Wildfires swept a Utah mountain area known for rare plants, prompting Utah to prohibit fireworks statewide.
Forecasts predict extreme fire danger in the Four Corners region ahead.
Fire crews in several western states battled high winds and drought, slowing containment.
The Western States 100 ultramarathon began in California, signaling the start of a grueling race.
In western North Carolina, officials established cooling centers to help residents beat the heat.
Colorado’s Western Slope bank branches noted increased queues and additional phone traffic after moving customers to FirstBank accounts.
Western Midstream Partners started building a second produced‑water treatment plant in Texas.