KSPK NEWS
August 5th 2026
Initiative 195 backers delivered petition signatures to CO SOS Monday.
Volunteers and coalition members from the bell policy center on Monday delivered
157,000 petition signatures to Colorado's Secretary of State's Office in the hopes of
placing a graduated tax proposal on the November ballot. The proposal would amend
The Colorado Constitution to change Colorado's flat rate into a graduated income tax.
Backers say the graduated tax would marginally decrease the tax liability for the lower
ends of the new tax bracket, while raising taxes for others. If the proposal makes it to the
ballot and is approved by voters, it is expected to generate $2 billion more in tax revenue
for the state. What's being called Initiative 195 would set up a six-tier structure for state
income taxes. Those earning between $100,000 and $500,000 annually would see no
increase in their taxes. Those making under $100,000 annually would see a small
decrease. Those making over $500,000 annually would see an increase, with a tax rate as
high as 8.4% for those making over $1 million per year.
Monte Vista man arrested in connection with Friday shooting.
Kyle Slingerland, 42, of Monte Vista, has been arrested in connection to a shooting that
left a man in critical condition on Friday. According to The Monte Vista Police
Department, officers were called to the area of 6th Avenue and Washington Street around
10:19am Friday on the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers and Rio Grande
County Sheriff's deputies secured the scene, rendered aid to the victim and detained
several individuals. The victim, a 32-year-old male, suffered a gunshot wound. He was
taken to a local hospital before being airlifted out of the valley. He remains in critical
condition. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has been called in to assist in the
investigation.
Beulah men arrested for obstructing firefighting efforts during Aspen Acres Fire.
Teddy Thurman, 69, and Michael Anderson, 60, both of Beulah, were each arrested in
separate incidents for allegedly obstructing firefighting efforts during The Aspen Acres
Fire. According to fire officials, Thurman was arrested on July 2nd on suspicion of
obstructing a firefighter. Thurman did not evacuate and was reportedly driving around
town. He was told he needed to remain on his property and to stay clear of emergency
crews, however, refused to stay at his home and was arrested. Anderson was arrested on
July 3rd on suspicion of obstruction of government operations. Anderson had previously
been warned not to be on the roads after he was seen recording and livestreaming homes
and properties in the mandatory evacuation area. When he returned to the area on July
3rd, he was arrested. Both arrests were made during ongoing firefighting operations for
The Aspen Acres Fire.
CDOT announced completion of various projects in El Paso County.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has announced the completion of the
military access, mobility and safety improvement project in El Paso County. The five-
year project, costing around $161 million, was designed to improve safety, efficiency and
military connectivity across four corridors in The El Paso County Region. Those
corridors were I-25, CO-94, South Academy Boulevard and Charter Oak Ranch Road.
Together, the four form the transportation links connecting Fort Carson, Peterson Space
Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and Schriever Space Force Base.
CPW offering free admission for Military Members to all State Parks this August.
To thank U.S. Military Members for their dedicated service and sacrifices, Colorado
Parks and Wildlife is continuing to offer free admission to all Colorado State Parks for
active-duty military, veterans and national guard members during the month of August.
Qualifying military members can pick up their free military parks pass, valid for the
month of August, at any Colorado State Park or CPW office by simply showing proof of
their military service.
August 4th 2026
CO AG Weiser announces settlement with Sandoz, Inc reached.
Attorney General Phil Weiser announced yesterday that Colorado and 43 other states and
territories have reached a $400 million settlement with Sandoz, inc., to resolve
allegations that the generic drug manufacturer inflated and manipulated drug prices.
Sandoz was allegedly engaging in "widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially
inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade related
to numerous generic prescription drugs, according to Weiser's office. If approved by the
court, Sandoz will pay a total of almost $469 million to settle the claims brought by the
states, including amounts paid pursuant to previous settlements with other states. Sandoz
has also agreed to "meaningful reforms" to ensure fair competition and compliance with
antitrust laws, as part of the settlement.
