July 17th 2025
CPW announces new Gray Wolf Packs in Colorado.
A wolf update published online this week ahead of today's Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Commission meeting says that Colorado is now officially home to three new gray wolf
packs in addition to the Copper Creek Pack. The additional 3 new wolf packs have been
confirmed as follows: the one ear pack in Jackson County, the king mountain pack in
Routt County, and the three creeks pack in Rio Blanco County. The Copper Creek Pack
is already established in Pitkin County. CPW staff said in mid-June that it had been
monitoring den sites for weeks and had seen new pups, however, nothing further was
made available until this week. More information about the new wolf packs is expected
to be made available at the CPW commission meeting taking place today and tomorrow,
as well as an update on the wolf program as a whole. The commission will also discuss
two wolf damage claims which CPW is recommending for denial. One is for $100,000
and the second is about $34,000.
CO State Senator Simpson announces separation from RG Water District.
Colorado State Senator and Rio Grande Water Conservation District General Manager
Cleave Simpson told the Rio Grande Water Conservation district board Tuesday that his
dual roles are becoming too much. Besides being the full time general manager of the
water district, Simpson also serves as State Senator representing The San Luis Valley and
much of Western Colorado. He was elected as Minority Leader for the Senate
Republicans in June. The Rio Grande water conservation district’s management
committee will convene with Simpson sometime in the next few weeks to work through a
recommendation as to how Simpson will separate from his duties as general manager.
Front Range Passenger Rail District announces intergovernmental agreement.
The Front Range Passenger Rail district has announced the adoption of an
intergovernmental agreement to establish the joint service executive oversight committee
that is made up of the rail district, CDOT, regional transportation district, clean transit
enterprise, Colorado Transportation investment office and the Governor's office. The
agreement authorizes the partners to jointly develop a near-term passenger rail starter
service from Denver to Fort Collins. The rail district says that passenger rail systems
typically begin in phases, expanding in geography and frequency over time. The starter
phase is expected to be proof of concept that will facilitate expansion of the full 180-mile
corridor from Fort Collins to Pueblo, with the goal of future connections to Wyoming and
New Mexico.
Custer County SR rescue backpacker near Crestone Tuesday.
The Custer County Search and Rescue team responded to a backpacker who was
experiencing hypothermia symptoms on Tuesday. According to search and rescue, the
team was called to Macey Lakes, near Crestone, on Tuesday morning, where a group of
backpackers reported being caught in a thunderstorm. One of the men reportedly began
experiencing signs of hypothermia while on their descent. Rescue teams met the group
on the trail and helped the man warm back up. Search and rescue asks those who are
planning to head to the backcountry, to check the weather forecast and to make sure to
prepare for heavy rain with extra layers and hand warmers.
CPW issues reminder about wildlife in surprising locations.
After the owner of a car found baby squirrels in the engine compartment, Colorado Parks
and Wildlife has issued a reminder for anyone who may find wildlife in a surprising
location. CPW asks that you call their team before taking action at 719-227-5200. In the
case of the baby squirrels, CPW says a wildlife rehabilitator will care for the squirrels
before they are released back into the wild. That number again is 719-227-5200.
July 16th 2025
CO US Senator Bennet and US Rep Neguse introduce Joint Chiefs act.
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse have
introduced the joint chiefs reauthorization act in congress, along with other congressmen.
If passed as introduced, the joint chiefs reauthorization act would reauthorize the chief of
the forest service and chief of the natural resources conservation service to improve the
health and resilience of forest landscapes and grasslands, would support projects that
reduce wildlife risk, protect water supplies, recover from wildfires, enhance soil and
water resources, and improve wildlife habitat. Would prioritize projects to reduce
wildfire risk in municipal watersheds. Would require the USDA to perform outreach.
Would improve accountability. And, would authorize $90 million annually for the joint
chief's landscape restoration partnership.
CO AG Weiser announces joining of educational funds lawsuit.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has signed onto a lawsuit, along with 23 other
Democratic State Attorneys General, that brings suit against the Trump administration
over billions of dollars being withheld in education funds. The lawsuit contends that $6.8
billion in funding was unlawfully frozen and that some of those funds were supposed to
be delivered to the states by July 1st. However, The Trump Administration is holding the
funds for a review "of the program's consistency with the president's priorities". The
lawsuit argues that withholding of the funds has caused chaos, making it more difficult
for schools to be prepared for the start of the upcoming school year. Weiser says "we
can't get this relief soon enough". Governor Jared Polis says the funding feeze will cause
schools to "face serious financial pressure and students will suffer the consequences."
