October 10th 2025
CBI accepts resignation of Pueblo agent.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has accepted the resignation of agent Joe
Somosky, who was based in the Pueblo region. The resignation comes after an internal
affair investigation where Somosky was cited with bigamy by the fourth judicial district
attorney's office on July 20th. CBI says Somosky was placed on administrative leave
when CBI learned of the charge, and then an internal investigation began. The CBI says
that Somosky resigned instead of being terminated. Bigamy is the act of being married to
two different people at the same time, a criminal offense in the United States.
Grand Junction 2024 crash suspect plead guilty yesterday.
Patrick Sneddon, 59, the man who pleaded guilty to charges related to a September 2024
crash in Grand Junction that killed his wife and two Colorado Department of
Transportation workers, was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison. Sneddon pleaded
guilty to four counts in August, including three counts of vehicular homicide. The crash
claimed the lives of CDOT transportation maintenance professionals Trent Umberger and
Nathan Jones, as well as Sneddon's wife, Kathi Ann Wallace. Sneddon was sentenced to
6 years for one of the counts of vehicular homicide and 12 years each for the other two
counts of vehicular homicide, according to court records.
Gardner murder trial scheduled for January.
The murder trial for David Freilino, 41, of Gardner, is scheduled for January of next year,
although that date may change after a motions hearing took place in the case last week.
Freilino is charged with the April 5th, 2023, murder of 51-year-old Bonnie Young, also of
Gardner. One of the state's motions concerns a witness who is schedule to be out of the
country if the trial remains as scheduled for January 12th through 23rd. The state also filed
a motion to continue the case outside the speedy trial regulation, which was opposed by
the defense. Third judicial district court judge J. Clay Mckisson said he would take the
motions under advisement and make his ruling at a future time. Freilino is currently
being held in the Jefferson County Jail.
CPW Hunting continues to be suspended at FC & GM.
All hunting on Fort Carson (game management unit 591) and The Pinon Canyon
maneuversite (game management unit 142) continues to be suspended due to the federal
government shutdown. Colorado Parks and Wildlife will offer a full refund and a
preference point restoration to affected license holders for the upcoming mule deer
muzzleloader season, starting tomorrow and running through October 19th at Pinon
Canyon. Hunting licenses must be returned to a CPW Office in person, or an application
for license refund must be completed and mailed with the license before the season
begins, or postmarked on or before tomorrow, October 11th.
CDOT announces US HWY 50 ramp closure today.
The Colorado Department of Transportation will closed the on and off-ramps from the
southbound lanes of Interstate 25 to East Highway 50 in Pueblo beginning at 7pm
tonight. The two ramps allows access to and from the Belmont area from the southbound
lanes, and are being closed tonight so that CDOT can begin demolishing the old bridge
over I-25 which CDOT says is functionally obsolete and at the end of its life structurally.
The bridge and the on and off-ramps are being replaced to improve safety, increase
operational efficiency, and, allow for safer travel for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
The ramps will now be closed until early in 2027. The northbound on and off-ramps are
not affected by the closure.
October 9th 2025
Class action lawsuit against CO Gov Polis and CDOC got underway yesterday.
A class action lawsuit against Colorado Governor Jared Polis and The Colorado
Department of Corrections got underway yesterday in Denver District Court. The lawsuit
focuses on forced labor in department of corrections prisons. While the 13th amendment
to The U.S. Constitution does allow forced labor in prisons, in 2018, Colorado voters
amended Colorado's constitution, making slavery, or forced labor, illegal with no
exceptions. When Colorado passed Amendment A, it became the first state in modern
history to end the 13th Amendment's exception clause. The lawsuit, however, says that
the law in Colorado hasn't been put into effect. A 2022 motion to dismiss the lawsuit
claims the loss of privileges does not violate the anti-slavery law. The state also claims
that inmates are not denied basic human rights like food, shelter or medical care if they
refuse to work.
Alamosa Police notified by FBI of threat made.
