Local, Regional & State News

~Anne Boswell, & CNYW Staff There will be another 1041 permit hearing October 27th in Bent County. You might remember, there's been a long history with Arkansas River Farms, LLC. Some might even call the relationship with Bent County contentious. In 2018 Arkansas River Farms, LLC received a conditional 1041 permit for a project involving farmland dry-up and revegetation tied to water-related transactions. Arkansas River Farms, LLC is a Colorado-based limited liability compa

~Anne Boswell, with help from CNYW Staff While Bent County currently doesn't have a business wanting to move in to open a healing center, the Bent County Zoning Board is expected to consider regulations governing where and how they would operate should that happen in the future. While Bent County currently doesn't have a business wanting to move in to open a healing center, the Bent County Planning and Zoning Commission will consider regulations governing where and how they w

This is a follow up from an earlier story we did. Not a big story, but an ask. Because you asked us if we had heard if a second Las Animas Police Officer was currently on leave, we reached out to Police Chief David Doughtery. The response we received stated: Good afternoon Anne, The department does not comment on individual personnel matters. Any such matters are handled in accordance with the applicable law and department policy. Have an outstanding day... Respectfully,

~Anne Boswell Colorado News Your Way is waiting for a response from Las Animas Police Chief David Doughtery concerning an inquiry we made to a second police officer placed on leave. A follower reached out to ask us, so we asked the Chief last week, September 30th. Chief Doughtery responded that he would have something to us by the end of the day. So, we waited, and followed up. Response was that the Chief was on his days off but would have something for us by Monday. We aske

~Anne Boswell The wolf population is Colorado isn't thriving the way that the Colorado Parks and Wildlife thought it would. So, you might've heard, they've suspended putting down wolves who are attacking livestock. According to the annual report on wolves for 2026, the CPW's research found that just 61% were surviving in the year 2025-2026. A plan had been in place that if it fell below 70 percent, they would review the plan. CPW had implemented staff as range-riders who w

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Announces Arrest of Montrose School Counselor October 1, 2026 - CBI - MONTROSE, Colo. — Please see the updated tip line related to the arrest of Konnie Kelly Fries, 40, of Montrose, following an investigation into allegations involving the illegal distribution of controlled substances to a minor. Tip line number: 970-639-1202 ***Original News Release*** The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Konnie Kelly Fries, 40, of Montro

(The following is a news release from the Colorado State Patrol) Colorado State Patrol sees annual increases in wildlife crashes (Colorado)—While wildlife crashes happen year-round in Colorado, October through December is the peak season due to animals moving to lower elevations (migration) for the coming season. Many species of Colorado wildlife are highly vulnerable to being struck at this time of year because it is also their peak mating season. They are more mobile, easil

Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D. A small group of invitees gathered in Room 107, Otero County Court House to hear from Bob Fowler of La Junta and Nancy Harrison Finley of Adams County, about the creation of a nonprofit organization that has acquired the former Boys Ranch north of La Junta. The nonprofit status of Western Heritage Education Foundation has yet to be finalized. But the acquisition of the property has been closed upon through the efforts of a partnership of local and re

I've put together a few videos. The topic of questions from the audience at Tuesday Night's forum were heavily weighted with concerns on the budget, doing more with less and working together with neighboring law enforcement agencies. The budget concerns likely stem from more legislation written into law that places unfunded mandates on law enforcement with increased demands for more paperwork, regulations etc. Two men running for Sheriff answered more than a dozen questions

~Anne Boswell Colorado Sportsmen are busy this time of year, it's hunting season but many got together this week to talk about what is coming up in the legislative session. Hosted by Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, the zoom call had close to 50 in attendance Thursday afternoon. Representative Ty Winter summarized a recent two day meeting in La Junta he attended of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Commission and said he was disappointed to put it mildly. Win

