KSPK NEWS
May 18th 2026
CO Gov Polis announces clemency for Tina Peters Friday.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, on Friday afternoon, granted clemency to Former Mesa
County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters, who was given a 9 year prison sentence in 2024
after she allowed an individual unauthorized access to certain parts of Mesa County's
election systems. Peters, who is 70, will be released from prison on Monday, June 1st.
The move comes after a Colorado Court of Appeals upheld her data breach conviction
last month, but found that Peters' sentence violated her first amendment rights because,
in sentencing her, District Judge Matthew Barrett took her political beliefs into account.
Peters was indicted in 2022 on 10 counts, both felonies and misdemeanors, after she
allowed another election integrity activist to attempt to find if fraud had been perpetrated
in the 2020 election. While the case had been referred back to Mesa County for re
sentencing, Polis actions on Friday put an end to further legal maneuvering. Polis said
Friday that 9 years "is an extremely unusual and lengthy sentence for a first time offender
who committed non-violent crimes.
CO State Lawmakers pass bill to require police shooting recordings to be shown to family first.
Colorado State Lawmakers on Wednesday passed SB26-190, which would require law
enforcement agencies to share recordings of deadly police shootings with the family
members of the person killed prior to sharing the recordings with the public. The
legislation would also require police departments to make every effort to notify the
family of a person who died in a police shooting within 24 hours, and requires law
enforcement to proactively provide relevant unedited video and audio recordings when
officers kill a person to their immediate family within 21 days of the incident. The bill
now awaits Governor Jared Polis' signature before it can become law.
Pueblo county traffic stop leads to discovery of fentanyl Thursday Morning.
A traffic stop in Pueblo County on Thursday led to the discovery of more than 150 grams
of fentanyl. According to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, a deputy was on patrol just
before 1am Thursday when he initiated a traffic stop at La Crosse Street for a vehicle
with no registration. A second deputy noticed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle during
the stop, along with another adult and child. Deputies initiated a probably cause search
of the vehicle and found 135 grams of fentanyl pills, 32.5 grams of fentanyl powder,
more than $1,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia. The driver, Jacob Rodriguez, 33, was
booked into the Pueblo County jail two counts of distribution, possession of a controlled
substance and child abuse.
Alamosa woman arrested following traffic stop Wednesday.
Anna Pacheco, 55, of Alamosa, was arrested Wednesday following a traffic stop in the
500 block of La Due Avenue in Alamosa where officers discovered a large amount of
methamphetamine in the vehicle. The discovery prompted the execution of a search
warrant near the 7000 block of wild acres lane, which yielded approximately 30 grams of
methamphetamine, a large amount of U.S. currency and items used to conceal, distribute
and transport illicit narcotics. Pacheco was transported to The Alamosa County
Detention Center on charges of possession and distribution of a controlled substance.
Town of Campo in Baca county evacuation orders lifted yesterday other areas still under evacuation.
The town of Campo, in Baca County near The Oklahoma border, and the surrounding
area, were under evacuation orders yesterday as a wildfire was burning in a southerly
direction near the Oklahoma Border. Baca County Emergency Management said there
was an active threat to life and asked those living nearby to move quickly. Late last
night, emergency management lifted evacuation orders for the town of campo, however,
evacuations did remain in place for anyone living in rural areas nearby.
May 15th 2026
CO Senator Hickenlooper endorsed by various labor unions.
Saying that Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper is a proven champion of the state's
workers and their rights, three local labor unions on Tuesday endorsed Hickenlooper's
bid for re-election. The three endorsements are from smart sheet metal workers local 9,
pipefitters local 208 and the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Association. Those
three joined the American federation of state, county and municipal employees and
western states carpenters in supporting the former two-term governor. Hickenlooper is
facing a primary challenge from State Senator Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat who
also says she has prominent labor endorsements, which include The Colorado AFL-CIO,
Colorado wins local 1876, service employees international union local 105, The Colorado
State Association of Letter Carriers, and Communications Workers of America.
