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The Humane Society’s Pawtoberfest is scheduled for Sept.

12 at Printers Hill across from Memorial Park, offering craft beer, food trucks and dog contests for pups and their humans.

Labor Day Liftoff in Memorial Park featured over 70 balloon flights Saturday (marking 250 years for the US, 150 for Colorado, and 50 for the festival) and continues today and Monday with morning and evening sessions that draw local fans.

The Air Force Falcons opened their season with a 34-0 win over Duquesne at home on Saturday; the team rushed for 431 yards & forced two turnovers and will play North Dakota State at home on Sept.

14.

Ashlee Shields + Joseph Marney launched the StoryTeller Project to let locals share personal mental health struggles in comfortable spaces and to break stigma; one participant will speak at the Suicide Awareness and Resiliency Symposium on Sept.

19 as they plan more in-person storytelling events.

Crazy Fresita, a family-run pop-up near Mountain Vista Community School, serves paletas de fresa, aguas frescas and other sweet treats from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (currently on Gilpin Avenue between Ellingwood Drive and South Circle Drive, moving in October).

Today, the Colorado State Fair kicks off the Great Colorado Pork Green Chile Showdown at 3 p.m. on the Pepsi Stage.

Five competitors, including Colorado Springs native Alan Garcia, will compete using family recipes and local ingredients to celebrate the state’s signature pairing.

On Friday, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright toured Colorado Springs Utilities’ Ray Nixon Power Plant with Congress members Jeff Crank and Gabe Evans and said federal efforts would oppose closing the 260-MW coal plant under state green rules; local utility staff confirmed no further extension was planned.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept.

8, crews will start Phase 3 on Beacon Lite Road, where the hard closure will extend from just north of 19890 Beacon Lite Road to Bricker Road for three weeks (weather permitting) while a detour remains in place for through traffic and local access is maintained.