Good morning, Denver.

Voting is underway for the Coolest Thing Made in Colorado contest from the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, where nominees include La Junta’s Barn Owl Precision Agriculture’s autonomous nano tractors called ANTs and Colorado Springs’ InnovaFlex Arrays among ten entries.

Voters can cast up to three votes daily online+ voting ends Oct 6.

State economists said TABOR refund checks for 2026 will be smaller because the state is paying more to lower-income residents with new tax credits—this reduces funds available for larger refunds.

The checks will range from $20 for single filers earning up to $56,000 to $62 for higher earners as part of a surplus repayment plan.

Aurora city council postponed a vote to dissolve the Human Relations Commission on Sept.

23 as Mayor Mike Coffman said he and city staff were working on a plan to reform the group—focused on diversity and quality of life. City officials also increased interpreter fees for missed jury trials from $35 to $90 and approved an ordinance that will fine parents at least $250 if they allow minors to ride dirt bikes on city streets to curb rising accidents.

A CU Boulder team will launch its Interstellar Dust Experiment — IDEX — on a SpaceX rocket from Florida today at 5:30 a.m. MT as part of NASA’s IMAP mission to collect rare stardust and study the building blocks of our solar system.

Three Aurora council members held an in-person meeting at Paris Elementary School on Sept.

22 to let the public speak out as a response to the move to virtual-only meetings after a wrongful death lawsuit was filed — about 15 to 20 people attended and shared their concerns over police reform and open debate. The council members stressed that community power matters as they plan to continue holding meetings in public spaces.

Rep. Jason Crow will host an affordable housing fair today at Paris Elementary School in Aurora from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., where more than 30 community organizations are set to offer housing, employment, and health services—part of his effort to lower living costs.

Gov. Jared Polis announced on Monday that Maj.

Gen. Robert Davis was appointed to lead Colorado’s National Guard — he will head operations from Buckley Space Force Base and continue his role as Executive Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to support military and veteran services.