❓ Who is stealing Denver’s historic plaques?

👎 Denver MLK Memorial Vandalized

A city employee reported pieces missing from the Martin Luther King Jr. monument in City Park on Wednesday. Police are investigating the possibility that this was a racially motivated incident. The cost to repair the damage to the statue would likely run between $75,000 and $100,000. [Denverite]

• Also gone missing recently: Denver’s historic Chinatown plaque and Hey Kiddo’s Michelin award 🙁 [Denverite]

⚠️ Why Denver’s Communities of Color Breath Dirtier Air

A new study from CU Boulder has confirmed what many Denverites have long assumed — Denver’s communities of color are exposed to more dangerous air pollutants than their white neighbors, and fresh data points to the city’s history of redlining as the reason why. [CO Sun]

🚧 Traffic Changes Slated for York Street

York Street between 18th and 40th avenues will lose two traffic lanes later this year, resulting in a single lane in either direction. Specific details on the timeline of the project have not been announced. City officials hope the change will reduce speeding and curb traffic accidents on this notoriously dangerous corridor. [Axios Denver]

• Dive deeper: What are Denver’s most dangerous intersections? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

✊🏽 ‘Chicano Power’ License Plates

State Rep. Tim Hernández wants to add a new option to Colorado’s 200-plus specialty license plate designs. A new bill being considered by state lawmakers would create a locally designed “Chicano power” license plate that would help fund Chicano youth leadership and education programs, as well as honor Colorado’s deep-rooted Chicano culture. [Westword]

Last week’s answer: Nuggs Ice Cream (5135 E Colfax Ave) 🍦

• Reader Joy W. says: “Great patio to enjoy a scoop and watch the happenings of the fax!”
  
  And Ben R. adds not to miss their Girl Scout Cookie flavors!

👏 An extra scoop, please, for our quickest correct guessers:

• Madeline O. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
• But Joy W., Rachel U., Alicia K., Aimee W., and Ben R. weren’t far behind!

This Week’s Photo:

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

✨ Bonus points if you can name any of the actual Denverites who are pictured in the painting!

📸 Want to submit a photo? Send me a snapshot of somewhere in Denver, and I’ll consider it for an upcoming photo trivia segment!

Lawmakers Fight Doomscrolling, Red Rocks Upgrades, and an Epic Pizza Fail

Local politicians hope to tackle the connection between social media and teen depression with a new law — but will legislating TikTok work? Then, Denver’s reputation as a major live music city is solidified as Red Rocks unveils new upgrades for the 2024 season and more venues are set to open across the city. A local musician joins the City Cast Denver crew to dig into these stories and more news of the week.