A homeowner’s Ring camera caught a black bear on a Pepper Pike driveway early Sunday. Police urged neighbors to secure trash and give the animal space.

An individual was found dead on Kiener's Route on Longs Peak on July 5. Recovery involved park rangers and an interagency helitack crew; the case is under investigation.

Hanauma Bay will close Aug. 3 611, 2026 while the city replaces a 35yearold sewer system serving beach and parking facilities. A second brief shutdown is expected in early 2027.

Busch Gardens is building Lion & Hyena Ridge — a nearly 35,000‑sq‑ft Edge of Africa expansion that will house five brother lions and two hyenas with panoramic viewing. Construction is underway and the exhibit is due to open later in 2026.

Enchanted Rock’s new Backcountry Area opens on Tuesday with about 10.5 miles of rugged trail and limited facilities, after the park more than doubled in size.

A pod of at least six orcas cruised Elliott Bay Monday, drawing shore watchers to Alki Avenue and prompting reminders about viewing rules. Volunteers and researchers are collecting photos to help ID the group.

Zionsville opened the 215‑acre Carpenter Nature Preserve on the former Wolf Run golf course, adding trails, an amphitheater and new habitat‑restoration work along Eagle Creek. Funding blends state grants and private donations.

South Salt Lake's plan to fence land by Sugar House Park has Highland Park residents worried their backyard gardens and fruit trees could be bulldozed.

After 20 years of planning, New Braunfels opened the 150‑acre Zipp Family Sports Park on June 20. Phase 1 fields, reclaimed‑water irrigation and plans for more amenities are now online.

Janet Fash, New York City’s first female chief lifeguard, uses a new memoir to warn that uneven staffing and disputed interpretations of safety rules leave dangerous gaps on city beaches.

Stone Mountain Park closed its gates on July 4 after parking reached capacity during the Fantastic Fourth celebration, leaving late arrivals turned away.

Oviedo’s Lukas Nursery is expanding its Butterfly Encounter into a larger, climate‑controlled conservatory and adding a learning center as Slavia Road is widened.

Fremont police say the Alameda Creek staging areas at Niles Canyon are closed and will be patrolled this weekend; swimming is unsafe and trespassers may be cited.