Good morning, Denver.

Starbucks workers in Colorado and Illinois filed class-action lawsuits after the company changed its dresscode on May 12—workers say the new rule forces them to pay for new clothes out of pocket and breaks state laws that require reimbursement—and they have also filed complaints in California if penalties are not imposed.

Photographer Shadows Gather—who has documented Denver’s queer, punk, goth and club scene since 2019—displays her full retrospective 'The Archives: 2019-Now' at East Window in Boulder through Oct.

31. A panel discussion titled The Art of Club is scheduled for tomorrow.

State demographers reported that Colorado had a housing shortfall of 106,000 units as of 2023—34,100 new homes need to be built each year to keep the gap from growing as affordable housing remains a challenge.

Housing production has increased since 2020, yet rising costs continue to strain many Coloradans working to keep up with price gains.

The Northglenn Crisis Response Unit said it saw a 78% rise in calls since 2022 as mental health specialists worked with police to help people in crisis and expects to reach over 6,150 interactions this year—grant money will add two new team members to the team.

Local government officials approved new affordable housing regulations this month that allow mixed-use zoning and modular homes to support high-density developments near transportation centers with fee reductions — incentives provided to developers setting aside 10 to 50% affordable units. The changes will help bring affordable units into service as soon as next year and address a forecasted need for more than 6,000 homes amid a regional shortage of up to 47,000 houses by 2032.

A federal judge blocked the termination of Denver employee Jessica Calderon, a city operations director on paid leave since August 18 who was laid off amid a budget shortfall and alleged retaliation for her political support—her case now awaits a hearing set for September 24.

City attorneys said they expect a favorable outcome once further facts emerge.

Colorado members of Congress say social media harms political talk by making debates harsh and mean—while it helps them reach voters, many want new rules to curb online hate.

They added that better controls could stop harmful comments and bring back real discussion.

On Thursday, the Denver Auditor’s Office sharply criticized the design phase of the National Western Livestock Center expansion—citing poor governance, weak record keeping, and an expense error over $68,000.

City officials disagreed with the recommendations and the Auditor’s Office will audit the project funding in 2026.

A 1.5-mile hiking trail circles Georgetown Lake with free parking, benches, and a bighorn sheep viewing area that offers views of fishing spots and the dam—providing a simple way for visitors to enjoy nature.