Colorado, Denver Crime Down

New FBI data shows violent crime in Colorado and Denver has declined over the past year.

While Colorado led the nation in auto thefts just a few years ago, car thefts have declined by 30%. Violent crime has also dropped statewide.

In Denver, violent crime is down 9%, while the murder rate has fallen by 49%—the largest homicide-rate decline among major U.S. cities. Car thefts dropped 33% year over year, mirroring the state’s trend.

At the start of 2025, Mayor Johnston set a goal to reduce shootings by 15%, a target the city has surpassed. Denver police attribute the declines to rapid police response and high clearance rates in homicide cases.

Lee Fire Grows, Others Sparked

Hours after becoming the sixth-largest wildfire in state history, the Lee Fire in northwestern Colorado grew to over 113,000 acres, making it the fifth-largest. The nearby Elk Fire, now 30% contained, is more than 14,000 acres.

The Oak Fire, which began as a structure fire near Pagosa Springs, ballooned to 75 acres Sunday, prompting evacuations, power shutoffs, and a disaster emergency declaration by Gov. Polis.

Also on Sunday, a house fire in Craig turned into a 35-acre wildfire, destroying four structures and sending two firefighters to the hospital. Authorities lifted evacuation notices around 10 p.m. after declaring it under control.

Several areas near the Lee and Elk fires remain under evacuation orders. See an interactive map here.

Colorado Optimal for Perseids Peak

The Perseids Meteor Shower, a popular meteor shower visible from mid-July to late August, will peak tonight and tomorrow night, dazzling stargazers with up to 100 shooting stars per hour, though moonlight may reduce visibility.

The Perseids are produced by the Swift-Tuttle comet’s debris, which disintegrates into colorful, fiery, and long streaks as it collides with Earth’s atmosphere.

While it can appear as early as 10 p.m., the shower is best viewed after midnight under a dark sky. In Colorado, there are 18 official Dark Sky Places that are optimal for stargazing.

Several other celestial events are visible through August, which some astronomers rank among the best stargazing months in Colorado.

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➤ Statewide: The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers filed a lawsuit against Colorado, alleging a new state law requiring retailers to place health warnings on gas stoves sold in stores and online violates the First Amendment. (See Details)

➤ Fort Collins: Rabbits with black, tentacle-like growths have been spotted in the city, alarming residents. Wildlife officials say the cause is a virus that isn’t dangerous to people or pets, and only harms rabbits if it spreads to their eyes or mouths. (See Details)

➤ Cañon City: Police arrested an illegal immigrant accused of stealing $68,000 from a local ATM via “jackpotting”—hijacking the machine and forcing it to dispense cash. (More)

➤ Aurora: Crews have begun to repair the uneven surface on Interstate 225 over 2nd and 6th avenues, where several deadly crashes have occurred. One lane in each direction will be closed from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday for the next three months. (See Details)

➤ Larimer County: Horsetooth Reservoir and Carter Lake will undergo major upgrades to improve parking lots and roads, county officials announced. Construction at Carter Lake is expected to finish in 2026, with Horsetooth work wrapping up in 2027. (See Details)

➤ Pueblo County: Colorado Parks and Wildlife is warning boaters and other river users of a downed tree blocking nearly the entire Arkansas River channel, calling it a “significant hazard.” (See Details)

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➤ Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders hasn’t named a starter between freshman Julian “JuJu” Lewis and veteran Kaidon Salter, saying either could lead the Buffs’ offense in the Aug. 29 opener vs. Georgia Tech. (More)

➤ Broncos coach Sean Payton blasted sloppy play in Saturday’s 30-9 preseason win over the 49ers, citing slow starts, penalties, and mental errors, though backups forced four turnovers to seal it. (More)

➤ The Colorado Rockies must win 12 games in the final two months to avoid setting the record for most losses in a single MLB season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ The Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, the largest potential water buyer in the $2 billion Northern Integrated Supply Project, says it is evaluating whether to continue participating, a move that could complicate the project’s financing. (See Details)

➤ A scrapyard and food bank owner in Denver says a new ban on the cash sale of scrap metal, taking effect June 2026, could jeopardize his businesses and hurt struggling communities. (More)

➤ GFiber, formerly Google Fiber, has begun installing its fiber-internet service in unincorporated Douglas County, with plans to expand to other communities without relying on public broadband funding. (See Details)

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➤ An immersive theater where the audience can freely explore and participate in a two-floor stage production will open in Denver in 2026. The city calls it “the world’s first” theater of its kind. (See Details)

➤ Water World is retiring the Calypso Cove section of the park after more than 40 years. It will close on Aug. 25, after an Aug. 24 farewell celebration, and be rebuilt with new attractions during the offseason. (See Details)

➤ Rescue crews used canine harnesses to safely bring down multiple dogs that had become stuck on the 14,000-foot Mount Princeton. (See Photos)

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Will you be watching the Perseids Meteor Shower?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you ever purchase an electric vehicle?

1. No: 43%
2. Maybe: 24%
3. Yes: 18%
4. I already own one: 15%

How did Alamosa get its name?

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