Alamosa Police were notified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at noon yesterday
that a social media post contained a threat to detonate an explosive device at The San
Luis Valley Regional Airport. The FBI also identified a potential suspect as David
Mejia, 18, of Denver. Officers immediately responded to the airport yesterday,
evacuating the premises and apprehending Mejia, who was in the airport's lobby. A
thorough search of the airport yielded no explosive or suspicious devices. Mejia was
charged with making a false report of explosives, endangering public transportation and
terroristic threats/menacing, all felonies. Mejia was booked into The Alamosa County
jail. As Mejia was found in the public lobby and had not entered the secured area, police
do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public.
CO Lawmakers beginning to consider changing new incompetence laws.
Colorado Lawmakers are beginning to consider changing laws that let criminals go free
when they are deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial, following calls for courtroom
reform. With a shortage of doctors and mental health bed space, a trio of state laws
passed last year and this year mandate the release of incompetent defendents after a
certain length of time, even when there is clear evidence or an admission of guilt.
Currently, judges in Colorado do not have the ability to commit a defendant to a mental
health facility by court order. State Senator Judy Amabile of Boulder says that she's
preparing legislation that would give judges that power, while also increasing state
funding for more bed spaces. That bill would be introduced in January when next year's
legislative session gets underway.
Teens accused of escaping youth facility apprehended in Pueblo yesterday.
Dameron Carbajal and Cristian Jaramillo, both 17, who are accused of escaping from a
youth detention facility in Colorado Springs last month, were arrested in Pueblo
yesterday. According to The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, deputies and U.S.
Marshalls went to an apartment in the 1000 block of West 13th Street at 12:09am
yesterday after receiving information that the teens were inside. Both youth were
arrested without incident. Both were booked into the Pueblo youth services center.
Carbajal was serving a 5 year sentence for attempted murder. Jaramillo was serving a 4
year sentence for felon kidnapping.
CDOT announces US HWY 550 closure for Friday.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has announced that U.S. Highway 550
between the purgatory ski resort and Silverton will be closed on Friday to allow for the
safe transport of modular housing units to the town of Silverton. The transport operation
will require two hour full closures from 7am to 9am and again from 3:15pm to 5:15pm.
Motorists will be stopped in both directions and are encouraged to schedule travel around
the morning and afternoon closure periods.
October 8th 2025
New CO OEP in HOA sales act went into affect Oct 1st.
The Owner Equity Protection in homeowners’ association foreclosure sales act, also
known as HB25-1043, went into effect on October 1st, and aims to protect homeowners in
homeowner associations by increasing transparency and state regulation, and by
preventing or delaying home foreclosures, meaning that homeowners living with
Colorado HOA’s have now been given new legal protections. The new law requires the
HOA to provide clear and timely notices about outstanding balances, as well as
information about free resources, regarding HOA collections and foreclosures. The new
law also allows homeowners faced with foreclosure by their HOA to delay the
foreclosure sale. The delay could last up to nine months, in theory, to allow owners to
recoup some of the money they’ve put into their home, pay off HOA fees, and to give
them something to rebuild with.
Former Aguilar Town clerk charged in public finds misuse case.
Former Aguilar Town Clerk Tyra Marie Avila, 47, is facing multiple felony charges
following an investigation into the misuse of public funds. According to The Colorado
Bureau of Investigation, the funds in question were intended for the town of Aguilar's
water project. Avila served as the town administrator, clerk and treasurer for 17 years
before resigning in September of last year. She is accused of diverting more than
$26,000 in public funds to her personal bank accounts. Avila is facing charges of theft,
cybercrime, embezzlement of public property and forgery, all felonies, and fraud by
check, a misdemeanor. Avila has reportedly posted a $15,000 bond after turning herself
into law enforcement. The town of Aguilar has reportedly worked towards implementing
stricter financial controls and have established a separate account for the water project
that would only be accessible by a current mayor or a USDA official.
Colorado State Land Board approves new partnership.
