August 14th 2026
New lawsuits filed by CO AG Weiser and other AG's against Trump Administration.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, along with 22 attorneys general and the State of
Pennsylvania, filed two lawsuits against The Trump Administration yesterday for
demanding personal information on millions of commercial driver's license holders. The
lawsuits claim that The Trump Administration is demanding production of a database of
state-owned records that contain personal information for 17 million commercial drivers.
The group claims that the administration is also threatening to terminate more than $10
million in federal funding to a national association that manages the database if the
organization refuses to turn over the information. The group says the demand violates
the administrative procedure act because the federal government has "no legitimate need"
to take over the database of state records.
CBI arrested Trinidad man on child sex crimes charges yesterday.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation yesterday arrested 37-year-old Gage Vidal
Montoya on nine felony counts. According to CBI, the arrest came after a nearly year-
long investigation with the internet crimes against children unit. Montoya, who is
employed as a corrections officer, is from Trinidad. Montoya, who is now on
administrative leave, was charged with six counts of sexual exploitation of a child, all
felonies. Montoya was also charged with three counts of possession of a dangerous
weapon, also all felonies. The CBI says that there is no evidence that Montoya engaged
in the alleged criminal activity while at work. The CDOC's office of the inspector
general assisted in the investigation.
Post fire now burning on Fishers Peak State Park Southern Area.
The post fire, burning southeast of Trinidad near the Colorado-New Mexico border, has
now burned a total of 4,205 acres as of last night with 25% containment currently. The
fire, which began on Raton Mesa, has now forced closures with the Colorado's Newest
State Park. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the fire has moved into Fishers
Peak State Park's Southern Area. CPW announced yesterday that all summit trails in the
park are now closed. CPW says that while the fire hasn't yet reached Fishers Peak, trails
in the park are now closed for public safety and to keep the area clear for fire fighting
teams. All other trails below the seasonal wildlife closure gate remain open to public
access. No structures are currently threatened in the fire and no evacuations have been
issued.
Pueblo DC Judge invalidates Pueblo CO SD70 BOE director appointment.
Pueblo District Court Judge Michelle Chostner has invalidated the controversial
appointment of a Pueblo County School District 70 board of education director, after
finding that the board violated the Coloado open meetings law by failing to provide
public notice regarding the appointment of Susie Carnes to the board. Chostner's ruling
in the lawsuit filed by the three board candidates who were passed over in favor of
Carnes, invalidates the June 2025 memorandum of understanding between the district and
Riverstone Academy, as well as Carnes' appointment. The D70 board has been ordered
to pay the plaintiffs' attorney fees. A Pueblo District 70 spokesperson declined to
comment on the judge's ruling, or on what comes next for the board, citing ongoing
litigation.
Custer County deputies rescue young bear wednesday morning.
Custer County deputies, along with Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers, on Wednesday
morning, rescued a young bear from a power pole on Rosita Road near The Custer
County landfill. Earlier this week, a juvenile bear was struck and killed by a car, and a
second juvenile bear was electrocuted on the same power pole. Wednesday's bear was
relocated to the CPW rehab facility in Del Norte, according to the sheriff's office.
August 13th 2026
CSSA seeking injunction against new Colorado gun law.
The Colorado State Shooting Association, a chapter of the national rifle association, is
seeking an injunction to stop Colorado from enforcing SB25-003, a new law that took
effect this month. The new law requires anyone purchasing or selling certain firearms to
fist complete a safety training course offered through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The
course is mandatory for anyone planning to purchase a semiautomatic rifle, shotgun or
handgun with a detachable magazine. The shooting association had filed a lawsuit last
September, challenging the law's unconstitutionality. The lawsuit has not been resolved,
so the group is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt enforcement until the lawsuit can
be heard and decided. The motion argues that the "cumulative burden" of the law is
incompatible with the 2nd Amendment.
Firefighters responded to fire in Colorado City area yesterday.
