⚖️ Family of Christian Glass Will Be Paid $19 million

The family of Christian Glass — the 22-year-old man who was shot and killed by Clear Creek County law enforcement last summer — will receive a $19 million settlement to be paid out by the three police agencies that were on the scene the night he died. This is the largest law enforcement settlement in state history, and one of the largest in national history. [CPR]

• 🔎 A refresher: We spoke with CPR criminal justice reporter Allison Sherry last summer to break down exactly what happened that fateful night. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

💰 City Council Wants to Better Support DPS Grads

Denver City Council approved changes to the Prosperity Denver Fund, a program meant to provide college scholarships to low-income Denver students. Council broadened eligibility requirements and qualified expenditures because under its current parameters, many of the students who would benefit from the fund are being priced out of Denver and can’t apply. [Denverite]

🛫 United Tries to Stake Its Claim at DIA

United Airlines shared plans to add 12 gates and 35 new flights — including nonstop trips to San Juan and Montego Bay — to the Denver airport. United is the largest private employer in Denver with nearly 10,000 employees. This is the airline’s latest maneuver in its competition with Southwest to earn Denver travelers’ loyalty. [Axios Denver]

Known also as prairie oysters, calf fry, or cowboy caviar — but definitely not chicken nuggets — Rocky Mountain oysters are loved and loathed in Colorado.

If you’ve had them before, you’ve achieved a Colorado rite of passage. If you haven’t, well … these aren’t your typical bivalves of the sea. Let me cut right to the chase: Rocky Mountain oysters are sliced, breaded, deep fried bull testicles often served with a heaping ramiken of horseradish or cocktail sauce. Here’s the lowdown:

🦪 What do they taste like? People often say gamey with the texture akin to fried calamari — that is, in my opinion, kind of bland and rubbery. But there are also plenty of people who love them. Just check out this fascinating blog from Modern Farmer.

🌎 Where did they come from? As cultures across the globe have been consuming all different animal parts for millenia, it’s virtually impossible to credit one single origin. But here in Colorado, most experts believe it started with ranchers of the Old West who didn’t want to waste any part of an animal being harvested for food.

🦬 Are they a Colorado thing? Kinda. Bull testicles are eaten in a lot of places that are, or once were, rural ranching communities. But Colorado seems to have really run with them. I like how William Philpott, an associate professor of history at DU, put it in this interview with Matador Network:

• “The association of Rocky Mountain oysters with Colorado … had a lot to do with post-World War II Colorado boosters celebrating the dish, holding it up as the kind of thing that defined the ‘real’ Colorado in a rapidly changing West … What could be more Colorado than cattle, and what could be manlier than balls?”

🍽️ Where can I get them? Our longstanding Old West-themed restaurants like Buckhorn Exchange and The Fort are most notorious for having Rocky Mountain oysters. But I’ve heard you can also find them at Coors Field, The Rusty Bucket (Lakewood), Golden Flame Hot Wings, and Willy’s Wings (Morrison).

Replace your reliance on the big box with artisan cutting boards made right in your backyard. The badboyboards wood-shop / retail showroom is a new retail concept where cutting boards are assembled from scratch in plain view of the sale floor.

Hey loyal reader, what’s been on your mind lately? 🤔

🪦 ☕ After hearing the news that Carbon Cafe had closed, reader Dan K. shared a little nostalgia:

• “RIP Carbon Cafe. The Thinkers & Drinkers meetup group used to meet there every week before Carbon switched to winter hours, and I have so many memories of late-night deep conversations in their cozy back room. Because of this, many of my closest friendships in Denver started at Carbon. It'll be dearly missed!”

🎧 Listener Solomon G. is ready for the runoff election, thanks to City Cast Denver’s candidate coverage:

• “I just wanted to say great job to Paul and Bree on the interviews with Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston. It was some of the best interviewing and questions I've seen from any form of media, and really showed the depth of Paul and Bree's skills at interviewing. It was informative, enjoyable and impressive.”

🍺 🧀 Reader Sam M. is recommending my recommendations 😉

• “I wanted to let y'all know I took my friend and her mom to that beer and cheese pairing off of your recommendation and we had a blast! Apparently they do it every month with different cheeses and beers!”

🏀 While the rest of us are fawning over the Joker, Danielle L. wants to know:

• “Is Rocky really the highest earner of all the NBA mascots? And if so, why? My first thought was nepotism... but I suppose I could be wrong…”

🦋 Sensory Friendly Afternoons | Wednesday | 3-5 p.m.

Enjoy the Butterfly Pavilion in a quiet, sensory-friendly way, complete with natural lighting, hushed tones, and limited admission. [Westminster; Adult $14.95, child $9.95]

🏅 Registration Deadline: Summer Cornhole League | Wednesday | 10 p.m.

Today is your last chance to sign up for GO!’s summer cornhole league! You can make your own team or join an existing one. [Sign up online; $52 per person]

🔎 Curiosity Cruiser | Thursday | 4-6 p.m.

The Curiosity Cruiser (a museum on wheels!) from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science will be parked outside the National Western Center tomorrow night for the facility’s open house event. [Elyria Swansea; Free]

After 12 years serving as Denver’s commander in chief, Mayor Michael Hancock joins host Bree Davies on the City Cast Denver podcast to talk about legacy, leadership, growth, and the race to succeed him.

That’s all for today! Time to tackle this Wednesday.

— Peyton Garcia