City Cast Denver
🏛️ Why Trump’s Capitol portrait is gone
March 25, 2025 · — McKenna Harford
Happy Tuesday, Denver! And hello — I’m McKenna Harford, your Hey Denver newsletter editor for the next few months! Some of my favorite things about Denver: the cocktails at Run the Roses, the trails at Cherry Creek State Park, and First Fridays at the Art District on Santa Fe 🎨
What's CITY Talking About?
🖼️ Trump’s Capitol Portrait Comes Down
After President Donald Trump took to social media to complain about his portrait at the Colorado Capitol being “distorted,” state legislators agreed to take the painting down. The GOP-approved portrait was originally hung in the Capitol in 2019 following a Republican fundraiser that paid to commission the art. [Denver Post]
- Portrait Prank: A political activist placed a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin where Trump’s picture would go. The prank gained international attention after Russia’s RT, a state-controlled media outlet, reported on it. [9News]
🚈 RTD Slow Zones Drag On
The Regional Transportation District is now aiming to end the use of slow zones on certain light rail routes by May, after weather and contractor issues delayed construction on the tracks. The slow zones were implemented last year while sections of the tracks were updated, forcing trains to crawl along at 10 mph in between stops. [CPR]
🧾 A New Take in the Tipping Debate
The debate over the tipped minimum wage continues as House Bill 1208 moves through the state legislature. One of the bill’s sponsors, Denver Rep. Alex Valdez, shares that it’s about more than just labor costs – it’s about urban and rural economies, too. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
🍄 Colorado Begins Permitting Psychedelic Healing Centers
State regulators have begun issuing licenses for healing centers that offer supervised use of psychedelics, including psilocybin, meaning centers could start opening in Denver in the coming months. So far, the state has received 15 applications for healing centers. [KFF Health]
- Dive deeper: What, exactly, is legal when it comes to psychedelics in Colorado? An expert breaks it down. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
What To Do
Tuesday, March 25
- ♟️ Victorian Game Day | 10-11 a.m. | Free | Anythink Brighton
- 🤳 Art of Smartphone Photography | 4-7 p.m. | $51 | Denver Botanic Gardens
- 🐝 Beginning Beekeeping | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | $80 | Denver Botanic Gardens
- 🎶 Music Bingo | 7-9 p.m. | Free | Punch Bowl Social South Broadway
Wednesday, March 26
- 😂 Joshua Emerson Short Film Screening | 7- 8:15 p.m. | $17.04 | MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater
- 🧑🔬 Science + Spirits | 6 p.m. | Free | Spirit Hound Distillers
- 🧘 Sweater Weather Yoga | 6-7:30 p.m. | $27 | Denver Botanic Gardens
- 🧶 Laugh Your Craft Off: Collage Workshop (18+) | 5:30-7 p.m. | $27.53 | Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
⚽ More good news for women’s soccer fans: Following last week’s announcement about the upcoming Denver women’s soccer league’s stadium plans, the US Women’s National Team shared that they will take on the Republic of Ireland on June 26 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Stadium in Commerce City. Tickets go on sale Friday!
Free · Daily