Firefighters responded yesterday afternoon to what is now the 3rd fire in the Colorado
City area this season. The fire, located north of Colorado City and to the east of south
crow cutoff, grew to a total of 6 acres in size. Evacuation of 20 homes was ordered
around 4pm yesterday. Rye Fire, Beulah Fire, west Park Fire, Pueblo West Fire, Pueblo
Rural Fire, Pueblo City Fire, Hanover Fire and The U.S. Forest Service responded to help
knock down the fire. Air support was also enlisted to douse the fire. By 5:18pm, the fire
was reported to be 100% contained, and all evacuations were lifted.
Following an operation multiple arrests made in Alamosa County.
Following a 2-day operation in Alamosa County, The U.S. Marshals Service Colorado
violent offender task force arrested five violent offenders in the county. According to a
release from The U.S. Marshals Service, officials executed operation sand dune on
Monday and Tuesday, leading to the 5 arrests, 19 warrants cleared and 28 sex offender
compliance checks. The task force worked with The Alamosa County Sheriff's Office,
Alamosa Police, Fountain Police, Huerfano County Sheriff's Office and The Trinidad
Police Department. Officials said the task force is one of many multi-jurisdictional
fugitive task forces that target violent criminal offenders.
Post fire sparked to life yesterday near CO/NM border.
What is being called the "post fire" sparked to life overnight Wednesday near The
Colorado-New Mexico state border. According to Las Animas County officials, the
blaze, located at the top of the Raton Mesa in Colorado, had grown to about 2,427 acres
with no containment. Fire crews, along with air support, worked yesterday to keep the
fire on the top of the mesa. The fire is completely burning within the boundaries of the
James M. John State Wildlife Area. No structures have been threatened and no
evacuations have been issued. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Rollover crash closed CO12 in Huerfano County yesterday.
Colorado 12 was closed for a time in Huerfano County yesterday afternoon due to a
crash. According to the Huerfano County Sheriff's Office, deputies and Colorado State
Patrol troopers responded to a rollover crash that was partially blocking the highway at
mile marker 6 around 1pm yesterday. The highway was shut down for about 30 minutes
so that the vehicle could be safely removed from the scene. No further information was
given regarding the crash or any injuries to the occupants of the vehicle.
August 12th 2026
Pueblo County C&R announces voter steps for Aspen Acres fire victims.
The Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder yesterday announced steps for people displaced
by The Aspen Acres Fire to update their voter registration in time to vote in the midterm
election. Ballots will be mailed out on October 5th for the November 3rd election. To
ensure that your ballot is delivered to the right place, The Pueblo County Clerk's Office
is asking the public to check their voter registration. Those staying in temporary housing
due to the fire should keep their residential address as their residence and use their
temporary location as their mailing address. Voters can also update their registration
before October 5th at the elections office at 21 west 8th Street in Pueblo from 8am to
4:30pm. You can also update your registration online by going to govotecolorado.gov.
questions for Pueblo County Election staff can be directed to 719-583-6620.
New Morphew body cam footage released.
New body cam footage has been released of the June 2025 arrest of Barry Morphew in
Arizona. The footage, which is blurred, shows officers pulling Morphew over in his
truck. Once out of his vehicle, Morphew only asks why he's being arrested. Officers
respond that he has a warrant for his arrest out of Colorado. After that, he only asks what
will happen to his truck and belongings, and is told the truck will be towed. The video
shows Morphew being handcuffed and not resisting. Morphew was then extradited to
Colorado. He is charged with the murder of his wife, Suzanne Morphew, who
disappeared on Mother's day of 2020 following a bike ride near their home in Chaffee
County. Morphew is currently out on a $3 million bond. He plead not guilty to the
charges in January. His trial is set for next summer. He is due in court in Alamosa on
September 17th for a status conference.
SLV school districts adopt new cell phone policy.
