April 8th 2026
Federal Wildlife Officials open WIP formal review.
Federal Wildlife Officials have opened a formal review of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction
program. As such, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking comments from the
public as to how Colorado has implemented the Federal 10(J) rule issued in 2023,
including conflict-prevention efforts and suggestions for improving the program. The
agency is also requesting information on the impact of wolves on wild herds, such as elk
and moose, on tribal lands, as well as on how Colorado has carried out procedures for
nonlethal and lethal management of wolves causing unacceptable impacts. The federal
agency also wants feedback on how Colorado has assessed the risk of wolf-livestock
conflicts, what steps the state has taken to reduce that risk, and feedback on the state's
wolf compensation program. Comments are due by June 5th.
Suspect arrested in crimes against at risk adult case.
Timothy Michael Walstrom has been arrested by The Custer County Sheriff’s Office for
crimes against an at-risk adult. According to The Sheriff's Office, deputies received a
report that a person had gained access to a victim's home under the pretense of providing
cleaning services. A search warrant was executed at a home in Denver where evidence,
including digital, was seized. Walstrom is facing charges of unauthorized use of a
financial transaction device, identity theft with intent, crimes against an at-risk adult,
theft of between $100,000 and $1 million, forgery and at-risk theft. Walstrom was
released on a $5,000 surety bond.
Alamosa County Commissioners to decide between air service providers.
Alamosa County Commissioners, at their meeting today, will decide between two air
service providers for the essential air service contract for The San Luis Valley Regional
airport. The two companies are: Denver Air Connection, the current provider, who has
been criticized for providing Charter Flight service for Immigration Customs and
Enforcement, and Sky West Airlines, who suddenly terminated service to Alamosa in
March of 2022. The SLV Airport Advisory Board yesterday unanimously recommended
keeping Denver Air Connection. Following the commissioner's decision today, an
official recommendation from Alamosa County will be sent to The U.S. Department of
Transporation.
Pueblo County Sheriff's Office looking for missing man from Rye.
The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office is looking for a missing at-risk 68-year-old man who
was last seen on Sunday. 68-year-old Terry Johnson was last seen around 9pm on
Sunday, April 5th, at his home in Rye. Johnson is described as a white man, 5'6" tall and
weighing about 125 pounds. He has long brown hair and blue eyes. Johnson was last
seen wearing blue jeans and a black and red flannel shirt with a Harley Davidson logo on
the back. If you've seen Johnson, you're asked to call The Pueblo County Sheriff's
Office at 719-583-6250.
CDOT announces winter maintenance and helicopter operations.
Motorists should plan for lengthy delays and full closures this morning as The Colorado
Department of Transportation completes winter maintenance and helicopter
operations. U.S. Highway 160 Wolf Creek Pass between Pagosa Springs and South Fork
is scheduled to close at 8am for approximately 2 hours. U.S. 550 Red Mountain Pass,
and Colorado 145 Lizard Head Pass, will both have lengthy delays between 10am and
noon. The closures are needed to allow for safety during critical helicopter operations.
delay times are approximate and may be extended should unusual circumstances arise.
April 7th 2026
CO Gov Polis signed expanded reg flag law yesterday.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed Senate Bill 26-004 into law, a new law
that expands who can ask a judge to temporarily restrict a person's access to firearms.
Colorado's red flag law as initially passed in 2019 and initially allowed a family member
or law enforcement officers to petition a court to prohibit an individual from possessing
or purchasing a firearm. In 2023, lawmakers expanded the list of who can petition for an
order to include health care providers, mental health professionals, educators and district
attorneys. The bill signed yesterday expands that list to include health care facilities,
mental health centers and educational institutions. Proponents say the new law will
reduce the number of crimes committed with firearms. Opponents say it violates The 2nd
Amendment and The Fifth Amendement, which grants Americans the right to due
process. The bill passed 20-13 in The Senate and 39-24 in The State House.
AI Company announces Walsenburg data center construction.
