Hello! No intro today, just all the news that's fit for me to feel like printing.
Government:
Goals are important. Among the Denver City Council's assorted goals are improvements to public transportation, fixing flooding in Globeville and a lot more. They laid it all out at their recent retreat. (Denverite)
Lawmakers are considering a statewide plastic bag fee similar to the one already in place in Boulder and three other cities. Boulder says it's seen a 70 percent decrease in plastic bag use since it implemented the fee in 2012. (CBS, 9)
Denver is set to become one of the first cities to ban bump stocks. However, a tougher limit on higher-capacity magazines for guns caused concern for at least one council member. (Denverite)
Environment:
Smaller blocks are thought to make for more walkable neighborhoods and, according to our Map of the Week, they're not all downtown. (Denverite)
Wind power appears to be cheaper than coal in Colorado, even when it includes batteries for energy storage. Solar with storage is cheaper than most coal production, too, according to the latest bids from energy suppliers. Aldo Svaldi reports. (DP)
Health and homelessness:
After finding jobs for 110 people in need of employment, city officials are claiming success for the first year of Denver Day Works and expanding funding by 74 percent. (Denverite)
The very late and very over-budget Aurora VA hospital finally has an opening date (Aug. 11) in addition to its congressional hearing date (today). (DP)
Civics:
Queen Phoenix, who briefly rose to local prominence during protests after President Donald Trump's election, has gone missing as she faces marijuana-related charges. Chris Walker went looking. (Westword)
Education:
Denver Public Schools may cut 50 staff, mostly special-ed positions, as it prepares for declining enrollment and a limited budget, Jamie Leary reports. (CBS4)
Development:
Development alongside Interstate 25 north of Denver is picking up, with Topgolf, Ikea, Cabela's and more. John Aguilar reports. (DP)
Assorted animals:
Denver Dumb Friends League's Denver shelter will undergo a $40 million renovation. (DP)
These iridescent dung beetles were common in Colorado before settlers killed off the bison. Learn more about them through Kevin's reporting and the "Crappy New Year" event on Thursday at Denver Museum of Nature & Science. (DP)
Food:
It's a burrito map. (Eater)
