One of the top three priorities on Denver's post-pandemic recovery agenda is a revamp of public safety, Mayor Michael Hancock said Wednesday.

• What’s new: Officials from the mayor’s office and Denver Police Department tell Alayna that investments in technology, law enforcement officers and alternative policing models are all being considered.

Why it matters: Police across the country continue to face sharp public criticism over excessive force against people of color, and local policymakers are working to divest from police spending.

• City leaders now face a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our community" and make meaningful change, Denver’s chief financial officer, Brendan Hanlon, told reporters.

What to expect: Of particular interest to Denver police chief Paul Pazen are investments in "innovative" and a "whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach" to policing.

• What will be announced in coming weeks will include expansions on the concepts of community policing, public safety spokeswoman Kelli Christensen confirmed.
• "I’m extremely excited about it," Pazen tells Alayna, though he said he couldn’t disclose much more.

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The three most contentious bills at the Colorado Capitol each have more than 200 entities seeking to influence the outcome, an Axios analysis finds.

Why it matters: The analysis shows what legislation is drawing the most attention in the General Assembly — and the big money behind efforts to pressure lawmakers on major policy topics.

• The top issues are workers' rights, health insurance and prescription drugs.
• 31 bills have more than 100 entities lobbying for lawmakers' votes.

The biggest spender on lobbyists from July 2020 through March was the Partnership for America's Health Care Future, a national organization backed by hospitals and pharmacists, a Colorado Sun analysis found.

• The group put $560,000 toward lobbying against a bill to create a state-run public option as part of a larger campaign that includes advertising and mailers.
• The next two top spenders were energy companies: Xcel at $284,000 and Black Hills at $172,000.

The big picture: Total lobbying spending has topped $30 million so far this fiscal year, on track for a new record, the Sun reported.

The prolonged aluminum can shortage won't end anytime soon, the chief executive of Ball Corp. tells Axios, quashing the hopes of brewers for a return to normal.

• "This year is going to continue to be challenging," says John Hayes, the CEO at the Broomfield-based can giant.

What's happening: A surge in demand for cans amid the pandemic, paired with a shortage of aluminum, continues to plague the beverage industry.

• The lighter weight and convenience of cans makes them the preferred packaging for new beverage lines, from carbonated water and seltzers to wine and cocktails.
• The competition is pinching brewers, particularly small ones who've shifted from serving beer over the bar to packaging brews due to pandemic shutdowns.

Flashback: Some Colorado brewers adapted by affixing new labels on preprinted cans, and others even moved back to glass bottles last summer.

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Colorado's air pollution control director approved exemptions for Newmont, a gold-mining company he previously represented in private practice, state records show. (Colorado Sun)

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is threatening to veto a bill drafted by his own party to set requirements to cut pollution, saying it would give "near-dictatorial control of our entire economy" to an unelected board. (CPR)

Colorado posted the nation's highest rate of nursing home deaths in December, data shows, raising doubts on the Polis administration's COVID control efforts. (Denver Gazette)

D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School in Denver was named the 67th-best school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The Denver area landed 14 of Colorado’s top 20 public high schools. (Denver Post)

The Urban Land Conservancy is under contract for the entire 25-acre campus of Johnson & Wales University in Denver. Preliminary plans suggest it will develop affordable housing on the property. (BusinessDen)

If you're traveling to the mountains this weekend, beware. Colorado Highway 119 through Boulder Canyon to Nederland is expected to be closed for days after a rockslide. (9 News)

Ahead of the NFL draft, the Broncos acquired quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the Carolina Panthers. (Denver 7)

A documentary making its primetime debut Thursday on Rocky Mountain PBS makes a provocative argument.

• "News Matters" links the Jan. 6 insurrection at the nation's Capitol with the downfall of local news, in this case to the gutting of the Denver Post by its hedge fund owner.

John's thought bubble: What gets lost are the amazing news innovations taking place in Denver. Yes, many places are news deserts, but not here.

• As the Post cut back, new credible local news sites like the Colorado Sun, Denverite — and, yes, Axios Denver — have blossomed.
• CPR and City Cast are adding a voice to the news each day.
• And the Denver Gazette is publishing a digital paper.

Between the lines: Former Post journalists helped launch or expand each of these outlets.

• Of note: This is a story close to my heart. I worked at the Post. I left to launch the Sun. I'm in the documentary multiple times, and my wife even makes a brief cameo.

The bottom line: Local journalism is not dead here. Neither is the Post, for that matter.

• Sure, the industry faces challenges, and the public needs to help lift credible news sources to solid ground. But the onus is on media outlets to keep the public's trust and meet their evolving information needs.

That's what we work toward at Axios Denver. Let us know what we can do to help you. Just hit reply.