Bill to place heavier restrictions on sports betting passes CO legislature.
SB26-131, a new bill aimed at placing heavier restrictions on sports betting apps has
passed The Colorado State Legislature with bipartisan support. The bill would limit
deposits on sports betting apps to 6 per day. It also includes a ban on using credit cards
for placing bets and prohibits push notifications from these applications. Not everyone,
however, agrees with the new restrictions. The sports betting alliance is encouraging
people to advocate against the law on its website, saying in part that they have concerns
about personal financial autonomy and people not being told how they can or cannot
spend their money. The bill still allows prop bets and doesn't impose a limit on the
amount of money a person can deposit in a single transaction. If Governor Jared Polis
signs the bill, Colorado will join nine others states that have banned the use of credit
cards for deposits for sports betting.
Alamosa County commissioners agree to ask voters to eliminate DA term limits Wednesday.
Alamosa County Commissioners on Wednesday agreed to ask voters to eliminate term
limits for the 12th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Commissioners also adopted a
second resolution voicing their own support to remove term limits from the DA's office.
All six boards of county commissioners in The San Luis Valley have to approve the
question for their ballots for the question to get on the ballot. Mineral County and Rio
Grande County have adopted similar language as Alamosa to get the question on the
November ballot. Conejos, Costilla and Saguache County Commissioners all need to
take similar action before July 24th, otherwise the idea of eliminating term limits for the
DA goes away for this election cycle.
Trinidad Police Chief announces resignation.
Trinidad Police Chief Roles has resigned his position effective on Friday, May 29th, 2026,
at 5pm. Following Chief Roles' departure, Lt. Jason Villotti will assume the role of
interim Chief of Police, also effective on Friday, May 29th, 2026, at 5pm. The City of
Trinidad says that it is committed to ensuring a thoughtful and stable path forward for the
department and the community it serves. Additional information regarding the next steps
and future leadership plans will be shared with the public as it becomes available. The
city says it appreciates the continued deduction of the officers and staff of The Trinidad
Police Department.
CDOT announces Wolf Creek Pass tunnel improvements to begin.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has announced that it will perform
preventative maintenance improvements to the US 160 Wolf Creek Pass tunnel beginning
on Monday, May 18th. Motorists will be guided by signage onto the nearby paved tunnel
bypass lanes. The tunnel, located between South Fork and the pass summit, will be
closed throughout the duration of the project. Work is expected to be complete early in
October. The comprehensive maintenance project will restore smooth driving surfaces
and will reduce the frequency of icy or slick conditions.
May 14th 2026
Lawmakers in Colorado wrapped up work for this year's legislative session yesterday.
Lawmakers in Colorado yesterday wrapped up their work in this year's legislative session
in a year that was defined by the lack of fiscal flexibility, woes over medicaid spending
and action on a host of issues ranging from artificial intelligence regulation to a failed
attempt to decriminalize prostitution. The Democratic-Controlled Legislature also
confronted a budget deficit exceeding $1 billion for the second year in a row. Of the
more than 600 bills introduced this year, those with a fiscal note were mostly rejected or
revised to decrease estimated costs. Democrats have argued that decisions made by The
Trump Administration contributed to the state's financial strain. Republicans countered
that the shortfall stemmed from years of overspending and the failure by legislators to
make the hard decisions.
CO State Senate passes bill to require CSHC to provide abortion access on site.
The Colorado State Senate yesterday passed a bill that requires student health centers on
college campuses to provide access to on-site abortion medication services. The bill
requires that any campus that has an on-campus pharmacy or health center to make
abortion medication available to enrolled students. If a campus does not have an on-
campus pharmacy, healthcare providers would be required to submit a prescription for
abortion medication to an off-campus pharmacy. The legislation applies to both public
and private colleges. The bill also requires institutions to follow applicable privacy laws
for personally identifiable information. Critics have raised concerns about the cost of the
program to taxpayers. The bill is now headed to Governor Jared Polis for his signature.
