April 24th 2026
Bill to ask voters to change Tabor cap to be debated in the Senate today.
SB26-135, a bill that requires the Secretary of State to refer a ballot issue to the
November 2026 general election that seeks to increase public education spending by
tapping into Taxpayer's Bill of Rights refunds would actually allow the state to keep 75%
of the retained monies with only 25% of those monies actually going to K-12 schools,
according to a nonpartisan analysis of the measure. What the measure means, according
to the analysis, is that every taxpayer would lose $7,381 in Tabor refunds over the next
10 years, with the state claiming that money will go to education. Instead, however,
according to the analysis, 75% those dollars would go into the state's general fund – to be
used by lawmakers for whatever purposes they choose – and actually short-change K-12
schools. Tabor requires a public vote in order to raise taxes. It also limits revenue
growth, and requires excess revenue to be refunded to taxpayers. SB26-135 would allow
the state to create a new Tabor limit above the existing Tabor cap, and would amount to a
tax increase and a loss of tabor refunds. The bill is scheduled to be debated in the Senate
today.
CO Republican Party files motion to keep Unaffiliates out of party primary.
The Colorado Republican Party this week filed a motion asking a federal judge to keep
Republican Primary Ballots out of the hands of Unaffiliated voters. The motion seeks a
temporary restraining order to direct Colorado's Secretary of State to exclude
Unaffiliated voters from participating in the Republican primary, which will take place
on June 30th. Colorado has been under a semi-open primary system since voters passed a
proposition in 2016 that allows unaffiliated voters to vote in a primary, but they can only
vote in either the Democratic or Republican Primary. The Colorado Republican Party
has been fighting the semi-open primary system for the past 3 years.
RTN Funeral home owner to be sentenced today.
Carie Hallford, one of the owners of the now-defunct Return To Nature Funeral Home in
Penrose is expected to be sentenced on the state charges against her today. She and her
Husband Jon Hallford were arrested in October of 2023 after 189 bodies were found
improperly stored in their funeral home. Carie Hallford took a plea deal in the state case,
pleading guilty to abuse of a corpse. She is facing a sentence of 25 to 35 years in prison.
She was sentenced in March to 18 years in prison for her federal case. The federal
sentence will run concurrently with her state sentence.
Las Animas County Coroner's office opens investigation in LACDC death.
The Las Animas County Coroner's office has opened an investigation into the death of
John Romero, 58, who died on April 20th while in custody at The Las Animas County
Detention Center. Detention officers responded to a medical emergency and requested
emergency medical services, according to the coroner's office. Romero was transported
to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The cause and manner of death has not
been determined, pending completion of the investigation, including toxicology reports.
Romero was being held on $100,000 bail on charges including criminal attempt to
commit first-degree murder, menacing, possession of a weapon by a previous offender,
theft of a firearm, reckless endangerment and prohibited use of a weapon while under the
influence.
CPW issues reminder to residents to beware of black bears.
With Spring upon us, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds residents and visitors that
black bears are emerging from their dens and are looking for food. CPW has already
received 98 reports of bear activity in 22 Colorado counties this year. Remember to
never feed or approach bears; secure food, garbage and recycling; remove bird feeders
when bears are active; never leave pet food outdoors; and, clean and store grills after each
use.
April 23rd 2026
US CBP Agent issued summons to appear in La Plata County Court.
Nicholas rice, 47, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agent, has been issued a
summons to appear in court in La Plata County on charges of misdemeanor third-degree
assault and criminal mischief. The charges stem from an incident during a protest outside
an ICE facility in Durango on October 28th, 2025, where he allegedly shoved a woman to
the ground. A masked agent was seen in multiple videos recorded by protesters grabbing
a woman's phone and throwing her to the ground. That agent has since been identified as
Rice. Rice was issued a summons and is due in court in Durango on May 27th. Court
records show that he has not yet retained or been assigned an attorney.
Senate ANR Committee rejects two out of three Gov Polis CPW picks.
The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, during a contentious hearing
yesterday, rejected two out of three of Governor Jared Polis' picks for the Colorado Parks
and Wildlife commission. The committee approved the appointment of Francis Blayney
to represent outfitters on the commission by a 7-0 vote. However, the panel's members
rejected the appointment of Christopher Sichko to represent sportsmen on a 3-4 vote,
noting that every sportsmen's group in Colorado opposes the nomination. John Emerick
was also rejected for an at-large seat by a vote of 2-5, noting that the committee did not
believe that the governor's pick is either qualified or prepared to serve in that seat. All
three nominations, including the two not recommended by the committee, will now move
on to the full senate for a confirmation vote.
Pueblo County School D70 BOE names new interim Superintendent.
