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).
March 13th 2026
CO GOP Chairman announces resignation last night.
Brita Horn, the chairman of the Colorado Republican Party announced last night that she
will resign on April 17th, which is about a week after Republicans in Colorado are set to
meet and vote on candidates for the June primary. Horn was elected as The GOP Chair
about a year ago. She says she is resigning because of what she calls violent threats and
hostility. Republicans passed a vote of no confidence against horn by a wide margin
earlier this month. Horn says she will wait to resign until after the Republican State
Assembly next month because she believes that being without a chairman and vice
chairman during the critical time leading up to the assembly is not conducive to ensuring
the event is successful. Horn said she will never stop fighting for freedom, limited
government and protecting the Conservative way of life.
CPW announces approval of wolf depredation claims.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife commission says that it approved more than $706,000
in wolf depredation claims last year during its meeting last week. That amount exceeds
the state's annual wolf compensation fund by more than double. The commission
rejected another $53,611 in claims, and more claims are expected. Of the claims
approved last week, $615,000 was listed on the commission's consent agenda. Another
claim for $125,265 was split, with $91,170 approved for payment and the rest denied.
CPW says there were 32 depredation events last year with more than three dozen dead
cows, calves, lambs and ewes, yearling heifers and dogs. The kills happened in Jackson,
Routt, Gunnison, Pitkin, Grand, Eagle, Rio Blanco and Montrose Counties. More than
$1 million in claims have been submitted for last year. The agency has now paid out
more than $1.3 million in claims in just the past two years.
Name the train campaign contest remains open for voting.
Within the first three days of launching the name the train campaign, more than 18,000
Coloradans have voted to help decide the name of the future front range passenger rail,
according to Governor Jared Polis. Officials say that early results show "Colorado
connector (or coco)" is slightly leading the contest, but the race remains extremely close.
The four names being voted on are: colorado connector, colorado ranger, front range
express destinations (or fred), and rangelink. The contest remains upon until March 23rd.
You can vote for your favorite by going to www.ridethefrontrange.com/namethetrain.
CDPHE announces additional measles cases in Broomfield County.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has identified two
additional cases of measles and are investigating another in Broomfield County residents.
all three individuals are household contacts of a previously confirmed case. A new
potential exposure location has been identified as the bout time pub & grub in Arvada on
this past Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Measles is a highly contagious
disease. Getting the MMR Vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, your family and
your community. Measles symptoms begin with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes,
followed by a rash that usually begins on the face and spreads. If you need medical care,
call your health care provider to alert them of your situation before your go.
St. Patrick’s Day DUI Enforcement period is underway.
The St. Patrick's Day DUI Enforcement period is underway. The Colorado Department
of Transportation, along with The Colorado State Patrol, AAA Colorado and mothers
against drunk driving reminds drivers to arrange a sober ride home before heading out to
celebrate. The heat is on St. Patrick’s Day DUI Enforcement period runs now through
March 18th. Drivers may see saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and additional law
enforcement officers on duty. Last year, 255 people were arrested over the St. Patrick's
Day weekend.