CO AG's office announces indictments against petition circulators.
The Colorado Attorney General's office says that two people circulating petitions to get
the school choice initiative on the ballot in Colorado during the 2024 election have been
indicted for submitting fraudulent signatures. Cherell Long of Nevada and Martin
Arellano of Texas, were both working as paid circulators with Victor's Canvassing, LLC,
a Colorado Springs-based canvassing company. A grand jury indictment has charged
both Arellano and Long with attempt to influence a public servant, elections forgery,
forgery, all felonies, and perjury, a misdemeanor. Several signatures reportedly did not
match voter files and several signatures were of deceased voters, or of those who had
canceled their registrations.
Conejos County Sheriff announces lifting of county fire ban.
Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther has lifted the county fire ban, effective
immediately. However, the announcement comes with serious reminders and requests.
Residents are asked to please complete any burning needing to be done as soon as
possible as conditions remain very dry. Please use extreme caution with any fire and
make sure to have the proper means to control it. Also, please remember that burning is
not allowed on any day a red flag warning is in effect. Remember that you are
responsible for your fire and any damage it may cause.
SCCY in Walsenburg announces closure.
The Sangre De Cristo Center for Youth (or SCCY) in Walsenburg has announced that it
will close its doors as of June 1st. The closure comes following 26 years of operation.
According to SCCY, the closure is due to ongoing financial hardship, a lack of
sustainable community support and a loss of critical funding and grant opportunities
necessary to continue operations. SCCY says they have been more than just a youth
center. They say they have offered a safe place, a second home, a mentor, an adventure
and a source of hope to young people in Huerfano County. The youth center thanked
those who have supported it over the years.
May 13th 2026
Democratic proposal to raise CO Tabor cap passed and headed to ballot.
SB26-135, a Democratic-backed proposal to raise Colorado's tabor cap and direct more
money to K-12 schools has been passed by the state legislature and is headed to the
ballot. Under tabor, all proposed increases to the revenue limit, or the tabor cap, must be
approved by voters. If approved by voters in November, the average Coloradan would
lose more than $7,000 in tabor refunds over the next decade. According to a nonpartisan
staff analysis, the bill could generate up to $9 billion over the first decade. However,
while democrats are saying that that money will be used for k-12 schools, about 75% of
the revenue would no go to schools, but instead, those dollars would go into Colorado's
general fund where they could be used by lawmakers for whatever purposes they choose.
Senate Bill 135 passed on a 23-12 party-line vote in the Senate and a 42-21 vote in the
House, with all Republicans and Democratic Rep. Lorena Garcia of Adams County
voting against it.
CO Legislators passes provision to prohibit purchase of lottery tickets by credit card.
Saying that the Colorado lottery commission illegally Okay'd credit card purchases for
online sales, Colorado State Legislators have passed SB26-117 that prohibits the use of
credit cards to purchase lottery tickets. An additional provision that would have
prohibited the online sale of lottery and scratch game tickets was removed from the bill.
Senator Judy Amablile of Boulder said that while the state would have brought in an
estimated additional $15 million within the first two years of allowing credit card
purchases, that revenue would be made "on the backs of people who are just losing
money and destroying their lives". Gov. Jared Polis has voiced support for the lottery
commission's ruling. It is not known whether he will sign or veto the bill.
Pueblo man identified as person killed at DIA last Friday Night.
41-year-old Michael Mott, originally of Pueblo, has been identified as the man who was
killed on the runway at Denver International Airport late last Friday Night. Mott had
reportedly been experiencing homelessness in Colorado Springs and had been arrested
twice. According to authorities, Mott was hit and killed by a frontier plane that was
taking off at DIA late Friday and was intending to end his own life when he scaled a
remote fence and walked onto a runway. The Frontier Airlines flight was headed to Los
Angeles. The pilots aborted takeoff and passengers were evacuated on slides and were
taken back to the terminal following the incident.
