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🚕 Situational awareness: Waymo launched its ride-hailing service to the public yesterday, though riders will be invited on a rolling basis, Alayna reports.

Today's newsletter is 994 words — a 4-minute read.

To promote his work in Congress, U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans spent more than $320,000 on taxpayer-funded advertising in his first term — steering more than $225,000 to his campaign consultant, an exclusive Axios analysis finds.

Why it matters: The radio, mail, web and text messages helped the 8th District Republican raise his name recognition ahead of his reelection bid this November and at times blurred the line between campaign-style messaging and official congressional communication.

State of play: Out of all House members, Evans ranked the sixth-highest spender of taxpayer dollars on ads through late July. His total nearly topped the combined spending of Colorado's congressional delegation, public records show.

• Promotional messages — known as "franking" — from Evans' congressional office touted his votes for H.R. 1 and the Working Families Tax Cuts, plus, his support for immigration reform.
• He also targeted Spanish-speaking voters with a radio ad blitz.

The intrigue: Breakpoint Media, a political consulting firm, received more than $225,000 to produce ads for Evans' office.

• The same firm received another $170,000 from Evans' campaign over the past two years.

How it works: All members of Congress get a taxpayer-funded communications budget. Evans is using a significant share on his franking.

• The rules prohibit official communications from disparaging political parties or members, using laudatory language about a member or drawing on campaign resources.
• Biographical information and ideological criticism are OK.
• Staff at the bipartisan House Communication Standards Commission approved all of the messages as official.

Yes, but: Some of the language sounded more like campaign material.

• In text messages Axios reviewed, Evans bashed Democratic U.S. senators for the 2025 government shutdown.
• In another, he swiped at Democratic state leaders, calling Colorado "the second-most dangerous state in the country."

Keep reading

Latinos in what's arguably Colorado's most competitive U.S. House district are souring on President Trump, a poll out yesterday shows.

Why it matters: Its findings could spell trouble for Evans, whose ties to Trump could hurt his reelection bid in Colorado's 8th District, where Latinos make up nearly 40% of its population.

State of play: 61% of respondents in the district said they disapprove of Trump, while 37% said they approve, per the 2026 Colorado Latino Policy Agenda survey.

• That's a 13-point jump from 2025, the Colorado Sun reports.

The intrigue: Evans, who is Latino, also has a negative rating among the district's Latino voters, with 42% disapproving of him, while 34% approve.

The Colorado Latino Agenda is co-led by the liberal-leaning Voces Unidas and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights.

What we're watching: Evans faces Democrat Manny Rutinel for the suburban Denver seat, which House Democrats see as a potential pickup in their bid to retake the majority.

Go deeper

Rajon Belt-Stubblefield's family will address a new federal civil rights lawsuit today that raises fresh questions about whether years of court-ordered reforms have changed policing in Aurora.

Why it matters: The lawsuit comes as Aurora works to exit a consent decree imposed after state investigators found a pattern of excessive force and racially biased policing.

Context: The 144-page complaint names Aurora and officer Matthew Neely, whom a grand jury indicted last month on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges.

• Belt-Stubblefield's death was not "an aberration and it was not bad luck," the lawsuit alleges, but the result of a troubled history within the department.

Zoom in: The lawsuit accuses Neely and the city of wrongful death, excessive force and federal civil rights violations.

• It also claims Neely had a reputation within APD for problematic policing and use of force, but concerns about his conduct weren't reflected in his official records.

Full story ... Subscribe to Axios Arapahoe County

🚨 A member of Mayor Johnston's security detail drew their firearm on a man who approached the mayor with a plastic knife outside Union Station. No one was harmed. (CBS Colorado)

⚾️ Nuggets and Avs owner Stan Kroenke is buying a controlling interest in the L.A. Angels, making him the MLB's richest owner. The deal's expected to close early next year. (ESPN)

♻️ As of yesterday, the city is requiring apartments and restaurants to recycle and compost — a mandate voters approved four years ago. (Denver Post 🔑)

👀 A "teen takeover" in Aurora drew about 500 teenagers to the Hoffman Heights Shopping Center last Sunday, and some participants allegedly vandalized property and stole merchandise from nearby businesses. (Aurora Sentinel)

🍽️ Troy Guard is planning a three-story restaurant downtown — his biggest yet — that'll hire 125 people. It's set to open next fall. (DBJ 🔑)

Grab your kit: The Premier League is coming to town.

The big picture: Union Station hosts the 13th Premier League Mornings Live fan festival Oct. 10–11, bringing match-day energy to aficionados of the world's most popular sports league.

Why it matters: It's a chance for downtown to recapture the frenzy from this summer's World Cup watch parties, which drew thousands and boosted local businesses.

Zoom in: October's events include live game broadcasts alongside the NBC Sports studio team.

• Fans will get a chance to check out the Premier League Trophy, snag exclusive merch, see club mascots and spot league legends IRL.

If you go: The event is free, but registration's required — and due to high demand, it closes soon, the Premier League tells us.

Send to a soccer fan

⚾️ John is unsure about re-upping his Rockies season ticket package next year.

❣️ Alayna is celebrating her third wedding anniversary with one of this newsletter's most loyal readers. Love you, Dave!

📖 Esteban is reading "After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story" by Michael Hainey.

Thanks to our editor, Gigi Sukin.