KSPK NEWS
October 2nd 2026
Former CO Supreme Court Justice died yesterday.
Former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart died yesterday, less than a year
after she stepped down from the bench. After joining the high court in December of
2017, Hart remained on the court until January of this year when she took an unexplained
and unusual leave of absence from the court for "family and personal health reasons" last
October. In her December 19th letter of retirement to Chief Justice Monica M. Marquez,
Hart acknowledged she has been battling "continuing health concerns arising from the
two concussions [she] suffered in the Spring of 2025" and helping with other health
challenges with her family. In a statement, Governor Jared Polis said "Justice Hart was a
leader in family law and access to justice, and I'm grateful for her service to the state and
her judicial commitment to fairness and equality.
Agriculture organizations condemn temporarily suspension of chronic depredation directive by CPW.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced on Wednesday that it is temporarily suspending
a provision of Colorado's wolf management plan that allows the killing of animals
responsible for repeated livestock depredations, or killings. That announcement was
immediately criticized by a coalition of agriculture organizations, including The
Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Cattlemen's Association, Colorado Livestock
Association, Colorado Wool Growers, and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. The group
said Wednesday that it "formally condemned [the] announcement... to suspend the lethal
take and removal of chronically depredating wolves". The Colorado Farm Bureau added
that "it's nearly unfathomable that CPW intends to abdicate their obligations to our
farming, ranching and rural communities" after "years of good faith dialogue between the
department, sportsmen, wildlife advocates, farmers, ranchers, biologists and more".
CPW says 14 livestock were killed in September alone, with a total of 57 livestock deaths
this year, compared to a total of 36 livestock and one working dog last year.
City of Trinidad announces planned power outage to take place.
The City of Trinidad has announced that a scheduled power outage will take place on
Tuesday, October 6th, beginning at 8am. The city says the outage is necessary to allow
city crews to perform infrastructure maintenance and improvements to the electrical
distribution system. Affected locations are: the 600 and 700 blocks of Tillotson, the 500,
600 and 700 blocks of Pine Street, the 600 block of Willow, the 1100 block of San Juan,
and the 600 block of Prospect. The outage is expected to last up to three hours, from 8am
to 11am. Residents should protect sensitive electronic equipment by shutting it down or
using surge protection. For questions, contact the City of Trinidad power and light
department by calling 719-846-9843.
SLV community foundation awarded grant from CHF.
The Colorado Health Foundation has awarded the SLV community foundation a
$500,000 grant for the next 36 months to support a website that helps residents connect
with nonprofits and to fund leadership development programming. The grant aims to
enhance connections between local organizations and residents, foster leadership
development and strengthen relationships among nonprofits, governments, businesses
and community members.
Applications for LEAP will begin to be accepted next month.
Applications for Colorado's low-income energy assistance program, or LEAP, will begin
to be accepted next month. LEAP, a federally funded program that helps eligible
Colorado families, seniors and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating
costs, will open applications from November 1st through April 30th of next year. If your
income is up to 60% of the state median income level, you may qualify for heating
assistance through LEAP. For more information, go to cdhs.colorado.gov/leap.
October 1st 2026
Major changes to medicaid and snap take effect today.
Several major changes to medicaid and the supplemental nutrition assistance program, or
snap, that were established under last year's congressional budget, take effect today,
October 1st. The new law narrows the definition of "qualified immigrants" eligible for
federal medicaid and children's health insurance program benefits. Colorado, and other
states, will now be required to cover 75% of the administrative costs for their snap
program, up from 50%. And, Colorado's total snap budget will be reduced by $50
million next year. The new law also requires affordable care act expansion states,
including Colorado, to reduce their safe harbor caps or the maximum amount the state
can charge providers without being penalized. The American Hospital Association warns
that the changes could result in "serious financial and operational disruptions for states,
hospitals, and the patients they serve".
El Paso County Sheriff announces end of flock camera usage in El Paso County.
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal announced yesterday that the sheriff's office will
discontinue the use of flock safety cameras in the county, effective immediately.
According to a news release, the sheriff's office says it will request that flock safety
retrieve its equipment after sending a non-renewal notice to the company. Flock safety
has come under recent scrutiny across the county over concerns of data-sharing practices
and what sort of data automated license plate readers are tracking. The sheriff's office
says it recognizes concerns about the flock safety program amid expected legislative
changes across the state.
CPW announced temporarily suspension of chronic depredation directive yesterday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced yesterday that it is temporarily suspending its
chronic depredation directive for gray wolves. The pause comes about after CPW
evaluated translocation efforts, statewide survival rates, and other biological factors.
Since April, CPW says it has lethally removed 5 wolves to address chronic depredation,
and is investigating one more mortality. CPW says the removals were done under the
statutes for CPW concerning chronic depredation. To address public concerns, CPW is
releasing a mid-year population count that includes wolf pups born this year. 45 gray
wolves are known to be in the state as of September 24th. That includes 20 pups that were
born this year. Additional requests for lethal removals will be handled on a more
conservative basis.
Colorado City man arrested in connection with Pueblo shooting.
