Good morning, Grand Junction.

The free Next Steps Neurodiversity Expo returns to the Grand Junction Convention Center on Saturday, Aug.

15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring over 40 exhibitor booths and expert presentations in English & Spanish. Attendees will find a sensory-friendly space with resources for all ages.

Keith Curtis, owner of Pipestone RV Park, and his partners are offering free RV spots near Pipestone for Polaris wildfire victims; the space is available now to help those affected by the fires.

The Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families is asking residents to nominate local childcare champions until Friday, Aug.

14, as it prepares to honor winners at its inaugural gala, Once Upon a Village, on Sept. 26 at Clifton Community Center, 3270 D½ Road + seeking new sponsor partnerships.

Triple Play Records in Grand Junction is marking National Vinyl Record Day to honor Edison’s 1877 phonograph invention; the shop offers a wide range of new and used vinyl, CDs, and cassettes plus a growing Colorado artist section.

Local researchers at Rocky Mountain Biological Lab are hosting Fat Marmot Week to raise funds and awareness for yellow-bellied marmots, with voting opening Aug.

24 and an OnlyMarms account already gathering over 2,100 followers; the event showcases an innovative approach to wildlife study.

Crews from Western Colorado Conservation Corps are removing invasive plants at Dos Rios Park this week to cut wildfire fuel and start restoring native vegetation (helping to improve river habitat).

The work is led by RiversEdge West in partnership with the city, with further removal scheduled Sept. 8-11 on the Colorado River.

Extreme drought conditions have reduced natural bear food sources and driven more bears into neighborhoods — reports increased from 28 last year to 257 this year, wildlife officials said.

Residents are advised to secure trash, pet food and other attractants as bear activity is expected to rise through fall.

A new Colorado law stops producers from labeling produce as Colorado-grown unless it is truly grown in the state.

The law took effect Wednesday & it bans the unauthorized use of the Colorado Proud logo to protect local growers like Palisade peach farmers while boosting shopper confidence.

The Bureau of Land Management opened a 30-day public comment period on Wednesday, Aug.

12 for a proposed December lease sale covering 113 oil-and-gas parcels on the Roan Plateau; comments are due by Sept. 11 to help shape the environmental review process.