June 17th 2026
CO Gov Polis announces approval from FDA to import prescription drugs from Canada.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced yesterday that the state of Colorado has
received approval from the food and drug administration to import lower-cost
prescription drugs from Canada in an effort to save Coloradans money on healthcare.
Polis said yesterday "now more than ever, we need to call on drug manufacturers to step
up to the plate and stop ripping off consumers with inflated drug costs by putting profits
over people". Polis said "enough is enough". The governor's office says that, with this
approval, The FDA has indicated that The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy
and Financing has outlined a plan to import drugs that will reduce costs while ensuring
public health and safety. The Governor's office says that Colorado has been working on
its drug importation program since 2019.
Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder pled guilty to accessory charge yesterday.
Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder Mari Felix yesterday pled guilty to being an
accessory to one charge of child abuse, "knowingly and recklessly causing bodily injury",
a class 1 misdemeanor, in Alamosa District Court. As part of a plea deal, Felix also pled
guilty to one count of violation of a protection order, also a class 1 misdemeanor. Felix
was accused in late 2023 of being an accessory in crimes committed against a child.
District Judge Krista Newmyer Olsen yesterday sentenced Felix to 18 months of
supervised probation for the child abuse charge. Felix was sentenced to 18 months of
supervised probation, to be served concurrently, for the charge of violating a restraining
order. Law enforcement continues to search for Martin Felix-Lopez, who is accused of
committing sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and other crimes.
After making bail, Felix-Lopez fled the area.
Rye FPD Firefighters working on hidden creek fire near Rye.
Firefighters with The Rye Fire Protection District are working on what is being called the
"hidden creek fire" that sparked to life on Monday evening near Rye, just north of table
mountain. As of late yesterday, firefighters say that the fire is estimated to be 40 to 45%
contained and has remained at four acres in size. A helicopter helping battle the fire
yesterday had just completed a water drop around 12:45pm when a fire broke out in the
helicopter's cockpit. The pilot was able to land safely without injury. There are
currently no evacuations and firefighters say there is no immediate threat to public safety.
The preliminary cause of the fire is believed to have been a lightning strike.
CSP asking for witnesses to come forward following US 50 crash.
The Colorado State Patrol is asking for witnesses, or anyone who has dashcam footage, to
come forward, following a two-vehicle crash that resulted in serious bodily injury and
took place on US50 west of Canon City on Monday afternoon. The crash took place at
mile marker 262 at approximately 1:20pm. Preliminary reports indicate that the driver of
a white 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 began passing vehicles in a passing zone while
driving eastbound on the highway, but continued passing in a no-passing zone, which
lead to a crash with the Silverado striking a 2024 Jeep Wrangler, traveling westbound,
head-on. If you have any information about the crash, you're asked to call 719-544-2424
and reference case VC260186.
CDMV warning vehicle owners of rising title theft scam.
The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles is warning vehicle owners of a rising "title
theft" scam. According to the motor vehicle investigation unit, third-party "helpers" are
illegally seizing vehicle ownership under the guise of assistance. Fraudsters often target
people who don't have a driver's license, offering to either act as a "power of attorney",
or asking to be added to the title to "facilitate" registration. To learn more about motor
vehicle scams, go to dmv.colorado.gov/fraud-alertsscams.
June 16th 2026
CSSA files lawsuit challenging new firearm regulations bill.
The Colorado State Shooting Association, Colorado's branch of the National Rifle
Association, has filed a lawsuit challenging HB26-1126, a recently signed law that
expands regulations for firearms dealers in Colorado. The new law clarifies that firearms
dealers must hold both a federal and state license to operate. The new law also allows the
department of revenue to fine dealers up to $100,000 for second or subsequent violations
of certain requirements. The new law also expands record-keeping requirements to apply
to all firearm purchases, rather than just pistols and revolvers. The lawsuit contends that
the new law's provision granting law enforcement access to firearm purchase records
without require a warrant or probable cause violates The U.S. Constitution and
"establishes a system of government surveillance directed at lawful firearm owners".
The group has formerly filed lawsuits against the state's firearm excise tax and a measure
requiring safety training. Both are pending.
Enterprise Pipeline Spill possibly twice as large as originally reported.
