Civic Center Park To Close + FBI Hate Crime Statistics Released

Happy Wednesday, neighbors! Here are the most important things happening around town today.

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First, today's weather:

Partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 93 Low: 60. More wildfire smoke has made its way in to our city, so if you're sensitive to pollution, you may want to limit your time outdoors.

Here are the top stories in Denver today:

1. City officials are planning to shut down Civic Center Park due to crime, safety, sanitation and other issues. Several violent incidents have also prompted calls for the park's closure. (CBS Denver)
2. While Colorado spent much of 2020 coping with the repercussions of a deadly pandemic, it was also experiencing an alarming jump in the number of reported hate crimes. Here's a look at FBI hate crime statistics in our state. (Patch)
3. A judge on Tuesday ordered a state mental health evaluation for the man accused of killing 10 people at the Boulder King Soopers in March to determine whether he is competent to proceed with the case. (AP/Patch)
4. Have you ever wondered how Denver's history of growth and development helped to shape the city into what it's become today? Here's a video that tells our city's story. (The Denver Channel)
5. Fancy a free trip to a local museum? Smithsonian Magazine's 17th annual Museum Day will take place Sept. 18 at select museums in Colorado and across the country. (Denver Patch)

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Today in Denver:

• Bridging the Gap to Success - Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce (9 a.m.)
• Library For All: Creative Club - Sheridan Library (1 p.m.)
• Aurora Branch Grand Opening - Economic Development Center (2 p.m.)
• Special Board Meeting for HASE Building Expansion Project (5 p.m.)
• September PhotoVox - Gallery Talk with Doug Kacena (6:30 PM)

Denver Patch Notebook

• Denver Police Department: "REMEMBERING OFFICER DENNIS M. LICATA On Wednesday, September 6, 2000, Denver Police Officer Dennis Michael Licata was responding to the scene of a construction accident on a motorcycle patrol unit when he was involved in a traffic crash ..." (Facebook)
• Denver Public Schools: "USA TODAY featured our COVID efforts and health partnerships that are helping to keep our kids in school. By next week, just about all U.S. schools will be back in session, predominantly in person. But Denver Public Schools stands apart. Its teachers were among the first nationwide to be subject to a full vaccine mandate — with no option to be tested frequently instead." (Facebook)
• Denver Botanic Gardens: "The September self-guided walking features our succulent collection in the Steppe Garden. Succulents can be hairy, waxy, spiny, thick, weird and familiar. Plants with succulent adaptations occur in every climate and bioregion on earth ..." (Facebook)
• City and County of Denver Government: "If you or a loved one were waiting on full FDA approval before getting a #COVID19 vaccine, now is the time to act. Pfizer's vaccine been fully approved for individuals 16 and older." (Facebook)
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts: "The complete cast for the Pretty Woman: The Musical North American Tour has been announced, and it includes Adam Pascal and Olivia Valli in the lead roles! " (Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update! If you're liking these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Amber Fisher

About me: I'm a Patch editor covering news in Denver's metro area and Boulder. I've spent the past nine years working for various news outlets across North America, including Chicago Patch, Global News and WBEZ. As a Global TV reporter, I covered everything from tornadoes and wildfires to high-profile court cases and civil rights abuses. When I'm not writing articles, I can be found hiking, snowboarding, debating politics with my husband and attempting to be a sci-fi and astronomy geek.