The Colorado State Land Board has approved a new partnership that aims to restore
degraded Rangeland near Alamosa while opening a new revenue stream for public
schools. The board has authorized a 15-year grassland carbon lease on 480 ares
northwest of Alamosa to land and carbon, inc., Wyoming company that restores
"degraded land with science driven, nature based carbon solutions to capture gigatons of
carbon dioxide, according to a press release. The site, located about 7 miles northwest of
Alamosa and long abandoned after crop use, has resisted natural recovery because of
poor soils and arid San Luis Valley conditions. Officials say the project will improve soil
health, support regenerative grazing within a decade, and show how state trust lands can
provide both environmental and financial returns. The lease runs through 2040.
HWY 50B interchange project interchange closure to take place this week.
Don't forget that the new Highway 50B interchange project taking place along Interstate
25 in Pueblo, will shutdown two southbound ramps this Friday. The closures at the
Belmont interchange and Southbound I-25 begin at 7pm on Friday. The new
improvements are expected to be complete by the Summer of 2027. The current bridge
over I-25 will be demolished next week, so it's the off ramp and on ramp at US50B to the
southbound lanes of I-25 that will be closed. To get around the closure, you'll have to
take Colorado Highway 47 to get to and from the east side of Pueblo.
CDOA accepting applications to hire interns in 2026.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture is accepting applications from Colorado farms,
ranches and other agricultural businesses looking to hire interns in 2026. Through the
agriculture workforce development program, businesses may be reimbursed for up to
50% of the actual cost to employ an intern, up to $5,000, in exchange for providing a
hands-on experience needed to begin a career in agriculture. Application deadline is
Friday, October 31st. Go to ag.colorado.gov/awdp for more information.
October 7th 2025
US Supreme Court begans new term yesterday.
The United States Supreme Court began its new term yesterday, in spite of the federal
government shut down. During this term, the justices will consider a number of cases,
including one that began in Colorado Springs. The supreme court case revolves around
the ban on conversion therapy in Colorado. Kaley Chiles, a christian therapist in
Colorado Springs, says that the state law banning conversion therapy violates her first
amendment rights. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser says the law protects young
people from "unscientific and cruel gay conversion therapy". Almost half of the states
already ban conversion therapy for minors. Oral arguments in the case begin today.
Custer County Sheriff’s deputies stop motorcyclist doing dangerously high rate of speed Sunday.
Ezra Trujillo, 20, of Pueblo, was stopped by Custer County Deputies on Sunday after he
was spotted driving his motorcycle in Custer County at a "dangerously high" rate of
speed. Deputies spotted the motorcycle driving at approximately 120 miles per hour on
Colorado 96 near Bear Basin on Sunday. As the bike headed toward Silver Cliff,
deputies said the radar caught the biker at 98 miles per hour. Trujillo was stopped after
he entered Silver Cliff. He did not have the required endorsement to operate a
motorcycle on his license and the motorcycle was not registered. Trujillo told deputies "I
was just having fun". The Custer County Sheriff's Office reminds drivers that traveling
at an excessive speed and failing to comply with license and registration laws put
everyone at risk.
Larimer County Sheriff's Office warning Coloradans about Fed Gov shutdown scams.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office is warning Coloradans about scams related to the
federal government shutdown. People are reportedly impersonating social security,
medicare, medicaid and snap employees. Those people are calling and texting
Coloradans, offering to "help you get priority assistance", asking for personal
information, claiming that they will use that information to get you help. The Sheriff's
Office wants Coloradans to know that none of those agencies, or any government agency,
will reach out through text, social media or a phone call. To protect your personal and
financial information, beware of any caller id that says it’s from a government agency as
those ids can easily be spoofed. If you're unsure, hang up or disregard the message and
contact the agency in question directly.
Colorado free application days starts today.
Beginning today and running through Thursday, anyone looking to apply to college in
Colorado can do so for free. During free application days, all 32 public universities,
along with some private ones, will waive their application fees, making it free for anyone
to submit an application. By waiving application fees, a common barrier to higher
education, Colorado free application days aims to improve access to further eduction and
training. The campaign aims to support low-income and first-generation students and to
help keep Colorado students in-state.
Alamosa City Hall forum taking place tonight.
The Valley Courier, The Alamosa Chamber of Commerce, The City of Alamosa, and
KSPK, will host a "meet the candidates" forum tonight, October 7th, beginning at 6pm.