The Enterprise Pipeline Spill, which was first detected on December 5th of 2024, is
already considered the largest gasoline pipeline spill in Colorado history, but could be
twice as large as currently reported. Houston-based enterprise products, which operates
the interstate pipeline that runs through Southwest Colorado, has previously said the spill
is about 97,000 gallons. However, a new, independent analysis conducted by The
Southern Ute Indian Tribe says the actual estimate could be closer to 200,000 gallons.
The spill is just south of Durango on private land within The Southern Ute Indian
Reservation, just a half mile from The Animas River. The 40-year-old, 10-inch pipeline
carries refined products like gasoline from Texas to Grand Junction. The leak has led to
benzene, a known carcinogen in gasoline, being found in groundwater in the area.
US 160 Fort Garland WMP expected to be wrapped up by end of the month.
Work on the U.S. 160 Fort Garland Wildlife mitigation project is ongoing, and travelers
will continue to see single-lane closures and shoulder closures throughout the project
limits from mile marker 258.4 to mile marker 262.9. Crews are resurfacing, painting new
pavement markings, and installing signage of approximately 2 miles of highway
immediately east of Fort Garland. Construction on the safety improvement project began
in March of last year and spans from Fort Garland eastward to Mortimer Hill, or about 7
miles. Work has included installation of three wildlife underpasses, deer fencing, and
acceleration and deceleration lanes at Trinchera Ranch Road. Work is expected to be
complete by the end of the month.
Bent County CF remains on lockdown after incident.
State officials still have not released any information regarding the incident that took
place earlier this month at The Bent County Correctional Facility in Las Animas earlier
this month. The incident that took place on Saturday, June 6th, left two inmates dead and
a third in the hospital. The incident led to the suspension of visitation at all CDOC
facilities statewide, which was then lifted on June 8th. However, The Bent County
Correctional Facility remains on lockdown status and in-person visitation remains
suspended. No prison staff were hurt in the incident.
City of Alamosa to host 2-day 4th of July celebration.
The City of Alamosa announced yesterday that its annual July 4th fireworks celebration
has been canceled for this year, due to the dry weather. The City of Alamosa, however,
will still host a 2-day celebration, Friday, July 3rd, and Saturday, July 4th, with its first
Fridays founders day celebration on Friday and then the annual Fourth of July parade on
Saturday Morning. The Alamosa Kiwanis club will also host its 4th of July Pancake
breakfast beginning at 7am on Saturday, July 4th, and will include pancakes, eggs,
sausage, ham, orange juice and coffee all served up by Alamosa Kiwanis members.
June 15th 2026
CPW on Friday confirmed lethal removal of uncollard Gray Wolf.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Friday confirmed that its agents lethally removed an
uncollard Gray Wolf in Routt County. Visual evidence obtained at the scene confirmed
that the removed wolf is the same one that was depredating in Rio Blanco County in 2025
and early 2026. This wolf was originally a member of The Copper Creek Pack, but has
not been a part of that pack since September of 2024. Since last summer, this uncollared
wolf has been involved in 10 different confirmed depredation events involving 22 sheep.
The latest of the depredations were confirmed events on June 10th and 11th. These events
occurred despite the producer pursuing substantial non-lethal conflict minimization
efforts. CPW's decision to lethally remove the wolf was made in consultation with
USFWS and in accordance with applicable legal requirements, including The USFWS
10(J) rule.
More cases of new world screwworm confirmed in US.
Three more cases of the new world screwworm have been confirmed, bringing the total
to 5 in the U.S. The five confirmed cases thus far are: three calves and a goat in Texas,
and a small dog from Lea County, New Mexico. The screwworm is actually a fly larva
that eats living flesh instead of dead material. The flies lay their eggs in open wounds of
animals like cattle, but wildlife, pets and occasionally even humans can be infected. The
government has a program to breed sterile male flies and drop swarms of them from
planes to mate with wild females, which kept screwworm contained at the southern end
of panama for decades. The USDA and The U.S. Cattle Industry have been racing to
prevent an outbreak since screwworm was detected in Mexico late in 2024. The USDA
has been dropping sterile flies in South Texas since February.
Most current U.S. Drought monitor shows most of CO in severe to extreme Drought.
