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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston floats 20% service charge on tabs to tackle restaurant woes
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston floats 20% service charge on tabs to tackle restaurant woes

By Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette Denver Mayor Mike Johnston wants to add a 20% service charge to local restaurant tabs — and then tax it — to help restaurants cope with the city’s minimum wage and promote what he called pay equity among tipped and non-tipped employees. On Monday, Johnston told City Cast Denver, a popular podcast, that he has already been discussing the idea with restaurant owners. He didn’t say whether they are on board. He also did not discuss if increasing people's dinner costs would decrease restaurant visits.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
It’s a packed field of candidates aiming to take a seat on Aurora City Council
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It’s a packed field of candidates aiming to take a seat on Aurora City Council

By Kyla Pearce | The Denver Gazette Candidates are lining up quickly for five Aurora City Council seats that are up for election at the end of the year, with campaigns including those from a former Aurora councilmember, a former mayoral candidate and a current councilmember. As of Tuesday, Aurora's campaign finance system showed five candidates for Ward I, one candidate each for Wards II and III and two candidates for two at-large seats. The Aurora City Council is made up of a mayor and 10 councilmembers, with six of them representing individual wards and four elected at-large to represent the entire city. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
State’s airports receive nearly $20 million in state and local grants, with more to come
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State’s airports receive nearly $20 million in state and local grants, with more to come

By Alexander Edwards | The Denver Gazette The Colorado Department of Transportation approved $13.8 million in funding for a statewide aviation grant program. In total, airports in Colorado will receive just over $18 million in grants when state and local money is fully allocated. In the metro Denver area, Centennial, Colorado Air and Space Port, Erie, Denver International Airport and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport will receive just over $2.8 million in grant awards in 2025. Statewide, the biggest award from CDOT is going to the Walden-Jackson County Airport for runway reconstruction. The $4.1 million grant award is being combined with a $460,000 local grant for a total of $4.6 million. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Citing Elon Musk’s ownership, Denver City Council pulls down Twitter account
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Citing Elon Musk’s ownership, Denver City Council pulls down Twitter account

By Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette The Denver City Council has deleted its account on X, formerly known as Twitter, blaming what it described as increased political rhetoric surrounding Elon Musk and his newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. City Council President Amanda Sandoval confirmed the account was deleted on Feb. 21. “As long as X is owned by Elon Musk, and he’s an appointee of the president, and he’s bidding on contracts for the federal government, as Council President, I have made the decision that we cannot have City Council be part of that,” Sandoval told The Denver Gazette.   READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
U.S. Small Business Administration to move regional offices out of ‘sanctuary cities’
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

U.S. Small Business Administration to move regional offices out of ‘sanctuary cities’

By Luige Del Puerto | Denver Gazette The U.S. Small Business Administration will relocate its regional offices away from "sanctuary cities," the office's new administrator said in a memo issued on Monday. The memo didn't specifically cite Denver, though a Congressional panel has singled out Denver and a few other urban centers as "sanctuary" jurisdictions.   "To better serve Main Streets across America, especially in rural areas, SBA will relocate regional offices currently based in sanctuary cities to less costly, more accessible locations in communities that comply with federal immigration law," the memo from SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Hundreds rally in support of Ukraine outside of Colorado capitol
Approved, denvergazette.com, State

Hundreds rally in support of Ukraine outside of Colorado capitol

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette Hundreds gathered outside the Colorado state Capitol on Sunday in support of Ukraine and to mark three years since Russian forces started their invasion. “Today we came here just to raise our voices, to raise awareness that the war is still active. The war has not ended,” Marina Dubrova, president of the organizing nonprofit Ukrainians of Colorado, said outside the Capitol. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Rand Paul suggests Denver mayor opposing deportations is ‘a form of insurrection’
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Rand Paul suggests Denver mayor opposing deportations is ‘a form of insurrection’

By Asher Notheis | The Denver Gazette Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky warned that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston could face legal repercussions over his opposition to President-elect Donald Trump's proposed mass deportations of immigrants unlawfully staying in the U.S. Johnston is one of several mayors who have stated they will not assist the incoming Trump administration with its deportation plan. Johnston said Denver would “continue to be a welcoming, open, big-hearted city.” Paul, who has expressed criticism of Trump’s plan to use the Army to carry out his deportation plan, warned the mayor that his resistance could be taken to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he could potentially be removed from office. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Denver hires law firm in advance of Mike Johnston’s ‘sanctuary city’ hearing in Congress
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Denver hires law firm in advance of Mike Johnston’s ‘sanctuary city’ hearing in Congress

By Deborah Grigsby  | The Denver Gazette The City and County of Denver has retained outside legal counsel for up to $2 million just before Mayor Mike Johnston’s appearance next month before a congressional committee in Washington, D.C. The U.S. House Committee on Government and Reform has asked Johnston to testify before the panel on March 5. The City and County of Denver inked an agreement with the law firm Covington and Burling, LLP to represent the city in the upcoming congressional inquiry into so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions nationwide. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Proposals forbid Colorado governments from banning gas or propane-fired appliances
Approved, denvergazette.com, State

Proposals forbid Colorado governments from banning gas or propane-fired appliances

By Marissa Ventrelli  | Denver Gazette A group that secured a major property tax deal with legislators last year is behind ballot measures to prohibit state and local governments from banning the use of gas or propane-fired equipment and appliances, such as stoves and heaters. The group seeks to enact the prohibition in state statutes, as well as enshrine that language in the Colorado Constitution. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Aurora officials weigh options to plug $11.5M budget shortfall
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Aurora officials weigh options to plug $11.5M budget shortfall

By Kyla Pearce  | The Denver Gazette Raising taxes, "de-Brucing" and eliminating tax exemptions are all on a list of options Aurora officials are considering to fill an $11.5 million gap in the estimated 2026 budget.  City councilmembers and finance officials discussed the 2026 budget in a recent workshop, going back and forth about how to make up the shortfall. The budget gap, they said, is the result of low sales taxes, inflation, new expenses and the elimination of the operational privilege tax. Aurora finance officials proposed multiple ways to increase revenue to councilmembers, saying the city is not keeping up with population growth when it comes to services already. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE

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