The Pueblo County School District 70 Board of Education has named Robert Dipietro as
interim superintendent of the district, beginning July 1st. The announcement comes
following the announced retirement of Current District Superintendent Ronda Rein,
effective at the end of June. Dipietro is currently assistant superintendent at the district.
His education experience includes time as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and
district director of student services. The board reportedly wanted a continuity in
leadership as its reasoning in choosing Dipietro. The board of education is continuing in
its search for a superintendent for the 2027/2028 school year.
Suspect arrested by US Marshals and Walsenburg PD last Thursday in Walsenburg.
U.S. Marshals, along with Walsenburg Police Officers, arrested Rocky Balderrama, 40,
around 1pm last Thursday along Main Street in Walsenburg, while executing a felony
warrant. The joint operation came following a string of incidents that date back to
January that involve a series of violent incidents, alleging Balderrama held victims
captive, threatening to kill them, and was using weapons to intimidate them. Charges
against Balderrama include first-degree burglary, aggravated criminal extortion,
menacing, intimidating a witness or victim, false imprisonment and violation of a
protection order. His next scheduled court appearance is set for May 21st at 1pm at the
Huerfano County Courthouse.
Fort Carson officials warn public of month long training exercise.
Fort Carson officials are warning the public of noise and dust beginning on May 1st due to
a month-long training exercise on both Fort Carson and at The Pinon Canyon Maneuver
site 30 miles northeast of Trinidad. According to Fort Carson, this exercise, called ivy
mass, will run throughout the day and into the evening, with the goal of providing
commanders with data to make better, faster decisions on the battlefield. This training
with the 4th infrantry division dates back to September, as the department has
incrementally tested components of the army's next generation command and control
ecosystem. Noise complaints should be directed to The Fort Carson Public Affairs office
at 719-526-9849.
April 22nd 2026
Colorado Ballot Initiative 109 to decide gender identity role in youth sports.
Colorado voters will decide in November what role gender identity plays in youth sports.
Initiative 109, the protect women and girls sports act, submitted almost 169,000 petition
signatures to make its way onto the general election ballot. The final text of the measure
says that separating athletic teams by sex due to "physical differences between males and
females" reduces the chance for injury, promotes equality, and "allows female athletes to
compete on a fair playing field for athletic accomplishments, including educational
scholarships". The group "protect kids Colorado" is behind the initiative. The proposal
encompasses students ranging from elementary school to college, who would have to
classify their sports teams as male, female, or coeducational. Teams designated as female
would not be open to male students. Male teams would be open to female students if no
female team is offered for the specific sport.
CO Lawmakers strike down appointed members proposal.
Colorado lawmakers have struck down a proposal that would have prohibited members of
The General Assembly who were appointed through a vacancy committee from serving
in the term immediately following, for the third year in a row. HCR26-1005 would have
put the question on the November ballot and would have required a 55% vote to pass.
Colorado is one of only four states that use the vacancy appointment process, according
to the resolution's sponsor, Rep. Bob Marshall of Highlands Ranch. Marshall says most
states fill vacant seats through special elections, which can be costly and time-consuming.
the state civic, military and veterans affairs committee voted 7-4 to kill the resolution on
Monday.
Xcel Energy revises power shutoff plan for today.
Xcel Energy yesterday said that it has revised its plan for a possible public safety power
shutoff today. While Xcel had initially included parts of the western slope in its plan,
yesterday Xcel said it is concentrating on areas in Southern Colorado. The new plan
details strong winds, low relative humidity and very dry conditions, resulting in high
wildfire risk in parts of The San Luis Valley today. The utility is planning for a likely
power shutoff beginning today around noon, which would potentially impact about
14,000 customers in Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla and Rio Grande counties. Xcel says the
impacted areas and the number of customers impacted may change as weather conditions
evolve. Weather conditions are expected to improve around 7pm tonight and crews will
begin restoring power as soon as it's safe.
New candidate announces run for Alamosa County Assessor.
Adam Lauer has announced that he will run for Alamosa County Assessor in the June
30th Democratic primary. Lauer began his career in the Alamosa County Assessor’s
office as a residential appraiser. He has also worked as a commercial appraiser for the
city and county of Denver, and most recently served as a farm and ranch appraiser for a
farm credit bank. Lauer says he will focus on fair and accurate property valuations and
ensuring valuations are consistent and compliant. Lauer is facing incumbent Assessor
Jason Duncan in The June 30th primary.
Motor vehicle crash took place in Huerfano County yesterday.
A motor vehicle crash took place yesterday morning near the intersection of US 160 and
County Road 450 in Huerfano County that involved a Colorado State Patrol vehicle that
was responding to another crash. According to The Huerfano County Sheriff's Office, a
driver did not yield to the CSP vehicle that had its emergency lights activated. Neither
driver was injured. The sheriff's office asks that you remember to yield to emergency
vehicles as well as slow down or move over for vehicles on the shoulder of the roadway.
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