Headlines Thursday, July 2, 2026
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Confirmed ICE presence in Thornton on July 1st; A dozen new state laws take effect this week, one regarding conversion therapy; Boulder County scraps controversial trail program after opposition from cyclists KGNU News
Confirmed ICE presence in Thornton on July 1st
The Colorado Rapid Response Network (CORRN) received a call yesterday from a caller who witnessed agents wearing vests labeled “ICE” detaining 2 men from a teal/blue GMC truck near 8917 Washington Street, Thornton, CO 80229.
The Colorado Rapid Response Network is a coalition of Colorado organizations that runs a statewide ICE activity hotline and trains volunteers to spot and confirm ICE and deescalate ICE incidents.
This occurred at about 9:00 a.m. yesterday. CORRN was able to speak to other witnesses who confirmed what was observed, although only saw one person detained.
Colorado’s health department issues air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke
Colorado’s health department issued an air quality advisory for much of the state due to wildfire smoke that has blanketed parts of the state over the last week.
If you want to track the air quality, or AQI, in your area, officials recommend sites like Air-Now-dot-gov. But Carlyn Porter with Pitkin County’s public health department says that your own senses provide the best information.
“If mountains are not visible in the distance, that means there’s particulate matter in the air, so may not be the best day to go for that marathon run.”
Porter says we’re lucky to have very good air quality most of the year, and a few days of breathing smokey air likely won’t have long-term impacts.
But over an extended period of time, those small particles can get into the bloodstream and cause respiratory and circulatory problems.
Porter says to treat the smoke like bad weather, and try to plan your outdoor activities at times when it’s clear.
She also recommends setting up a HEPA air filter that is the right size for the living space, and to avoid smoking, burning candles or any activities that add air pollutants.
A dozen new state laws take effect this week, one regarding conversion therapy
More than a dozen new state laws take effect this week in Colorado. One focuses on conversion therapy — a widely discredited practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
The new law allows victims of the practice to sue their mental health providers with no statute of limitations.
Another new law tightens rules around 3-D printed guns.
Others include updates to Colorado’s affordable home ownership program, and some changes to how the state calculates certain marijuana taxes.
Boulder County scraps controversial trail program after opposition from cyclists
After months of opposition from local mountain bikers, Boulder County commissioners voted Tuesday to abandon a pilot program that would limit access to certain county trails for some users on specific days.
The proposal was started by County Commissioner Claire Levy, who asked county staff to limit bicycle access on certain days at Heil Valley Ranch to make hikers more comfortable after some raised concerns about trail conflicts.
The proposal drew opposition after it became public in April. 70% of respondents opposed or strongly opposed the pilot, while 17% supported or strongly supported it.
Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann rejects the pilot, stating that the county should focus on encouraging communication among hikers and bikers rather than restricting access.
New Boulder arts district initiative
On Friday, a new citywide initiative will attempt to bridge the gap between downtown Boulder and North Boulder for the upcoming First Friday monthly artwalk by utilizing HOP and SKIP bus routes. Downtown will run from 4 to 7 pm and NoBo from 6 to 9 pm.
NoBo has been Boulder’s established First Friday venue for over a decade. In 2009, a group of local artists launched an art exhibition after many local art venues closed during the recession. Since then, NoBo has hosted monthly First Friday walks, gallery viewings, and artist-run spaces around Broadway.
Downtown’s First Friday presence is much newer, with the goal being to connect the two events. The Boulder Vision Grant, a $8,500 grant awarded by the city to the Boulder Chamber Foundation, supports the project, says Sarah Harrison, the senior program manager for grants at Boulder’s Office of Arts and Culture.
This grant is specifically for the “Transportation Connections” project. “Public transport will serve as a cultural connector.” Harrison says.
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