🌿 How many weed stores is too many?

🌿 Where New Weed Store Aren’t Allowed

Denver’s Department of Excise and License has released its 2024 list of local neighborhoods with an “undue concentration” of weed stores and facilities. New stores and cultivation operations will not be permitted to open in communities like Overland, Northeast Park Hill, and Montbello so long as they’re on the list. [City of Denver]

🏭 Officials Renew Suncor Operating Permit

Much to the chagrin of climate activists, Colorado air quality regulators have renewed the operating permit for Commerce City’s Suncor oil refinery. The plant is notorious for serious air quality violations. Officials say the new permit includes stricter monitoring rules, but environmental advocates warn it’s not enough. [CO Sun]

• Deep dive: What would a Denver without Suncor look like? How much of a difference would it actually make? [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🤔 What’s the Latest on COVID?

With spring in full bloom and fresh air aplenty, it’s almost enough to make you say, “COVID, who?” In fact, mid-May saw a notably low number of COVID hospitalizations. But most recent wastewater analyses from facilities across the Front Range are showing an increased concentration of the virus. Take the data with a grain of salt, though — as we adapt to a world where COVID isn’t going anywhere, reporting requirements are beginning to relax leaving data dashboards with an incomplete picture of COVID in the community. [CPR]

• Be smart: If you wash your hands regularly, stay home if you feel unwell, and keep up with your vaccinations, you’re doing all the right things.

🇺🇸 What to Watch in the 2024 Primaries

The 2024 primary ballots go out this week. A surprising amount of Democratic incumbents are being challenged by their own party and some races are seeing hundreds of thousands of dollars pouring in. What do the financial interests and a growing division within parties say about Colorado politics? We asked an expert. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

The Primaries We're Watching This June

From the growing division within the Colorado Democratic Party to the stark contrasts in fundraising numbers, the 2024 primaries have some interesting races at play — especially among Denver’s State House seats. Chief legislative reporter for Colorado Politics Marianne Goodland joins City Cast Denver podcast host Bree Davies to dig into the hottest races to watch.