Denver, CO
Busloads of migrants arrive in Denver, sources say
As many as 19 buses and vans dropped off migrants in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood on Friday, multiple sources told Scripps News Denver.
The buses and vans arrived between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and left migrants in the parking lots of Home Depot, Walmart and Sam’s Club, according to information collected by Scripps News Denver.
When contacted Tuesday, ranking sources inside the city said they were not aware of the Friday migrant arrivals in Central Park, and pledged to look into the information reported to Scripps News Denver.
Greg Lenora, a security guard, works for a company hired to protect the Sam’s Club parking area.
“One thing I can say is they are really, really polite,” he said about the migrants he interacted with this past weekend. “They are not saying anything malicious or angry. They are just here to get money.”
A day after the migrants’ arrival at the businesses in Central Park, according to the security guard and other sources, some of the migrants returned trying to make money.
“Some had spray bottles and paper towels to wipe down windshields,” Lenora said. “Others were helping customers to their car, trying to load whatever and afterwards they asked for a little money.”
The security guard said decisions made by other migrants are part of the reason his security company was brought in to help.
He described that customers were suddenly reporting that they were getting charged to park in the parking lot, and were told if they didn’t pay, they couldn’t park. Parking at Sam’s Club is free.
The arrival of the buses and vans happened on the same day that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston went on CNN, amplifying the concerns raised by the influx of dozens of migrant-filled buses to several cities across the country.
“I think the frustrating thing for us is we know this problem is solvable,” Mayor Johnston said. “They should have federal dollars to help support them in the cities that they arrive in, and we should have a coordinated national plan for where these folks arrive.”
SEE MORE: Texas begins flying migrants from southern border to Chicago
Johnston joined mayors from New York and Chicago in bringing attention to the impact the migrants have had in all three sanctuary cities.
Texas has been sending busloads of migrants to Democratic-led cities like Chicago. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s busing operation has given free rides to more than 80,000 migrants across the country since last year.
Johnston called for the federal government to step in with much-needed resources for the cities and the migrants.
“That’s why we are pushing Congress to act on those things,” Johnston said.
The mayor’s request for action follows reports that estimate more than 100 migrant-filled buses have arrived in Denver during the month of December alone — an influx that has created challenges for cities, neighborhoods and businesses.
This point was made by the Denver security guard when asked why he was guarding an empty parking lot during a holiday when the store was closed.
“We’re basically making sure that they know that they can’t camp here,” he said. “And we really need to have a presence here because it makes them know that what they’re doing is making the customers feel uncomfortable and they have to stop.”
According to the latest data in Denver, 4,410 migrants are currently sheltered in non-city facilities. More than 35,000 migrants have been served by the city.
This story was originally published by Tony Kovaleski at Scripps News Denver.
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Denver, CO
Colorado boasts two of the best coffee shops in the Americas, according to new ranking
Denverites looking for a stellar cup of Joe don’t need to travel far to savor the flavor of excellent coffee.
That’s according to The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops, a website that rates global hospitality establishments where coffee lovers can find better brew. The website recently announced its 2026 list of the best coffee shops in North America, Central America and the Caribbean and two local companies made the list.
Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters came in at No. 43, while Queen City Collective Coffee ranked No. 61. Not bad for a list that includes must-hit destinations in places like Guatemala and Costa Rica, which are known for their exports of coffee beans.
The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops decided the ranking through a mix of nominations and voting by both the public and experts. Places were evaluated based on the quality of coffee served, barista expertise, ambiance, sustainability practices, and innovation among other criteria, according to the website.
Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters, which came on the scene in 2013, helped usher the so-called fourth wave of coffee locally, which focuses on honoring the beans’ agricultural roots and using techniques like pour-over to extract more flavor from each brew. The company started with a wholesale roastery and retail shop in Lakewood before expanding to Arvada through a merger with another company called Two Rivers, and later to Westminster. In 2022, Food and Wine magazine named Sweet Bloom’s Westminster locale the best coffee shop in Colorado.
Queen City Collective has certainly earned the popular vote among Mile High City coffee drinkers if the company’s expansion is an indication. Since opening its first retail location in 2018, in a spot shared with Novel Strand Brewing Co., Queen City has expanded to seven locations between Denver and surrounding suburbs, including Wheat Ridge and Aurora.
