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.