The most current U.S. Drought monitor released last week shows most of Colorado in
severe to extreme drought currently. More specifically, The Denver area is in severe
drought; El Paso County, then extending east and northeast, is showing dry to moderate
drought conditions. Huerfano County, Alamosa County, Rio Grande County, Mineral
County, Western Las Animas County, and most of Costilla and Saguache County are all
showing extreme drought conditions. Pueblo County, Bent County and Eastern Las
Animas County are all showing severe conditions currently.
Pueblo D60 school board considering changes to cell phone policy.
The Pueblo District 60 school board is considering changing its cell phone policy to
allow phones in school. Currently, the district's cell phone policy requires students'
phones to be off at all times inside the school and on school buses, except in certain
situations. The school board is instead looking to let students have their phones on
during passing periods, lunch time and at the beginning and end of the school day. The
next District 60 school board meeting is scheduled for June 23rd, where a second reading
of the proposal is expected to take place.
Rio Grande CC's took public comment Wednesday on potential data center.
Rio Grande County Commissioners on Wednesday took public comment on a potential
data center initiative proposed by SLV REC in March. Commissioners are being asked to
consider a moratorium similar to one imposed by Saguache County earlier this year, as
well as considering an environmental impact assessment to help determine the impacts a
data center would have on water resources and energy in Rio Grande County. With data
centers being proposed recently in small communities, that have become a hot topic.
Commissioners have yet to address concerns, stating that they are looking into details
about the centers as well.
June 12th 2026
Senator Bennet's campaign finance case delayed following amended complaint.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet's campaign finance case has been delayed again following
a Colorado elections division amended complaint, and now won't be heard until after
Colorado's June 30th primary. A campaign-finance complaint alleges that Bennet's
senate committee improperly paid for travel tied to his gubernatorial bid. Four
complaints have been filed against the Bennet campaign. A hearing was set for next
Tuesday, June 16th, however, the Bennet campaign asked for a postponement due to a
scheduling conflict. That was denied last month. But, the elections division filed an
amended complaint, resetting the timeline for the Bennet campaign to submit its
responses. That has set a new hearing date for July 26th. Bennet's campaign is being
criticized for seeking to avoid even an answer to the complaint until after the primary
election.
Bear Fire in Las Animas County now 60% contained.
The Bear Fire, which is burning off of County Road 113.8 and County Road 78.9, east of
US 350, near The Pinon Canyon Maneuver site, is now 60% contained. According to fire
officials, all evacuation orders for the fire have now been lifted. An Arial mapping of the
fire show the size to be 128 acres last night. Officials say the fire was caused by lighting,
with the first crews dispatched to respond at 11am on Wednesday. Currently 80 fire
personnel are working the fire from agencies across the region. Officials expect that they
will begin releasing personnel from the fire today.
Walsenburg City Councilor announces resignation from seat.
Walsenburg City Councilor Ronald Stafford has resigned from his seat representing
Ward 1. Stafford was elected to the council in 2023. Stafford was sworn in on
December 5th, 2023, after he defeated incumbent Jacque Sikes. His four-year term would
have expired next year. In his resignation email, Safford said "please accept this email as
formal notification that I am resigning from my position on the city council...". He wrote
"I have appreciated the opportunity to serve the community, and I wish the council and
the city the very best moving forward". No reason was given for his resignation.
CDOT says teen traffic fatalities reached record high in 2025.
The Colorado Department of Transportation says that traffic fatalities among people ages
15 to 20 in Colorado reached a record high in 2025, with 86 drivers and passengers
killed, a 91% increase in youth traffic fatalities in the past 10 years. During the 100
deadliest days of summer last year, 225 people died on the road, and 16% of them were
between 15 and 20. CDOT says that teens are at the highest risk of crashing within the
first three months after getting their driver's license. CDOT is warning young drivers to
stay vigilant and to follow traffic laws this summer.
CDOT announces double lane closures on I-25 in Colorado Springs.
The Colorado Department of Transportation is planning double-lane closures on
Interstate 25 between 7pm tonight and 6am tomorrow morning. The closures will affect
the interstate between Fillmore Street and Garden of The Gods Road. Traffic will be
reduced to one lane in each direction. For northbound traffic, one lane will close
beginning at 7pm, followed by double lane closures from 10pm to 5am. For southbound
traffic, one lane will close at 8pm with double lane closures from 10pm to 4am. All lanes
are expected to reopen by 6am tomorrow.
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