Between the Gaza protests at the Auraria campus and the increasingly acrimonious debate over homelessness, Mayor Mike Johnston has a lot on his hands. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi sat down with Johnston to discuss the biggest issues facing his administration, including his confrontation with student protesters last Friday, the anti-homeless Instagram account @DoBetterDNVR, and the proposal to give collective bargaining rights to the thousands of City of Denver employees. Plus, the mayor has an update on the massive development planned around Ball Arena, why he’s still ordering sweeps of encampments, and what he thinks about the 30-plus tracks on Taylor Swift’s new album.
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Mayor Johnston on Campus Protests, @DoBetterDNVR, and Running for President

Join Host Bree Davies and the City Cast Denver crew every weekday morning as we celebrate, explore, and challenge an ever-changing Denver. It’s the daily news podcast for all Denverites — whether you’ve been here for six months or six generations. We’ll break down the news you need (and want) to know with journalists and culture makers; activists and artists; neighbors and ne’er-do-wells — and John Elway, if he ever returns our calls. Learn more and subscribe to our morning newsletter at citycast.fm/denver.
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This is the second episode of a special, limited-run podcast series, Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose, from City Cast Denver. Don’t miss the first episode, “The Escort Rumors.” 
In the fall of 2019, Beto O’Rourke was the politician to watch. An energetic young Dem who gave Ted Cruz a run for his money in the 2018 Texas Senate race, Beto ran for president on a strong gun control message! Then one day at a rally, a woman shows up to confront the candidate with a gun on her hip. On the second episode of this limited podcast series, we learn how Lauren Boebert built the Boebert brand. 
Bree Davies is our host. Paul Karolyi reported and produced this episode with tons of support from the rest of the team at City Cast, including but not exclusively Wil Fulton, Olivia Jewell Love, Andi McDaniel, Xandra McMahon, David Plotz, Andrea Silenzi, and Noah Sniderman. Our music is by Don Chicharrón and Los Mocochetes. Thanks also to Joshua Emerson for production support.
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.
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Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose: How The Boebert Brand Was Born

In a press conference earlier this week, head of the Civil Service Commission Niecy Murray blamed Mayor Mike Johnston for pressuring the Denver Police Department to lower standards for law enforcement applicants. But just hours after her public statements, Murray was fired. On the other side of town, Morrison’s new cameras have ticketed more than 9,000 drivers for speeding along the town’s main strip in less than two weeks. Are more cameras the answer slowing traffic down? Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are joined by Denverite transportation and city politics reporter Rebecca Tauber to dig into these stories plus Shaun White in Denver, Antiques Roadshow filming in the Mile High, and more wins and fails of the week. 
Paul mentioned local law enforcement’s recent embrace of drones, summer gas price hikes, and this weekend’s Outside Festival. Bree talked about Denver Police Salary numbers and the mayor’s less than tasteful social media post. Rebecca mentioned Denverite’s taxidermy-ed newsroom raccoon and and a local trivia outfit, Geeks Who Drink. 
What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬
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Denver Health

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Police Hiring Scandal, Speed Trap Bonanza, and a Stuffed Raccoon

If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Denver community. 
We are finally in the days of late sunsets and warm weather, and the City Cast Denver team has lots of ideas for how to spend your long summer days and nights. From hitting up the hottest Pride parties to crushing a cold glass of sangria, get ready to make this June the best one yet! 
For even more tips on how to make the most of June in Denver, check out our newsletter Hey Denver’s take on what to do this month. 
City Cast Denver is made possible by our awesome sponsors, like Denver Health AND PineMelon.
And we’re also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more membership.citycast.fm about how to become a member of City Cast Denver.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here citycast.fm/advertise. 
Got questions or comments about this episode? You can reach us at denver@citycast.fm 
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Your Guide to June in Denver

With the weather warming up, it’s a great time for Denverites to escape the heat of the city and hit the trails. Whether you’re looking for a stunning view or a physical challenge, we’ve got tons of great hiking options for the outdoor novice to the expert adventurer. Last summer, newsletter editor Peyton Garcia joined producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love to help narrow down our favorite hikes near the Mile High.
Here are links to all the hikes we mentioned:


South Loop Trail at Elk Meadow Park (Near Evergreen)


Enchanted Mesa behind Chautauqua Park (Boulder)


Fountain Valley Loop Trail at Roxborough State Park (Near Morrison)


Brother’s Lookout and Three Sisters Loop (Near Evergreen)


Trail to the A (Outside Fort Collins)


Picketwire Canyon Trail (Near Rocky Ford)


Silverdale Heritage Trail (Near Georgetown)


Sky Pond (Rocky Mountain National Park)


Fancy Pass and Missouri Lakes Loop (Near Leadville)


Bree also talked about the Hanging Lake Trail reconstruction and the reservation system hikers can use to access the trail. 
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.
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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

PineMelon

Denver Health 


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Our Favorite Hikes Near Denver

A new survey shows that both the mayor and city council’s approval ratings are well below 50%. But Denver’s at-large council members, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Sarah Parady, say there’s some context missing in the media’s presentation of the data. The council members join host Bree Davies to dig into the survey, plus talk about how the Denver Police Department handled the protester arrests at Auraria Campus, why city council approved a contentious shelter funding contract with the Salvation Army, and what the Governor’s recent veto of a wage theft bill says about our state leader’s priorities. 
Bree mentioned the Colorado Fiscal Institute’s wage theft report.
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey — it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast Denver swag. Thanks!
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.
Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver
Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver
What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

Denver Health

PineMelon

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
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Mayor Johnston on Campus Protests, @DoBetterDNVR, and Running for President

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