Headlines Thursday, June 25, 2026
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Wildfires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope; Colorado will be highlighted at the Great American State fair on Thursday; Former NOAA staffers launch independent climate website to replace Climate.gov KGNU News
Wildfires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope
A fire has burned at least 315 acres on Colorado’s Western Slope. On Tuesday afternoon, crews responded to the Dry Creek fire near Rifle, about 25 miles west of Glenwood Springs. Winds caused the fire to spread rapidly east.
By yesterday afternoon, officials reported that they had contained the eastern perimeter of the fire and were working on digging lines and laying hoses along the western perimeter. Officials also said that current conditions are very dry and could easily spark a dangerous wildfire.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality warning yesterday morning for many Western Slope counties because of wildfire smoke.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Colorado’s forests, culture, and identity will be highlighted at the Great American State fair on Thursday
Colorado’s forests, culture and identity go on display in Washington, D.C., as the Great American State Fair opens Thursday on the National Mall.
The high-profile event is a centerpiece of the nation’s 250th celebration — and Colorado’s involvement has become a flashpoint in a broader debate over politics and patriotism.
At least seven other states — most led by Democrats — are declining to participate because of the cost and increasingly partisan nature of the celebration.
In a statement to Axios, Eric Maruyama, a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, did not address the political nature of the exhibition but confirmed Colorado’s participation.
Maruyama said “Our state looks forward to showcasing Colorado … with an engaging, interactive experience giving visitors a taste of Colorado’s outdoors.”
For the 250th anniversary time capsule, the Polis administration sent a commemorative coin, postcards and a gubernatorial proclamation that acknowledges the “conflict and growth” that came with settling on Indigenous peoples’ land and a mention of Polis’ campaign theme, “Colorado For All.”
Former NOAA staffers launch independent climate website to replace Climate.gov
Former NOAA staffers, that’s the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, have launched an independent climate website to replace Climate.gov after the Trump administration shuttered the federal site.
Climate.us keeps climate data and analysis publicly available as the administration makes cuts to staffing and funding that are reshaping federal science agencies.
The site launched Tuesday, re-creating much of the content and functionality previously available on Climate.gov. In a launch announcement, organizers said the site will operate as a nonpartisan source for climate change data and analysis.
Rebecca Lindsey is a former NOAA employee who was laid off last year. She’s the managing director of Climate.us. Lindsey said “Trusted climate information should not disappear when politics change.”
Climate.gov was effectively shuttered last June after the Commerce Department laid off hundreds of NOAA employees.
Federal judge rules against CO’s SNAP soda ban
Colorado’s push to prevent people from using food assistance benefits to buy soft drinks is likely over.
A federal judge ruled this week that the US Department of Agriculture does not have the authority to let states remove categories of food from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Colorado’s proposal would have barred SNAP recipients from using benefits to pay for most sodas and other sweetened drinks. Governor Polis says the state is reviewing the ruling to see whether it can continue pursuing the policy.
Denver City Council aides plan to unionize
The roughly 40 Denver City Council aides seeking to form a union are setting up an early test of the city’s voter-approved collective bargaining law.
Organizers say unionizing could help turn a high-turnover, low-paying job into a more sustainable career as Denver faces economic uncertainty.
In a statement to Axios, senior council aide and union organizer Megan Ives said the Legislative Workers of Denver seek protections that would improve retention and pay, roughly ranging from $60,000 to $80,000 annually.
Their goals include ending “at-will” employment — meaning they can be easily fired without warning — and establishing a more structured disciplinary and termination process.
Council aides are often a resident’s first point of contact with the city’s 13 council members, Ives said. Their duties include drafting policy, reviewing the city’s budget, helping people access city services and responding to the public’s questions.
A voter-approved law granting collective bargaining rights to most Denver employees took effect in January.
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