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Article Icon 1Aspen Acres Fire Tops 91,000 Acres

The Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Pueblo has burned past 91,000 acres, making it the seventh-largest wildfire on record in Colorado.

Crews reported the human-caused fire between 12% and 14% contained Monday as mandatory evacuations expanded into Fremont County near Florence.

More than 180 structures have been destroyed, including at least 55 homes in Custer County, and evacuated residents have not yet been allowed home.

Elsewhere, the Gold Mountain Fire in southwestern Colorado has grown to nearly 28,000 acres, prompting new evacuations in Gunnison County on Monday as it continues to burn north.

Article Icon 1RTD Weighs Deep Service Cuts

The Regional Transportation District is weighing cuts to bus and rail service to help close a budget deficit of about $250 million.

Staff are modeling service reductions of 15% to 20%, and the board is exploring a ballot measure to raise revenue after federal pandemic relief ran out in 2024.

An earlier staff analysis recommended cutting bus and rail service by as much as 20%, roughly $62 million.

Among the ideas discussed are eliminating the Access-on-Demand rideshare program and scaling back FlexRide, though RTD says those remain discussion points, not formal proposals. Riders like Derek Selbo, who is blind, worry cuts could leave them with no way to reach medical appointments.

Article Icon 1Heat Worsens Denver’s Air Quality

Denver had the worst air quality of any major U.S. city Monday afternoon as wildfire smoke settled over the Front Range.

State health officials say the hot, sunny weather is compounding the problem by driving up ground-level ozone on top of the smoke. They urge children, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions to limit time outdoors. The air quality alert remains in effect until at least 4 p.m. today.

The heat will only build, with highs in the mid-90s this week, storm chances today and Wednesday, and temperatures near 100 by the weekend.

Denver says recreation centers and public libraries will serve as cooling centers if a Heat Advisory is issued as the hottest stretch of the week approaches.

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Around Colorado

Pueblo County: Ranchers are racing to evacuate livestock as the Aspen Acres Fire burns south, with more than 1,300 animals now sheltered at the Pueblo County Fairgrounds. (More)

➤ Denver: A 40-year-old man was arrested after a Fourth of July triple stabbing in the West Colfax neighborhood left one woman dead and two others injured. He faces first-degree murder and attempted murder charges. (More

Rocky Mountain National Park: A person was found dead Sunday on Kiener’s Route, a popular climbing route on Longs Peak, prompting an overnight closure for recovery operations. The cause of death remains under investigation. (More)

Loveland: A former jiu-jitsu instructor has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting two juveniles while serving in a caregiving role, police said. Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward. (More)

Vail: Piney River Ranch could close after the 2026 season as its lease with Denver Water expires next year and the two sides have been unable to reach a new lease agreement. A community petition urging a new agreement has gathered more than 5,500 signatures. (More)

Sawatch Range: An Eagle River firefighter freed themselves after a 400-pound boulder pinned a leg on North Apostle Mountain before a Black Hawk helicopter airlifted the firefighter to safety. The firefighter is recovering from a broken leg. (More)


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Colorado Sports

Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman earned his second consecutive All-Star selection after tying Larry Walker’s franchise record with 27 home runs before the break. He is the first Rockie selected to consecutive All-Star teams since 2019. (More)

Colorado bettors wagered $469 million on sports in May, generating $44.7 million in operator revenue and $3.9 million in state tax collections. Tax collections rose nearly 8% even as revenue dipped, the result of a new state law phasing out free-bet tax deductions. (More)

The Avalanche signed defenseman Christian Wolanin to a one-year contract. His father, Craig Wolanin, played 364 games for the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise from 1989-96 and was part of Colorado’s 1996 Stanley Cup team. (More

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

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Colorado Business

➤ Urban Egg will close its Fort Collins restaurant on Aug. 30 after more than a decade as its lease expires. The company said it’s still looking for opportunities in northern Colorado. (More)

Brooke Shields joined Casa Bonita performers in pushing for better pay and workplace safety protections during ongoing union negotiations. (More)

In-N-Out Burger is eyeing a second Denver location, part of a proposed 74-acre development off Peña Boulevard on the route to the airport, though it says it is still early in the city’s approval process. (More)

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Et Cetera

A nonprofit is expanding HorseAlert, an online tool that connects horse owners with volunteer trailer drivers to help evacuate animals as wildfires burn across Colorado. Organizers are seeking more volunteers in rural communities. (More)

➤ Estes Park’s Rooftop Rodeo kicked off yesterday with a downtown parade and six nights of rodeo action, featuring themed events including First Responders Night and Paint Estes Pink. The rodeo runs through Saturday. (More)

A Fort Collins Safeway employee celebrated 50 years with the company, becoming a familiar face to generations of customers while also spending 40 years as a local teacher. (More)

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The Flyover Podcast

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:

Skip the expensive creams, because here are five sure-fire remedies to calm sunburned skin and speed recovery. (Hear Details)

Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin heads to a Utah courtroom this week, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. (Hear Episode)

China test-fired a long-range ballistic missile from a submarine into the South Pacific, inside a decades-old nuclear-free zone. (Listen Now)

  

The Poll

How long have you stayed at one job?


  1. Less than 2 years
  2. 2 to 10 years
  3. More than 10 years
  4. I’m still there and not leaving
 

Yesterday’s Results:

How do you take your burger?

  1. A classic cheeseburger: 31%
  2. Loaded with all the toppings: 23%
  3. Smothered in green chile: 14%
  4. Other: 12%
  5. Something fancy/gourmet: 10%
  6. Make mine a veggie burger: 10%
Colorado Trivia

What statue sits atop Casa Bonita’s iconic, 85-foot-tall pink tower?

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