February 10th 2026
Colorado General Assembly's joint budget Committee puts some proposed cuts on hold.
The Colorado General Assembly's joint budget committee, following hours of testimony
from family caregivers and several advocates, have put proposed pay cuts on hold for
people who care for a family member with a disability who receives medicaid. As issue
were two proposals by the department of health care policy and financing that would
reduce medicaid spending and "caregiver burnout" - a 56-hour weekly cap on paid
caregiving hours for family caregivers and a "rate alignment" that would align their pay
with that of host home providers, which would result in a pay decrease for most family
caregivers. The Department of Health Care policy and financing has been struggling to
manage a substantial spike in medicaid spending, which accounts for about 1/3 of the
state's budget, even as Colorado faces a $1 billion budget deficit. Gov. Jared Polis'
proposal last November included a plan to fund medicaid below its projected growth.
CDNR announces only finalist for CPW Director.
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced yesterday that Laura Clellan,
who is currently serving as acting director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, is the only
finalist for the job. Clellan has been Acting Director of CPW since November 25th, when
she replaced Jeff Davis, who was terminated weeks after failing to persuade Washington
State Wildlife commissioners to grant Colorado wolves for its relocation program.
Washington wildlife commissioners voted 8-1 to deny Colorado the wolves, in part
because of public worries that Colorado is "failing" the wolves in the reintroduction
program with 12 of 25 reintroduced wolves having died since late 2024. Clellan's
pending appointment has drawn praise from parts of the wildlife community that were
critical of Davis. The CPW Commission will vote on Clellan's appointment on February
23rd.
Trial underway for accused Custer County gunman.
The jury trial for Hanme Clark, 47, the man accused of gunning down three of his Custer
County neighbors and severely injuring another in November of 2023, got underway last
week in Canon City. Clark is facing three counts of first-degree murder, one count of
attempted first-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon,
and on count of attempted first-degree assault with a deadly weapon. Clark was arrested
on November 21st of 2023 in New Mexico, the day after he allegedly murdered Robert
Geers, 63, and his wife, Beth Wade Geers, 73, and James Daulton, 58, who all died at the
scene of the shooting. The fourth victim, Patty Daulton, was treated for serious injuries.
It is believed that the trial may conclude with a possible verdict tomorrow.
CDMV announces all DMV locations to close on Friday for several days.
The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that DMV locations across
all 64 counties in Colorado will close on Friday for several days while the state performs
a major software upgrade. Driver's license online services will also be down beginning
next Tuesday. The state plans to reopen all of its services on Wednesday, February 18th.
The DMV is encouraging Coloradans to take care of any vehicle registration or driver's
license renewals online as soon as possible. Once the upgrade is complete, Coloradans
can expect a streamlined experience with more user-friendly services, including a secure
customer portal.
CDLA announces emergency rental assistance applications now open.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs has announced that it has opened up
applications for its February round of emergency rental assistance. The program helps
Coloradans who've fallen behind on rent, and offers up to 7 months of rent, or $10,000.
Your income cannot exceed 60% of the median income. Applicants are entered into a
random selection and will then be sent an email to complete a full application on the
online portal. The window to apply closes at 5pm tomorrow. To fill out an application,
visit doh.colorado.gov/emergency-rental-assistance.
February 9th 2026
Former RTN Funeral Home co-owner sentenced Friday.
Jon Hallford, one of the owners of the former return to nature funeral home in Penrose,
was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Friday. Co-owners Jon and Carie Hallford were
arrested following the discovery of 189 improperly stored bodies inside the funeral home
in October of 2023. A state judge accepted plea deals for both Hallfords on their state
charges back in December. Those plea deals mean that Jon Hallford could have been
sentenced to 30-50 years in prison. Cari Hallford could face 25-35 years. The plea
agreements include dropping the financial charges the pair are facing and basing the
sentence on the abuse of a corpse charges. The 40-year sentence Jon Hallford received
Friday will be served concurrently to his 20-year federal sentence that was handed down
last summer. Carie Hallford will be sentenced in April.
Pueblo Corrections inmate recaptured in Colorado Springs Friday morning.
Richard Capek, 37, who walked away from a Pueblo Community Corrections Facility last
week, was recaptured on Friday morning in Colorado Springs. According to Colorado
Springs Police, Capek was tracked to the Chapel Hills Walmart on North Academy
around 10:30am Friday. After Walmart was placed on lockdown, law enforcement
surrounded Capek's vehicle in the parking lot. After Capek refused to exit his vehicle,
officers used pepper spray to force him out. Capek was then apprehended and turned
over to the State of Colorado. No officers or community members were injured during
the incident.
Walsenburg man arrested in connection to fatal hit and run.
Carlos Daniel Vicuna, 40, of Walsenburg, has been arrested in connection with a fatal
hit-and-run in Walsenburg on Sunday, February 1st. According to Walsenburg Police,
officers executed an arrest warrant for Vicuna on Friday around noon. Police were
dispatched to a report of a possible person lying in the street at South Hendren Avenue
and west 9th street in Walsenburg a week ago yesterday. Upon arrival, officers found a
man that had apparently been hit by a car. While officers and medical personnel
attempted to render medical aid, the man died at the scene. He has not been officially
identified. Vicuna was arrested Friday on suspicion of vehicular homicide. He was
booked into the Huerfano County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information related to this incident is asked to call Walsenburg Police at
719-738-1044.
City of Trinidad announces planned power outage for today.
The City of Trinidad has announced that a planned power outage will take place today,
Monday, February 9th, beginning at 10am and lasting until approximately 2pm this
afternoon. The planned outage is to complete essential maintenance. The outage will
include portions of Pine Street, West Colorado Avenue, Kansas Street, Baca Street,
Topeka Street, Johnson Street, Frost Street, White Street, Godding/Goddard Avenue,
Strong Street, North Avenue, Rico Street, State Street, Nevada Avenue, Arizona Avenue,
San Pedro Avenue, North Commercial, Rosita, San Luis Street, North Linden, Buena
Vista Street, Denver Street, Hainlen Street and Lane Street. For questions or more
information call the City at 719-846-6643.
Red Flag Warning issued by NWS for today.
Temperatures are expected to warm up quickly today along with increasing winds, with
relative humidity in some areas dropping to below 10%. That has prompted The National
Weather Service to issue a red flag warning today for the following counties in Southern
Colorado: Western El Paso County, Teller County, Pueblo County, Eastern Huerfano
County, Eastern Las Animas County and Baca County. The Red Flag Warning will be in
effect today between 10am and 6pm. A red flag warning means that conditions are ideal
for wildfire development and the rapid spread of any fires that may ignite.