~CNYW Staff Las Animas Police Office Thomas Dunagan went before a judge Monday for his first hearing in connection with charges of extortion and official misconduct. The judge ordered a mandatory protection order for Dunagan to have no contact with the three following individuals: Michael Nicholl Justin Stillwell James Phil Carbajal, II Dunagan must also be fingerprinted within 14 days with the Bent County Sheriff's Office. Last week, there was a request for Discovery filed i

If you cannot attend in person but were hoping to be able to watch Las Animas Officer Thomas Dunagan’s court hearing, you might be out of luck. Under a directive 26-01 from the state Chief Justice, there’s been a pause on allowing the livestreaming of criminal court proceedings in state trial courts. This went into effect just last week, September 15th, 2026 and will stay in effect until December. According to the document and executive order the decision to temporarily st

(news release from the Colorado Secretary of State's Office) Denver, CO – The Department of State’s Electronic Recording Technology Board (ERTB) awarded over $3.3 million in grants to counties across Colorado during the 2025 – 2026 fiscal year. The counties that received grants are: Alamosa - $189,830.08 Arapahoe - $164,081.00 Archuleta - $37,828.00 Baca - $198,065.55 Boulder - $199,365.00 Clear Creek - $110,803.68 Conejos - $58,480.00 Custer - $34,878.00 Eagle - $33,726.69 E

(news release to CNYW from Betpack) New research has ranked every NFL stadium by game-day traffic congestion, with Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos, recording one of the worst overall traffic conditions in the NFL. NFL fans heading to games can face dramatically different journeys depending on where their team plays, according to new research analyzing traffic around all 30 NFL stadiums. The study from Betpack used TomTom Move traffic data within a one-

~Anne Boswell, September 19, 2026 Thomas Dunagan is just two days away from his court appearance in a Bent County courtroom. The court hearing is a "hearing on advisement." That's when the defendant will appear before the court for the first time after charges are filed. They are told the charges against them and informed of constitutional rights. The bond or bail conditions are usually set at this time. The defendant can waive having the charges read aloud in court. Th

The following is an opinion/editorial from our regular CNYW contributor Norman Kincaide In an op-ed published in the Rocky Ford Daily Gazette, September 15, 2026, Ed Stafford of La Junta, wrote: “The ACHP (Advisory Council on Historic Preservation) has proposed new regulations that will devastate protections for all historic and scenic properties in the United States.” This alarmist view overstates the dire consequences of those who use Section 106, not as a means of historic

~Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D. Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District came to order at 10:30 A.M. on September 16, 2026. A quorum was established. General Manager, Jack Goble, suggested an amendment to the agenda to allow Heather Young, Colorado Department of Public Health and Robert Sakata, Colorado Department of Agriculture, to present their reports via Zoom on the Arkansas River sewage spill due to time constraints on their participation in the Lower Ark meeting. This amend

~Norman Kincaide Representative Lauren Boebert, Colorado US House District 4, engaged in an agriculture round table discussion on September 12, 2026, from 12:30 to 1:45 PM at the Cow Palace in Lamar, Colorado. Around twenty people attended. Attendees were pleased the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) planned for southeastern Colorado was cancelled. However, there was disappointment in the Farm Bill as there was nothing in it for farmers and ranchers of

~Anne Boswell Lamar City Council voted to table discussion on an item that would move the city closer to a sale of its electric utility to a rural electric cooperative. It came from a meeting this summer where Southeast Colorado Power Association approached Lamar Light and Power with an interest to purchase them. As expected, the next step would be to do a study or evaluation of the utility. At Monday night's council meeting the item of discussion was an ask from the Co-o

~CNYW Staff, & Anne Boswell Every now and then, I see a question or comment about why one news organization reported something before another. Sometimes the question is, “Why didn't you wait until everyone had a chance to get the story?” Well... that's not really how journalism works. And since Colorado News Your Way is an independent, local news operation, I thought I'd pull back the curtain a little and explain how this business actually works. If you get the story, you get