Turner Gulch Fire in Mesa County continues to grow.
The Turner Gulch Fire burning in Mesa County near Grand Junction yesterday exploded
in size, ballooning from about 1400 acres on Monday to more than 12,400 acres last
night. Firefighters reported difficult weather conditions and ample fuel as reasons for the
fire's growth. The fire remains at 0% containment. Evacuations, pre-evacuations and
road closures were put in place on Monday. Evacuations were expanded yesterday. The
fire is located near Colorado 141, 8 miles northeast of the town of Gateway. Firefighters
are actively defending homes and are battling the fire where it is safe.
El Pomar Foundation approves grants for SLV nonprofit organizations.
The El Pomar Foundation has approved $82,000 to 11 nonprofit organizations and
government agencies in The San Luis Valley including the following: $2,000 for the
little learners early childhood academy. $7,500 for the SLV care and share mobile food
truck, $15,000 for the SLV housing development program, $10,000 for supplemental and
emergency food programs in Costilla County. $20,000 for audio equipment at the Creede
repertory theater. $3,500 for the North American folk music and dance alliance. $5,000
for the Sundays at six concert series. $5,000 for the SLV educators' conference. $6,500
for Tu Casa. And $2,500 for the Upper Rio Grande Animal Society.
Suspect in murder case pleads guilty.
Jesus Dominguez, 37, has plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder in
connection with the deaths of his two children, 5-year-old Jesus Dominguez Jr. and 3-
year-old Yesenia Dominguez. Dominguez and his girlfriend, Corena Rose Minjares,
were initially arrested in February of 2024 and were charged with first-degree murder of
a victim under 12 years old by a person in a position of trust, after the children's bodies
were found, one encased in concrete, the other in a suitcase. Dominguez will be
sentenced on September 12th. Minjarez is scheduled for a jury trial on August 11th.
July 15th 2025
DOHCPF announces settlement reached with Medride yesterday.
The Department of Health Care policy and financing yesterday announced that it has
reached a settlement with Medride, one of Colorado's largest medical transportation
providers. Medride was suspended at the beginning of the year after it was accused of
being involved in an alleged fraud scheme. The agreement was made effective on June
10th and allows Medride to continue to provide non-emergency medical transportation
service while meeting the following requirements: Medride must maintain all required
documentation verifying driver and vehicle safety. Must create and administer a driver
training program. Must reenforce processes to ensure that the customer is eligible for
medicaid coverage. Must employ a compliance officer. Must contract with a third-party
auditor. And, must limit the number of rides it can provide to medicaid members until
program compliance is established and maintained.
South Rim Fire inside BCOTGNP continues to grow.
The South Rim Fire inside The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has grown
to 3,633 acres in size and is 0% contained as of yesterday. The fire, which was caused by
a lightning strike, was first reported last Thursday morning on the canyon's south rim.
The fire has forced the evacuation and closure of the park as well as the evacuation of
nearby homeowners, including in Bostwick Park. The Rocky Mountain Incident
Management Team 3 took over management of the fire at 6am yesterday as 309
firefighters continue to fight the blaze, along with two aircraft, five crews, eight engines,
two dozers and four water tenders. Fire officials say that while the fire has burned back
on itself on the eastern side, it has seen significant growth to the west. The south rim fire
is just one of five separate wildfires burning across Colorado. The two others on the
western slope are in Delta and Mesa counties.
Pueblo Man identified in Fatal Crash.
Victor Armas, 62, of Pueblo, has been identified as the man who was killed in the fatal
crash at the GCC Rio Grande Cement plant south of Pueblo. Armas was killed in a semi-
truck and trailer crash on July 12th. The accident has been classified as a "powered
haulage accident" by the U.S. Mine safety and health administration, meaning one that is
caused by the motion of a haulage unit. The crash took place in the 3300 block of lime
road. Armas was pronounced dead at the scene by a Pueblo County Coroner's
investigator.
NM State Police asking for publics help in Cold Case.
