🏥 Is Denver’s only ‘safety net hospital’ in trouble?

🏥 Is Denver’s Only ‘Safety Net Hospital’ in Trouble?

Denver Health is the only “safety net hospital” in the state, which means that Denver’s unhoused crisis has exacerbated the hospital’s chronic funding problems. The company’s CEO told City Council the situation is critical, while making her case for more city funding. Mayor Johnston proposed a $30.8 million contribution in his 2024 budget, matching last year’s. Denver Health is set to spend $136 million on uninsured patients in 2023. [Denverite]

⚖️ Denver Parent Sues Auon’tai Anderson

Denver school board vice president Auon’tai Anderson is facing a lawsuit from a local parent who is alleging her rights were violated when Anderson blocked her from his Facebook page and deleted her comments. State lawmakers passed a law this year allowing elected leaders to ban anyone from their private social media accounts, but the U.S. Supreme Court is still considering the constitutionality. [Denver Post 🔒]

• 🔎 More context: Anderson is alleging on X (formerly Twitter) that the plaintiff, Eve Chen, is the “best friend and co-conspirator” of Mary Katherine Brooks Fleming, the woman who accused Anderson back in 2021 of sexually assaulting dozens of DPS students (claims that were ultimately unsubstantiated).

🏭 Does CO Have a ‘Pay to Pollute’ Loophole?

State air quality regulators passed a new set of rules meant to get 18 of Colorado’s biggest polluters — Suncor Energy, Molson Coors, Leprino Foods, and more — on track for Colorado’s climate goals. So why are climate activists enraged? Denver Post reporter Noelle Phillips joins our podcast to break it down. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

⭐⭐⭐ = The official City Cast Denver ‘Maybe’ of the weekend, as in maybe you’ll see us there! Listen to Thursday’s podcast for more deets.

🥨 Denver Oktoberfest | Friday-Sunday | Times Vary

Celebrate the season of festbier with keg bowling, stein hoisting, schnitzel eating, live music, and more raucous revelry at Weekend One of Denver’s 53rd annual Oktoberfest. [Ballpark; Free]

🍺 Suave Fest | Saturday | Noon-6 p.m.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Raíces Brewing and Cultura Nonprofit are hosting West Denver’s 3rd annual celebration of Latino Craft Beer, complete with Latin American music, food, and art. [La Alma Lincoln Park; GA $35, VIP $75, DD $20]

🍔 Denver Deluxe Festival | Saturday | 1-8 p.m.

Help raise funds for youth advocacy nonprofit Colorado Uplift with beer, burgers, and live musical performances from a lineup including Josh Meloy, Jade Bird, Ballyhoo, Joe Purdy, and others. [RiNo; $30+]

🥮 Mid-Autumn Festival | Saturday | 2-10 p.m.

Denver’s Little Saigon District will celebrate the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with lion dancing, lantern making, mooncakes, pho, and more traditional entertainment. [Westwood; Free]

🎨 Black Love Mural Battle | Saturday | 2-10 p.m.

Black Love Mural Festival is hosting its first ever Mural Battle in which local and national artists compete against one another to create live masterpieces. Spectators can enjoy food, music, an art market, and more. [RiNo; Free to attend]

🧙 Harry Potter Night at Coors Field | Saturday | 6:10 p.m.

Cheer on your Colorado Rockies against the Minnesota Twins while donning your best witch or wizard apparel and showing off your Hogwarts House pride. [Ballpark; $30-$80]

🧟 Fright Fest Kickoff | Saturday | 6-9 p.m.

For the next five weekends Elitch Gardens is celebrating spooky season with eight terrifying haunted house experiences. [Auraria; Online $50, Door $70]

🎞️ ‘Curse of the Blue Lights’ | Saturday | 7 p.m.

The Sie FilmCenter will host a special screening of “Curse of the Blue Lights,” a 1988 horror flick filmed in Colorado’s own Pueblo, followed by a Q+A with filmmaker and town resident John Henry Johnston. [Congress Park; $14]

🪓 Lumberjack Festival | Saturday-Sunday | Noon-6 p.m.

Unleash your inner lumberjack with axe throwing, chainsaw art, and a beard contest, plus farm animals and face painting for the kiddos. [Littleton; $15-$25]

⭐⭐⭐ Hot Chocolate Run | Sunday | 7 a.m.

What better way to warm up on a crisp fall morning than with a community 5/10/15K and a hot chocolate after-party? Wanna skip straight to the sweets? Swing by the National Western Complex for the free hot cocoa expo open to the public. [Wash Park; $64-$84]

🕷️ Spiders Around the World | Sunday | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Enjoy Butterfly Pavilion’s limited-time, Halloween-inspired Spiders Around the World exhibition where visitors can get up-close and personal with hundreds of free-roaming arachnids, spotlighting species from around the world. [Westminster; Admission $9.95-$14.95]

Last week’s answer: Dragonfly Noodle on 16th Street Mall

• Reader Natalie M. goes so far as to call the noodle bowls from the James Beard Award-nominated Edwin Zoe “the best ramen in Denver 🤤”

👏 A round of applause for this week’s correct guessers:

• Natalie M. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
• But Daniel M., Carol M., and James L. weren’t far behind!

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ Do YOU know where to find this golden astrological chart? Be among the first to respond with the right answer and you’ll get a special shoutout in next Friday’s newsletter!

A Big Break for Polluters? Plus, Pedestrian Deaths and Jon Caldara's Poop

Returning guest Noelle Phillips reports on Suncor Energy for the Denver Post, and she’s on the City Cast Denver podcast today to break down the new regulations that Colorado’s air quality regulators just passed. Plus, a rousing round of Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows.