Headlines Thursday, July 9, 2026
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Drought conditions persist and fuel fires in Mountain West, Heat wave forecasted, ICE pressured Ugandan priest to accept deportation KGNU News
Drought conditions persist and fuel fires in Mountain West
Drought conditions persist throughout the Mountain West, fueling the wildfires currently burning hundreds of thousands of acres in Colorado and Utah.
According to the US Drought Monitor, the Front Range is in severe drought, with parts in extreme drought.
Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Caroline Llanes has more on what’s ahead.
Heat wave forecasted
Forecasters are predicting a period of prolonged high temperatures, due to a high pressure system creating a “heat dome” over much of the region.
The National Weather service reported temperatures in the Denver metro area were above normal in June, and predicts temperatures leaning above normal for the next 30 to 90 days.
Daniel Swain is a weather and climate scientist at the University of California and the National Science Foundation in Boulder.
He says this heat dome is notable due to both its broad geographic reach, and its intensity.
“Will we break temperature records on the Western Slope or in Denver along the Front Range? We might, that’s not guaranteed. It’s still a little bit uncertain, but it’s certainly within the realm of possibility. And that’s notable because we’ve broken a lot of records in terms of temperatures in recent years.”
He says the heat could worsen already bad fire conditions across the Mountain West… but usually, heat waves mean less wind, which could prevent blazes from spreading and help firefighters contain smaller ignitions.
ICE pressured Ugandan priest to accept deportation
A reverend and political dissident who has lived in Colorado for 25 years is still facing deportation.
Reverend Edward Nalwamba, an associate pastor at Resurrection Anglican Church in Greenwood Village, is currently being held in a federal immigration detention center in Aurora.
Nalwamba originally fled to the U.S. seeking asylum from political persecution and torture in Uganda, but his legal claim was denied in 2010.
Despite having no criminal history and maintaining compliance with federal supervision for over a decade, he was unexpectedly detained during a routine immigration check-in.
Supporters and legal advocates, backed by Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, have launched emergency appeals to block the removal, citing Nalwamba’s fragile health, and dangerous conditions awaiting him in Uganda.
Federal authorities have defended the action, stating the final order of removal is legally binding following decades of overstayed visa violations.
Boulder must double emissions cutting rate to reach 2030 climate goals
Boulder’s updated Climate Action Plan warns that the city must accelerate its environmental efforts to meet its next major deadline.
According to data released by sustainability officials, the current pace of cutting greenhouse gases must roughly double if Boulder wants to hit its goal of a 70% reduction by 2030.
While the city has steadily slashed emissions by about 5% annually since 2018, its overall climate footprint remains high, especially when factoring in the external carbon cost of food, manufacturing, and travel by residents.
Officials note that meeting these targets depends heavily on Xcel Energy transitioning to cleaner power sources, a process currently hampered by utility delays.
The new roadmap also shifts focus toward climate equity, ensuring future investments actively protect vulnerable communities from intensifying droughts, longer wildfire seasons, and heavy precipitation events.
Despite falling behind on broad emissions, Boulder has experienced small wins, successfully surpassing its original local renewable energy goals seven years ahead of schedule.
Longmont traffic violations skyrocket after new cameras
With two new cameras since April, Longmont’s four traffic cameras have been catching more speeding and red-light running violations this spring and summer. From May 15 through June 29, traffic cameras issued 5092 citations, with 4405 and 687 for running a red light. Drivers caught on camera going 11 mph or more over the speed limit are subject to a fine of $40 or $80 in a construction or school zone. Drivers caught running a red light are fined $75.
From Jan. 1 to May 15, traffic cameras issued 11,421 citations, way up from July through December 2025, when cameras issued only 2,446 citations, according to the city’s website.
Boulder County to host agricultural worker housing meeting
Boulder County will be hosting a virtual agricultural worker housing meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday to go over the Boulder County Land Use Code update. County staff members will provide an overview of the project, review the project timeline, and share opportunities for the public to stay informed. The Boulder County Land Use Code applies to unincorporated portions of the county.
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