The New Mexico State Police are asking for the public's help to identify a woman who
was found dead at a rest area near Raton in 1989. The woman was found on July 3rd of
1989, with no identification. Police believe that she was a transient. No missing persons
reports matched her description at the time. She died of natural causes. The woman is
believed to have been about 50 years old, with blue eyes and brown hair, worn in a long
braid. She was 5'4" tall and weighed 123 pounds. She was wearing a white shirt and
black pants with aviator-style orange glasses. She had several bags of personal
belongings, a cardboard sign that said Raton, and a Texas travel handbook. Police
believe she was hitchhiking. Anyone who may have any information on the woman is
asked to call Agent Nathaniel Garcia at 505-425-6771.
South I-25 crash leaves one injured last night.
One person was injured last night in a crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 25
between Colorado Springs and Pueblo. According to The Colorado State Patrol, the right
lane of Southbound I-25 was closed at 10:16pm last night between Exit 119 and 116.
One vehicle was involved in the crash and that driver was taken to the hospital by
helicopter. The driver's condition was not known last night. The cause of the crash
remains under investigation.
July 14th 2025
CO Gov Polis announces disaster declaration yesterday.
Governor Jared Polis yesterday made a disaster declaration for fires burning on the
Western slope in Colorado. The south rim fire is burning in Montrose County was at
3,556 acres with 0% containment last night. Black Canyon of The Gunnison National
Park has been evacuated and is currently closed to the public. The Sowbelly Fire is
burning in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness area in Delta and Mesa Counties and is
2,251 acres in size and 0% contained as of last night. A third fire is burning northeast of
the town of Gateway and is 512 acres in size and 0% contained as of last night.
Evacuations were ordered for all areas of Highway 141 near Gateway. In a statement
yesterday, Polis said "with the disaster declaration, the state emergency operations and
resource mobilization plans are activated, and The Colorado Division of Homeland
Security and Emergency management coordinates the state response through
management of the state emergency operations center and deployment of field operations
staff to directly support county emergency managers with consequence management".
Buena Vista Mountain View Estates residents allowed to reenter homes.
The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office allowed all residents of mountain view estates near
Buena Vista to reenter their homes yesterday, 2 days after the mountain view fire was
100% contained. Fire crews remained on scene yesterday and were continuing to mop up
remaining hotspots. Fire crews were expected to be released last night. The mountain
view fire broke out around 1:50pm on Thursday as an active structure fire and wildfire in
The Morrison Creek Area. Two homes were lost in the fire. The fire had been reported
as burning 60 acres. No updated acreage amount was given.
City of Alamosa announces implementing series of safety strategies.
The City of Alamosa is implementing a series of strategies to make roads more safe for
bicyclists and runners, including the formation of advisory groups to recommend
infrastructure improvements and an educational awareness campaign set to launch at the
end of this year. By implementing dedicated bike lanes, clearer signage and educational
campaigns aimed at increasing driver awareness, the city is hoping to foster a culture of
mutual respect and responsibility among all who share the roads. The expectation is that
as more lanes are repainted, drivers will become increasingly aware of their shared
responsibility alongside cyclists and pedestrians.
CPW releases black bear information.
Colorado is home to a large population of black bears, estimated to be between 17,000
and 20,000 animals, and the majority of them live in areas where humans camp, hike and
backpack. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding the public to get wise about bears to
avoid conflicts when enjoying the outdoors. Most human/bear conflicts can be traced to
easily accessible trash, human food or other attractants with strong odors. When
camping, put trash in bear-resistant containers. Store food, beverages and other items
safely in airtight containers in your trunk or RV. Lock RV's and vehicles before going to
sleep. And, if tenting, keep a clean tent and don't bring anything with an odor, such as
food, into your tent.
CDOT announces culvert repairs in southwest and south central Colorado.
The Colorado Department Of Transportation has announced that it will begin making
culvert repairs in southwest and south-central Colorado this month. Repairs will take
place in Conejos, Montezuma, Archuleta, Chaffee and La Plata Counties. Colorado 17
between Antonito and The New Mexico border will see 8 culverts being repaired. US
491 and Colorado 145 north of Cortez will see 6 repairs. Repairs will also be made on
US 160, US 491 and Colorado 172. Crews will start on the eastern side of the region and
progress to the west for the repairs.
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