👻 A brighter, horror-filled future for The Stanley?

🛏️ Johnston Collects Hotels for Conversion

Despite protests from residents, Denver City Council approved the city’s purchase of a hotel in the Hampden neighborhood which will be converted into a non-congregate shelter for unhoused families with children. Council also approved a $10.4 million, year-long lease for a hotel in Globeville, also to be used as a shelter. [Denverite]

• Johnston’s progress: The city has a public dashboard documenting the mayor’s progress on his ambitious housing goals — but local media outlets are accusing the city of boosting those stats by publishing “misleading information.” [City Cast Denver 🎧]

⚱️ Fraudulent Funeral Home to be Demolished

Due to a build up of hazardous medical and biological material, the EPA has deemed it necessary to demolish Fremont County’s Return to Nature Funeral Home. The funeral home made national headlines in October when authorities discovered nearly 200 improperly stored decaying bodies, plus evidence that the owners were distributing fake ashes to grieving families. [KRCC]

👻 The Stanley Hotel is Changing Hands

John Cullen, the longtime owner of the iconic (and allegedly haunted) Estes Park hotel, has shared plans to sell the property to an Arizona-based nonprofit that “works with governments to build and maintain real estate projects.” The new owner plans to renovate the hotel with 58 new rooms, plus build out the long-awaited Stanley Film Center and museum. [CPR]

⚖️ Final Elijah McClain Trial Wraps Up

Closing arguments for the third and final criminal trial in the Elijah McClain death case began yesterday afternoon. A jury will now be tasked with deciding whether the two paramedics who responded to the scene on the night McClain died in 2019 should be held criminally responsible for his death. Follow updates here. [CPR]

• A closer look: Three responding police officers were also on trial recently. The defense for the paramedics has pointed the finger at police, while police pushed the blame on EMTs. [CPR]

Is the 'Shake Shack of Mexican Food' Rising in the 'Burbs?

Jose Ramirez spent decades on the line in other peoples’ kitchens — until 2002, when he opened his own Denver metro Mexican restaurant, Los Dos Potrillos. Fast forward 20 years, and his sons Luis and Daniel have taken the reins with plans for massive expansion. We sat down with the brothers to hear about the big dreams they have for their family’s ever-growing Den-Mex empire.