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Motocross stars Jett Lawrence, Haiden Deegan win at 20th running of Thunder Valley National

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Motocross stars Jett Lawrence, Haiden Deegan win at 20th running of Thunder Valley National


LAKEWOOD — A pair of the sport’s preeminent stars lived up to their billing on Saturday at the 20th rendition of the Pro Motocross Championship’s Thunder Valley National.

Jett Lawrence won the 450 class by edging his brother, Hunter Lawrence. Hunter won the first moto while Jett took second, then the Australians flipped finishes in the second moto to give Jett the overall win.

And in the 250 class, rising star Haiden Deegan continued his early-season domination by claiming his third overall win in as many races. The 18-year-old phenom finished first in the opening moto and then second in the second moto to land atop the podium.

For Jett Lawrence, the defending 450 class series champion who won all 22 races in 2023, the victory at Thunder Valley was a bounce-back showing after crashing last week at Hangtown. That crash snapped his 24-race win streak and forced Jett to ride injured on Saturday as he was still dealing with a cut on his leg and a sore shoulder.

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“Going into the second moto, my legs were shot, so I had no legs at the start,” Jett Lawrence said. “I dug deep, and just told myself in my head, ‘Stay there, stay there.’ I was able to capitalize on a mistake by Hunter in one of the turns (late in the race).”

Professional motocross racers Jett Lawrence, left, and his brother, Hunter Lawrence check their starting gates before Moto #1, 450 class of the AMA Pro Motocross Thunder Valley National at Thunder Valley Park in Morrison, Colorado Saturday, June 08, 2024. Hunter Lawrence won Moto #1, Jett took Moto #2 and the Thunder Valley National overall. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Justin Cooper earned the holeshot in both 450 motos and led for much of those races before fading, finishing third in both and third overall.

In Deegan’s overall win in the 250 class, he passed Frenchman Tom Vialle with a lap to go in the first moto, then held on. In the second moto, Deegan took second to Chance Hymas while Vialle was fourth.

Deegan remains atop the 250 championship standings with a 23-point lead over Hymas, while Hunter Lawrence is first in the 450 championship standings. The older Lawrence brother (who won the 250 class circuit title last year) has 129 points, with Chase Sexton second at 123 points and Jett Lawrence third at 113 points.

The Pro Motocross Championship’s fourth 2024 stop is next Saturday at High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Penn.

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Local racer’s higher calling. While no Colorado rider qualified for the 250 or 450 motos, Elizabeth resident Brett Stralo was one local who competed in the 250 consolation race.

Stralo placed 18th, but for the U.S. Army veteran, his motivation for being at the track was about more than results.

The 36-year-old races for the Veteran Motocross Foundation, an organization that uses motocross to empower veterans. Stralo — whose service included two combat tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter mechanic — also started Warrior MX, which pays for veterans to come out and be part of his team on race day as a “mental health solution for combat vets.”

“My goal at this age is to make the fast 40, and to make the main (race),” Stralo said. “But every time I show up here and am able to get those (veterans) those wristbands and give them this experience, and introduce them to this community, it’s a win.”

Stralo says “throttle therapy” helped him re-adjust to civilian life, and that his ultimate goal is to help prevent veteran suicides. Saturday marked his sixth time competing as a pro at the Thunder Valley National.

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“When I got on a dirt bike, I found myself realizing that everything kind of disappeared,” Stralo said. “I started releasing endorphins, started be able to smile again, started feeling good. I started sleeping again.

“… There’s no noise other than the motor so you’re able to focus on what’s right in front of you. That’s all that matters in those moments. It’s like white noise, everything dissipates and you get a great mental clarity. This sport has been incredibly therapeutic for everything I had been through in nine years of military service, and I wanted to do something with it for other veterans.”

Colorado’s most notable pro racer, Eli Tomac, did not compete Saturday due to a thumb injury. The Cortez native won the 450 class circuit championship 2017-19 and 2022, and also won the circuit’s 250 class title in 2013.

Haiden Deegan (38) pumps his fist as he crosses the finish line during the second 250 Moto at AMA Pro Motocross Thunder Valley National at Thunder Valley Park in Lakewood, Colorado on June 8, 2024. Deegan finished second in the second Moto and first overall on the day. (Photo by Zachary Spindler-Krage/The Denver Post)
Haiden Deegan (38) pumps his fist as he crosses the finish line during the second 250 Moto at AMA Pro Motocross Thunder Valley National at Thunder Valley Park in Lakewood, Colorado on June 8, 2024. Deegan finished second in the second Moto and first overall on the day. (Photo by Zachary Spindler-Krage/The Denver Post)

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Denver, CO

Proposed September 2026 Service Changes

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Proposed September 2026 Service Changes


RTD’s Proposed September Service Changes are designed to further enhance and strengthen RTD’s transit network by refining service, improving reliability, and better aligning resources with customer needs.

