The Democratic Party needs a new path forward and it leads through Denver, Mayor Johnston says in his bid for the party's 2028 national convention.

Why it matters: The appeal to the party's democratic values sets Denver's campaign for the convention apart from its competitors, a review of the bids shows.

State of play: In a video submitted as part of Denver's proposal, Johnston said, "The convention is not just about what America can dream, but what we have delivered."

• He pointed to the city's ability to house people who are homeless, its decreasing crime rates and its union-friendly politics and minimum wage hikes.
• He also touted Colorado's universal preschool and constitutional amendment protecting abortion access.

What he's saying: "Denver is a lantern sitting atop the great Colorado Rockies, shining a light into the darkness, a beacon of what is still possible when we lead with courage and conviction," Johnston says in his soliloquy from a script he largely wrote.

Between the lines: Chicago hosted the 2024 Democratic convention, and in its bid for 2028, the city refers to itself as "the heartland of democracy" but is less specific on its values compared to Denver's.

• Philadelphia's mayor says the city's standing as the "birthplace of American democracy" is a fitting setting to launch the party's future but offered few other details.
• Atlanta and Boston are also making host bids.

The big picture: Denver's bid is forward-looking, but it makes a nod to Democratic nostalgia and dominance.

• The 2028 convention will mark 20 years since Denver hosted the convention and nominated Barack Obama for president, and 10 years since the party took over Colorado and gained complete control of the lawmaking process.

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Denver metro area roadways are a far cry from the country's safest, according to a recent report looking at the nation's biggest cities.

The big picture: The New York, Boston and Portland, Oregon, metros have the country's safest roadways, while Denver ranked 41st, per StreetLight Data's new "U.S. Safe Streets Index."

Why it matters: The report suggests the metro area's traffic safety needs considerable improvement, with Denver reeling from one of its deadliest years on record.

How it works: The rankings are based on five key factors among the 100 biggest U.S. metros:

• Vehicle miles traveled, different speeds between vehicles, speed-based pedestrian risk, speeding in residential zones, and truck activity.

Zoom in: Denver's roadways scored poorly on speed differential risk, truck activity and vehicle miles traveled.

• Residential speeding earned the highest score. Notably, Denver has a 20 mph speed limit for residential streets.

Between the lines: "Larger metros tend to perform better overall for roadway safety, despite popular misconceptions that big cities are more dangerous," said the transportation analytics firm.

Team USA's Paralympic roster includes multiple athletes with Colorado connections — including a defending Olympic champion.

The big picture: The United States is sending 72 competitors to Italy, five more than it did for the 2022 Games in Beijing.

What we're watching: The 2026 Milan Cortina Games run March 6-15 and all events will stream on Peacock and broadcast channels USA, CNBC and NBC.

• Here are five athletes with local ties to keep your eye on.

Jasmin Bambur, Para Alpine skiing; Granby

• The Paralympics veteran will compete in his fifth games, previously competing in the seated skiing competitions, including slalom and giant slalom.

Audrey Crowley, Para Alpine skiing; Eagle

• A student at the University of Denver, Crowley, 19, specializes in the standing downhill, giant slalom, slalom and super-G competitions.

Malik Jones, Sled Hockey; Aurora

• The 23-year-old won gold with Team USA during the 2022 Games, becoming just the second Black athlete to represent his country in sled hockey at the Paralympics.

Kyle Taulman: Para Alpine skiing; Winter Park

• Taulman, a former University of Colorado student, is participating in his second Paralympics, competing in the sitting slalom during the 2022 Beijing Games.

Spencer Wood: Para Alpine skiing; Pittsfield, Vermont

• Wood, a 2021 University of Colorado Boulder graduate, will be competing in his third Paralympic Games in the standing category for skiing competitions.

🦠 Colorado health officials confirmed a new case of measles at Broomfield High School, with additional potential exposures in nearby Westminster, marking the third case in Colorado this year. (CPR)

🍎 Denver Public Schools is exploring repurposing two closed schools, Columbian Elementary and International Academy of Denver at Harrington, into a child center and a community center, respectively. (Chalkbeat)

🎿 Vail Resorts announced pricing for next year's Epic Pass, including 20% off for skiers aged 18-30. For those 31 and older, the full Epic Pass is now $1,089, a $38 increase. The Epic Local Pass is $809, John reports.

Denver Restaurant Week returns Friday — and we scoured the menus to find great picks.

Be smart: Spots fill up fast, so organizers encourage people to make reservations and aim for earlier in the week to secure seats.

At the $25 level:

John: DiFranco's. This restaurant off Lincoln Avenue delivers Italian food without the high price tag. It's a great homey meal for a busy weeknight.

Esteban: Atomic Cowboy. Because you can't go wrong with the giant slabs of pizza and loaded knots from Fat Sully's.

At the $35 level:

John: Mister Oso. A longtime favorite, this elevated Mexican restaurant is offering its tasty tacos and churros for dessert.

Esteban: Steuben's Uptown. This is an amazing deal for a lobster roll entrée dinner (go with Connecticut-style over Maine).

At the $45 level:

John: Coperta. A four-course meal featuring orecchiette with chili-braised kale and braised pork shoulder with a prosciutto vinaigrette sounds like a steal.

Esteban: Zocalito Latin Bistro. A four-course, carne-asada meal with Oaxacan chocolate mousse? Yes, please.

If you go: Restaurant Week runs from March 6-15.