversy embroiling police leadership, developments near Brighton and Broadway and more. Aye.

Men pose in a billiards hall in Denver circa 1910. (History Colorado/William W. Cecil Collection/Denver Public Library)
Big money:

Denver City Council is figuring out how it wants to spend the potential $750 million package that goes before voters this fall. Currently, it seems like there's more focus on repairs and maintenance than all the shiny new ideas we had been hearing about. That, however, could change. Jon Murray reports. (DP)

John Riecke argues that bond money shouldn't go to maintenance, but instead should be spent to reconfigure the city for the better. (Urbanism)

Of the currently approved projects, nearly half is for transportation, including bus-rapid transit on Colfax and $29 million for sidewalks, as Molly Armbrister writes. (DBJ)

And Mayor Michael Hancock told ABC7 that we need to "fortify policies that really encourage people to think less about automobiles and more about transit." (ABC7)

Why the police chiefs weren't charged:

Former district attorney Mitch Morrissey said he would have charged against Deputy Police Chief Matt Murray, and he would have considered charges against Chief Robert White in the open-records scandal, as Tony Kovaleski and Brittany Freeman report. A police records administrator had said both men seemed deceptive in failing to turn over a letter following an open records request. But DA Beth McCann said she didn't have the evidence to prove the violation was knowing and willful. (ABc7)

The farm labor crisis:

Luke Runyon tackles a topic I've been wondering about. New technology is allowing single families to farm sprawling tracts of land with fewer employees. The landowners are getting more land, while others are getting pushed out. As Runyon points out, the result is shrinking rural towns -- and, I would guess, part of the opioid/economic crisis. (KUNC)

Teacher shortage:

Colorado is short about 3,000 teachers; a third of current teachers will soon be eligible for retirement; and the state is producing significantly fewer certified educators, as Ann Marie Awad reports. Her series examines causes, effects and efforts to fix it. (KUNC)

Smelly weed:
The Denver Department of Environmental Health says 97 marijuana facilities have yet to submit a newly required odor control plan. Companies that continue not to comply could be handed a $2,000 fine.  (Denverite)
Development:

The rather interesting temporary park on 21st Street opens this Thursday, as David Sachs reports. (Streetsblog)

The city will allow a developer to build eight-story buildings along Brighton Boulevard near National Western Center. Artspace may be interested in the area for residential units, as Adrian reports. (Denverite)

A developer plans 187 apartments at Cherokee and Cedar. They're calling it "SoBo Station." (Denverite)

Trevor Story's troubles:

Christian uses the classic motif of "man talking to his baseball bat" to explain Trevor Story's ups and downs at the plate. It's imaginative sports nonfiction/fiction, friends. (Denverite)

Ice cream:

Eater has the hottest ice cream spots on the map, metaphorically speaking. (Eater)

ICYMI:

Rep. Jared Polis is running for governor. And Shannon Watts, the gun-control advocate, is making waves with the possibility she'll run for Polis' current Congressional seat. (Denverite, DP)

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