Starting October 1st, Denverites are officially banned from watering their lawns, despite threats of fines and restrictions already being in place. But what about the state’s other big water users? Comedian, Casa Bonita performer, and regular City Cast contributor Joshua Emerson joins host Bree Davies to talk about how much water Colorado’s agriculture industry guzzles, plus they talk about the official launch of Waymo’s driverless vehicles, what a new In-N-Out Burger planned for Colorado Boulevard means for traffic, and more. 

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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 September 2nd episode:

• Sunnyside Music Festival
  

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Summer is lingering and there’s still plenty of time to enjoy all that the Mile High City has to offer. So, how do you squeeze the last moments out of these warm days and nights? Our green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval, who happens to also be the Democratic candidate for Colorado’s House District 5, joins host Bree Davies to share their fave spots to enjoy a pint and a scoop on a great patio alongside Clear Creek, catch a coaster ride for a great price, and more.

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What’s your last summer hurrah you plan to do before fall? 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 September 1st episode:

• Sunnyside Music Festival
• Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

How can Denver solve the housing affordability problem? A new poll from the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project and Housing Forward Colorado says more than 60% of Denverites think higher density in their neighborhoods (like more duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes) could be the answer. The poll shows support for a proposal soon to go before City Council – “Unlocking Housing Choices,” which aims to address this “missing middle” housing issue through zoning reform. SWEEP’s Smart Growth Senior Program Manager Max Nardo joins host Bree Davies to look at the poll results and discuss the density debate to come. 

Producer Paul Karolyi reported on the budget-related downscaling of the Unlocking Housing Choices project in an episode back in February. Bree mentioned interviews we did with both sides of the Lakewood density debate that went to voters earlier in March.

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What do you think about adding “missing middle” housing to your block? 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 August 31st episode:

• Sunnyside Music Festival
  

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The Denver airport definitely has a lot going for it, but what it doesn’t have is its own electrical grid, like Pittsburgh’s does. For the past few years, Pittsburgh International Airport has been generating on-site electricity, more than it needs even at peak operation, to fortify itself against the kind of power outages that hit airports (unsettlingly often) across the world. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris brings David into the little-known world of airport energy independence, showing how a one-time investment can bring the kind of peace of mind that both travelers and operators hope for every day.

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

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This week Denver DSA officially endorsed current District 8 council member Shontel Lewis for mayor – a race voters won’t be deciding until next April. A new poll shows Lewis is far from a household name – is DSA making a big bet early in the season? Denver Post city government reporter Elliott Wenzler joins host Bree Davies to talk about the race, the questionable fate of a Broncos parking lot in Sun Valley, and their wins and fails of the week. Plus, a bonus segment only for City Cast Denver Neighbors about Dolly Parton’s local impact through her children’s reading program.

Bree talked about the Federal Boulevard and Colfax Avenue clover leaf interchange, the Ghost Canyon Festival, fundraisers for two North High School students – Giovanni Ramos and Yorbelis Gutiérrez-Arena – both lost to gun violence, and the September 12 fundraiser for the local branch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She also read part of Lisa Calderón’s statement about the DSA endorsement of Lewis. Elliott mentioned the lunar eclipse, DPS’ bear warnings for students, and the great podcast Dolly Parton’s America. 

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What do you think of DSA’s early endorsement? 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 August 28th episode:

• The Women’s Foundation of Colorado
• Chalat Hatten & Banker
• Blue Sky Plumbing
• Colorado Chinese Medicine University
  

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

New data centers are popping up across the country, including right here in Colorado. Many communities have concerns, including how much energy they will use and what kind of pressure they put on the grid. Xcel Energy has proposed charging these companies for any new infrastructure that could be built to support new data centers. But if that proposal doesn’t go through, will Xcel pass the buck onto consumers? Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy Colorado, joins host Bree Davies to answer that question and talk about the rising costs of electricity and gas on local households, what renewable energy looks like in the future, and more.

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Has your energy bill gone up significantly? 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 August 27th episode:

• Women's Foundation
• Chalat Hatten and Banker
• Blue Sky
• Colorado Chinese University
  

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Denver’s $200 million budget shortfall is impacting everything from city services to road repairs to our parks system – and the latest casualty could be housing, with the city’s ADU program losing a quarter million dollars. Green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins host Bree Davies to discuss what the loss of public funding means for this type of affordable homes. Plus, they share information on how to not get caught with expired license plates this week and Bree rants about the AI slop creeping into local businesses.

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What do you think about AI art being used in flyers? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

If you enjoyed this interview with Lauren Howe, the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Program Supervisor, learn more here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 26th episode:

• Women's Foundation
• Chalat Hatten and Banker
• Blue Sky
• Colorado Chinese University
  

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love are opening the City Cast Denver mailbag to hear from you, our dear listeners. They discuss what the transition from thrift store to thrift outlet means for the ARC on West Alameda, hear listener opinions on Governor Polis’ opinions, talk about the microwavable meal empire that has donated millions to the Denver art scene, and more! 

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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

If you enjoyed this interview with Max Shulman, the Artistic Director of Theatreworks, learn more here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 25th episode:

• Women's Foundation
• Chalat Hatten and Banker
• Blue Sky
• Colorado Chinese University
• Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

RiNo is on the precipice of getting a second grocery store, but Sprouts Farmers Market can’t move into the former Blue Moon property without some financial help. Specifically, $500,000 from the RiNo Business Improvement District to help the developer bring the project closer to completion. RiNo has undergone quite a transformation in the last 20 years, so we are revisiting a conversation host Bree Davies had last year with Daisy Fodness-McGowan, who oversees the Rino Art District, to walk through the changes. 

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter 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 August 24th episode:

• Women's Foundation
• Chalat Hatten and Banker
• Blue Sky
• Colorado Chinese University

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

How often are you out in nature in Denver? It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban setting, and city rivers get a particularly bad rap. It’s true that cities have had eras of sewage mishandling and high boat traffic — but many have also cleaned up their act, through the tireless work of local advocates and politicians. Portland, OR, is one of those cities, and City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza joins this episode of Your City Could Be Better to debunk the assumptions and fears about her city’s river, the Willamette. Learn all about how a journalist-turned-governor led the charge to clean up Portland's waterfront, and how a quirky organizer — and lots of enthusiastic swimmers — have carried the torch.

Mentioned on the show:

• Portland’s riverfront park, named after former Governor Tom McCall
• Swiss residents using river to swim home from work
• RFK Jr. swimming (in jeans) in Rock Creek in Washington, D.C.

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

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What does Denver sound like? Many musicians have put their hearts and souls into writing songs about the Mile High City, but which tracks stand out? Denver Post entertainment reporter John Wenzel and local rappers Nelo and Wayne Watts – the artists behind their own ode to D-Town “Next Stop Denver” — joined host Bree Davies last fall to make an epic playlist of all the songs they think make up the sound of the city.

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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 August 21st episode:

• Arvada Center
  

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise