Hey, Bucket Listers! I don’t know about you but I’m a bit relieved to be done with January. It’s been a lot to process in one month. Many people are sitting on pins and needles, worrying about what the rest of the year holds. That’s why the work we do in community journalism is so important. Newsrooms across the state are talking about how we can keep you informed with trustworthy local news when things seem to change minute by minute. Please support this work—we all will need to step up to take care of one another in the year ahead.
ICE Hotline in Colorado
This week, media leaks appeared to delay ICE from conducting its first raids in Aurora to apprehend illegal immigrants who have committed crimes in our community. Many people are concerned about collateral arrests, and Colorado’s local hotline is already overwhelmed with calls. Our Cassis Tingley discovered that calls are verified on the scene by volunteer confirmers, who ensure that the information is correct so that neighbors don’t panic. Read more.
Podcast: Ryan Brackley on Operation Aurora
For this month’s Bucket List Community News Podcast, we speak to new Arapahoe County Assistant DA, Ryan Brackley. He has joined the 18th Judicial District team headed by DA Amy Padden just as Operation Aurora is about to begin. Brackey talked to our podcast host, Ryland Scholes, about the potential impact on the community and their efforts to reduce violent crime. He also shares his thoughts on whether the JonBenet Ramsey murder case will ever be solved. Read more.
Shoplifting On The Rise
Shoplifting is a crime that small retail businesses are constantly concerned about. The area around East Colfax is particularly hard hit and the police are working with shop owners who are fed up. Our Daniel Montoya went door to door, speaking with businesses and then with cops who work with them to prevent shoplifting before it occurs. Nonetheless, the problem persists, and the solution is largely dependent on neighbors helping neighbors. Read more.
Ghost Kitchens Cook
Speaking of small businesses, during COVID, a new type of small business expanded rapidly in Denver. These are known as ghost kitchens, and they are rented to entrepreneurs as turnkey solutions, including everything needed to run a kitchen. With the cost of opening a restaurant in Colorado ranging from $95,000 to $2,000,000, our Cole Bachman interviewed those who use the services as a low-cost way to enter the market. Read more.
Stuff We Noticed
The Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) trained roughly 100 non-immigrant lawyers to represent detained immigrants pro bono. However, this week, the Trump administration issued a stop-work order against several immigrant advocacy organizations across the country, including the one that funds RMIAN. In response, the group argues that its federally funded work helps taxpayers and those seeking legal documentation by helping them navigate a complex system more quickly and reducing the burden placed on immigration courts.
Our Daniel Montoya described how sluggish progress along 16th Street Mall had resulted in a drop in foot traffic and sales since it started in April 2022. After more than three years of construction, Mayor Mike Johnson has announced that the 16th Street Mall will reopen this summer, which is a few months earlier than the city had projected on its website. This announcement follows years of delays but comes with no official date for reopening, so we’ll see.
Denver’s new professional women’s rugby team officially shared its name: The Denver Onyx. The team’s colors are black and pink in honor of onyx, which is mined in the Colorado Hills. The schedule will be announced on Feb. 4, with games starting in March. In addition, Denver will host the 16th team in the National Women’s Soccer League, which will begin play in 2026. After beating out Cleveland and Cincinnati, Colorado will join the NWSL, along with a 2025 team expansion in Massachusetts and 2024 expansion teams in Utah and California.
That’s it for this week, Bucket Listers. The Stock Show is history so it’s time to take your holiday lights down. Although this January has been difficult, prior Januarys have seen significant local accomplishments. In January 1859, the town of Auraria was founded; in January 1861, the Colorado Territory was officially organized; and in January 1881, the first telephone exchange was established in Denver. In 1906, fifteen years later, the Colorado Mint began producing coins. Hang in there and thanks for supporting Bucket List—see you next week!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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