The forum will be held at The Alamosa City Hall at 300 Hunt Avenue in Alamosa, and
will be moderated by The Valley Courier's John Waters. Candidates attending the forum
will be: mayor - Ty Coleman, at large – Jan Vigil and Zachary Reaves, ward 2 - Dawn
Krebs, and ward 4 - Alex Brown and Mark Martinez. The public is invited to attend in
person. However, if you cannot attend, KSPK will broadcast the forum live on KSPK-
FM, and also at kspk.com. That's tonight beginning at 6pm, right here on KSPK.
October 6th 2025
U.S. DOE canceling funding projects earmarked for Colorado.
The U.S. Department of Energy is canceling more than $7.5 billion in funding for clean-
energy projects across the U.S. That includes more than $500 million that was earmarked
for Colorado projects, placing 34 projects in Colorado on the chopping block. Russ
Vought, Director of the White House office of management and budget, announced
Wednesday that funds would be canceled for 223 projects across 16 states. In Colorado,
grants are being canceled to the Colorado Energy Office, Generac Grid Services LLC,
BKV Dcarbon High West LLC, United Power, Inc., Tri-State Generation and
Transmission Association, Inc., Xcel Energy Services, Inc., The Tribal Energy
Consortium, Colorado State University, Rocky Mountain Institute, Czero, Inc., Amicus
O&M Cooperative, Rcam Technologies, Inc., Amp Robotics Corporation, General
Electric Company, Navajo Transitional Energy Company, Tda Research, Colorado
School of Mines, Pioneer Energy, Solar Dynamics, J-Tech LLC, and Carollo Engineers,
Inc. The cancellations are likely to face legal challenges.
Colorado's PDA review board implemented prescription drug price cap Friday.
Colorado's prescription drug affordability review board on Friday implemented a
prescription drug price cap on enbrel, an expensive, injectable medication, used to treat
several autoimmune conditions. The review board set the cap at $600 for a 50-milligram
dose of enbrel, which adults typically take weekly. With the new cap, over the course of
a year, the cost will be $31,200, which is significantly less than what insurance
companies and patients have been paying. According to data from 2023, insurance
companies paid about $53,000 annually for each patient using enbrel. The patients paid
about $4,600 out of pocket each year. The cap comes after the review board deemed the
drug enbrel "unaffordable" in February of 2024. The board was established by the state
in 2021 to review prescription drug prices and determine whether certain drugs are
unaffordable for colorado consumers.
CO AG kicks off statewide tour yesterday.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser kicked off his "fight for Colorado" statewide tour
yesterday on the steps of The Pueblo County Courthouse. The tour is part of Weiser's
election campaign to become Colorado's next Governor. Weiser says part of the focus of
his campaign will be improving public safety and education, along with providing more
jobs and housing. Weiser has been Colorado's Attorney General since 2018.
Former San Miguel County Sheriff’s deputy taken into custody.
A former San Miguel County Sheriff's deputy has been taken into custody after he fled
the country in July. On Friday, it was learned that former deputy Jesus Nieblas was taken
into custody by Mexican authorities in Agua Prieta, Mexico. Nieblas fled to Mexico
following the execution of a search warrant on his home and vehicle in Norwood.
Evidence reportedly found during the search brought about charges of sexual exploitation
of a child. Nieblas was transferred from Mexican authorities to U.S. Marshals custody at
a border checkpoint near Douglas, Arizona, on Friday, and is currently in the Cochise
County jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.
Friday morning accident Sourth of Raton leaves I-25 closed several hours.
Interstate 25 was closed for several hours early Friday Morning south of Raton, New
Mexico, for a two vehicle accident. According to The Colfax County Sheriff's
Department, deputies were called to the scene of the accident at mile marker 421, about
halfway between maxwell and springer, about 1am on Friday morning. The accident
involved a semi truck and passenger vehicle. The northbound lanes of the interstate were
closed for several hours while the accident was investigated. One northbound lane
reopened as the accident was cleaned up. No information was given as to the details of
the accident or injuries received by those involved.
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