✏️ Where you can still find free school supplies

🎒 State Backtracks on Free Preschool Promises

Just weeks before Colorado’s new universal preschool program is set to roll out, state officials are backtracking on some of their tuition-free promises. The program saw a much higher demand than expected and now there isn’t enough money to go around. Officials and parents worry children with risk factors — low-income, English-learning, special needs — will be the ones who get shortchanged. [Chalkbeat]

• Related: Current data shows that 1 in 10 kindergarteners are behind on their required vaccinations. [Denver Post 🔒]

✈️ United Airlines is Bringing New Job Opportunities

Last week, United Airlines purchased 133 acres of undeveloped land near DIA. The company plans to use the space to expand its world-class pilot training program, which currently takes place at a 23-acre training campus nearby. United estimates the expansion will create 240 new jobs. [Denver Post 🔒]

🔎 How Did Mayor Johnston’s First Sweep Go?

Friday morning, city officials conducted the very first homeless encampment sweep under new mayor Mike Johnston, who has made combating homelessness his top priority during his first weeks in office. Johnston visited the camp the night before the sweep to talk with residents and give them a heads up. While these early efforts seem promising, Denver’s unhoused community is still waiting to see if the mayor can live up to his lofty campaign trail talk. [Denverite]

• 🎧 Want more deets? We dig deeper into how the sweep went and what we might expect next from the mayor on today’s podcast episode. [City Cast Denver]

🐝 Pollinator Garden Party | Tuesday | 9-11 a.m.

Anythink at Wright Farms invites the community to celebrate the grand opening of the library’s new pollinator garden. There will be live music and light refreshments. [Thornton; Free]

🖼️ Free Day at DAM | Tuesday | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Coinciding with Free Day at the Denver Art Museum, visitors will get to enjoy 10-minute Spotlight Talks from professionally trained docents throughout the museum. [Civic Center; Free]

🎶 Beats on the Creek | Tuesday | 7-9:30 p.m.

Reserve a spot on the patio at Coohills restaurant for a front row seat alongside the creek to listen to Eagles tribute band, The Long Run. [Union Station; reservations required; $65 food + drink minimum]

The Sweep No One Wanted, Another Bike Lane Fight, and Peaches!

The first sweep of a homeless encampment on Mayor Mike Johnston’s watch happened last week — so, how did it go? And how does the sweep line up with the new administration’s plans for tackling homelessness going forward? Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi discuss Mayor Mike’s plan, dig into the latest fight over bike lanes, and ask for recommendations on where to get those sweet and juicy Palisade peaches this season.