Local, Regional & State News

Otero County Commissioners adopted an ordinance Monday to restrict outdoor burning in the unincorporated parts of the county. The move comes as a dry winter and a dry spring have caused concerns for wildfires. There are fines for violations and different stages depending on rainfall and other conditions. The ordinance 26-001, makes an exemption for obtaining a permit for agricultural burning but it can still be restricted or banned during high fire danger periods. (see more

~CNYW staff, The Lobby newsletter They’re Selling Your Data—This New Bill Wants to Stop It. It’s known as the YODA Act and would affect just about all of us in Southeast Colorado, should the House pass it, send it to the Senate for passage and sign it into law. Representative Michel Cloud from Texas is the bill’s sponsor that was just introduced. It would require you to provide written consent before any companies could share or sell your data which includes your contacts. I

~Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D. Adams State University sponsored a panel discussion on the Arkansas River presented by The Colorado Sun, Aurora Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado Water Center, CSU and Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at the Grand Theater in Rocky Ford. Michael Booth, environmental writer for the Sun moderated. Sitting for the panel were Dr. Mike Bartolo, CSU, Vegetable Crop Specialist, retire

~CNYW staff From the legislative bill watch center... A bill that would lower the charges on some homicides will be the topic of talk Monday in the Colorado General Assembly. Lawmakers will be hearing House Bill 26-1281 on the second reading. It's when much of the discussion from both sides happens on the bill. We will be watching this bill closely and will update it as we get more information. If you would like to watch it for yourself, you can tune in around 9:00 when the

~Colorado News Your Way, staff If it seems like you've been following a particular bill and it's been kicked down the road without a passage or a loss, you're not mistaken. There are many yet to tackle. With less than a week to go until the end of the Colorado Legislative session many bills sit on an agenda for discussion and action. Saturday's session included a schedule of 37 bills for a third and final reading and four set for a second reading. When we tuned in to watch

News release and photos are from the Colorado State Patrol Stop stemmed from a *CSP report of a suspected drunk driver (Pueblo County, Colorado) – This afternoon, at about 1:00 p.m., the Colorado State Patrol was notified by a member of the community through *CSP of a grey Ford Transit Connect van, with a possible intoxicated driver who was speeding and “actively drinking a beer” on northbound Interstate 25 near Walsenburg (milepost 51). Colorado State Patrol troopers located

(news release from the Colorado Secretary of State's office) Denver, CO – Today Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold certified the ballot content for the 2026 State Primary Election. Colorado’s State Primary Election will occur on June 30, 2026. Unaffiliated voters, as well as voters affiliated with the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Unity Parties of Colorado, will have the opportunity to vote in the June Primary. “I’m proud to certify the ballot for the Colora

By Norman Kincaide The United States Forest Service Pike and San Isabel National Forest and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands office held preliminary plan development workshops at City Hall, Elkhart, Kansas, April 20, 2026, Minnick Building, Baca County Fair Grounds, Springfield, Colorado, April 21 and McBride Hall, Otero College, La Junta, Colorado, April 22. Ryan Nehl, Forest and Grassland Supervisor, and Beth Davis, Forest Service Land Management Planner, gave intr

By Norman Kincaide After the Pledge of Allegiance, Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District came to order at 10:30 A.M. April 15, 2026. After a quorum was established, the board recessed to the Enterprise meeting, approved routine items then adjourned. The regular board meeting reconvened. Visitors were introduced and routine items were approved. There were no committee or legal reports. Under General Manager’s Reports, via Zoom, Russ Schumacher, CSU Professor and Colorado S

~by Norman Kincaide Even in a more than adequate venue, a state wide political party convention is chaotic and complicated. It takes a great deal of organization and planning well beforehand. If, however, the venue is totally inadequate to the purpose of such a large gathering, chaos and confusion only magnify the problems that always ensue with these events. In the case of the 2026 Colorado Republican State Convention, the venue illustrated gross incompetence, lack of planni

~Anne Boswell If you felt that winter never truly came to Southeast Colorado this year, you would not be alone. One local farmer is really concerned about what a lack of snow in the mountains would mean to the upcoming growing season. Chuck Hanagan has been farming the Arkansas Valley a long time. His family are fifth generation farmers and have cultivated the soil in Otero County since 1906. “They’ve had a history of almost every crop you can imagine from all the produce,

Las Animas Police are still gathering more information following a call they answered over the weekend. Around 1:17 Saturday afternoon, officers were called to the area of Ambassador Thompson and Bent Avenue. They received a report of a man who wasn't responding and was lying on the sidewalk. First responders tried to revive the man with CPR and an ambulance crew was called and responded. He was declared dead at the scene. The man's identity has not yet been released. N

Colorado lawmakers are facing a busy day to include gun legislation. Check out the agenda here. https://leg.colorado.gov/agenda/floor/202604081 https://leg.colorado.gov/agenda/floor/202604082

by Norman Kincaide A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request granted by the Pike National Forest and Cimarron and Comanche National Grassland (CCNG) in reference to the revised CCNG Management Plan and Draft Assessment on September 2, 2025 by Norman Kincaide of Rocky Ford, CO, has provided an initial document drop. On February 2, 2026, Gregory Berquist, Forest Service, desired further clarification of the FOIA search as too many error messages compromised document capture.

~Anne Boswell You might have heard the term "unfunded mandates" tossed around. Today, Tuesday, March 31st a bill that would require a hearing to show how bills affect local communities is set for discussion on the Colorado House Floor. Representative Ty Winter and Senator Rod Pelton sponsored the bill that would allow the leadership of the house and the senate to choose five items to have a hearing on. It would be a time to talk about how legislation would affect local com

~Anne Boswell Staring next year you might not get something to eat your delivery order with, unless you remember to ask specifically for a fork or spoon. Colorado Democrats are bringing a bill that would eliminate single use utensils in orders unless you ask for them. According to the bill's text summary it would expand the "Plastic Pollution Reduction Act." The bill would take effect on January 1, 2027 and would require the establishment to leave out the plastic eating uten

~Anne Boswell Otero County Commissioners presented a letter at Monday's meeting that they wrote to US. District 4 Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. The letter encouraged her to help Southeast Colorado secure a local transit hub to be based in Las Animas. The transit hub would make use of a vacant building at 306 Bent Avenue, in Las Animas. It was once known as the Sara Lee Bread facility. The request was made by Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development Inc. as their Community

by Norman Kincaide Trish Pheffer Leone, Chair, Otero County Republican Party, gaveled the County Assembly to order at 10 A.M. at the Fowler Elementary School cafeteria. The credentialing committee counted a total of seventy-two delegates eligible to vote. State Senator Rod Pelton, up for election for Colorado Senate District 35, spoke, emphasizing his excellent working relationship with Rep. Ty Winter, House District 47. Winter was unable to attend the Otero Assembly as he ha

Otero County held their Republican County Assembly today, Saturday, March 21. Shortly after the assembly wrapped up, candidate for Otero County Sheriff Brian Lovato announced on his social media that he would be moving forward with the nomination due to current Sheriff Shawn Mobley declining. An announcement on Sheriff Mobley's official political social media page is expected. ###

Southeast Colorado business owners, you might want to read on, and share with other small business owners you know. A Small Business Summit is planned for April 22nd in Fort Morgan and April 23rd in Lamar. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs from across the Eastern Plains. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, the Small Business Summit will provide valuable breakout sessions throughout the