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Minimum wage hikes sound compassionate but close the door on opportunity
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Rasmussen Reports, Approved, Commentary, National

Minimum wage hikes sound compassionate but close the door on opportunity

By Brian Joondeph | Commentary, Rasmussen Reports A new Rasmussen Reports survey reveals that 40% of Americans now believe the minimum wage should be at least $15 an hour, up from 36% a year ago. That’s a strong sentiment. After all, who doesn’t want working Americans to earn more? But compassion and sound economics are two very different things. In fact, the optimal minimum wage from an economic perspective is zero. This isn't an insult to workers but a recognition that government cannot create prosperity by decree, despite campaign promises. When wages are set by law instead of supply and demand, the first casualties are often those who need an entry point, such as teenagers, part-time workers, and adults looking for a second job to supplement their income. Contrary to...
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As businesses flee downtown Denver, Johnston points to falling homicide rate
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

As businesses flee downtown Denver, Johnston points to falling homicide rate

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Mayor Mike Johnston has been pointing to a 44% drop in homicides in the first half of 2025, calling it proof his crime plan is making a difference. The figure is a sharp improvement from last year, but it’s recent and doesn’t show where things stood before the pandemic. In the city’s core, the gains are harder to find. A report from the Common Sense Institute shows murders in District 6, the downtown police district, have risen 133% since 2020. Aggravated assaults, drug crimes, public disorder, and larceny are also up. While some neighborhoods have seen improvement, downtown has not kept up the same pace. Citywide Gains, Downtown Losses Data from DenverCrimes.com shows citywide violent crime down more than 30% from last...
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Report: 20% surcharge on Denver restaurant bills could cost economy $718 million
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The Center Square, Approved, Local

Report: 20% surcharge on Denver restaurant bills could cost economy $718 million

By Derek Draplin | The Center Square An idea to implement a 20% service charge on Denver restaurant bills, floated last week by Mayor Mike Johnston, could cost the city’s economy $718 million over the next five years, according to a policy think tank. Johnston made the suggestion during an interview on the "City Cast Denver" podcast Wednesday while discussing struggling restaurants in the city. “One idea we’ve been floating to restaurants is the idea of a service charge,” he said. “If you do a service charge of 20%, you can gather that, and you can spread it equally across all the employees. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
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Why are so many Denver restaurants going belly up or moving out of the city?
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Approved, DENVER7, Local

Why are so many Denver restaurants going belly up or moving out of the city?

By Claire Lavezzorio | Denver 7 News Many Denver restaurants are going belly up or moving to the suburbs. According to Denver's Department of Excise and Licenses (EXL), records show a drop of about 24% in overall food licenses associated with restaurants since 2023. To better understand the trends, Denver7 is taking a 360 look at the struggling industry and what owners are doing to stay afloat. It's the lunch rush at Blue Agave Grill, and Brenda Lucio is in her happy place. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
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Del Taco suddenly closes Colorado locations ‘until further notice’
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Del Taco suddenly closes Colorado locations ‘until further notice’

By Brooke Williams | Colorado Politics All Del Taco restaurants across Colorado closed suddenly on Thursday. Signs were posted on the doors alerting customers that, effective Thursday, “all Colorado Del Taco locations are closed until further notice.” Signs were also posted in the drive-through. “We thank you for your patronage, the memories we have created together, and wish you well,” a note from staff and management on a Del Taco door reads. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
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Denver faces sharp decline in restaurants, 82% of statewide loss in last year
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Denver faces sharp decline in restaurants, 82% of statewide loss in last year

By Jasmine Arenas | CBS Colorado It is no secret restaurants in Denver are struggling to keep up with rising product and labor costs. In the past three years, the number of licensed retail food, or restaurant, licenses issued in Denver has decreased by about 22%, according to the Department of Excise and Licenses in Denver. On the corner of East 20th Avenue and Logan Street in Denver sits Coperta, an Italian restaurant known for its rustic Southern Italian cuisine. The restaurant has kept its doors open for nine years, but it hasn't been easy. "Every year, as the minimum wage rises, we have to make adjustments. We can't absorb a minimum wage increase without raising menu prices or finding other sources of revenue," said Aileen V. Reilly, co-owner of Coperta. READ THE FULL STORY...
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Denny’s to close 150 restaurant locations
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Approved, Fox Business, National

Denny’s to close 150 restaurant locations

 By Aislinn Murphy   | Fox Business Denny’s Corporation will close 150 of its Denny's restaurants. The company, which owns the Denny’s and Keke’s Breakfast Cafe chains, said those Denny’s locations will close by the end of 2025. Dozens of those 150 restaurants will close this year, according to an investor day presentation published Tuesday by the company. Other domestic Denny’s locations will undergo "rehabilitation" through various strategies, including their potential acquisition by "stronger operators," according to the investor day presentation. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX BUSINESS
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