🍸 The four best hotel bars in Denver

💰 State Refund Error

Colorado lawmakers are scrambling to address $34 million worth of refunds to taxpayers that were supposed to be paid out years ago. The error, stemming from a misallocation of funds from a health insurance law passed in 2020, was uncovered in February by a state audit. Officials hoped to rectify the issue in June, but further investigation revealed that the refunds must be sent before the end of the legislative session on May 8. [Colorado Sun]

⏹️ Record Execs Face the Music

Denver record company Vinyl Me, Please is suing three former executives it fired in March, accusing them of misusing company funds to build a vinyl production plant in RiNo without permission from its board of directors. [BusinessDen]

⛔ Police Refuse Protester Sweep

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said last week that he rejected requests from Auraria officials to remove pro-Palestine protesters from campus a second time, noting that there was “no legal way” to do so. Chief Thomas also blamed campus leadership for dropping the ball in the aftermath of mass arrests during a sweep on April 26 when tents were not cleaned up from the encampment, allowing demonstrators to quickly rebuild. [Denver Post]

• Context: Why did DPD arrest Gaza protesters last month? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🪴 What Weed ‘Rescheduling’ Means for Denver

Soon, cannabis could be reclassified as a Schedule III drug — meaning it’s no longer in the same category as heroin. But how does that impact a place like Denver, where weed has been legal for a decade? One cannabis expert explains how the subtle but seismic change could impact everyone from business owners to consumers. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

What Federal ‘Rescheduling’ Means for the Local Weed Scene

Currently, the federal government classifies cannabis in the same category as heroin. But with the potential for weed to be rescheduled to a lesser substance, big things could be on the horizon for both the industry and the consumer. How will this impact Denver, a place where cannabis has been legal for a decade? We asked an expert.