March 20th 2026
Latest CO revenue forecasts show budget predicament worsening.
The latest revenue forecasts in Colorado show that the state's budget predicament has
worsened, by hundreds of millions of dollars. Economists with the legislative council
have downgraded the forecast for the 2026-27 fiscal year by another $643 million,
bringing the total shortfall to nearly $1.5 billion. Part of the problem is that general fund
revenues came in lower for fiscal year 2025-26 with tax collection $354 million less than
was estimated in December. The estimate for 2026-27 is also coming in lower than the
December forecast by about $143 million. The legislative council forecast confirmed
that tabor refunds won't occur this year since general fund revenue will not reach the cap
in the 2025-26 fiscal year, with revenues nearly $1 billion below the threshold. The
biggest challenge to state spending is medicaid. Democrats on the joint budget
committee called the forecasts "devastating". Republicans have long maintained that
Colorado's budget woes are self-inflicted, the result of overspending.
Alamosa suspect arrested in Wyoming Wednesday.
Fernando Rodriguez, 44, of Alamosa, was arrested in Wyoming Wednesday on a charge
of second degree murder, according to The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and The
Alamosa County Sheriff's Office. Rodriguez was apprehended in Albany County,
Wyoming, on the afternoon of March 18th, following a standoff. He is charged with
second degree murder, felony menacing, motor vehicle theft and possession of a weapon
by a previous offender, in connection with the death of Ryan Barnes, 49, of Alamosa, on
March 1st. Rodriguez is currently being held in The Albany County jail in Wyoming and
is awaiting the extradition process to be returned to Colorado. The homicide
investigation began after Alamosa County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a residence in
the 3000 block of Lincoln Avenue around 6:20pm on Sunday, March 1st. Upon arrival,
deputies located Barnes, who was deceased.
Evacuations lifted for Buttermilk fire last night.
All evacuations were lifted at 5:30pm last night for the buttermilk fire that broke out in
Custer County on Wednesday. The fire is now 95% contained and grew to a total of 65
acres in size. Fire crews continued to monitor fire line last night and will begin to work
the fire area again today. No injures have been reported in connection to the fire thus far
and no structures were lost. According to The Sheriff's Office, the fire was caused by a
tree that fell onto a power line that had an automatic setting to try to reconnect the power.
Officials say that setting led to the fire starting and added that that setting would be
disabled "for the duration of the fire season".
City of Walsenburg remains on boil water advisory.
The City of Walsenburg remains on a boil water advisory today, although it appears that
most all water customers in the city have normal water pressure once again. City crews
are now working to flush the water lines with elevated levels of chlorine. While the
water may be used for showering, take precautions to avoid ingesting water and do not
drink tap water at this time. More information as to when the water will be safe to drink
will be forthcoming.
La Veta Oktoberfest committee annual chili cook-off happening tomorrow.
The La Veta Oktoberfest committee will host their annual chili cook-off tomorrow,
Saturday, March 21st, from 5 to 7pm, at the grandote events center on Colorado 12 in La
Veta. Some of the best cooks will compete for the best green chili, red chili and soup in
Huerfano County. Don’t miss this fun way to support this Oktoberfest fundraiser where
all proceeds go right back into our communities.
March 19th 2026
CO AI Policy work group announces agreement on regulations framework.
The Colorado AI policy work group has been working on artificial intelligence policy
and has reached an agreement on a framework that would replace the regulations adopted
by The Colorado Legislature two years ago. The agreement is meant to repeal and
replace the 2024 law, whose sponsors said it would protect consumers and residents from
algorithmic discrimination but which critics called heavy handed and unworkable. In a
statement, Governor Jared Polis said the draft will ensure that residents are aware when ai
or an automated decision making system is used that impact decisions affecting their
lives. The agreed-upon framework is the result of two years of negotiations among small
businesses, hospitals, schools, consumer groups, venture capitalists and technology
advocates.
Buttermilk Fire sparks to life yesterday in Custer County.
What is being called The Buttermilk Fire sparked to life yesterday afternoon in Custer
County and is burning off of County Road 182 near Verdemont Road, northwest of
Westcliffe. The Custer County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation notice at 2:38pm
yesterday for 98 homes and structures within two miles of the fire. As of yesterday
evening, the evacuations remained in effect with deputies going door-to-door in the area
to check for occupancy. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control has four
multi-mission aircraft assisting in battling the fire. No structures have been lost thus far.
The fire had grown to 59 acres and was 10% contained as of last night. The saddle club
is available for evacuated livestock. Lange hall is available as a shelter for evacuated
families. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
City of Walsenburg announces majority of city water restored.
The City of Walsenburg has announced that the majority of the city currently has good
water pressure and access to water, however, the boil water advisory remains in effect.
The city advises that the water is safe for showering, but do not drink the water. City
crews are continuing to work to re-pressurize the system, and will notify residents once
the system is fully flushed and is safe to drink again. In the meantime, residents should
continue to boil water for at least 1 minute, then cool it, before using the water to drink,
make ice, make food, or brush teeth. Walsenburg's water problems began around 2am
last Friday when most all of the town lost pressure, most without water entirely.