Custer/Fremont County mistakenly get emergency alert met for Trinidad.
On Monday Afternoon, some residents of Custer and Western Fremont County received
an emergency alert on their cell phone stating that there was a planned power outage
beginning last night at 5pm. No other details were given in the alert, causing confusion
for Custer and Fremont County residents. The alert was actually intended for Trinidad
City residents where a power outage was planned for last night, but was mistakenly sent
to Custer and Fremont County residents. In most alerts, specific regional information is
included to keep residents informed.
CDOT reminding drivers to be aware of construction workers on road.
A utility locator was hit by a car yesterday morning near 29 Road and Patterson in Grand
Junction. According to Grand Junction Police, the crash took place around 11:30am
close to construction in the area. The worker was taken to the hospital with life-
threatening injuries. No further information was given on the worker. The Colorado
Department of Transportation reminds drivers to be aware of those working along the
roadways, especially as construction season is now well underway in Colorado.
May 12th 2026
Bill to give retiring coal plants three year extension passes CO Legislature.
A bill that would give municipal utilities a three year extension on retiring coal plants in
Colorado has passed The Colorado House and Senate and is now on its way to Governor
Jared Polis' desk. SB26-182 aims to meet Colorado's clean energy goals while
maintaining electric reliability and affordability. Municipal coal-fired power plants like
The Ray Nixon Power Plant's coal unit south of Colorado Springs was originally
scheduled to be shut down on December 31st of 2029. With passage of the bill, that
retirement date will now be pushed off to December 31st of 2032. The bill also requires
annual reporting on the progress a utility is making toward the state's clean energy goals,
a commitment to explore feasible emissions reductions beyond 80%, and ensures system
reliability, safety and affordability. Governor Polis is expected to sign the bill into law.
Revised version of CO AI law passes legislature.
A revised version of Senate Bill 26-189, Colorado's Artificial Intelligence law, has
cleared both the colorado house and senate just a week after it was introduced and is now
headed to The Governor's Desk for his signature. The new legislation is intended to
replace a law adopted in 2024, which was amended during a special session last year to
delay its implementation date. Supporters had insisted that law was a safeguard against
algorithmic discrimination, but critics argue it was overly burdensome and impractical to
implement. Under the bill, technology using automated decision making would be
required to disclose the technology's intended use to users. The bill also grants
consumers the right to request personal data, to correct data used, and to request a human
review of any decision. It remains to be seen if polis will sign the measure into law.
City of Trinidad announces planned power outage for tonight.
The City of Trinidad has announced that it has scheduled a planned power outage to
begin tonight at 5pm. The power outage is expected to last through approximately 3am
tomorrow. Power could return earlier if the scheduled work is completed early. The
purpose of the outage is to replace aging infrastructure and to ensure the long-term safety
and reliability of the city's electrical system. City officials suggest that residents charge
their phones and other essential devices, unplug sensitive electronics to prevent damage,
keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, use flashlights instead of candles for safety,
and check in on any neighbors who may need help during the outage.
Alamosa City Council considering lighting restriction roll back.
The Alamosa City Council is considering rolling back lighting restrictions in the city
following recommendations from the community and the city's development services.
The city adopted darksky international standards for reducing light pollution in 2024.
However, after city staff and local business owners worked out a plan that would benefit
them the most, the recommendation to the city council is to reverse those original code
adoptions this year. Since the code adoption in 2024, city staff have received complaints
primarily from local business owners saying that specific elements such as restrictions on
brightnews and color temperature are problematic. Council approved the changes on first
reading last week. A public hearing on the matter will be held on May 20th.
CPW commission approves firearms training and safety course record fee.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife commission last week approved a $52 firearms training
and safety course record fee as part of its implementation of senate bill 25-003, which
establishes new requirements for the purchase of specific semi-automatic firearms in
Colorado. The fee will support the administration of CPW's firearms safety program and
is required by statue to reflect the actual costs of operateing and maintaining the
program's record system.
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