🚧 Major RTD disruptions kick off this weekend

🚧 Summer-long RTD Construction Kicks Off

This Saturday, construction will begin on RTD’s central downtown light rail loop as part of a massive $152 million reconstruction project that’s expected to last until September or later. Major lines — including D, H, and L — will be suspended or rerouted for the duration of the project, and five downtown intersections will be closed. [Westword]

• Plan your commute: You can stay up to date on service impacts and find alternate route options on the RTD website.

🏅 The Best Places to Live in Colorado

Four Front Range cities landed in the top half of the U.S. News & World Report’s annual “150 best places to live” list for 2024. Colorado Springs and Boulder landed in the top 10 (at 3rd and 10th, respectively). After dropping from 2nd place to 99th place over the last three years, Denver’s No. 40 ranking is a stark improvement. Fort Collins nabbed the 39th slot. [Westword]

• Colorado Springs: Denver’s neighbor to the south sure is getting its share of the limelight lately. Here’s why we love the Springs. [Hey Denver]
• Also awesome: Denver’s park system ranked among the best in the country! [Denverite]

🛟 City Offers Summer Job Incentives for Teens

The Johnston administration is putting more than a million dollars toward a new program that would pay teenagers extra cash for working more than 100 hours this summer. Will the paycheck bonus be enough to get kids off the streets and curb youth violence issues? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

Last week’s answer: You can find this mural (far right) by Denver-based Indigenous artist Danielle SeeWalker near the entrance of the Denver Zoo. The mural to the left is by Mongolian artist Tsogo Mijid.

📣 Major shoutout for our correct guessers:

• Ben R. and Andy J. were the only two to write in with the correct guess! Nice work 🎉

This Week’s Photo:

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

✨ Special thanks to reader Morgan D. for submitting this week’s pic!

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

Hot Garbage Summer, Putting Teens To Work, and Fentanyl Hysteria

Summer jobs for teens are getting a boost from Mayor Johnston as the City rolls out a new program offering young people financial literacy classes and extra cash for working a summer job this season. Meanwhile, the state GOP’s latest weaponizing of the panic over trans people existing means encouraging families to pull their kids out of public schools. The City Cast Denver crew digs into these stories and more news of the week.