AI is watching for wildfires

Good morning, Sunriser readers. Thanks for sticking with us as wildfires roar up and down the Front Range. Last night’s low winds and higher humidity helped crews gain some containment on the Alexander Mountain fire and the Stone Canyon fire, while overnight crews on the Quarry fire successfully kept flames away from the very close neighborhoods (as close as a quarter-mile in some spots) for a third night in a row. You can find all of today’s updates here.

Nearby in Boulder, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is using a new AI tool to help firefighters identify possible hotspots faster than ever before. Michael Booth spoke with the scientists to learn more about how the new tool can help us keep a closer eye on potential fires.

All that and more, below.

Parker Yamasaki

Reporter

THE NEWS

WILDFIRE

AI’s new eyes in the sky helping Colorado get a jump as wildfires spark every few hours

Step aside, Smokey Bear. A new and timely artificial intelligence tool is being deployed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help spot and prevent potential forest fires. The tool scans NOAA’s satellite images — taken every 30 seconds — and flags contrasts in temperature. Those hotspots get passed to the experts at NOAA, who determine whether to loop in local firefighters. Michael Booth has more.

READ MORE

• Live updates: Firefighters work to gain upper hand on fires burning along the Front Range. Crews on the Alexander Mountain and Stone Canyon fires got a jump in containment last night, while the Quarry fire — which is under an active investigation for arson — remains 0% contained. Olivia Prentzel and David Krause will keep you updated.
• More than 20 structures burned, damaged in Alexander Mountain fire, sheriff confirms. The buildings along Palisade Mountain Drive and Snow Top Drive are believed to be a mix of homes and outhouses. The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office asks that people who live along those streets call 970-980-2800. David Krause has details.

ELECTION 2024

Republican campaigns say Colorado GOP turmoil means they are going it alone heading into November

State parties play an important role on the campaign trail, helping to organize volunteers, steer candidates to potential donors and amplify candidates’ messaging. But this year, many Republicans running tight races either don’t want the Colorado GOP’s help because of recent controversies, or haven’t received any offers. Jesse Paul digs into the support deficit.

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OUTDOORS

Mountain lion hunting ban heads to Colorado voters in November

The last time Colorado voters were asked to make a decision on wildlife management, they directed the state to reintroduce wolves. In November, voters will get a chance to weigh in on even more apex predators. Proposition 91, confirmed for the ballot Wednesday, asks voters to decide if the state should ban the trophy hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx. Jason Blevins reports.

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• The Outsider ☀️ Mountain towns weigh Colorado’s first tax on empty homes. There are more than 200,000 unoccupied homes in Colorado according to a 2022 count, many of them located in communities grappling with affordable housing crises and workforce shortages. Jason Blevins has more on ski towns’ creative legislative solutions.

MORE NEWS

• Fact Brief ☀️ Were migrant gangs responsible for a large protest in Aurora? Thousands of Venezuelans assembled Sunday to watch election results roll in from their home country. Gunfire erupted after Nicolás Maduro, whose economic policies and authoritarian control forced many Venezuelans to flee, was named the victor. Justin George looks into a claim that gangs organized the raucous gathering. 

Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be on Colorado’s presidential ballot, but Libertarian dispute continues. The third-party lightning rod has qualified for the state’s presidential ballot as an unaffiliated candidate, election officials said Thursday, while a separate attempt by the state Libertarian Party to designate Kennedy on their party’s ballot is at odds with the national party.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Airbnb service fees are taxable in Boulder, judge rules. “Airbnb’s guest fee is a part of the price paid for the leasing or rental of any dwelling unit,” District Judge Keith Collins decided. “(It) is accordingly subject to the tax.”
  — BusinessDen
• Proposed ballot measure would create a position to ease pet care shortages and costs. Here’s why some veterinarian groups oppose it.
  — CPR News
• Colorado track and field athletes ready for Olympic competitions. A handful of track athletes either from or residing in Colorado prepare for their time to shine.
  — 9News

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• Philip Morris International is coming to Colorado. Let’s not rejoice. Tobacco company’s new facility in Aurora will bring in jobs and tax revenue, but at what cost to Colorado’s health?
  — Jon Samet M.D., a faculty member of the Colorado School of Public Health

CARTOONS

Channeling Smokey Robinson (though Smokey the Bear might share the sentiment), Drew Litton laments Colorado’s constant wildfire threat.

CARTOON

In “What’d I Miss?” Ossie explains to Myra that every time he hears of another incident like the recent police shooting of an innocent Black woman in Illinois, part of him dies, too.

CARTOON

Jim Morrissey notes that Colorado has been through a lot in its nearly a century and a half of statehood. Does that mean we’re over the hill — or over the 14er?

CARTOON

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy and submit columns, suggest writers or provide feedback at opinion@coloradosun.com.

Podcast Playlist

CONVERSATION

Each weekday The Daily Sun-Up podcast brings you a bit of Colorado history, headlines and a thoughtful conversation. We keep it tight so you can quickly listen, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. You can download the Sun-Up for free in your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or RSS to plug into your app. This week we help you protect yourself from bad air and look into the mounting troubles with the public pension plan.

• How to protect yourself from awful smoke and ozone. With wildfire smoke filling the Front Range in addition to the typical summer ozone issues, reporters Michael Booth and John Ingold have tips on what you can do to protect yourself in the coming weeks.
  LISTEN
• Idaho Springs gondola project gets new life. Outdoors reporter Jason Blevins talks about the revival of a major plan delayed by an alleged fraud scheme that took millions of dollars from investors, who have stuck with the project.
  LISTEN
• Alarming info sparks questions about PERA’s future. New reports show Colorado’s public pension system may be in more financial trouble than was previously known. Politics reporters Brian Eason and Jesse Paul talk about what’s causing the anxiety.
  LISTEN
• Behind the scenes of the Colorado Book Awards. Sun writer and SunLit editor Kevin Simpson chats with the organizer of the Colorado Book Awards, which each year recognizes the best works in a variety of categories.
  LISTEN
• Who gets paid the most, and the least, in Colorado? Each year the state puts out a list of who gets paid how much. Business reporter Tamara Chuang looks at this year’s rankings and why fast-food workers remain at the bottom despite the biggest pay increase.
  LISTEN

🗣️ Remember, you can ask Siri, Alexa or Google to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll play right on your smart speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

Section by David Krause | Editor

Enjoy your weekend! And please, please don’t be these guys.

— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun

The Colorado Sun is part of The Trust Project. Read our policies.

Corrections & Clarifications

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