Aurora’s New Nicotine Factory, Rich Suburbs Problems, and DCPA’s Big Flop
Celebrate the end of Colfax Week with our Ultimate Colfax Playlist! Presented by our sponsors at the Colfax Ave BID, you can listen along and enjoy special deals up and down Colfax this weekend at Colfax’s Independents Day
It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First up, rich people in the ‘burbs are trying to block an office-to-residential building conversion and definitely don’t want a McDonald's in their neighborhood. Then, Aurora unveiled plans for a new Zyn factory, but will it be built soon enough to get Gen Z the flavored nicotine packets they love? Producer Paul Karolyi and Host Bree Davies are joined by Colorado Community Media’s DougCo and Castle Rock reporter McKenna Harord to dig into these stories, plus DCPA’s controversial new immersive show, where to find real French bread, and more highs and lows of the week.
Are you down for a Bike Scavenger Hunt? We’re partnering with Bike Streets for a two-month bike adventure taking you to some of our favorite spots all over the city. Get the week’s clue in our newsletter every Friday, solve the riddle, send us a selfie outside the destination, and you’ll be eligible to win some epic prizes!
McKenna mentioned this story about a Castle Rock church wanting to open a homeless shelter and the French bakery in a King Soopers. Bree talked about the GoFundMe for her neighbor who was killed by a drunk driver.
What do you think about the new Zyn factory coming to Aurora? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.
Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver
Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver
Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
- Colfax Ave BID
- Friends of Chamber Music - Use code FCMST20 on the promotions tab on the ticketing page for a 20% discount.
- Regional Air Quality Council
- The University of Denver - Apply for DU’s new affordable housing certificate program by July 31!
- PineMelon
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
A Cheesy New Ethics Complaint at DIA, CoCo Vote Veers Off Course, and Denver's Best PSL
It might not feel like it, but we are, actually, in the fall season! Contributor Michelle Jackson joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to ch...

How This Election Could Change All Other Elections. Plus, ‘Love is Blind’: Where Are They Now?
It's election season, and those blue books are beefy this year! We’re going one by one through some of the thorniest ballot measures all...

What Would You Name Dick’s Sporting Goods Park? Plus, Casa Bonita’s Wishing Well and Local Comedy Drama
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park may not be long for this world – well, the name anyway. For the first time in the Colorado Rapids soccer stadi...

Harsher Fentanyl Penalties, Voter ID Requirements, and More of the Conservative Agenda on Colorado Ballots
The conservative nonprofit Advance Colorado brought a whopping eight initiatives to the ballot this year – that’s more than half of the 1...

The DPS Board’s Half-Decade of Drama, Meet Your Soulmate, and Will a Chatbot Replace Denver's 311 Operators?
Denver Public Schools board member DJ Torres resigned last week, his reasoning being “too much of my time and energy have been consumed b...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Denver
When Denver looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City d...

Privatizing the Trash, Drones Delivering Pasta, and How to PorchFest
Denverites already pay for trash pick-up, but what if that money went to a private company instead of the city? The city’s waste services...

Will Denver Ever Say Yes to the Duplex? Plus, the Ethics Investigation Costing the City $800,000
A proposal to make sweeping changes to the zoning code was sent back to the drawing board by city council – signalling the end of a push...

Your Guide to October 2026 in Denver
Fall is here — and we’re ready for the sweater weather, cozy vibes, and spiced everything! From finding the right craft meetup to enjoyin...

Glendale’s Failed Nightlife Promises, New Live Music Venue in Cap Hill, and Duck Liver on the Ballot
The historically counter-cultural strip of 13th Avenue in Capitol Hill will be home to a concert venue once again! After all the drama an...