BLM Royal Gorge office announces stage 1 fire restrictions.
The Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge field office has issued stage 1 fire
restrictions for all BLM-administered public lands in the following counties: Baca, Bent,
Crowley, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Lincoln, Otero, Park,
Prowers, Pueblo and Teller counties. The restrictions prohibit the following: building a
fire or campfire except within a provided fire grate at a developed recreation site;
smoking, except in an enclosed area; operating a chainsaw; using a welder or torch; and
using exploding targets. The restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.
Colorado's Snowpack continues to decline.
Colorado's Snowpack continues to decline with the current warm and dry weather
conditions. Looking at new snowpack numbers released yesterday, Colorado's statewide
snowpack now stands at 58% of average. By river basin, The North Platte River Basin is
currently on top with 70% of average. The South Platte and Yampa & White stand at
67%, The Colorado at 64%, The Gunnison at 56%, The Arkansas at 49%, The Upper Rio
Grande at 45% and the lowest in the state now is The San Juan & Dolores River basin at
44% of average. The San Juans and Upper Rio Grande basins have seen the most notable
declines in snowpack since the end of February.
March 18th 2026
Colorado Governor announces activation of Colorado's drought task force.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has activated Colorado's drought task force as the state
continues to face record-breaking warm temperatures and low snowpack. This is the first
time in almost 6 years that the drought task force has been activated. The last time was in
2020. Polis says that the state is experiencing the warmest and driest year so far in its
131-year record. He said "activating the drought task force will help ensure we are
protecting one of our most precious resources by closely tracking impacts, supporting
communities and coordinating better as we prepare for the year ahead". Leaders from
state agencies, including The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado
Department of Agriculture, department of local affairs, and the division of homeland
security and emergency management, will gather information on drought conditions and
will share resources, all the way down to the local level.
Walsenburg City crews announce location of a leak in the water system.
Walsenburg City Crews, along with help from Denver water, located a leak yesterday in
the city's water system, however, the situation is not fully resolved. Crews are
continuing to work toward stabilization and water service is beginning to return to some
areas of the city. The leak was found on the west side of Walsenburg. Crews on Monday
found a leaking valve on the city's east side, and were able to successfully close that
valve. The city remains under a disaster declaration and a boil water advisory. The
original break took place around 2am on Friday Morning and caused a loss of pressure
leaving most city residents without water or with very low pressure. While water is being
restored, city crews will need to flush the lines before the water can be declared safe to
drink. Residents should continue to boil their water before drinking, cooking, making
ice, or brushing teeth.
CO SOS announces approval of two additional ballot measures.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s office has approved two additional ballot measures this
week, meaning that they will be decided by voters in November. Initiative 108 would
make child sex trafficking punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Initiative 110, which was approved yesterday, would prohibit surgery on a child for the
purpose of altering their biological sex characteristics. It would also prohibit the use of
state or federal funds, medicaid reimbursement and insurance coverage to pay for gender
reassignment surgery. Other approved ballot measures for November include a question
surrounding local law enforcement working more closely with federal immigration
officials, and an increase in penalties for fentanyl possession and distribution.
Semi crash closes I-25 in Pueblo yesterday.
Interstate 25 was closed in both directions in Pueblo following a crash involving a semi
tanker carrying gasoline. According to The Colorado Deparment of Transportation, the
semi tanker was involved in a rollover crash in the northbound lanes of I-25 near Exit
97A, the muculley exit. The truck and trailer rolled onto its side, breaching three tanks
on the truck. Hazmat teams responded to the scene to clean up the spilled gasoline. No
injuries were reported.
Body found in Arkansas river Monday identified.
Jose L. Nunez, 27, of Pueblo, has been identified as the man who's body was found in the
arkansas river around 1:45pm on Monday in the 1100 block of west 4th street in Pueblo,
which is near the midtown shopping center. No details were released regarding Nunez's
cause of death and it is not yet clear if foul play was involved. The incident remains
under investigation.
March 17th 2026
Sports Ballot Initiative has qualified for the November Ballot.
Ballot Initiative 109, which would require that student athletes only join sports teams that
correspond to their biological sex, has qualified for the November ballot. Proponents of
the measure turned in almost 169,000 signatures, and, after reviewing a random sample,
The Colorado Secretary of State's Office determined that more than enough signatures
were submitted to make the ballot this year. If passed by voters, the initiative would
restrict participation in K-12 and collegiate school sports based on a student's biological
sex and would require schools and athletic associations to designate teams and sports as
girls, boys or co-ed. The initiative does all an exception where a female student may
participate on a male team if there is no female team available. Additionally, the measure
would prohibit a government entity or athletic association from investigating a school
over maintaining separate sports for females.
City of Walsenburg remains on boil water order for now.
The City of Walsenburg remains on a boil order for now, and while some water service
has been restored at least some what, many remain without water. While not much
information about progress on the repairs was available, the city does say that some
progress has been made in finding the leak and that a valve has been shut, which has
helped the situation. However, Walsenburg Mayor Gary Vezzani said that city crews
have been working around the clock to locate the source of the leak, but the City's aging
water system has made the task challenging, and indicated that the line is "leaky". Once
repairs are made, the city expects that it will take several days before the water system is
fully operating once again. In the meantime, potable and non-potable water are both
available each day at The Walsenburg Community Center. Residents who do have water,
should boil their water for at least 1 minute before using it to drink, cook, make ice or
brush teeth.
