The Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered Missing Alert on September 2 for 4-year-old Vera Spencer after authorities said she had not been seen since being picked up from school in Brighton by her non-custodial father, Daniel Spencer, on August 28. CBI later reported that Vera had been safely located, and no further details were released.
Denver
Local news for Denver, delivered as a free five-minute briefing every morning. Drop your email and you’re in — we’ll take care of the rest.
What Denver is talking about
Sloan’s Lake, Denver’s largest lake, has been steadily filled by sediment carried in stormwater runoff, leaving much of it only about 2.5 to 3 feet deep compared with historical depths of 8 to 12 feet. The shallow, warmer water has contributed to harmful algae conditions and fish die-offs, while the lake also serves as a major stormwater-storage asset and recreation destination. Denver officials announced a proposed initial $50 million rehabilitation package on September 2, but the funding and project still require approvals from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority board and City Council.
An untreated sewage discharge entered the Arkansas River in Pueblo on Aug. 26-27 after a previously patched opening in a wastewater pipe reopened, according to city officials. State and local agencies have continued sampling downstream as elevated E. coli readings prompted public-health guidance and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) property-specific water-contact advisories. The affected CPW properties remain open, but visitors are being told to avoid direct contact with affected river and fishery water and to keep pets away.
City Park’s bandstand was destroyed in a March 2026 fire; investigators later said they could not determine the cause. The structure was a centerpiece of the City Park Jazz concert series, which used a temporary mobile stage during its 2026 season. Denver plans to demolish the remains and construct a replacement intended for the 2027 City Park Jazz season.
Arapahoe County Public Health is supporting a bilingual doula workforce to improve access to nonclinical childbirth support for county residents. Colorado Medicaid, Health First Colorado, began covering doula services in July 2024, creating a reimbursement pathway for enrolled providers. Doulas provide physical, emotional and postpartum support but do not replace doctors, nurses or midwives.
In-N-Out Burger is a California-based, family-owned fast-food chain that entered Colorado in late 2020 and has expanded to 15 locations in the state. A concept plan filed with Denver identifies a potential new drive-thru restaurant at 1470 S. Colorado Blvd., near Interstate 25. The company has not confirmed that the project will proceed, saying no new project is far enough along to discuss.
Alterra Mountain Co., which operates the Ikon Pass and owns or operates several Colorado ski resorts, has maintained its headquarters at Zeppelin Station in Denver’s RiNo district since 2018. The company had considered a possible Salt Lake City move before Denver and Colorado assembled incentive packages aimed at retaining the headquarters downtown. The proposed destination, 101 W. Colfax Ave., is a city-owned former Denver Post building whose master lease with DP Media was terminated in June 2026.