Serving the Longmont & Firestone Corridor
Longmont · Firestone · Colorado Front Range
Saturday, July 11, 2026 | Edition No. 025
Longmont's Art in the Parks event takes place Saturday, showcasing local artists and craftspeople in city parks. Also This Weekend: Teen activities at Longmont Public Library. Community events throughout Carbon Valley.
Weekly Cone Zones (July 11-17): Pace Street temporary driveway closures at access points. Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays; possible weekend work. Notification: Property owners notified prior to closures. Projects: Multiple street maintenance and infrastructure improvements ongoing throughout Longmont.
Phase 2 of Firestone's 2026 Street Maintenance Project continues this weekend, with crews completing chip sealing on remaining streets. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Completion: Expected by end of July. Residents should continue to observe temporary parking restrictions on affected streets.
The Frederick-Firestone Fire District continues work on the Flight 629 Memorial at Station No. 6 in Firestone, commemorating the 1955 United Airlines bombing victims. Dedication: Scheduled for July 29, 2026.
Firefighters made significant progress overnight as the Aspen Acres Fire reached 34% containment Saturday morning, up from 28% Friday. Updated Statistics (July 11, 2026): Size: 97,505 acres (152 square miles). Containment: 34% (steady improvement). Personnel: ~2,000 firefighters assigned. Structures Destroyed: 851 total, including 337 homes. Ranking: Now the fifth-most destructive fire in Colorado history by homes lost. More Evacuees Returning Home: Additional areas downgraded from evacuation to pre-evacuation status. Colorado City residents west of I-25 allowed to return. Curfew remains in effect for some evacuated areas. Weather Working in Favor: Continued moisture and higher humidity helping containment efforts. Fire growth has slowed significantly. Damage Assessment: The scope of devastation became clearer Friday with updated structure counts. Pueblo County Sheriff's Office confirmed 185 homes and 4 commercial buildings destroyed in Pueblo County alone, with additional losses in Custer County. "We're turning the corner," said fire officials. "Containment is holding and we're getting more people home."
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Saturday, stating the U.S. is "locked and loaded" if Iran attempts to assassinate him. Context: U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies have tracked evidence for years of Iranian efforts to target President Trump, with signals increasing since the start of the war. Trump's Statement: The president said missiles are aimed at Iran if Tehran targets him personally, escalating rhetoric amid already tense relations. Strait of Hormuz Status: Iran claimed Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed after firing at another ship, though U.S. officials dispute this. The critical shipping lane remains a flashpoint. Ongoing Tensions: Despite Trump's "ceasefire is over" declaration Friday, both sides continue negotiating behind the scenes while maintaining military pressure.