Who Had the Worst Week

• A Chinese company accidentally launched its prototype rocket during what was supposed to be a ground test. A “structural failure” allowed the rocket to separate from its platform while its propulsion system was being tested. The rocket climbed into the air before it crashed into a mountain and exploded in flames.
• As the rest of the world tries to move to a four-day workweek, Greece is going the other direction. The country adopted a new employment law this week that lays out a six-day workweek.
• Applewood Heating, Plumbing and Electric is, ironically, in hot water over a $13,000 fee it charged to install a residential hot water heater. An inquiry from 9News‘ Steve Staeger managed to get the family’s money back.
• The latest Colorado UFO sighting was at Red Rocks, which shouldn’t be that big a surprise given it may have the highest concentration of edible use in the state.
• If you wanted something to distract you from COVID, good news! Colorado recorded this year’s first case of West Nile Virus. Concerningly, it has occurred earlier than usual following a record year for cases last year.
• JaMarcus Russell, the overall No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, was fired as a volunteer assistant coach at his former high school and is accused of stealing more than $50,000.
• The mother of Pat Tillman expressed “shock” that Prince Harry was selected to receive an ESPN award that carries her late son’s name. Tillman voluntarily retired from the NFL to join the U.S. Army and was later killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan. “I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” Tillman’s mother said. ESPN noted that Prince Harry has been a champion of the Invictus Games and was deployed to Afghanistan twice as a British Army officer.
• A former Boeing quality-control manager estimates that as many as 50,000 parts that evaded the company’s quality control process were used in planes.
• Hooters and NASCAR seem like a match made in redneck heaven, but the chicken wings chain’s financial problems are causing a rift in the relationship. Hendrick Motorsports had to drop the longtime sponsor after it couldn’t pay its sponsorship bill. Hooters recently closed more than 40 of its locations around the country.
• Department of Justice antitrust investigators are scrutinizing Denver-based Alterra Mountain Company’s proposed acquisition of Arapahoe Basin. A-Basin is one of the site’s last independent ski resorts.
• The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team never fails to disappoint. The latest was a 1-0 loss to Uruguay, which eliminated the Americans in the group stage of the COPA America tournament that is being hosted in the U.S.
• From the “Get Off My Lawn” department: The New York Post complains that Gen Z has destroyed the art of flirting.
• Inexplicably, Colorado Parks & Wildlife is the latest to jump on the “Hawk Tuah” meme, using the phrase in a social media post to promote fishing at Bald Eagle Pond.
• CDOT has issued $40 million in fines in just nine months for drivers who weave in and out of toll lanes. Hopefully that will at least pay for a lot of pot hole repairs.
• South Metro Fire Rescue said its crews responded to 45 fires between 6 p.m. and midnight on July 4.

Who won the week?

• Justyna Tomtas has joined the Denver Business Journal as its local government, land use and suburban development reporter.
• 9News sports reporter Arielle Orsuto announced she is leaving the station to join KING5, the Tegna affiliate in Seattle.
• Fox31 has added Alden German from WHAS-TV in Louisville, Ky., as a meteorologist.
• Dr. Gloria Beim of Crested Butte is headed to the Paris Olympics as Team USA’s lead physician.