Aspen Acres Fire Becomes State’s Largest

The Aspen Acres Fire burning southwest of Pueblo has become Colorado’s largest wildfire of the season.

By Thursday morning, the fire had burned more than 50,000 acres with 0% containment, and at least 125 structures were destroyed in Pueblo County alone. Mandatory evacuations remained in effect for the towns of Beulah, Rye and San Isabel.

Officials attributed the fire’s rapid growth to critically dry vegetation, insect-killed timber and wind gusts approaching 30 mph, conditions capable of carrying embers up to a mile ahead of the main fire.

It is one of several major wildfires burning across Colorado this week, including the Snyder Fire near the Utah border, where three federal firefighters were killed during the initial attack.

Marx Overtakes Kirkmeyer in Governor Race

Ministry leader Victor Marx has pulled ahead of state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer in Colorado’s Republican primary for governor as counties tallied late ballots.

By Thursday afternoon, Marx had 205,491 votes to Kirkmeyer’s 203,472, with state Rep. Scott Bottoms a distant third. The margin was less than 1 percentage point, and it could be days before a winner is clear.

Whoever prevails will face Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser in November. Weiser won the Democratic primary over U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, leading by about 10 percentage points when the race was called.

The winner will replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis.

State Braces for Holiday Travel Rush

Westbound Interstate 70 mountain traffic is expected to peak today as Coloradans head for the high country ahead of Saturday’s Fourth of July holiday. Eastbound traffic on I-70 is forecast to be heaviest Sunday afternoon and evening.

Nationwide, AAA expects more than 72 million people to travel over the holiday, including more than 61 million by car, making it one of the busiest Fourth of July travel periods on record. Colorado AAA is urging drivers to leave early to avoid the worst congestion.

The travel rush comes amid Colorado’s ongoing drought and extreme wildfire risk, prompting some communities to cancel or postpone fireworks displays while many others move forward with celebrations. Most consumer fireworks remain illegal statewide.

State officials are urging travelers to prevent wildfire-causing sparks by properly securing trailer chains, avoiding driving or parking on dry grass, maintaining their vehicles, and carrying an emergency kit in case wildfires force highway closures.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Jared Polis fired two members of his clemency advisory board after they publicly criticized his decision to free former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters and disclosed confidential board votes on her clemency. (See Details)

➤ Colorado Springs: U.S. Marshals arrested Azzubair Outen-Fleming, 16, at a Colorado Springs home with ties to his family, one of two teens charged in the fatal June shooting of Penn State student Billy Schmidt in Philadelphia. A second suspect remains at large. (See Details)

➤ Boulder County: Investigators are searching for a man who robbed and assaulted a 73-year-old hiker on the Boulder Creek Trail, leaving the victim unconscious and stealing his wallet, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said. (See Details)

➤ Denver: The city is implementing stronger enforcement tools against neglected and derelict properties, including much larger fines for owners who ignore city requirements, raising neighbors’ hopes that the long-notorious “Poop House” will finally be addressed. (More)

➤ Fort Collins: A vehicle crashed through the patio and front wall of a brick home in the 200 block of Wood Street on Wednesday. Crews stabilized the structure while the driver was evaluated, and officials said the home would be returned to the homeowner as soon as possible. (More)

➤ Eagle County completed a $15 million geothermal heating and cooling project, replacing natural gas systems with underground pipes that officials say are far more efficient and lower utility costs. (More)

➤ Southern Colorado: The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway raised nearly $1.7 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a record for the campaign, and drew the winning name of Colorado native Natalie Enriquez. (Read Story)

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➤ The Denver Nuggets reportedly reached out to LeBron James to express interest in signing him as a free agent. James informed the Lakers earlier this week that he plans to play elsewhere next season, prompting interest from multiple teams across the league. (More)

➤ Colorado’s sports betting handle reached $469 million this May, up about 3% from the same month last year. (More)

➤ Colorado football landed running back Kylan Bobo, a three-star prospect from Tupelo, Mississippi. He committed to the Buffs over Arkansas, Memphis, and Minnesota. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA | Golf 

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➤ Big AC companies are panicking over this new cooling invention that helps Americans stay cool for less. Stop suffering from extreme temperatures and high electric bills. Get instant cooling in summer and cozy warmth in winter with CoolCove. Learn More

➤ In-N-Out opened its newest Colorado restaurant in Timnath, near Fort Collins, adding to the California chain’s steady Front Range expansion since it entered the state in 2020. (More)

➤ Aldi filed plans for its first Colorado stores, proposing locations in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood and northeast Denver as the discount grocer prepares to enter the state. (More)

➤ A federal judge temporarily blocked Colorado’s first-in-the-nation price cap on the arthritis drug Enbrel, delaying the 2027 policy while Amgen’s lawsuit challenging the measure moves forward. (More)

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➤ Steve Siguaw of Pine Junction plans to set sail next year in a bid to become the first Coloradan and the oldest person ever to complete a nonstop solo circumnavigation of the globe via the Five Great Capes aboard his boat, Savannah Sky. (Read Story)

➤ Denver International Airport celebrated World UFO Day with a viral “SAUCER1” flight-tracking stunt before welcoming Lufthansa’s Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger airliner, back to Denver from Munich. (More)

➤ History Colorado will host the free Colorado Day Community Fest on Aug. 1 in Denver’s Golden Triangle, with free admission to its museums statewide, marking 150 years since Colorado became a state in 1876. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Trump Accounts launch on the Fourth of July with a $1,000 federal deposit, though most eligible families have yet to enroll. (Hear Details)

➤ Wisconsin school officials barred a graduating senior from including a Bible verse in the ceremony slideshow. (Hear Episode)

➤ Brooklyn bodegas are openly selling an experimental weight-loss drug over the counter, despite a federal ban on its commercial sale. (Listen Now)

Do you own a boat?

1. Yes, I own one
2. Not yet, but I’d like one
3. No, but I know someone who does
4. No, boating isn’t for me

Yesterday’s Results:

How often do you go out to eat?

1. About once a week: 23%
2. Rarely: 21%
3. A few times a month: 20%
4. Several times a week: 17%
5. I usually order in instead: 10%
6. Other: 9%

What is Colorado’s official state summer heritage sport?

Show me the answer