In case you missed it, the Denver Summit — the Mile High City’s new NWSL team — made quite a debut today:
Denver, CO
Congressional hearing for Denver mayor, 4 days after ICE says city released Tren de Aragua gang member, filled with tense exchanges
Republican representatives grilled Denver Mayor Mike Johnston during a six hour House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing about immigration policy on Wednesday in Washington, and the timing couldn’t have been worse for the Democratic leader of Colorado’s capital city.
Four days ago, immigration agents say the Denver Jail released Abraham Gonzalez, a suspected Venezuelan gang member charged with violent felonies. The jail was supposed to give federal agents 48 hours notice, but Rep. Jeff Crank, a Republican who represents Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, says they got one hour, and he says an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was injured during the capture of the 23-year-old.
The congressional committee wanted answers from Johnston and mayors of Boston, Chicago and New York, saying the cities’ policies of not handing over undocumented immigrants picked up for crimes are putting the public and police at risk.
The people who did most the talking during those six hours were committee members, not the mayors.
While the hearing was billed as an inquisition, it was more of a prosecution. Republicans accused the mayors of everything from failed leadership to treason.
Johnston often didn’t get to finish his statements in his testimony, and in some cases it was Colorado representatives doing the questioning.
“Mayor Johnston, is Denver a sanctuary city?” Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee’s chairman, asked.
“A lot of folks use that term … differently. I can tell you what Denver does. We do not…” Johnston replied.
“Okay, I’ll take that as a yes,” Comer interruped.
From the outset, Johnston was on the defense as the members peppered him with questions and in many cases didn’t even wait for his reply. That included the following exchange with Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican who represents Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.
“Thank you congresswoman. Let me…” Johnston said.
“Yes or no,” Boebert interruped.
“Pardon,” Johnston said.
“Yes or no. Will you join me?”
“I do not believe the detainer law needs to be changed,” Johnston said. “I can tell you what Denver does right now.”
“Okay, so you don’t want them to coordinate with ICE,” Boebert interruped.
Crank was critical of how Johnson’s city dealt with the Gonzalez case.
“Have you apologized to the federal law enforcement agent who was assaulted by a Tren de Aragua gang member because of your failed leadership? Yes or no?” Crank asked Johnston.
“I reached out to the ICE officers yesterday and I’ve asked to sit down with them to talk about this procedure and how we can align system to make sure no other officers get injured,” he said.
Johnston says the city of Denver has made more than 1,200 similar releases with no problems.
The mayor defended his leadership in his opening remarks, saying as the city’s leader he has a duty to protect the health and safety of all people in the city, and that as a many of faith he says he has a moral obligation to care for those in need.
“The question Denver faced was, what will you do with a mom and two kids dropped on the streets of our city with no warm clothes, no food, and no place to stay?” he said.
He told the committee Denver follows all state and federal laws and despite the massive influx of migrants over the last two years, crime is down.
Rep. Gabe Evans, a Republican who represents Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, says the city still ranks as the tenth most dangerous and because it doesn’t ask inmates their immigration status — which Evans says is required on FBI fingerprint cards — there’s no way of knowing if migrants are driving crime.
“So not filling out the FBI fingerprint card, which would directly contradict your statement that you want people who are illegally present in the country and committing crimes to be held to account for those crimes.”
Boebert says Denver’s policies are also impacting the neighboring city of Aurora.
“You were shipping illegal aliens to Aurora. Their crime was increasing while you were hiding under laws that you will not demand be repealed,” she said.
Johnston says state and local laws aren’t the problem, Congress is.
“If Denver can find a way to put aside our ideological differences long enough to manage a crisis we didn’t choose or create, it seems only fair to ask that the body that is actually charged with solving this national problem, this congress, can finally commit to do the same,” he said.
Johnston said after the hearing that his goal was to explain why Denver isn’t a sanctuary city and shouldn’t lose federal funding. The city paid a DC law firm up to $2 million to ensure his success, but he says committee members seemed to have their minds made up.
In addition to withholding funding, some Republicans are asking the justice department to investigate the mayors for harboring criminals. Johnston says he’s not worried. Under the law, he would have had to shield the migrants from federal agents — which he didn’t — and he says if Republicans try to withhold funding, the city will sue.
Shaun Boyd
The game ended on a 0-0 draw, but what a great day for Denver sports.
And that raises an interesting question: Is Denver the best sports town in the United States?
The sooner the Mile High City gets a WNBA team, the better.
Me, I think you can’t beat Denver for sports. But I’m willing to entertain other perspectives. Let us know in the comments!
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Paperboy has opened its first location outside of Texas.
Paperboy
Denver is a city that loves to brunch and now, one of Austin’s top daytime spots has opened a location in the West Highland neighborhood. Paperboy’s third outpost is its first outside of its home state of Texas. The concept, which founder Rynan Harms started in a food trailer, has taken over the former home of Rooted Craft American Kitchen (and FNG before that).
“We love this neighborhood because it’s still close to downtown but has its own unique and relaxed vibe,” says Robert Brown, Harms’ longtime business partner, who has lived in Denver for nearly a decade. “People know their neighbors, they show up to community events, they’re invested in this place in a way that feels increasingly rare. That sense of connection is something Paperboy has always tried to foster, and we’re honored to be a part of it here in Denver.”
The menu includes staples such as the chicken and biscuit drizzled with spicy honey; Texas Hash with roasted pork, sweet potato, onion, kale, poached egg and pecan mole; and the Paperboy Pancake, described as “a cake-forward cornmeal pancake that still manages to be impossibly fluffy.”
