🏡 A $5 house in Congress Park?!

🥊 Trump Takes a Swing at Polis

In a post on Truth Social earlier this week, President Trump called on “the SLEAZEBAG Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis” to “FREE TINA,” referring to disgraced Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters who is currently serving nine years in state prison for breaching election security. [Truth Social]

🍷 Sunday Vinyl is Leaving Denver

The award-winning wine bar from acclaimed Boulder sommelier Bobby Stuckey, is closing at the end of the year. The space will become an extension of Stuckey’s restaurant next door, Tavernetta, serving as an area for private events. Stuckey is planning to reopen Sunday Vinyl somewhere in Boulder. [Denver Post 🔒]

• Bonus: The restaurant is selling wine bottles at half price until its closure on New Year’s Eve 🥂

💸 Could a $5 Raffle Fix Denver’s Housing Problems?

High prices and hefty interest rates have put Denver’s housing market in a tough position — but what if you could own a house for just five bucks? That’s the idea behind Fulhouse, a startup that is giving away a two-bedroom townhome in Congress Park to one lucky winner — if enough people enter the $5-per-ticket sweepstakes. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

⚖️ DPS Faces Claims of Racial Discrimination

A former spokesperson for Denver Public Schools claims he was let go in retaliation for filing a discrimination complaint. In a lawsuit against the district, he says DPS “mirrored racialized tropes frequently applied to Black male professionals.” For its part, DPS says an investigation found the allegations to be “meritless,” and described the former employee as unprofessional and challenging.

🚏 RTD Praised for Efforts to Curb Drug Activity

A new nationwide study examining drug use on mass transit is spotlighting RTD for success with recent crime-curbing measures. RTD data shows that reports of drug activity on trains, buses, and at stations have dropped significantly since 2023. RTD CEO Debra Johnson gave credit to security system upgrades, an increase in RTD police officers, and the new “open elevators” program. [Axios Denver]

• Hear more: We spoke with Debra Johnson earlier this week on all the biggest issues facing RTD right now. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

Last week’s answer: You can find this collage of Old Denver images at Sam’s No. 3, one of Denver's last-standing and most iconic diners, ubiquitously loved for its Tex-Mex Chili.

Check out this neat timeline that puts the looong history of Sam’s No. 3 into the context of other historic moments around the country.

📣 Hats off to this week’s correct guessers:

• Robin F. was the first to write in with the correct answer!
• But Matt S., Corinne J., Janice, Stan P., Brandi S., Sean C., Aidan B., and Rheda G. weren’t far behind!
• An extra special shoutout to Hey Denver reader Joe C. for sharing this week’s photo 👏

This Week’s Photo:

🕵️ You can order a mean margarita at the bar under this mesmerizing light display. Where is it? Be among the first to respond with the right answer and you’ll get a special shoutout in next Friday’s newsletter!

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