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Mudslide closes part of I-70; toxic algae closes Boulder Reservoir swim beach on hottest day of year so far; Cobalt demands law to protect RISE collective in Boulder KGNU News
Headlines Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Mudslide closes part of I-70
Yesterday, mudslides and debris caused part of Interstate 70 between New Castle and Silt to be closed. On Monday night, rain and hail had led to debris on I-70, and as of 2:30 yesterday evening, there had been no estimated time for the road to be reopened.
On Monday, there had been seven feet of rain on parts of the road, and crews have been working since then to ensure that the Interstate can come back as soon as possible.
Monsoonal summer rains have begun to move into Colorado this week, and rainfall could climb as high as two inches per hour. Certain areas of the state are in danger of flash flooding, and flying debris.
Human case of West Nile Virus in Boulder County
Boulder County health officials have confirmed the area’s first human case of West Nile virus this season in a Longmont resident. The individual is believed to have been exposed at a private residence and has since fully recovered.
Health officials warn that the virus is active county-wide and is not restricted to Longmont. While most infected people are symptomless, the mosquito-borne illness can occasionally cause fever or severe neurological complications.
With no specific vaccine or treatment, residents are urged to use bug spray, wear long sleeves at dawn and dusk, and drain standing water around their homes.
Toxic algae closes Boulder Reservoir swim beach on hottest day of year so far
The Boulder Reservoir swim beach closed after toxic blue-green algae was discovered on the swim beach side of the reservoir.
Crews were hopeful Monday morning when their first test showed no algae, but by 9 a.m. it was a different story. “We determined that it was more than likely blue-green algae, and that’s what caused our closure,” said Stacy Cole, Boulder Reservoir Manager.
It’s not common for Boulder Reservoir to have large blooms like that. The first recorded bloom in modern history was in 2024, followed by another in 2025, both showing up in September.
As of yesterday, the Boulder reservoir swim beach was reopened after water testing that verified the blue green algae bloom was not at a dangerous level. The Boulder Reservoir and swim beach are open and ready for the community to enjoy.
Cobalt demands law to protect RISE collective in Boulder
Cobalt is urging Colorado law enforcement to investigate what it describes as an escalating threat against the RISE Collective clinic, a health clinic that offers specialized reproductive healthcare and abortion services in Boulder, after an anti-abortion protest leader allegedly posted QUOTE “kill day” UNQUOTE on social media.
Cobalt says the post, along with continued demonstrations and reports that the clinic has been watched outside business hours, has heightened fears among providers and patients.
The organization is calling on authorities to enforce state and federal laws that protect access to reproductive health care facilities, arguing that threats should be taken seriously before they lead to violence.
At the time of Cobalt’s statement, officials had not announced an investigation, and no public response from law enforcement had been released.
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