School districts in The San Luis Valley have adopted a new "no cell phones bell-to-bell"
policy as the 2026-2027 school years gets underway. Monte Vista, Center and Moffat
schools have already begun classes this week. Alamosa returns next Monday and Creede
on August 27th. The new policy means that no personal electronic devices may be used,
visible or heard at any time during school hours, including during class time, time in the
hallways between classes, at recess and at lunchtime. All Colorado school districts were
required to adopt a policy regarding "student communication devices in schools" by July
first under HB25-1135. The policies outline disciplinary action that can be taken if a
student is found using a cell phone or electronic device in defiance of the school policy.
Driver air lifted following single vehicle crash on CO96 yesterday.
A driver suffered serious injuries following a single-vehicle crash while traveling on
Colorado 96, near County Road 260, east of Westcliffe Yesterday. According to The
Custer County Sheriff's Office, a retired paramedic driving a semi truck, and an off-duty
Custer County clinic nurse, happened to be driving along shortly after the crash. Both the
paramedic and nurse, along with other passing drivers, came to a stop and provided
emergency first aid to the injured driver until responders arrived to take over. First
responders then took the injured driver further down the highway to an area that was
wide enough for a helicopter to land and airlift the driver to the hospital.
Semi fire closed North I-25 lanes in Pueblo yesterday.
The Northbound lanes of Interstate 25 were shut down of about 6-1/2 hours yesterday
thanks to a semi truck fire. According to The Pueblo Police Department, the semi truck
fire took place near the Abriendo exit. It took nearly 6 hours to remove the semi and
trailer, then clean up the lanes of the interstate. Details as to what caused the fire or if
there were any injuries as a result of the blaze were not made available. Pueblo Police
said the roadway reopened around 1:30pm yesterday afternoon.
August 11th 2026
4th Congressional Rep Boebert's Son arrested facing sexual exploitation charges.
Tyler Boebert, the son of 4th Congressional District Representative Lauren Boebert, was
arrested and is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a child, according to court records.
The case against the 21-year-old Tyler Boebert was filed on Thursday in Garfield County
after a video shared on social media showed him having relations with a 17-year-old girl.
Tyler Boebert is facing three charges of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of
contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection to the alleged incident, which
took place on New Year's Day in 2024. Tyler Boebert was released on a $10,000 bond
on Sunday. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, August 19th.
Two men found dead in a truck Sunday in Trinidad identified.
The Las Animas County Coroner has identified Branden Philip Daniel Phelps, 34, and
Michael Anthony Baca, 46, both of Trinidad, as the two adult men who where found dead
inside a pickup truck in Trinidad on Sunday. The two men were discovered around
4:40pm on Sunday in the 900 block of East Main Street in Trinidad. The cause and
manner of the deaths have not yet been determined. The Las Animas County Coroner's
office is conducting the medico-legal death investigation while the Trinidad Police
Department is investigating the circumstance surrounding the deaths. Autopsies for both
men have been scheduled. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
All remaining evacuation orders in Aspen Acres fire lifted yesterday.
With The Aspen Acres Fire remaining at 101,965 acres and 72% containment yesterday,
all evacuations and pre-evacuations have been lifted and all highways and roadways are
reopened throughout the fire area as of yesterday. Pueblo and Custer County officials say
that before people start removing any debris remaining on their property, a demolition
permit is required. In Custer County, fees for the permit are waived for people impacted
by The Aspen Acres Fire. In Pueblo County, demolition permits are a flat fee of $100 for
those impacted by the fire, instead of ranging in price based on the cost of a home. For
those without insurance, a $10,000 donation has been made to Pueblo County to help
cover permit fees. You can also reach out to Pueblo County to request a waiver of the
permit fee.
CDOT announces second phase of construction in Trinidad to begin next Monday.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has announced that it will begin the second
phase of construction on Interstate 25 and Exit 14 in Trinidad on Monday, August 17th.
