🚍 Why your bus is late

♥️ Suspected Club Q Shooter Pleads Guilty

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to 53 counts and will be sentenced to five consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. The plea comes just seven months after the shooting, a remarkably short period of time in a state where mass shooting cases typically take years to resolve. [The Colorado Sun]

🚩 Casa Bonita Gets Rid of Tips for Employees

Axios reports that just before its re-opening weekend, the restaurant scrapped an existing agreement with employees and asked them to sign a new one — or quit altogether. The original contract in place was signed by employees earlier this year and promised an hourly pay of around $15, plus whatever tips they received. The new contract raised hourly pay to $30, but took away the option to earn tips. Casa Bonita representatives say the move provides efficiency and fairness to employees, but some employees are not exactly happy with the change. [Axios Denver]

• More on tipping: “Tipping fatigue” has been a hot topic lately, but what do service industry folks think about it? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🚍 RTD Continues to Struggle with Staffing

The Regional Transportation District continues to face significant shortages of bus drivers, train operators, and other key workers, despite a new union contract that raised wages last year. While there have been improvements since last summer, the vacancy rate for bus drivers and train operators remains at 19%, slightly higher than it was in January 2022. While the new union contract and hiring bonuses have led to an increase in hiring, high turnover rates and an aging workforce pose ongoing challenges for RTD in providing reliable bus and train services. [Denverite]

🌎 Speaking of RTD

RTD’s “Zero Fare for Better Air” promotion is back! Local public transit will be free in July and August this year, but is this really going to lead to better air quality? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🛼 Summer at Skyline Park | Tuesdays - Sundays | 3 - 9 p.m.

The park is officially open, with activities like roller skating, pickleball, mini golf, and volleyball. There's also a full bar and a rotation of food trucks. [Downtown; Free to Enter, $7+ to Skate]

💧 ‘Pipelines’ Installation | Through September 10 | Anytime

The art installation by Canadian artists Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster highlights the importance of our often hidden water infrastructure. [Downtown; Free]

🧑‍🌾 Volunteer at  Liamuiga Farm | Tuesday | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

This new urban farm is having its inaugural season and needs your help. No farming experience required. [Golden; Free]

🛍️ Ruby’s Market Backyard Bazaar | Wednesday | 5 - 8 p.m.

Ruby’s Market celebrates food & artisan products made by refugee & immigrant makers. This week they’re highlighting Latine heritage and collecting food items for newly arrived unaccompanied minors. [Platt Park; Free Admission]

Free Public Transit, French Fry Art, and More Tourist Traps

It’s Tuesday, and we’re talking about all the local stories that matter this week. First up, RTD’s “Zero Fare for Better Air” promotion is back! Local public transit will be free in July and August this year, but is this really going to lead to better air quality? Host Bree Davies and Producer Paul Karolyi are talking transit and responding to some listener comments and questions about tourist traps, public art, and Stephen King’s Colorado connections.