Man Shot By Police Awarded $2.4M + Killing COVID-19 With UV Light

Welcome back, Denver! Here's everything you need to know to get this Wednesday started off right, including breakthrough research on battling COVID-19, the latest soaring rental prices in our city and news about an upcoming cold front that's expected to hit the West.

First, today's weather:

A thunderstorm may hit this evening. You can expect a high of 79 and a low of 50 at night.

Here are the top stories in Denver today:

1. A jury has awarded a man more than $2.4 million after he was shot by a Denver police officer in 2013, according to court records obtained by 9News. The jury found the officer used excessive force and that he wasn't trained properly, the records show. (9News.com KUSA)
2. The temperate weather that Coloradans have been enjoying may come to an end next week as below-normal temperatures hit much of the West, according to the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center. (Denver Patch)
3. Vacancy rates continue to decline in Denver while rent prices continue to climb, according to the University of Denver Daniels College of Business. The average rental cost is up by more than $100 from the beginning of the year, CBS reports. (CBS Denver)
4. New research from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light could be key to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in public spaces. Professor Karl Linden, Ph.D., said that out of nearly every pathogen his team has studied, the coronavirus is "the easiest, by far, to kill with UV light." (Boulder Patch)
5. Jurassic Quest roars into Denver this fall, allowing explorers of all ages to get up close with more than 100 realistic dinosaurs. The event allows families to experience the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic periods and see life-like dinosaurs in a number of exhibits. There is also an "Ancient Oceans" feature with a life-size megalodon, "the largest apex predator that ever existed." (Denver Patch)

From our sponsor:

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Today in metro Denver:

• Denver Startup Week continues with virtual panels on branding, scaling, data and business strategies. (8:30 a.m.)
• Hundreds of jobs in many industries are up for grabs at the Denver Job Fair. (10 a.m.)
• Join Shayna and Tracey, creators of Denver’s own The Pump and Dump Show, as they bring their hit, weekly Band of Mothers Podcast to the live stage for a brand-new take on a moms’ night out. (7:30 p.m.)

Denver Patch Notebook

• Denver Center for the Performing Arts: "Hamilton is now on sale! Grab your tickets today." (Facebook)
• Denver Botanic Gardens: "And we're back... Glow at the Gardens™ tickets went on sale this morning, right after FB's crash. There are still tickets available for evening arrival times. The event at our York St. location takes place October 19-24 ..." (Facebook)
• Denver Broncos Community Development: "It was our privilege to honor oncology health-care professionals on Sunday during halftime as well as at a pregame reception with @Broncos President & CEO Joe Ellis, Miles and @Denverbroncoscheer." (Facebook)
• Visit Denver: "The Denver Film Festival is back, in-person, with a fully stacked lineup, and we couldn’t be more excited." (Facebook)
• Denver Public Schools: "In our 12th year of celebrating Career and College Success Month, we will highlight students of all ages throughout October who have chosen their own paths to prepare for success after graduation!" (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon! If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors on board. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Amber Fisher

About me: I'm a Patch editor covering news in Denver's metro area and Boulder. I've spent the past nine years working for various news outlets across North America, including Chicago Patch, Global News and WBEZ. I've covered high-profile court cases, civil rights abuses, mass shootings, natural disasters and major crimes — but also countless happy news stories about kindness, innovation and resilience. When I'm not writing articles, I can be found hiking, snowboarding, debating politics with my husband and attempting to be a sci-fi and astronomy geek.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Denver Daily? I'm all ears. You can email me at amber.fisher@patch.com.