RTN Funeral Home suspect appeared in Federal Court yesterday.
Carie Hallford, one of the owners of the now closed Return to Nature Funeral Home in
Penrose where 189 bodies were found improperly stored in 2023, appeared in Federal
Court in Denver yesterday morning for sentencing in her federal case. Hallford took a
plea agreement from The U.S. Attorney's Office and pled guilty to one count of
conspiracy to commit wire fraud last year regarding her actions at the funeral home.
Investigators have said that Carie Hallford, along with her husband Jon, conspired to
defraud families paying for funeral arrangements. Carie Hallford was sentenced to 18
years in prison on the federal charges. She will be sentenced on her state charges next
month.
Pueblo Police respond to report of a body in Arkansas River yesterday.
Pueblo Police received a report of a body in the Arkansas River in the 1000 block of
West 4th Street, near the midtown shopping center in Pueblo yesterday around 1:45pm.
No further information was provided other than that That Pueblo County Coroner will
released the person's identity once the body is identified. Pueblo Police are investigating
the incident and the investigation remains ongoing.
CDOT to perform U.S. 285 culvert replacement operations this week.
The Colorado Department of Transporation will perform culvert replacement operations
this week on U.S. 285, approximately one mile north of La Jara, or Mile Marker 21.
Motorists should plan for full stops and up to 15-minute delays through Friday. Reduced
speeds will remain in place overnight and motorists are urged to slow down and watch
for workers and heavy equipment. Working hours will be from 7am to 6pm. CDOT
urges motorists to plan ahead and allow for additional travel time.
March 16th 2026
CO State Senate committee approves ballot measure to eliminate TABOR.
The Colorado State Senate Finance Committee on Thursday voted along party lines to
move senate bill 26-135 forward, a bill that would ask voters for permission to eliminate
taxpayer's bill of rights (or tabor) refunds and instead redirect those dollars to K-12
education. The ballot measure, which would go before voters in November, would allow
the state to keep surplus revenue above the current Referendum C cap. That surplus
would then go into an excess state revenue account, created under the bill, that would
then direct the dollars to K-12 education. Based on the December 2025 revenue forecast,
that would be about $817 million over the Referendum C cap, so the state would keep
and spend that money, instead of refunding it to taxpayers. The bill now moves on to the
senate appropriations committee for further consideration.
CPW announces death of another gray wolf.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced that female gray wolf 2310 has died. The
female wolf was part of the mating pair for the king mountain pack, who was among the
10 wolves brought to Colorado from Oregon in December of 2023. The male of the king
mountain pack mating pair died in January in Routt County following a botched collaring
operation. CPW did not identify the cause of the female's death nor where the fatality
took place. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service will conduct an investigation, including a
necropsy. Of the 25 wolves relocated to Colorado – 10 from Oregon in December of
2023, and 15 from British Columbia in January of 2025 – 14 have now died, or 56% of
those relocated. Another wolf, a yearling from the copper creek pack, was killed by
wildlife staff after it preyed on multiple sheep in Rio Blanco County. CPW's wolf
management plan directs the agency to examine the relocation efforts if survival rates
dropped below 70%.
City of Walsenburg issues disaster declaration Friday.
The City of Walsenburg issued a disaster declaration on Friday following a major water
main break that has left most of the city completely without water. The break took place
about 2am Friday morning. City crews have been working since then to find the break,
but have not been successful in finding or fixing the leak. As such, Walsenburg is under
a boil water advisory. Many residents do not have water at all, however some do. Those
who do have some water should boil the water for at least 1 minute before considering it
safe to injest. Both non-potable and bottled drinking water are available to residents at
The Walsenburg Community Center. Shower facilities are also being offered at Lathrop
State Park. And, school has been canceled today and tomorrow at all Walsenburg
Schools. There is no estimated time of repair.
Howard man identified in Pueblo Reservoir drowning Friday.
48-year-old Evans C. Downie of Howard, Colorado, has been identified by the Pueblo
County Coroner as the boater who drowned in The Pueblo Reservoir on Friday.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, two men were on a fishing boat near Pedro’s
point, when the boat capsized due to rough waters around 1pm on Friday. One boater
swam to shore and was able to flag down another boater for help. CPW officials used a
remote-controlled underwater vehicle to find the second man. The body of a dog was
also found underneath the capsized boat.
Division 3 water engineer announces water year opening.
Division 3 water engineer Craig Cotten has announced a staged approach to opening the
water year for producers in the upper Rio Grande basin. The water season will begin
today for surface and groundwater irrigators in the Conejos River Area (or water district
22), the Culebra Creek area (water district 24), the Trinchera Creek area (water district
35) and the La Jara creek area. The irrigation season will begin on March 23rd for all
surface and groundwater irrigation structures in The Rio Grande area (or water district
20).
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