🐘 Is Aurora done with the GOP?

🚔 Officer Involved in Flock Fiasco Will Be Disciplined

The Columbine Valley Police Department will take “appropriate disciplinary action” against the officer who used Flock license plate reader data to falsely accuse a local woman of theft, according to a statement from the Town of Bow Mar. Residents were up in arms after the story made headlines last month. “Our officer, using the evidence and information available to him at the time, had a reasonable belief in issuing a summons,” the statement read. The police department appears to have deactivated all its social media accounts. [9News]

🌿 Another Cannabis Recall Strikes Denver

The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division has recalled a batch of cannabis flower for containing potentially unsafe levels of mold and toxic heavy metals. The strain in question goes by the name Gorilla Glue #4 and was sold between Sept. 24 and Nov. 5 at 20 Denver-area dispensaries. It is the 12th marijuana recall issued by the MED this year. [Westword]

🐘 Is Aurora Done with the GOP?

Democrats swept key races across the country this month, including — in a surprise to many — in Aurora, where local conservative firebrand Danielle Jurinsky (who gained attention from Fox News last year for her social media broadcasting of the Tren de Aragua gang narrative) lost her at-large seat as City Council swung progressive. But beneath the surface of Aurora politics lies a more complicated picture of how voters in the state’s most diverse city feel about their elected leadership. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🏛️ Mayor’s Budget Moves Forward Without Council Support

In a rare event, Denver City Council symbolically rejected Mayor Mike Johnston’s budget plan for 2026 — something that apparently hasn’t happened since 1987. However, even though the draft failed to receive majority support from council (it was a 6-6 vote), the city’s charter dictates it doesn’t need it, and so the mayor’s $1.66 billion proposal will go forward regardless. [Denverite, The Denver Post 🔒]

Have something to say about a recent podcast episode or newsletter? We love hearing from readers and listeners! Here’s the latest from the inbox 📥

🏈 On John Elway

Netflix’s new “Elway” documentary had its world premiere at the Denver Film Festival last weekend (a release date for streaming is TBA). The Denver quarterback king is a notoriously elusive interviewee, but anecdotally, we have heard some ~stories~ about him.

Friend of the show JD Lopez recently told us that Elway once convinced his asthmatic brother to run across the field in exchange for an autograph, then didn’t give him the signature.

One listener called in to tell us about the time they worked for an event company that helped stage Elway’s birthday party at The Soiled Dove Underground, “which involved me carrying a giant white leather throne down the stairs for John to sit on,” the listener says. “He always seemed like he was kinda full of himself.”

Local Reddit user “VintagePlaid” says, “My single mom dated football players in the 80s. She always said Elway was a womanizer and unfaithful to his wife.”

Have you ever had a memorable encounter with the local sports legend? Did he stiff you on a tip? Did he sign your football? We want the tea 🐸 ☕

🏠 If Denver Was a House…

After Union Station was renovated in 2014, the famed late preservationist Dana Crawford affectionately called it “Denver’s living room” — and the nickname stuck. Which left us wondering: If Union Station is the living room, what’s that make the rest of the city?

We recently posed this question to listeners of the show, and local Reddit user “advising” surpassed our wildest expectations 🤣 Here’s their metaphorical Denver floorplan:

“RiNo - Denver's recent kitchen remodel with dark green cabinets and gold handles that kind of looks dated already.

Suncor - Denver's neighbor that idles his diesel pickup every morning for 45 minutes.

Denver Tech Center - Denver's particle board computer desk from the 90s.

Englewood - Denver's ADU.

Sloan's Lake - Denver's water bottle that we left in the car for a few months but still has a little water in it and you should take it in and wash it but you are kind of afraid to open it so you just continue to ignore it.

Lakeside - Denver's dangerous, old trampoline in your cousin's backyard.”