Xavian Marshall, 20, of Colorado City, has been arrested in connection with a drive-by
shooting in the 800 block of east Abriendo Avenue in Pueblo on September 22nd. With
the assistance of The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office swat team, a search warrant was
executed at a residence in the 2900 block of knoll court in Colorado City. During the
search, an AR-15 style rifle believed to have been used in the shooting was located.
Marshall then reached out to detectives and was interviewed. During the interview,
Marshall confessed to the shooting. He has been booked into the Pueblo County jail on 6
counts of attempted 1st degree murder and weapons violation.
CPW says multiple bears currently living in Alamosa due to current drought.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say that at least 5 bears have been living in
Alamosa as the drought in the high county has forced the bears to move to the lower
areas in search of food. To responsibly live with bears, stay alert & stay together, don't
leave home alone and keep kids in sight and close by. Don't leave trash or food scraps
out. Keep dogs leashed. If you see a bear, don't approach it. Stand still, then quietly
move away. Never run. Report bear sightings by calling 719-587-6900.
September 30th 2026
Colorado suing DHS & ICE over proposed detention facility in Hudson.
The State of Colorado is suing the Federal Department of Homeland Security, and
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in an effort to halt efforts to turn the closed
prison in Hudson, Colorado, into a detention facility. The facility, owned by The GEO
Group, would hold about 1,200 detainees. It was operated as a private prison until it
closed in 2013. Hudson is located about 30 miles northeast of Denver in Weld County.
The state says that GEO and DHS have entered into a 5-year contract, valued at more
than $500 million, to renovate and operate the facility, to be known as the bighorn
facility. The facility could open later this year. Hudson's residents don't understand the
fuss over the detention facility with most looking forward to the economic advantages.
The lawsuit asks the court to cancel the federal government's contract with The GEO
Group, and also seeks an injunction to stop any work on the facility.
CO Gov Polis and CPW announce recipients of human-bear conflict reduction grant.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife yesterday announced the
2026 funding recipients of the human-bear conflict reduction community grant, which
will distribute $1 million to 17 efforts around the state. The grants provide funding for
communities, businesses and nonprofits that are working to create innovative ways to
reduce human-bear conflict. Awards in our area include: $100,000 to Manitou Springs
for bear-resistant containers, $58,500 for the Town of South Fork for dumpsters and bins,
and $26,293 for Mountaindale RV Resort in El Paso and Fremont Counties for bear-
resistant containers. CPW encourages everyone to share bearwise information with their
neighbors and communities to help prevent conflicts with bears.
Beulah Fire PD warning residents of potential flash flooding.
The Beulah Fire Protection District is warning residents that flash flooding may take
place in the area of the "Aspen Acres" fire burn scar, especially as predicted heavy rain
begins to hit the area. Last night, officials said there was active flash flooding on Pine
Drive and Cascade Avenue. Parts of Colorado 78 were closed last night due to flooding,
at ULA Trail, Squirrel Creek Road and from Fox Lane to 12 mile. Officials are
recommending that Beulah residents either stay home or get to high ground. They say to
never drive through flooded roads and don't go around barricades. Residents are
cautioned to be ready to evacuate if conditions change.
Information about proposed new Data Center in Alamosa County released by company.
In a statement, Strata, the company looking to place a Data Center in Alamosa County
near Hooper says that they want the public to have accurate information about their
project. Strata says the entire project will take up a total of 2.3 acres and is limited to 12
computing containers, or about 3800 square feet of total floor space. Each container will
be "air cooled" and no water will be utilized to cool the containers. Strata says the
project is intentionally designed to utilize existing electric infrastructure and capacity and
no new transmission lines or substations will be necessary. The full application for the
project can be reviewed on the county's website at www.alamosacounty.org.
Chaffee County K-9 Deputy credited with locating missing children.
Chaffee County K-9 Deputy Archie is being credited with locating three missing children
in the Colorado wilderness last Saturday Afternoon. Two 6-year-olds and a 9-year-old
were reported missing around 11am Saturday. The children were part of a large family
group camping nearby. Archie was deployed to help locate the children, who had
wandered about 1.5 miles from their family's campsite east of Buena Vista. The children
were found around 2pm Saturday and were not injured. Search and rescue teams helped
return the children to their family.
September 29th 2026
CO Gov Polis announces federal grant money shift to rural healthcare providers in Colorado.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced yesterday that The Colorado Department of
Health Care Policy and Financing will direct nearly $170 million in federal grant money
to rural healthcare providers across Colorado. The grants are part of the rural health
transformation program, a five-year $50 billion nationwide initiative administered by the
centers for medicare and medicaid services. 112 grant applications requesting more than
$250 million in funding for 368 projects were received. Ultimately, 91 applicants and
about 250 projects across 52 of the state's 64 counties were selected for grant funding.
The grants will go toward expanding Telehealth and access to specialty care, building and
retaining Colorado's rural health workforce, expanding mobile health services, expanding
behavioral health and substance-use care, and improving maternal, newborn and pediatric
care.
Lake Pueblo drowning victim identified.
