Your Daily Guide

💰 Colorado Reveals “Smoking Gun” Email in Trump Retaliation Case

An email that went public at a Denver hearing last week provides new evidence in a lawsuit filed by the state of Colorado against the Trump administration. Colorado alleges that the federal government illegally withheld federal funds from the state because Gov. Jared Polis refused to comply with President Trump’s requests, including a demand to pardon former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters (Polis eventually commuted Peters’ sentence in May 2026). [Denver Post 🔐; Colorado Public Radio]

• What email? In December 2025, a deputy assistant to President Trump, Emily Underwood, penned an email to multiple federal agencies asking them to prepare for a call in which they would “brainstorm” and discuss "immediate actions” to take with “respect to Colorado.” One expert called the email a “smoking gun.” [Denver Post 🔐; 9News]
• What happened next? Days after Underwood sent that email, federal agencies announced major funding cuts to Colorado, such as slashing aid for disaster response, disbanding Boulder’s National Center for Atmospheric Research, and cutting more than $700 million in grants from the departments of energy and transportation. [Denver7]
• The case for retaliation: Colorado officials are calling on all federal agencies involved to conduct a full investigation. Sen. Michael Bennet says Underwood’s email is evidence that President Trump is “weaponizing” the government against Colorado in “politically motivated attacks.” [Colorado Public Radio]

🅿️ Denverites Can Dispute Parking Tickets Online Again (Almost)

Starting September 14, Denver will once again allow people to dispute their parking tickets online. The county cut its online parking magistrates program in September 2025 amid budget constraints, eliminating the ability to fight tickets online. The change required people to attend court in-person to dispute tickets before a judge. Judges will no longer be involved in the process; instead, employees at the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure will review disputes. [Denverite; Denver7]

• Got a ticket? The online spot to file a dispute will be http://denvergov.org/parking.

🌯 Can Chipotle Thrive in Mexico?

The very first Chipotle opened on Evans Avenue right here in Denver way back in 1993, bringing the Mission-style burritos that founder Steve Ells fell in love with in San Francisco to a Mile High audience. Now with over 4,000 restaurants around the globe, Chipotle opened its first in Mexico last month.

• Westword editor emeritus Patty Calhoun is on the podcast today to talk about the company’s winding path and unclear future south of the border. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🍝 Another Minimum Wage Hike Worries Restaurants

Denver announced last week that the city’s minimum wage will increase from $19.29 to $19.84 in January 2027, sparking concern among local restaurants. “These added costs will make dining out more expensive and add to Denver’s already high cost of living; it’s a vicious inflationary cycle,” Colorado Restaurant Association president Sonia Riggs told Denver7. Some Denver restaurant owners are taking creative measures to offset rising costs, such as washing their own dishes rather than hiring an employee. [Denver Gazette 🔐; Denver 7]

• The big picture: Denver City Council passed an ordinance in 2019 pegging the minimum wage to the consumer price index (i.e., the cost of living), leading to annual increases every January since. [Denver Gov]

🚆 Can You Help Fix RTD?

RTD Connect, an initiative to evaluate and redesign the city’s transit network, is seeking applications for its new Community Ambassador program, which will invite 30 individuals to gather feedback, promote community involvement, and play a role in shaping the future of transportation in the district. There will be two 3-month phases and ambassadors will be expected to commit to 50 hours a month in each. Ambassadors will receive a $2,500 stipend in each. [RTD]

• Currently facing a budget deficit of more than $200 million, RTD plans to cut routes and services to recoup some of the funds next year. The ambassador program could help the agency create a reliable, sustainable growth plan despite these constraints. [CBS Denver]