👻 Welcome back, it's Monday. Gotta Halloween costume yet? 13 days to go. 😬

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 68.

Today’s newsletter is 930 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Less than two weeks before Election Day, the importance of the midterm election is amplifying as big dollars and bold claims dominate campaigns.

Don't worry — We're here to help.

• We put together 1- minute voter guides to key statewide races and ballot measures to get you smarter, faster about your ballot.

State of play: Here is a breakdown of the top contests on the 2026 ballot.

🗳️ Statewide candidate races

Democrats are looking to retain five statewide seats.

• Senate: Hickenlooper vs. Baisley
• Governor: Weiser vs. Marx
• AG: Allen vs. Griswold
• Secretary of State: Gonzalez vs. Wiley
• State treasurer: Bridges vs. Grantham

📍Congressional races

• 5th District: Crank and Killin battle

☑️ Colorado ballot measures

This year's ballot features 14 statewide ballot questions, plus local measures covering a range of issues.

• Amendment 82, right to natural gas
• Amendment 83, right to hunting and fishing
• Amendment 84 on voter ID
• Amendment 85 on ballot measures
• Amendment 86 on redistricting
• Amendment 87, Propositions NN, 136 and 137 on taxes
• Amendment 81 on police cooperating with ICE
• Proposition 132 on fentanyl criminal penalties
• Proposition 133 on human trafficking penalties
• Propositions 134 and 135 on transgender youth
• Issue 7A on CoCo passenger rail

The bottom line: Grab your ballot or bookmark this newsletter. Ballots are due by 7pm Nov. 3.

Bookmark this voter guide

Mayor Yemi Mobolade's message to Colorado Springs: Growth doesn't have to come at the expense of quality of life.

Why it matters: As he seeks reelection, he's making the case that the Springs can maintain its low-tax, business-friendly identity while keeping pace with growth.

• The stakes extend beyond City Hall to who can afford to stay, where employers invest and whether residents benefit from growth.

Driving the news: Mobolade used his fourth annual address Friday at the Broadmoor — his last before seeking another term — to tout his record and promote what he calls the "Colorado Springs Advantage."

• "Despite economic uncertainty, budget pressures, and political divisions, I am proud of the progress we are making together," he said in the hour-long speech.

The big picture: Mobolade framed his first term record around four questions:

• Can I afford to live here?
• Can my business succeed here?
• Am I safe here?
• And are we taking care of the city we love?

Zoom in: Mobolade pointed to progress on affordability, the economy, public safety and infrastructure since he took office, and used videos of residents to help make his case.

🏘️ Housing: He touted the addition of 91,000 housing units, including more than 3,000 affordable units and changes to make it easier to open childcare facilities.

💲Economy: He highlighted 20 economic development deals projected to attract nearly 2,000 jobs and $628 million in investments, plus $700,000 for downtown security, cleaning and outreach.

🚨 Public safety: He cited faster 911 response times and more than 320 officers hired in four years.

🚧 Infrastructure: He celebrated crews filling more than 100,000 potholes in the past year and voters approving more money for road repairs.

Yes, but: Even the mayor's accounting shows that challenges remain.

• The Springs still faces a shortage of roughly 28,000 homes.
• Homelessness remains a growing concern.
• Mobolade acknowledged the city has more work to do on public safety.

What we're watching: Mobolade announced his reelection bid earlier this year, but he won't run unopposed. His next challenge is convincing residents that he kept his promises.

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💰 The Polis administration announced the U.S. Small Business Administration will open Disaster Loan Assistance Centers for those impacted by the Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo and Custer counties.

🚨 A judge denied bail Friday to Deborah Nicholls, 59, a Colorado Springs mother whose conviction in a house fire that killed her three kids was overturned after she spent nearly 20 years in prison. (Gazette 🔑)

🚔 Colorado Springs police arrested a 41-year-old teacher at CIVA Charter High School in connection with an investigation into the alleged exploitation of a child. (KKTV11)

🍏 Harrison School District 2 plans to close Turman Elementary and convert Bricker and Oak Creek to K–8 schools amid declining enrollment. (News5)

The people, places and traditions around you make this community home. Our reporting helps you stay connected to them and understand what's changing.

📍 Become a member today and help sustain local journalism for everyone in your community.

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Turn back the clock.

State of play: The Nuggets are paying tribute to the former Denver Rockets with a throwback orange Classic Edition Uniform for the upcoming NBA season, my colleague Esteban L. Hernandez writes.

Flashback: The franchise debuted as the Rockets in 1976 as part of the American Basketball Association (ABA) before changing its name to the Nuggets in 1974 to avoid a conflict with the NBA's Houston Rockets.

The big picture: Denver will sport the uniforms to recognize the 50th anniversary of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, which also brought Denver, Indiana, San Antonio and New York (no Brooklyn) into the NBA.

Zoom in: Denver's oldie but goodie uniforms put a modern spin on the Rockets' road attire — marking the first time the team will don orange.

• Denver will rock the look in seven home games and two road games, starting Dec. 27 against the Indiana Pacers.

What's next: The collection is available online today.

🍺 John is loving the mid-strength beer trend and this Sierra Nevada low-ABV IPA.

Thanks to my editor, Gigi Sukin.