Corporal Stephen Biggs, who was an off-duty officer with The Pueblo Police
Department, has been identified as the man who drowned in Lake Pueblo on Sunday
Evening. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, members of the marine evidence
recovery team located the body around 2am yesterday morning using side-scan sonar in
the main channel, just east of Peck Creek Cove. Biggs was found in about 48 feet of
water. officials responded to the area of Peck Creek, which is in the west-central area of
the lake, after a "single-boat" incident was reported about 5:30pm on Sunday. CPW is
investigating the incident as a fatal boating accident.
Fatal accident on La Veta Pass Friday leaves one dead and one injured.
One person was killed and a 32-year-old man was seriously injured following a head-on
collision that took place on U.S. 160, La Veta Pass, on Friday. According to reports, the
accident took place on La Veta Pass near County Road 443 when a vehicle traveling
eastbound began to pass a slower, downhill vehicle. Simultaneously, a vehicle was
traveling westbound in the center lane, when the collision occurred. Both vehicles were
heavily damaged and the highway was closed in both directions during the investigation.
One lane of the highway reopened around 7:30pm Friday with the highway fully
reopening around 9:30pm, following clean up of the crash. No further information was
made available. The crash remains under investigation.
US Marshals Service, CSP and HCSO took party into custody yesterday.
The U.S. Marshals Service - violent offenders task force, with the assistance of The
Colorado State Patrol and The Huerfano County Sheriff's Office, took a party into
custody yesterday that posed a significant threat to the community on a warrant out of
The Huerfano County Sheriff's Office. No further details regarding the arrest or identity
of the suspect were provided pending the ongoing investigation.
CDOT new driving behavior report shows speeding a major factor in crashes.
The Colorado Department of Transportation's newly released driving behavior report
says that 73% of Coloradans admit that they speed on main highways at least some of the
time. Additionally, 69% of Coloradans say they do the same on local highways.
Speeding is a major factor in crashes in Colorado and contributed to 234 deaths in 2025,
33% of total traffic fatalities that year. In 2024, an estimated 316,757 people in The
United States were injured in traffic crashes involving speeding. By slowing down,
Coloradans can prevent deaths, injuries, wild animal fatalities and property damage.
September 28th 2026
Second lawsuit filed against San Isabel Electric.
A second lawsuit has been filed against San Isabel Electric, alleging that the company's
failures caused The Aspen Acres Fire. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in Pueblo
County District Court with 7 residents of Rye and Beulah as plaintiffs, claims that the fire
began under two different ignition points on each side of Colorado 165 on the morning of
June 29th, when trees or other vegetation fell on San Isabel's energized power lines "from
areas where vegetation had not been adequately maintained" by the company. The suit
also alleges that the fire investigators later found evidence of electrical arcing near one
area of origin of the fire west of Highway 165. The lawsuit says San Isabel Electric
"failed to properly maintain and safely operate its power lines and equipment" despite
knowing that red flag warnings had been issued for The Wet Mountains and did not heed
the forecast or take appropriate measures to mitigate the risk of fire that left scorched and
smoldering homes and forests in its wake. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for
both economic and non-economic damages, caused by the blaze, including destruction of
property, loss of business income and crops, and bodily injury.
Latest collard gray wolf activity map shows activity staying on western slope.
The latest collard gray wolf activity map issued last week shows that wolves have largely
been staying on the western slope for the past month. That in contrast to a year ago when
collared wolves were tracked as far east as Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek and Park
counties, and were in the western part of The San Luis Valley. Colorado Parks and
Wildlife has reported 32 wolves in the state as of March 31st. However, since that time,
six wolves have died with five being killed by CPW for depredation incidents, with
wolves killing nearly five dozen livestock this year. Ranchers say that some wolves are
also believed to be hunting in packs, with one pack killing a bull in Pitkin County in
August.
Alamosa County Treasurer offering to assist property owners facing tax lien sale.
Alamosa County Treasurer and Public Trustee Amy Mckinley is urging property owners
who are facing a tax lien sale, treasurer's deed process or foreclosure, to contact her
office before responding to individuals or companies offering to "help" or "solve" or
"take over" their property. Mckinley says such solicitations often target people under
financial or legal stress, even pressuring them to transfer ownership of the property.
Mckinley says her office has access to official records and can explain timelines,
requirements and available options at no cost.
CPW searched for missing person at Lake Pueblo State Park yesterday.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials took to the water yesterday evening to search for a
missing person at Lake Pueblo State Park. According to CPW, a call came in regarding
an incident involving a single boat about 5:30pm yesterday. CPW responded, along with
Pueblo County Sheriff's Deputies, Pueblo West Firefighters and the marine evidence
recovery team. CPW said they were on the water with a sonar-equipped patrol boat
searching in the area of peck creek on the west-central part of the park. No further
information on the search was available last night.
USDA joined Monte Vista officials last week in ceremonial check presentation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced last week a total of
$46,414,000 in federal funding for improvements to The Monte Vista Wastewater
Treatment System. USDA Rural Development representatives joined City of
Monte Vista officials on Wednesday for a ceremonial check presentation to recognize the federal
investment.
Click here