Also now open is FiNO, the restaurant inside the revamped All Inn Hotel on East Colfax. We enjoyed our first meal there; if you’re planning to visit, don’t miss the signature martini, the Medi Nachos and the caper-studded charred cabbage.
On East Sixth Avenue, the powerhouse duo behind the city’s best new barbecue restaurant, Riot BBQ, has debuted Chicken Riot in the former Truffle Cheese Shop space. Meanwhile, the former Whiskey Biscuit in Englewood is now the Barn, a neighborhood eatery from a pair of longtime hospitality pros, including former Brider chef Chase Devitt.
Taqueria Los Gallitos has expanded once again, adding an eighth location in the former Taco John’s near the shuttered Denver Merchandise Mart.
And just in time for the Rockies home opener on Friday, April 3, McGregor Square has opened its revamped food hall. The former Milepost Zero moniker is out. Now, the space is dubbed McGregor Square Food & Drink and includes six food stalls from local eateries: Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta, C Burger, G-Que BBQ, High Point Creamery, TaCo! and Tora Ramen.
There’s just one closure to report this week: Ballyhoo Table & Stage, which actually shuttered last month after an eviction notice was posted.
In other openings and closings news:
Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:
Openings
The Barn South Broadway, 3299 South Broadway, Englewood
Chicken Riot, 2906 East Sixth Avenue
FiNO, 3015 East Colfax Avenue
McGregor Square Food & Drink, 1601 19th Street
Paperboy, 3940 West 32nd Avenue
Taqueria Los Gallitos, 5810 Logan Street
Closures
Ballyhoo Table & Stage, 3300 Tejon Street
*Or earlier and not previously reported.
Know of something we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.
Denver, Colo. (03/27/2026) – In front of another expected record-breaking crowd, the Washington Spirit is set to take on Denver Summit FC in the side’s inaugural home match at Empower Field at Mile High. With over 60,000 tickets already distributed, the match is poised to break the NWSL attendance record of 40,091 set last summer when the Spirit visited Bay FC at San Francisco’s Oracle Park. Kicking off at 2 p.m. EDT, the match will broadcast nationally on CBS.
The Spirit
Washington comes into this weekend’s fixture off a difficult 1-1 home draw with Utah Royals FC earlier this week. After scoring in the 18th minute, the Spirit nearly earned its first victory of 2026 but conceded an equalizer late and had to settle for a single point on the table. Washington’s goal was scored by midfielder Rebeca Bernal, the Mexican star’s first since transferring to the NWSL last year.
Saturday afternoon’s match will mark the first-ever meeting between the Spirit, one of the NWSL’s original clubs, and 2026 expansion side Denver Summit FC. Denver will be the 17th different opponent for Washington across its regular season history: the Spirit has played against 13 active clubs (all except expansion sides Denver and Boston) as well as defunct clubs the Boston Breakers, FC Kansas City and the Western New York Flash.
The Spirit has had success against expansion sides as of late, tallying 11 wins in 15 matches against NWSL clubs in their first season of competition since the start of the 2021 campaign. In 2024, the Spirit went a perfect 5-0-0 against Bay FC and Utah Royals FC, outscoring the teams 10-3 with a playoff win to boot. In 2022, Washington earned a 1-3-0 record against Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC and, in 2021, the eventual NWSL champions went an impressive 5-1-0 against Kansas City and Racing Louisville FC.
This weekend’s matchup at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, is set to shatter the NWSL’s single match attendance record with over 60,000 tickets already distributed. The Spirit has also been the visiting team for two of the league’s previous three record-setting attendances: 34,130 fans at Seattle’s Lumen Field when the Spirit took on the Reign and 40,091 in the stands at San Francisco’s historic Oracle Park to watch Washington play Bay FC.
Washington is in good standing in several attacking categories through three matches despite two draws and a loss. The Spirit remains first in the league in rate of possession at nearly 62% and top three in both shots and shots on target with 49 and 17, respectively. With just three goals through three matches, look for the Spirit attack to continue getting attempts on frame this weekend.
Following Saturday’s match, the Spirit will hit the road again next weekend for an away match against Bay FC in San Jose on Sunday, April 5. Washington’s next home match will be on Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. EDT when the side hosts the defending Shield winner Kansas City Current at Audi Field. Information on tickets can be found HERE.
The Opponent
Denver Summit FC opened its inaugural season with three straight away matches, collecting a win, a loss and a draw to carry four points into its home opener this weekend. Summit FC dropped its first match to Bay FC 1-2 before drawing Orlando 1-1 and beating Gotham 2-0.
Summit FC is led in scoring by star German forward Melissa Kössler who has three goals in three matches, scoring once in each contest. With a goal tomorrow, the forward would join Alex Morgan as just the second player in league history to score in each of her first four matches with a club. Look for the Spirit defending third to place an emphasis on limiting chances to Kössler on Saturday afternoon.
Denver has only allowed one goal across its last 240 minutes of action after giving up two in the first 30 minutes of the side’s opener. The strong recent form of Summit FC’s defending third against the Spirit attacking third’s ability to generate chance after chance will be a point to watch this weekend.
Three former Spirit players are currently on the Summit FC roster as midfielders Meg Boade and Jordan Baggett and defender Camryn Biegalski signed with the side ahead of this season. Baggett spent four years with the Spirit after being drafted by the side in 2019 while Biegalski signed with Washington in 2021 and played three seasons, both winning the 2021 NWSL Championship with the team. Boade spent the first half of the 2025 season in DC as a short-term injury replacement, even scoring a goal for the Spirit.
Following tomorrow’s match, Denver will travel to Seattle to face Reign FC on Saturday, April 4.
All-Time Series History
This weekend’s match will be the first-ever meeting between the Spirit and Denver Summit FC.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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