As part of the September 2026 Service Change, RTD is advancing a coordinated set of transit service enhancements designed to strengthen reliability, restore key frequencies, and improve access to major destinations across the system. These proposed changes reflect observed utilization trends, operational performance, and lessons learned during recent reconstruction activities, while maintaining flexibility for future evaluation and adjustment. Several of the recommended enhancements are supported by Clean Transit Enterprise (CTE) grant funding and are intended to restore and expand service consistent with the System Optimization Plan (SOP), noting that final CTE allocations are still in development. 

You can view all the proposed changes below and learn more by watching our presentation in English or Spanish.

Customer feedback on the Proposed September Service Changes will be collected through July 8. We invite you to virtually attend our public meetings and Ask a Service Planner sessions, or share your feedback through the online survey. Customer feedback is important to RTD, and we thank you for participating however you can!

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Public Meetings

Interpretation is available at no cost. Call 303.299.2051 or email [email protected] at least 5 business days before the meeting and tell us the meeting name, date, and the language(s) you need.

Ask a Service Planner 1: Monday, June 22 at noon

Public Meeting 1: Monday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Ask a Service Planner 2: Tuesday, June 23 at noon

Public Meeting 2: Wednesday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m.

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Proposed September 2026 Service Changes

In addition to the routes listed below, the following routes also have proposed changes:

23 – West 20th Avenue

Route Adjustment, Schedule Timing

Proposed Change

It is proposed to split the existing Route 20 into Route 20 and Route 23, with Route 23 serving the western portion of Route 20 along 20th Ave., terminating at Union Station on the eastern end.

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Reason

Maintains connectivity between Lakewood and Edgewater to downtown Denver.

Updated Map

Survey Link

AL – Denver International Airport to Longmont

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Service Increase

Proposed Change

New route would provide hourly service from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with service operating from 8th Ave. and Coffman St. to US 287 with a stop at Niwot Park-n-Ride and into Lafayette Park-n-Ride to E-470 to Denver International Airport (DEN).

Reason

Requested by policymakers, stakeholders and customers, service will provide connections from Longmont to Denver Airport via the Lafayette Park-n-Ride

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Updated Map

Survey Link

BMFX – Broomfield FlexRide

Service Increase

Proposed Change

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Extend weekday service to 9 p.m., with an extra vehicle added during a.m. and p.m. peaks. Add a second vehicle during Saturday peak hours; and implement Sunday service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Reason

The City and County of Broomfield requested additional service, which can be supported through available grant funding.

Survey Link

WGFX – Wagon Road FlexRide

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Service Reduction

Proposed Change

Discontinue service.

Reason

Low utilization, with service averaging 1 boarding per hour at a cost of $158.33 per boarding.

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Survey Link

Dashboard: Routes and Lines

A

Union Station – Denver Airport

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Service Reduction

C

Littleton•Mineral – Union Station

  1. Service Increase

D

18th•California – Littleton•Mineral Station

  1. Service Reduction

L

30th•Downing – 16th•Stout

  1. Route Adjustment

T

Lincoln Station – I-25•Broadway Station

  1. Schedule Timing

W

Union Station – JeffCo Gov’t Center•Golden Station

  1. Schedule Timing

1

West 1st Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing

9

West 10th Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Route Adjustment

10

East 12th Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Route Adjustment

11

Mississippi Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment

14

West Florida Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing

15

East Colfax Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Route Adjustment

15L

East Colfax Limited

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Route Adjustment

20

20th Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment
  3. Route Adjustment

24

University Blvd

  1. Seasonal Adjustment

32

West 32nd Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Route Adjustment

35

Hampden Avenue

  1. Service Increase
  2. Seasonal Adjustment

37

Smith Road Industrial

  1. Schedule Timing

42

Montbello via Albrook / Green Valley Ranch

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment

45

Montbello / Green Valley Ranch

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment

51

Sheridan Blvd

  1. Service Increase
  2. Seasonal Adjustment

52

West 52nd Avenue / South Bannock

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Route Adjustment

53

North Sheridan Blvd / Broomfield

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Route Adjustment

59

West Bowles

  1. Route Adjustment

65

Monaco Parkway

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment

72

72nd Avenue

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Service Increase
  3. Route Adjustment

73

Quebec Street

  1. Seasonal Adjustment
  2. Route Adjustment

83L

Cherry Creek / Parker Road Limited

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Route Adjustment

105

Havana Street

  1. Schedule Timing

153

Chambers Road

  1. Schedule Timing

204

Table Mesa / Moorhead / North 19th

  1. Schedule Timing

206

Conestoga / Arapahoe / Fairview High School

  1. Schedule Timing

225

Boulder / Lafayette via Baseline

  1. Seasonal Adjustment
  2. Route Adjustment

228

Lafayette / Louisville / Broomfield

  1. Service Reduction

323

Skyline Crosstown

  1. Schedule Timing

AB1

Airport to Boulder

  1. Schedule Timing

AB2

Airport to Boulder

  1. Schedule Timing

ART

Art District Connector

  1. Route Adjustment

DASH

Boulder / Lafayette via Louisville

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment
  3. Route Adjustment

FREERIDE

16th Street FreeRide

  1. Schedule Timing

JUMP

Boulder / Lafayette / Erie via Arapahoe

  1. Route Adjustment

LD

Longmont / Denver

  1. Schedule Timing

LX2

Longmont / Denver Express

  1. Schedule Timing

NB1

Boulder / Nederland / Eldora

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment
  3. Route Adjustment

NB2

Boulder / Nederland / Eldora

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment
  3. Route Adjustment

SKIP

Broadway (Boulder)

  1. Schedule Timing
  2. Seasonal Adjustment

ILFX

Interlocken / Westmoor FlexRide

  1. Service Increase



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Denver, CO

Fire destroys home under construction in northwest Denver

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Fire destroys home under construction in northwest Denver


DENVER (KDVR) — An early morning fire on Friday left a home completely ablaze in the Highlands neighborhood, just a week after another house under construction went up in flames in the same area.