To see the full list of must-hit coffee shops across the globe, visit theworlds100bestcoffeeshops.com. For additional recommendations, check out our list of Colorado’s best coffee shops with picturesque patios and views.
Subscribe to our new food newsletter, Stuffed, to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox.
Denver, CO
Denver beekeeper says swarm season came a month early this year thanks to warm weather
DENVER (KDVR) — With the mild winter and warm start to spring, beekeepers are seeing swarms earlier in the year and expect the season to be longer than usual.
Gregg McMahan is a dispatcher for the Colorado Swarm Hotline. It’s usually his job to send a beekeeper to collect a swarm when someone calls, but on Sunday afternoon, he decided to handle one himself.
“Nice little swarm,” McMahan said. “It’s tricky, though, because it’s hanging on a fence.”
A warm winter and spring mean swarm season has begun four weeks early.
“Never seen it like this ever,” McMahan said.
This call is to a house on Denver’s east side. When McMahan arrived, he saw a swarm had taken up residence on the fence.
“Absolutely typical, it is on the small side,” McMahan said.
He got to work, first luring them into a box when he spotted a good sign.
“See all these girls, they got their butts up, they’re fanning their wings. That’s telling us the queens in here,” McMahan said.
With the queen in hand, the rest began to follow her into the box.
McMahan said two years ago, he had 400 calls like this. Last year, only 100, the Swarm Hotline was as unpredictable as the weather, which has caused bee activity earlier in the year than ever.
“It makes it hard on the bees, you know? Two days ago, I’m collecting swarms in the snow,” McMahan said.
Rescuing them is integral to Colorado’s ecosystem. McMahan hopes people give a beekeeper a call instead of spraying them or harming them in any other way.
“They do a phenomenal amount of pollination within this state. Not only our native flowers but all the other flowers that people bring in,” McMahan said.
Slowly but surely, the swarm left the fence and moved into the box. McMahan loaded them into his truck to deliver them to their new home.
“Westminster to the Stanley Lake Wildlife Refuge, so these girls will have lakefront property tonight,” he said.
As he wrapped up, McMahan’s phone was buzzing more than the bees. Just another call to start a swarm season, he thinks, could be a long one.
“This year I’m already 20 swarms deep, so I’m expecting way more than 100 this year,” McMahan said.
To have a bee swarm removed for free from your property anywhere statewide, the Swarm Hotline number is 1-844-SPY-BEES.
Denver, CO
Denver Nuggets Altitude broadcasts now being offered in Spanish for first time ever
For the first time in the team’s history, Altitude Sports is broadcasting Denver Nuggets home games in Spanish. Kroenke Sports and Entertainment announced it has contracted a team to broadcast its games in Spanish for the playoffs.
“I think that is what the public wanted,” said Ivan De La Garza, producer for the broadcast team.
A team of three people, two commentators and a producer, sit in a press box at the top of Ball Arena. Their commentary is then synced with the traditional Altitude broadcast video and shared on the Altitude Plus application.
“With the Nuggets winning in the last five years, there is a tremendous amount of following from Latino people trying to listen to and watch the games in Spanish,” said Andres Casas, color commentator for the broadcast.
Casas said he strives to bring the same energy fans get during soccer broadcasts into the basketball broadcasts.
“That excitement that gets you. We want people to feel they are at the game,” Casas said.
“It has been so amazing to be a part of the Spanish broadcast for the Nuggets. I have been a fan of the Nuggets for my whole life,” said Jena Garcia, play-by-play commentator.
Garcia said it has been a dream come true to help bring this broadcast to her community.
“I’ve always desired to hear a Spanish broadcast, just as a fan. To be a part of it is just incredible,” Garcia said.
Those working in the broadcast said they are honored to help expand the reach of the Nuggets and sports in accessing diverse communities.
“We love sports. We are passionate, we are loud. We like to get together and enjoy sports,” De La Garza said.
“The Nuggets have a huge following, especially on the Spanish side. So, it is great for them to be able to listen to what is going on, game by game, especially into the playoffs,” Casas said.
“It is just another step of access that they are getting to be a fan of basketball,” Garcia said.
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