CPW Officers recover body of missing man at MLR in Las Animas County yesterday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers have recovered the body of a missing man at
Monument Lake Resort in Las Animas County. According to CPW, the man went
missing after an incident involving a single boat yesterday morning. A child and two
adults were taken to the hospital following the incident. CPW says that officers received
a report of an incident that involved a pontoon boat with four boaters around 10:15am.
Officers at Trinidad Lake State Park, CPW and The Las Animas County Sheriff's Office
responded to assist. Sonar and an underwater vehicle were used during the search for the
man, whose body was recovered around 5:15pm yesterday. The water was 17 feet deep
and 68 degrees where the victim was found, according to CPW. The victim has not been
identified. The incident remains under investigation.
Raton Domestic Violence call ends in Police involved shooting Saturday.
Raton Police officers shot and killed a 68-year-old man on Saturday after police said he
fired multiple rounds at them during a domestic violence call. According to New Mexico
State Police, Raton Police officers were dispatched to 400 3rd street in Raton following a
report of domestic violence. Officers were reportedly interviewing a woman, when 68-
year-old Paul Andrew Terry came out of the home, fired multiple rounds at officers, then
went back inside. Raton Police called in state police and both agencies set up a perimeter
around the home. Officers attempted to talk with Terry, but he stopped communicating
and instead kept firing multiple rounds at officers from inside and outside the home.
Officers returned fire and hit Terry at least once. Terry died at the Raton Hospital.
NMSP is handling the investigation into the incident.
Crews continue work on the Aspen Acres Fire.
The Aspen Acres Fire remains at 101,961 acres with 67% containment as of last night.
Fire managers said yesterday that the hot dry weather has caused an uptick in fire
behavior and an increase in smoke created by what is still burning. The west and
southwest sides of the fire continue to be the main focus for fire crews. Crews are
successfully maintaining containment lines and are patrolling to monitor fire activity and
established lines remains ongoing.
Fires in Western USA contributing to smoky skies in Colorado.
The smoke you've been noticing in the skies of Southern Colorado the past few days isn't
a strange, atmospheric condition that looks like haze as some have reported. No, instead,
it's smoke. And, that smoke is coming from wildfires in Eastern Oregon, Western Idaho,
Washington and Utah, and has been making its way into Colorado thanks to a northerly
wind. The largest of these fires is the widemouth 2 fire, which is burning near Fillmore,
about 2 hours southwest of Salt Lake City in Utah. Expect to see periods of moderate to
heavy smoke in the Colorado skies for the next several days.
August 3rd 2026
CO Rep Gov Candidate Marx announces LG nominee pick.
Colorado Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Victor Marx on Friday announced that he
has called upon retired United States Marine Corps Colonel George Markert to serve as
his lieutenant governor of colorado if Marx is elected. Marx says he chose Markert for
his leadership background and ability to take on ambitious goals and execute them. Marx
said he wanted someone who knows how to build teams, manage complex organization,
make difficult decisions and remain accountable for the outcome. Markert served with
The U.S. Marine Corps for nearly 30 years and retired at the rank of colonel. Markert
said he is honored to join this campaign and help build an administration prepared to
serve every part of our state.
New Huerfano County fire quickly contained yesterday afternoon.
A new fire sparked to life in Huerfano County yesterday afternoon. According to The
Custer County Sheriff's Office, they were watching a fire that began around 3:30pm
yesterday. The fire is believed to have been located on wolf springs ranch in north
western Huerfano County, about five miles south of The Custer County line and to the
west of Colorado 69. The area was inaccessible to vehicles. A volunteer firefighter
reportedly hiked up to the fire along with 12 U.S. Forest Service hot shots to put the fire
out. A helicopter also assisted in making water drops on the fire. The fire was about a
quarter-acre in size and was knocked down due to the quick response.
Trinidad man facing charges after deadly shooting Friday.