According to a press release from the company, Blusky AI, a Utah-based company, plans
to build a 15 megawatt data center on a proposed 36-acre site just north of Walsenburg,
along Colorado Highway 69. The property has been under a purchase and sale agreement
between Blusky AI and owner Snowy River Ranches since august of last year, with no
action yet on the formal sale, according to the company. The facility would have
computer infrastructure suited to “AI and machine learning workloads”. The release
states that “this acquisition reflects our commitment to the continued efforts to AI
compute while aligning with local economic development and environmental
stewardship”. It continues “Walsenburg represents a convergence of power availability,
infrastructure readiness, and community partnership – core pillars of our deployment
mode”.
Outside sheriff deputies filling in at Costilla County Sheriff's Department.
Following the indictment of the sheriff, undersheriff and 3 deputies in Costilla County,
and the appointment of interim Costilla County Sheriff Joe Smith last week, sheriff's
deputies from outside of Costilla County are filling in for the department while Sheriff
Smith works to rebuild his staff. Smith introduced himself at the community meeting
held last week and shared his plan to bring in deputies from across the state to help patrol
the 1,200 square mile county with about 3,500 residents. The plan is set to run through
the beginning of May at this point, although that is subject to change. The costs of the
effort will be incurred within each deputy's home agency, according to The County
Sheriffs of Colorado.
US 50B closures expected in Pueblo this week.
Motorists can expect closures of eastbound and westbound US 50B in Pueblo as the
Colorado Department of Transportation shift traffic south on US 50B to advance and
facilitate construction on the Interstate 25 and US 50B interchange project. Eastbound
US 50B will be closed on Thursday Night, April 9th. Westbound US 50B will be closed
from Friday Night, April 10th, through Saturday Night, April 11th. Both closures will take
place between I-25 and Hudson Avenue/Bonforte Boulevard. The closures are necessary
for the safety of the traveling public. Once this work is complete, traffic will be reduced
to one lane in each direction.
Colorado Front range passenger rail district announces winning name.
With almost 26,000 votes cast by coloradans, the front range passenger rail district
announced yesterday that the winning name for the new passenger rail service is
"Colorado Connector", or “COCO". the new rail service is expected to connect
communities between Fort Collins and Trinidad beginning in 2029. the front range
passenger rail district says the name “Colorado Connector” highlights the trains purpose to
link communities, expand mobility and make travel between cities easier. they say the
name also reflects a vision of the future for transportation in Colorado.
April 6th 2026
CO AG joins new multi state lawsuit against President Trump.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has joined a multistate lawsuit against President
Donald Trump over a new executive order on elections, saying that the directive
unlawfully intrudes on states' authority to run their own voting systems and threatens
access to mail ballots for millions of voters. The lawsuit alleges that Trump's executive
order is unconstitutional because it intrudes on states' authority to run their own elections
and limits who can vote by requiring eligibility to be tied to a federally approved list.
Last Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order that establishes a national
voter-eligibility list and imposes new restrictions on mail-in voting. The order also
requires ballots to be placed in secure envelopes with unique barcodes for tracking.
Weiser has filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump Administration.
CO State BHS delay vote on snap waiver.
The Colorado State Board of Human Services has reportedly delayed what was to be this
week's vote on the proposed "healthy choice" snap waiver, marking the third delay for
the board, and meaning that there will be no change to snap benefits in Colorado for now.
The Colorado Department of Human Services is reportedly working to deliver a
"stronger" policy package to the board. The changes under the current waiver would
restrict snap recipients from buying certain things deemed unhealthy, like soda pop.
CDHS is committed to enhancing access to healthy choices, helping improve health and
quality of life for Coloradans, according to the agency. It is not currently known when
the vote will take place.
CBI establish dedicated phone line and email.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has established a dedicated telephone line and
email for investigatory leads after The Costilla County Sheriff, undersheriff and three
deputies were indicted by the 12th Judicial District Attorney's office last month. CBI is
encouraging community members to report possible misconduct involving personnel at
the sheriff's office amid the ongoing investigation. Community members may call the tip
line at 719-631-8550, or may also email tips to
cbi_costillacountysocomplaints@state.co.us.
Colorado agencies announce beginning of first seat belt enforcement period of 2026.
Beginning today and running through April 12th, The Colorado Department of
Transportation, The Colorado State Patrol and 26 local law enforcement agencies
throughout Colorado will host the first seat belt enforcement period of 2026. Drivers can
expect increased law enforcement patrols on the roads, with officers issuing citations to
unbuckled drivers as part of the state's ongoing effort to reduce roadway fatalities.