Crews have been constructing a new I-25 Southbound off-ramp designed to improve the
ramp's alignment and replace the asphalt surface with concrete. The next phase will
connect the new ramp to the existing I-25 roadway. To safely complete the work, the
Southbound I-25 off-ramp at Exit 14 will be closed for approximately three weeks.
Motorists will need to take Exit 13 and then travel northbound on I-25 to access
commercial street. Crews have also constructed curbs and gutters at commercial street
and recently completed concrete slope walls along the Exit 14 southbound off-ramp.
CPW announces cause of death for gray wolf killed back in January.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife yesterday announced the cause of death for a female gray
wolf that was killed in Northwest Colorado back in January. CPW said that a joint
investigation with The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the wolf died from
an accidental gunshot wound from a licensed hunter who mistook it for a coyote on
January 16th. Officers cited the hunter for violating CPW regulations but are not pursuing
further charges. The Gray Wolf was part of a group of wolves that were translocated
from British Columbia to Colorado in January of 2025, according to CPW.
August 10th 2026
Citizen led PC find several CO Judges did not meet performance standards.
A citizen-led performance commission has found that of the 123 Colorado judges who
are standing for retention in November, 3 did not meet the required performance
standards. Under Colorado's system of selecting judges, the governor appoints new
judges from a short-list created by a citizen nominating commission. Judges serve for at
least 2 years before voters decide whether or not to retain them to terms of varying
lengths. To help voters make retention decisions, performance commissions issue
narratives about each judge's performance. The following 3 judges have been
recommended for votes against retention: 13th Judicial District Court Judge Dina M.
Christiansen due to "significant concerns" about Christiansen's temperament, legal
analysis and courtroom management. 16th Judicial District Crowley County Court Judge
Jeremy P. Boyce due to being highly inefficient, failing to issue orders in a timely
manner and disregarding established law. And, 10th Judicial District Court Judge William
Alexander due to concerns that Alexander could be rude and potentially biased.
Beulah residents requesting additional resources for potential flooding.
Beulah residents are asking for additional resources as they prepare for continued
flooding concerns following the Aspen Acres Fire. Over the past 2 weeks, rain has hit
the region with more expected in the coming days. Residents say they have been filling
sandbags and are working together to protect homes and other property, but they say
more resources are needed, including additional flood-mitigation resources like concrete
barriers and heavy equipment, to help slow the water and protect homes, roads and other
infrastructure. Residents say they are hopeful they will receive the resources they need,
but say that whatever comes next, they plan to continue relying on one another.
Rio Grande County Commissioners approve moratorium on Data Centers.
The Rio Grande County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday voted
unanimously to implement a temporary 12-month moratorium on data center applications
and permanently prohibit hyperscale data center projects within the unincorporated
portions of Rio Grande County. The vote comes following growing public concern over
the consumption of local resources as well as over environmental impacts. The board's
actions reflect a growing region-wide movement across The San Luis Valley, where
municipal and county governments are taking formal action to regulate or halt high-
density digital infrastructure developments.
Walsenburg City Council voted to implement Stage 3 water restrictions last week.
The Walsenburg City Council voted last week to place the City of Walsenburg on stage 3
water restrictions due to the extreme drought. Under state 3 restrictions, watering
outdoor plants is prohibited for both residential and commercial customers. However,
plants growing in containers, flower gardens or food gardens may still be watered by
hand with a watering can. The city will still sell water for hauling, but only from 8am to
4:30pm, Monday through Friday, and for domestic cisterns only. The city will not sell
hauled water for any commercial, horticultural or agricultural purpose except for
watering livestock.
CPW announces Fishers Peak State Park summit trail reopened.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced that The Fishers Peak State Park's summit
trail has officially reopened after this year's peregrine falcons have successfully fledged
and have now left the rest. During the closure, CPW's resource stewardship team
monitor the nest from a distance. Once CPW clears the trail to reopen, park staff, trail
specialists and volunteers help to prep the summit for reopening. The Fishers Peak
Summit Trail is now open every day from 5am to 10pm.
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