Atilano Diaz, 21, of Trinidad, is facing murder charges following a fight that ended in a
deadly shooting. According to Trinidad Police, officers were called to the 600 block of
South Indiana Avenue on the east side of Trinidad just after midnight on Friday on the
report of three people fighting. When officers arrived, they found a man who was
suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim died at the scene
just over an hour later. The victim has been identified as 29-year-old Dominic Garcia.
Atilano Diaz has been arrested on second-degree murder charges and prohibited use of a
weapon. It is not known if the suspect and victim knew each other or what led to the
fight. The incident is being investigated by The Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Crews continue work on the Aspen Acres Fire.
The Aspen Acres fire remains at 101,961 acres and is 67% contained. Fire officials say
that fire activity has continued to moderate due to recent rains across the fire area. The
moisture has helped limit the fire spread and has allowed firefighters to focus on securing
existing control lines and initiate repair operations. Near Rye and San Isabel, firefighters
are mopping up and securing fireline, which involves extinguishing lingering heat to
ensure the fire does not cross the line. The greenhorn mountain wilderness has reopened
and The San Isabel National Forest Closure area has been reduced. Colorado 165 is
expected to remain closed for now.
CPW announces emergency fish salvage in Huerfano County.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced Friday that crews will conduct an emergency
fish salvage at Daigre Reservoir in Huerfano County due to extreme drought. CPW says
that Daigre Reservoir needs to be drawn down to supply water to residents of
Walsenburg. Daigre Reservoir is a popular location to fish for tiger muskie, bass, trout
and bluegill. The primary water source for Walsenburg, Wahatoya Reservoir, has
already been drained due to the drought. CPW says the fish salvaged from Daigre are
expected to be stocked in Martin Reservoir and Horseshoe Lake at Lathrop State Park.
July 31st 2026
Significant flood damage took place in Custer County Wednesday night.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office reported yesterday that the Rye Fire Chief reported
significant flood damage to three homes along Custer County Road 378, across Highway
165 from The San Isabel Lodge Late Wednesday night due to the heavy rainfall taking
place. As such, The Custer County Sheriff issued a mandatory evacuation for people
living along Custer County Road 378, also known as Spruce Lane, yesterday afternoon.
They have declared that the area is "unsafe following [Wednesday] night's flood. The
Pueblo County Sheriff's Office confirmed that at least 8 homes were damaged by flash
flooding that took place Wednesday in Beulah. While cleanup continues, the sheriff's
office says the majority of the mud and debris has been cleared from the roads, and there
are no road closures in the area at this time.
Huerfano County Jail future discussed in HC executive session Tuesday.
Huerfano County Commissioners and Administration, The Sheriff's Office, and
Representatives from insurance underwriters, met in executive session on Tuesday to
discuss county liability and The Huerfano County Jail Operations. Insurance
underwriters are urging the county to close the jail following the settlement in June
concerning the death of Michael Burch in March of 2023. Burch's death was blamed on
negligent detention officers. The settlement, which amounted to over $9 million, was
split up as follows: $714,198.11 from the county, $4 million from lexington insurance
company, and almost $4.5 million from allied world assurance. Detainees have been held
outside the jail since the Walsenburg Water line break in March, however, that has led to
new and higher detainee costs, including for transportation. No decision was to be made
and no votes taken following Tuesdays executive session.
Custer County PHA announced bat tested positive for rabies in the county yesterday.
The Custer County Public Health Agency announced yesterday that health officials found
a bat near valley view road that tested positive for rabies yesterday afternoon. The
agency is asking the community to avoid contact with all wild and stray animals,
including bats, during this time. Rabies commonly spreads through contact with an
infected animal's saliva as a result of bites or exposure to cuts. In some instances, people
may not realize they were bitten and may not see the wound. If you find a dead bat or
one that is behaving strangely, contact The Custer County Public Health Agency.
Xcel Energy announces transmission line rebuild currently on track.