Drivers with unbuckled passengers, including children, can also be ticketed. More than
5,000 tickets were issued throughout all three click it or ticket enforcements last year,
according to CDOT. Colorado's seat belt law was expanded last year, raising the age for
primary seat belt requirements from 16 to 18, which means officers can pull over drivers
if they observe an unrestrained minor in the vehicle.
CDOT announces beginning of I-25 cable rail installation.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has announced that it will begin cable rail
installation in the median of Interstate 25 just north of Pueblo today. Work will take
place on I-25 between Mile Markers 108.5 and 114.1. The cable rail installation will
require some grading work, and cleaning culverts and inlets to address drainage.
A weedbarrier will also be installed. Work hours will be 8pm to 5am, Sunday through Thursday.
Median shoulder closures and some inside single lane closures will take place within the
work zone.
April 3rd 2026
Court of Appeals panel ordered new sentencing for Tina Peters.
A three-judge Court of Appeals panel yesterday determined that a trial judge improperly
sentenced Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters based upon her exercise of protected
speech, while upholding her convictions at the same time. Peters, a Republican who
served one term following her 2018 election, is serving a 9-year prison sentence for
felony and misdemeanor offenses related to a security breach of her office's voting
equipment. The court of appeals panel rejected Peters' evidentiary challenges to her
convictions. The panel did order a new sentencing for Peters saying while it is proper for
judges to consider a defendant's lack of remorse, the panel agreed that District Court
Judge Matthew D. Barrett's comments went "well beyond relevant considerations" for
her sentencing. While Peters asked that a different trial judge handle her re-sentencing,
The Court of Appeals rejected that request.
Gardner Murder suspect found guilty in 2023 Gardner Murder.
David Freilino was found guilty on all counts in Third Judicial District Court in
Walsenburg on Wednesday in connection to the 2023 killing of his neighbor, Bonnie
Young, at her and her husband's ranch outside of Gardner. The verdict came after the
jury deliberated for less than 90 minutes, following the trial that began last week.
Freilino had already admitted to committing the crime, so the jury was asked to
determine if Freilino was insane at the time of the April 5th, 2023, incident. The jury
rejected the defense's argument that Freilino was not guilty by reason of insanity.
District Court Judge J. Clay Mckisson III sentenced Freilino to natural life in The
Colorado Department of Corrections for first degree murder and kidnapping, 24 years for
second degree murder and 12 years each for first degree assault and first degree burglary.
All of the sentences will be served concurrently.
Alamosa City Attorney notified City Council of ICE facility Wednesday.
Alamosa City Attorney Eric Schwiesow told The Alamosa City Council on Wednesday
that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been operating a holding facility on
State Avenue, in Alamosa, which is an illegal use of the property. City Council members
expressed hesitancy to get into a legal fight with the Federal Government, but did express
shock at learning that ICE is operating a holding facility in Alamosa. A motion adopted
on a 6-1 vote will allow the City to officially notify ICE of its zoning violations and that
The City would not allow an expansion of the use. The city plans to more closely
monitor ICE operations in the future.
Colorado City woman plead guilty in dog attack case Wednesday.
As part of a plea agreement, 47-year-old Jessica Hoff, of Colorado City, plead guilty on
Wednesday to one count of animal cruelty. Hoff was facing charges following the death
of her elderly mother in February of 2025, who was attacked by her dogs. Hoff's mother
was found dead in a home in Colorado City. An autopsy determined her death was
caused by a dog attack. The investigation showed that Hoff had left her mother at home
alone with her dogs that day while she went to Pueblo to run errands. A total of 54 dogs
and seven birds were located at the home. Hoff will serve three years of probation,
according to the plea agreement.
CDOT announces CO 12 safety improvement project.
The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin a safety improvement project
along Colorado 12 west of Weston, beginning later this month. Safety improvements
will take place between mile marker 46.7 and mile marker 48. Work will include a 16’
widening an full-depth reclamation and reconstruction of the highway. Crews will also
perform culvert repairs, new pavement markings and signing. Motorists should plan for
up to 15-minute delays during construction. The project is expected to be complete in
September.
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