Two intestinal illnesses — salmonella and cyclosporiasis — are on the rise in Colorado.

Why it matters: Consider this a public service announcement from your digestive system.

The latest: Salmonella cases in particular are climbing sharply, state health officials warned last week, though investigators haven't yet identified what's driving the surge.

• Common sources are raw meat, eggs, produce and unpasteurized milk and cheeses.
• Symptoms can include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.
• Colorado's coordinating with the CDC to determine whether the cases share a food source or other connection.

Meanwhile, cases of cyclosporiasis, a food-borne infection caused by a parasite that causes "explosive" diarrhea, continue to tick up.

• State officials say there's no evidence the outbreak is linked to locally grown produce.

By the numbers: More than 250 Salmonella cases had been confirmed here as of last Tuesday — more than double the state's average July total over the past five years.

• At least 219 cyclosporiasis cases were reported in the state this year through July 26, including 79 since July 1. The vast majority (79%) of people infected reported international travel during their exposure period.

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Victor Marx, the Republican nominee for Colorado governor, tapped fellow Marine veteran George Markert as his lieutenant governor, rounding out the GOP ticket with another political newcomer.

Why it matters: The selection offers the clearest signal yet of what a Marx administration would look like: one built around military and private-sector leadership over elected experience.

State of play: Marx said the pick followed months of interviews, calling it "the first big decision" about his potential administration.

• "Colorado doesn't need more political theater," he said Friday morning on the "Jeff and Bill" show on 710KNUS. "It needs experienced leaders who know how to execute."

Context: Markert, a Broomfield resident, moved to Colorado about three years ago after retiring from a 30-year Marine Corps career, the Colorado Sun reports.

• Marx, a Colorado Springs resident, highlighted Markert's experience in logistics, public safety, infrastructure and budgeting.
• Marx repeatedly emphasized that Markert, like himself, is "not a career politician," arguing executive leadership is a better preparation for governing than holding office.

What they're saying: Markert said he stepped up because he believes Colorado has been "on the wrong track for quite some time."

• He pointed to his family's multigenerational military service dating to World War II, as well as his unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign this year, which deepened his understanding of Colorado's political landscape.

The big picture: Marx and Markert will face Democratic nominee Phil Weiser, the state's attorney general, and his running mate, Jefferson County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper.

• The race pits a Republican ticket of political newcomers against a Democratic ticket led by two longtime Colorado officeholders.

What we're watching: Whether voters will see the two sides face off.

• Marx said last week he'll participate in a single debate against Weiser — only if there's no moderator. It's unclear whether the lieutenant governor candidates will debate.

Tell a politics junkie

💦 Colorado escaped mandatory water cuts under a new federal proposal to reduce Colorado River use in Arizona, California and Nevada. (AP)

🔫 Buying a semiautomatic firearm in Colorado now requires safety training under a new state law that took effect Saturday. (KKTV)

💧 Colorado Springs is using more water than usual, with consumption running 6% above the five-year average and 2% above the 10-year average, according to Colorado Springs Utilities.

• Officials cite extended warmth and new customers. (Gazette 🔑)

Fat Bear Week is out. Fat Marmot Week is in.

The big picture: This month, Colorado's Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory near Crested Butte is launching its own glorious version of the famous contest celebrating the chunkiest, snuggliest wild animal.

• The inaugural competition will follow yellow-bellied marmots as they race to pack on pounds for winter.
• The more rotund the rodent, the better its odds of surviving months of hibernation.

How it works: Starting Aug. 24, the public can vote for the chubbiest marmot in a bracket-style tournament modeled after Alaska's beloved contest.

Yes, but: Beneath all the fluff is serious science.

• "Marmots give us a window on the health of high-alpine ecosystems," biologist Dan Blumstein, who leads the lab's long-running Marmot Project research initiative, said in a statement.

The intrigue: The contest comes as federal research cuts have put the lab's marmot studies, ongoing since 1962, under financial pressure.

• As a result, Blumstein and his team have turned to an unconventional fundraiser — posting wholesome marmot videos on OnlyFans under the account OnlyMarms, promising "uncensored marmot content" — to raise money and awareness for the lab's research.

The bottom line: As Blumstein put it to the New York Times, "All the marmots are minors, but we have to do this for science education."

Tell an animal lover