Wildfire Smoke & Heat Impacts: Smoke from major western wildfires is expected to drift into New England, with some Massachusetts areas seeing “moderate” air quality while others stay “good,” as evacuations continue across the U.S. and Canada. Utah Fire Response & Public Lands: In Emery County, the Public Lands Council focused on wildfire response and forest management, including updates on the Black Canyon Fire and concerns about misinformation around wildlife sightings tied to drought and heat. Record Heat Signals Climate Stress: NOAA reports July was the hottest month on record for the U.S. since 1895, with heat domes driving widespread temperature extremes and fueling fire conditions. Great Salt Lake Dust Monitoring: Utah is speeding up its Great Salt Lake dust tracking network, adding new monitoring stations to better measure what communities are breathing as the lake level drops again. Colorado River Fallout: Lake Mead hit a new historic low, underscoring how shrinking reservoirs are reshaping water reliability across the Southwest. Outdoor Planning Grants: Utah’s Division of Outdoor Recreation awarded $2.3M for 24 local recreation planning projects aimed at improving access and supporting sustainable outdoor economies. Air Quality Science in Utah: Researchers are studying ground-level ozone formation over Utah using instrumented aircraft, linking pollution chemistry to health and crop impacts.