Cabinet Lands in Grand Junction

Two of President Trump’s cabinet secretaries touched down in Grand Junction Wednesday to announce a federal push linking outdoor recreation on public lands to improved public health outcomes.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum joined Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials to discuss the initiative.

Kennedy framed the effort around what he called a “prescription for nature,” using outdoor access as a public health tool. Grand Junction is surrounded by BLM land, making it a natural backdrop for the announcement.

Burgum has made expanding outdoor recreation access a signature initiative, building on an executive push to remove permitting friction for hiking, hunting, and recreation on federal land.

Bear Fire Burning in Las Animas

A wildfire burning near the U.S. Army’s Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site in Las Animas County remained at 0% containment Wednesday, having grown to roughly 148 acres amid red-flag conditions across the region.

The Bear Fire prompted mandatory evacuations along County Road 78.9 and Bear Springs Trail. Some evacuation orders were lifted Thursday, but three structures remain threatened. Nearly a dozen fire agencies have responded, including crews from Trinidad, Rocky Ford, and La Junta.

Officials are coordinating with the U.S. Army on the adjacent Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. The Hoehne Fire Protection District is the lead agency, with large-animal evacuation support available at the county fairgrounds.

Elevated temperatures and dry conditions are complicating the response.

Colorado Acts on Screwworm Threat

Colorado agriculture officials have adopted an emergency rule to block the northward spread of the New World screwworm—a flesh-eating parasite confirmed in Texas and New Mexico—before it reaches Colorado’s cattle country.

The rule imposes new livestock movement restrictions statewide. The species, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing severe, potentially fatal damage.

The pest was eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s through a decades-long USDA program. Colorado’s cattle ranchers and farmers are being urged to stay vigilant, check livestock for wounds, and report any suspected cases.

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➤ Rio Grande County: A small plane crashed in a remote part of the county, sparking a brush fire. One person was hospitalized with minor injuries; crews worked to contain the resulting fire. (More)

➤ Vail: Vail police are searching for a suspect caught on security footage pouring milk over a parked minivan and then slashing its tires. No motive has been identified. (More)

➤ Dolores County: Search and rescue teams found a cold, lost Arizona hiker at 11,200 feet near the Woods Lake Trail after her son reported her missing. She was located around 10:33 p.m. and brought out safely. (More)

➤ Statewide: Gov. Polis has appointed three new Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioners after his prior selections were rejected. The new picks include two conservationists and a well-known hunter and angler. (More)

➤ Colorado Springs: City road crews are in the middle of a five-week pothole-repair surge, working to patch roads citywide after a rough spring season. (More)

➤ Statewide: Colorado’s June 30 gubernatorial primary is breaking fundraising records, with billionaire-backed super PACs reshaping the race. (More)

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➤ Colorado football coach Deion Sanders announced that he is cancer-free after battling bladder cancer that required 14 surgeries. “I got my swagger back,” Sanders said on Good Morning America. “I’m ready to go coach my butt off this season.” (More)

➤ A family-owned sod farm in Platteville grew the grass being used at World Cup stadiums in Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston. (More)

➤ The Broncos’ new stadium project at Burnham Yard has hit a snag over the relocation of a Denver Water facility that sits on the proposed site. The preferred solution is to move Denver Water’s operations into a nearby tailgating lot, but logistical hurdles have complicated the plan. (More)

➤ Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog won both the Bill Masterton Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award this week. The Masterton honors perseverance and dedication to the sport, and the Messier recognizes leadership on and off the ice. (More)

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

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➤ Colorado’s new coal plant law sets emission and cost standards for coal-fired power plants in the state, making Colorado one of the first states to impose state-level requirements on plants amid federal policy changes. (More)

➤ Northern Water’s $2.7 billion two-dam project is gaining and losing members: Fort Collins has signaled renewed interest while several smaller towns have withdrawn from the massive water infrastructure proposal. (More)

➤ Colorado’s new EV battery recycling law establishes extended producer responsibility for large-format batteries, setting benchmarks for critical mineral recovery in what the state says is a first-of-its-kind requirement. (More)

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➤ Singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell has added two Colorado dates to her 2026 Heavy Petal Tour: Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Aug. 12 and the Dillon Amphitheater on Aug. 11. (More)

➤ This round-up of the seven best events across the state this weekend has everything from outdoor adventures to local festivals. (More)

➤ Electronic duo Zeds Dead returns to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for its DEADROCKS XII from July 2 to 3, locking down the venue for a Fourth of July weekend takeover. (More)

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With El Niño arriving, what are you most hoping for this winter?

1. More powder days for skiing
2. A milder winter with less snow
3. Good snowpack for the reservoirs
4. I just want the wildfire season to end

Yesterday’s Results:

Which Colorado summer event are you most excited about?

1. Other: 31%
2. Red Rocks concerts: 22%
3. Renaissance Festival: 17%
4. Beer Festival: 16%
5. Telluride Film Festival: 14%

What Colorado city boasts the world’s largest hot springs pool?

Show me the answer