🗳️ Someone already tried to steal this election

👀 Who Will Coloradans Send to Congress?

All eight of Colorado’s seats in Congress are up for grabs this November. Some incumbents are expected to cruise to victory — cough cough Diana DeGette — but there are some tight races and big issues at play. We’ve got two political insiders, one Democrat and one Republican, on the City Cast Denver podcast today to hash it all out. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🗳️ Stolen Ballot Scheme Identified in Mesa County

County clerks across the state are on high alert after at least 12 Mesa County ballots were stolen, fraudulently filled out, and submitted. Nine of the stolen ballots were flagged and intercepted, but three made it through the security checks and cannot be retrieved. A criminal investigation is underway. [CO Sun]

• Track your ballot: Here are some tips from our friends at CPR for keeping tabs on your ballot. Also check out our comprehensive list of info and resources for voting this election.

🧑‍⚖️ Colorado’s Kroger-Albertsons Trial Wraps Up

The month-long trial will play a part in determining whether a historic $25 billion national mega-merger between Safeway and King Soopers will proceed. It’s now up to a Denver district court judge to decide, though it’s unclear how long he will deliberate. Decisions are also pending in two similar cases to block the merger in Oregon and Washington. [Denver Post 🔒]

• Dive deeper: AG Phil Weiser explains exactly why he thinks the merger would be so bad for Colorado shoppers. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

City Cast editor Adrian González here! The Denver Film Festival is back Nov. 1-10 for its 47th year with nearly 200 feature films and shorts, along with special events. I spent a few years working at Denver Film, and this is the first time I get to experience it as a fan, so I’m sharing some of my top picks and a few tips on how to navigate the fest.

‘Lovers’

Exclusively shot in Colorado, “Lovers” follows two old friends returning to their hometown after a tragedy and rekindling their friendship through music at a local dive bar called Lovers (which Denverites will recognize as the South Broadway venue Hi-Dive). The movie is directed by Coloradan Taylor McFadden, stars local musicians, and features a new song by Nathaniel Rateliff.

• 👉 Psst! You can browse the Colorado Spotlight section of the fest for more local movies and filmmaker panels.

‘Gaucho Gaucho’

A gorgeous black-and-white documentary honoring Argentine cowboys and cowgirls in Argentina’s cattle country. It also won the Sundance Special Jury Prize earlier this year.

‘Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point’

A delightfully chaotic encapsulation of the holidays, this cutting comedy-drama drops in on an extended family gathering for Christmas in Long Island, starring Michael Cera and TikTok icon Francesca Scorsese (whose father is little-known auteur Martin Scorsese).

‘The Rule of Jenny Pen’

This is a sinister thriller starring John Lithgow as an unhinged resident of a retirement home torturing his neighbors with a doll. This one is part of the Late Night program, my favorite corner of the fest dedicated to freaks and fans of genre films.

‘The Piano Lesson’

Directed by Malcolm Washington (whose father is also Hollywood royalty), this adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has a tagline to match its intensity: “blood is a chord that resonates through time.” It’s the story of two siblings battling over an heirloom piano and uncovering difficult truths. This is the Opening Night selection and includes a post-film conversation with Washington and screenwriter Virgil Williams.