The Denver Fire Department shared photos of the incident, as crews were called to 3643 Mariposa, where images show a fully consumed home under construction.

“I think they [firefighters] kicked in the neighbor’s door just to make sure nobody was at home,” neighbors Lucy and Kyle said. “Some of the other houses, their windows got blown out from the heat!”

Just 11 days earlier, on June 8, a home under construction caught fire in the same neighborhood near West 33rd and Navajo. Nobody was hurt in either fire.

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And just about two years earlier, in July, another fire in the same area ignited around West 36th and Osage. All of the properties are/were under development by the same group.

“I wasn’t present for any of the fires,” Ryan Yoffe, a member of the developer group, said.

Yoffe does say he thinks he knows how the last two fires had been set, saying it’s the City of Denver that needs to do better with surveillance.

“It’s likely related to the amount of homelessness in the area, looking for properties under construction to live in or burn down,” Yoffe said. “The City and the Police Department need to do a better job patrolling to limit the number of homeless people camping in the neighborhood.”

Denver Fire Department officials say the most recent incidents are under investigation, but that nobody was hurt in either.

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Denver, CO

Rockies ride Kyle Freeland’s gem, Braxton Fulford’s double to 4-3 win over Pirates

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Rockies ride Kyle Freeland’s gem, Braxton Fulford’s double to 4-3 win over Pirates


The night belonged to Kyle Freeland, who joined the 1,000 K Club. The moment belonged to Braxton Fulford. The ninth inning — and a big sigh of relief — belonged to closer Antonio Senzatela.

Fulford hit a two-run, two-out, pinch-hit double in the eighth inning off Mason Montgomery to lead the Rockies to a 4-3 win over the Pirates at Coors Field in front of a Friday night crowd of 33,596.

Fulford drove in Tyler Freeman and Cole Carrigg, who scratched out back-to-back two-out singles off Montgomery.

“I had been warming up in the cage for that at-bat for a couple of innings, so I felt pretty prepared,” Fulford said. “I got an advantage count (3-1) and I knew he was going to come with the heater and I was all over it.”

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Fulford caught Montgomery for three seasons at Texas Tech, so he knew the left-hander’s tendencies.

“It’s kind of unfortunate for pitchers that you catch, because you kind of get to see their stuff,” Fulford said. “You kind of understand more of who they are. So I do feel like I had the advantage there.”

In the ninth, the Pirates loaded the bases against Senzatela with no outs on a single by Marcell Ozuna and an error on a groundball by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. But Senzatela struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Callihan and induced Jared Triolo to ground to Tovar, who started the game-ending double play.

“It was kind of a crazy ending to the game — bases loaded and no outs,” Freeland said. ” ‘Senza’ got a big punchout in that situation, picks up Tovar. Then Tovar gets another opportunity to turn a double play, and he gets it done.”

Before all of the late-game drama, Freeland pitched his best game of the season: 7 1/3 innings, two runs allowed on four hits, no walks, and eight strikeouts. It marked the fourth time in his career that he pitched 7 1/3 or more innings.

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“Tonight, I thought he was absolutely exceptional,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “I thought his body language was impressive. He attacked the strike zone — relentlessly. His heater had good ‘vert’ tonight. The breaker was good. It seemed like he was in control all night.”

“Gritty” is the word often used to describe Freeland. Dominant was a more apt description on Friday night. History-making works, too. Freeland’s eight Ks gave him 1,001 for his career, joining right-hander German Marquez (1,069) as the only two pitchers in franchise history to eclipse 1,000. Freeland struck out Marcell Ozuna in the seventh for No. 1,000, and then promptly fanned Brandon Lowe for 1,001.

The hard-core Rockies fans behind the dugout gave Freeland a standing ovation.

“I’m very grateful for the fans always supporting me, and for making it this long in my career to reach some of these milestones, especially with one ballclub,”  said Freeland, who struck out eight and walked none for the second time in his career. “I definitely hear those fans when I pop out of the dugout after every inning.”

The 33-year-old Denver native blanked the Pirates for the first seven innings, giving up just two hits. Pittsburgh finally got to Freeland in the eighth, putting up back-to-back doubles by Esmerlyn Valdez and Triolo to cut Colorado’s lead to 2-1. Up to that point, it looked as if Freeland had the juice to throw a complete game, especially since he threw just 81 pitches.

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