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Today’s newsletter is 999 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Campaigns are increasingly paying social media influencers in Colorado to reach voters.

Why it matters: Ahead of November's election, political pitches are popping up alongside food recs and lifestyle content, blurring the lines between opinion, grassroots support and paid promotion.

Driving the news: Backers of the Colorado Connector passenger rail project, namely RTD, used taxpayer money for an August blitz that included paid Instagram and TikTok influencers, Denverite reports.

• It's unclear how much of the $1.3 million media-buying budget went directly to creators.
• The campaign came just before the district put a sales tax measure on November's ballot.

By the numbers: The campaign planned to hire more than 20 influencers to produce 60-plus posts targeting travelers, foodies, athletes and other audiences, per an internal slide deck Denverite obtained.

• Many of the videos Denverite reviewed didn't initially disclose sponsorship, including roughly a dozen without any disclosure. Others used labels like "#CoCoPartner."

The intrigue: The campaign ended Aug. 27 — the same day the Front Range Passenger Rail District officially referred the measure to voters.

• Colorado law bars government entities from using public money to urge voters to support or oppose a ballot measure.
• Rail district general manager Sal Pace told Denverite the campaign aimed to educate and gather public input, not sway voters.

What they're saying: "You really do have people's ear online, especially young people," content creator Haley Metzger told Westword in June.

• "They don't watch CNN, they don't watch the news. But they're on TikTok, they're on Instagram."

The big picture: Colorado's examples reflect a growing national strategy. Political campaigns are increasingly paying influencers to reach voters, often at a lower cost than traditional advertising, The New York Times reports.

🔎 Yes, but: Voters may struggle to spot paid political posts — and trace the money behind them.

• No federal rules specifically require influencers to disclose paid political endorsements, and only a handful of states require it for state and local races, per the Times.
• Colorado isn't one of them.

The bottom line: "People don't know what's real anymore," progressive influencer Suzanne Lambert told the Times.

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The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today in a Boulder case that could determine the fate of state-court lawsuits nationwide seeking climate damages from oil giants.

Why it matters: Boulder is among dozens of state and local governments seeking damages from oil companies for the costs of climate change.

Catch up quick: The city and county of Boulder sued Exxon and Suncor in 2018, seeking to make the companies help pay for local climate-related costs.

• Boulder County commissioners say the lawsuit "seeks to ensure fossil fuel companies pay their fair share for climate-driven harms affecting local communities."

The big picture: The Supreme Court is considering whether federal law prevents Boulder from pursuing those claims under state law.

The other side: Exxon and Suncor argue that claims involving greenhouse gas emissions are governed by federal law and therefore belong in federal court, not state court.

Go deeper

A horror-themed bookstore is creeping up on South Broadway.

Zoom in: Broom Book & Candle — a 2,400-square-foot shop, cafe and wine bar — plans to begin a phased opening at 482 S. Broadway in early November.

• Owners Amanda Shafer and KJ Brantley are designing the two-story space to feel like a "cozy haunted nook," Shafer, a horror writer, tells Axios.

🪄 The intrigue: There's more to the store than books.

• Local miniature artist Scott Hildebrandt, who helped create one of the rooms at Meow Wolf, is working on a game built into the space.
• Customers can use wands to find Easter eggs, clues and more throughout the store that'll change over time, Shafer tells us.

Zoom out: The space will also host events and an author-in-residence program through the Women in Horror Arts and Media Association, which Brantley founded.

• Shafer says it's part of their effort to carve out more space for women and marginalized creators in horror.

What's next: The bookstore will open first, with coffee service coming a few weeks later, Shafer says.

• Beer and wine are set to follow once the business receives its liquor license.

Tell a horror lover

🏈 Mayor Johnston is eyeing a bid to bring the 2033 Super Bowl to the Broncos' planned Burnham Yard stadium, which could open as soon as 2031. (Denver Post 🔑)

💸 Republican gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx's campaign was fined nearly $58,000 for accepting contributions above Colorado's legal limit — one of the largest campaign finance fines in state history. (CPR)

⚖️ Denver joined a coalition of states in suing the Trump administration over new vehicle fuel-economy standards they argue are unlawfully weak and will cost drivers more at the pump, Alayna reports.

🚩 The airport spent more than $21,000 in public money on a retirement party for a longtime executive attended by just 45 people.

• The city's ethics board called the spending "inappropriate," but cleared the official who helped organize it of an ethics violation. (CBS Colorado)

🏈 The Broncos lost 24-14 to the San Francisco 49ers last night, dropping their record to 2-2. (ESPN)

Axios Local helps you make sense of what's happening in your community and why it matters. Our journalism is free to read, but it takes resources to produce.

📍 Become a member today to support the reporters doing the work and help make more local reporting possible for everyone.

Thank you for reading and supporting local journalism.

Moab is about to get a whole lot closer.

🏜️ The big picture: United is launching nonstop service from the Denver airport to Moab's Canyonlands Regional Airport this Wednesday, giving Coloradans an easier route to red-rock country.

Why it matters: The year-round route skips the roughly six-hour drive from Denver to Arches, Canyonlands and Moab's famous trails.

Zoom in: Expect one or two roundtrip flights daily on 50-seat SkyWest jets flying as United Express.

• The first flight leaves DIA at 8am and lands in Moab at 9:30am.

Zoom out: Delta also brought back its seasonal daily Moab-Salt Lake City service this month.

🤧 John and Esteban are recovering from a cold.

💪 Alayna is holding down the fort.

Thanks to our editor, Gigi Sukin.