Xcel Energy says that the 33-mile Alamosa to Sargent transmission line rebuild project is
currently on track. Phase one to rebuild the 69-kilovolt transmission line between the
Sargent and Rio Grande substation is now complete. Phase two, between the Alamosa
Terminal and Homelake Substation, is expected to be completed this fall. Phase three is
planned for next year. The project is focused on replacing the existing wooden structures
with single pole steel structures. The original transmission lines were built in the 1950s,
have reached the end of their life and must be replaced, according to Xcel.
CDOT has now begun issuing fines in Pueblo Construction zone.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has now begun issuing fines to drivers who
speed through the Interstate 25 and U.S. 50 B construction zone in Pueblo, via its
automated speed enforcement program. The speed cameras were installed at the end of
June and have been issuing warnings to drivers caught speeding. More than 11,000
warnings were issued during the grace period. Now, drivers going 10 miles per hour or
more above the posted speed limit will receive a $75 citation in the mail. CDOT says
that excessive speeding is already down by almost 70% in the construction zone.
July 30th 2026
CO Rep Gov Candidate Marx announces he will only participate in one debate.
Colorado Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Victor Marx said Tuesday that he will
only participate in one debate with Democratic Candidate Phil Weiser prior to the
November election. Marx also challenged Weiser to hold the event without a moderator.
Marx noted that this is the same approach he took in the GOP primary. A spokesman for
Weiser's campaign dismissed the proposal saying the campaign only considers serious
offers for serious debates. The Marx campaign has reportedly declined an invitation to
participate in a debate on August 27th. Weiser, along with Independent Candidate Greg
Lopez, have both confirmed that they will participate in the debate, which organizers say
will proceed without Victor Marx.
Crews continue work on the Aspen Acres Fire.
The Aspen Acres Fire remained at 101,921 acres yesterday with 66% containment
currently. Fire behavior has been minimal due to rain and cloud cover. Fire officials say
that firefighters took advantage of the limited fire activity to assess possible strategic
containment lines in difficult and dangerous terrain. In the area northwest of Rye, fire
officials said crews continue to hold and improve the lines protecting the community. A
flash flood warning was issued around 6pm last night for the burn scar in Beulah,
advising residents in low lying areas to seek higher ground. Reports were that there was
extreme danger along Colorado 78 with water compromising fox lane and continuing
toward central avenue and Highway 78.
Heavy rain lead to flooding in Beulah last night.
With heavy rain fall over the Aspen Acres burn scar in Beulah last night, the pine drive
water treatment plant saw significant flooding with debris and ash left behind by the fire.
Interim District Water Manager Charissa Fryberger said that all of the watersheds in the
district were impacted in the fire. Fryberger said that while the infrastructure can be
fixed, the watershed cannot, and the district will have to deal with whatever comes down
the hill. It is hoped that the flooding didn't push back the progress made in trying to get
water back to the residents, who haven't had water for weeks now. The fire burned 70 of
the district's 166 water taps, essentially emptying the water supply. Pine Drive water
district staff have been working to get back to meeting state standards so that they can get
the treatment facility up and running once again.
CDPHE alerting Coloradans about salmonella cases in the state.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is alerting Coloradans about
what they are calling a "significant" increase in salmonella cases in the state. As of
Tuesday, health officials said more than 250 salmonella cases have been reported in
Colorado since the beginning of July, which is twice the normal rate. Symptoms of
salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. Anyone
experiencing these symptoms should contact their health care provider.
CPW's new firearms safety system application now open.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's new firearms safety system application is now open ahead
of Saturday's implementation of SB25-003. The new law establishes firearms safety
training requirements for the purchase or transfer of specified semiautomatic firearms in
Colorado. Beginning Saturday, August 1st, individuals seeking to purchase or transfer a
specified semiautomatic firearm must apply to the county sheriff's office for an eligibility
card and then successfully complete an in-person firearms safety course within five years
of the transaction. More information on the firearms safety program can be found on
CPW's website.
Click here
