Local, Regional & State News

By Anne Boswell In a short meeting Thursday morning, Bent County Commissioners wasted no time in approving the upcoming 2026 budget for Bent County Health. Stating they appreciated the hard work that interim director Rick Ritter had done they were in agreement that things are on track. "We really appreciate all of the work you've been doing in helping us out with public health," Commissioner Jennifer Scofield began. Commissioner Phil Hemphill chimed in to agree, " no stone wa

~Norman Kincaide Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) staff held scoping meetings in Trinidad and La Junta on December 9 and 10, respectively.  The La Junta meeting was held at the Kiva where several information panels were spaced around the upper level. The first station directly behind the sign in table dealt with National Environmental Policy Act guidelines for pursuing alterations to United States Army modernization of the Pinon Canyon Site. Other panels provided a PCMS overview,

~Anne Boswell On a cold Colorado day you might be thinking more about how your home is heated. However, the Public Utilities Commission is making bold moves to change the way you heat your home and it could cost you more. The PUC's Clean Heat Plan has been in the works for a few years now but with a deadline to eliminate up to 41-percent of the state's natural gas industry drawing closer, some lawmakers are speaking out on it. According to a news release from Colorado Hou

Colorado State Patrol Wants Victims of Motor Vehicle Theft to Apply for Assistance The following is a news release from the Colorado State Patrol (COLORADO) –The Colorado State Patrol is leading the way in providing economic recovery services to victims of motor vehicle theft through the Victims Assistance Grant Application Program. Victims' support services may include assistance to victims of catalytic converter theft and/or motor vehicle theft. Funding for victims' support

~Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D. Why the Forest Service interest in revising the management plan for the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (CCNG) with 108,000 and 440,000 acres, respectively? These grasslands are supposedly threatened with urbanization, agricultural development, and overgrazing, that may compromise cultural sites and stress Species of Conservation Concern (SCC). The CCNG Draft Assessment is rife with issues concerning SCCs, along with interest in designatin

By Anne Boswell You will see the signs for the "work ahead" and it's a move to connect more homes to high speed fiber internet in Bent County. The work is happening now on Highway 194, west of County road 5.5. The work is part of a grant award to internet service provider SECOM to connect more homes to high speed fiber internet. At the moment, the only options for people living in many areas of rural Colorado are wireless internet or satellite services like Starlink. In ord

By Anne Boswell If you know, you know.. The Frontier Diner is quite the little place to stop and eat and it's attracted a lot of attention in recent years. In fact, the staff is gearing up to host the filming of an episode for TV show "America Eats." Dorris Bryant, or Dee is the owner and is very excited about the upcoming day. "They do want people in here while they film, they like to have the community engagement and so they're visiting 50 restaurants in every state in Ame

By Anne Boswell, Colorado News Your Way From the borders to the barnyard and beyond, Southeast Colorado residents turned out to speak up to Congressman Jeff Hurd. The Representative for Colorado's third district promised a visit and came prepared to hear it all. Taking notes, Congressman Hurd went around the room asking each attendee what his or her number one concern for Colorado at this moment in time. Third District US Representative Jeff Hurd talks with Otero County resi

By Anne Boswell A record was broken this week. The United States Government has been shutdown before, but never for this long. Sunday, November 9th, is day 40 and it has started to affect many aspects of our lives. US. Congressman Jeff Hurd commented to a crowd in Rocky Ford at a Meet and Greet Saturday night. Congressman Hurd explained that it's out of the hands of the House of Representatives and now is calling on Senators to do the right thing and vote to re-open the gove

By Anne Boswell Major airports in the United States are experiencing flight cancellations and delays related to the current government shutdown. However, as of Friday, November 7th, it's a mixed bag on affects to Southeast Colorado. Bent County native and Pueblo resident Jace Ratzlaff told us he has flown three times in the last 37 days of the government shutdown. "While there seems to be the perfect storm to place blame on what I would consider “normal” flight issues and de

By Norman Kincaide The Genesis for using the 2012 Planning Rule for the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (CCNG) Draft Assessment for a revised management plan originated in 2006 with a “test case” for the United States Forest Service (USFS) 2005 Planning Rule developed during the George W. Bush administration. This draft emphasized collaborative, science-based multiple-use management: grazing, energy development, wildlife conservation, and recreation, while addressin

(from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation) November 5, 2025 – CBI –  Rocky Ford, CO – The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in collaboration with Rocky Ford Police, announces arrests stemming from the ongoing investigation into the earlier reported threats at the Rocky Ford Junior/Senior High school. On September 30, 2025, the Rocky Ford Police Department received a report that a 16-year-old male student had brought a firearm to a school sporting event in response to al

~Anne Boswell There are 64 counties in Colorado and most are returning results at this hour from today's election. Here's how to see them, for Baca County, click here: https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/Baca/124415/web.345435/#/summary?v=364206%2F Bent County: https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/Bent/124416/web.345435/#/summary?v=364183%2F Crowley County: https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/Crowley/124424/web.345435/#/summary?v=363930%2F Kiowa County:

By Anne Boswell One thing is for sure, the turnout for elections that aren't a Presidential year election is usually quite lower. However, there's a lot of important races happening in Southeast Colorado. Voters are deciding these issues and choosing candidates today, Tuesday, November 4th. Bent County ballots might seem shorter because there are only two state questions, LL and MM. Both are asking whether or not we think school lunches for all should continue to be funded

~Anne Boswell Southeast Colorado Power Association Board members were advised by attorney Matthew Richardson that is was time to update the by-laws. Richardson started with a short list of a few that needed attention first to include: The Code of Ethics, and Conflict of Interest policy Access to SECPA Information policy, as required by Colorado Revised Statue, 40-9.5-108.5 Elections and Voting policy Compliance with State Regulations for Member Complaints policy Right of Way

~Anne Boswell "You know what I'm saying? Interim Chief Executive Officer Mark Hall read the room at Wednesday's board meeting and it was clear, they did indeed, know what he was saying. Hall was talking about recent high winds and how the small rural cooperative is preparing for what is to come. Public Safety Power Shut-Offs or PSPS, is a procedure that Hall believes the co-op's G and T, Tri-State will be following in the future. It basically is a pro-active de-energization

Story by Norman Kincaide, Ph.D The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires Federal agencies to identify and evaluate additional potential rivers for inclusion in the System during Agency planning. The Forest Service Land Management Planning Handbook provides guidance for conducting a Wild and Scenic River eligibility study during land management plan revision. The Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (CCNG) Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Study Report, May 2025, covers ro

~Norman Kincaide Mistrust towards the federal government is endemic in southeastern Colorado. What is the source of this wariness by rural residents in relation to federal government? Skepticism was not rife when the region was settled. Irrigated and dry land farming induced expectations of broomcorn and wheat crops while vast prairie pastures held the vision of breeding herds to fill livestock commissions with feeder calves and bred stock. But over production, the stock mark

~Anne Boswell It has been a long time since Prowers County hosted a Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser. According to county chairman Gary...

~Anne Boswell Currently if you head to the Colorado Secretary of State's website , click on elections, then click on initiatives you get...