Local, Regional & State News

You've had the bad news. We unfortunately have to give it to you quite often. In this week's report from Colorado State Representative and Caucus Whip Carlos Barron, three bills are set for action this week. House Bill 26-1290, Criminal Offense of Assault will be heard in the Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, March 24th. It's a bill that would expand who counts as an emergency medica care provider. It would lower the mental state of assaulting certain public servants from "in

~Anne Boswell UPDATE: 4/24/2026 This bill has been killed and will NOT move forward. Right now, it's just a bill, but that's how laws start out. The Colorado Senate has introduced a bill and passed it through committee and a third reading on limiting how you can protect your property against rodents. Senate Bill 26-062 would make it illegal to use mouse and rat poisons. It would also make it a crime to distribute such products unless there was a public health emergency dec

Full disclosure. I just had a significant birthday, today, March 17th so I was curious about discounts. I looked them up, so you don't have to and thought I would share. Not my usual content, but I hope it's appreciated. COLORADO DISCOUNT CHEAT SHEET 👵 Senior (55+) Discounts – Colorado These are very common and predictable : 🛒 Safeway (statewide) → ~10% off first Wednesday each month 💊 Walgreens (statewide) → 20% off first Tuesday of the month 👕 Kohl’s (statewide)

~By Norman Kincaide, Ph. D. The United States Forest Service Pike and San Isabel National Forest and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands office held a Need to Change workshop at Otero College Banquet Room, La Junta, Colorado and City Hall, Elkhart, Kansas, March 11, 2026 from 4 to 7:30 P.M. At Otero College twenty participants and twelve Forest Service employees engaged in workshop activities. Heather Stokes moderated the overall workshop via zoom from Montana. James

By Norman Kincaide During Colorado Preservation Inc.’s (CPI) 29 th Saving Places Conference, February 11-13, 2026, Ordway Pharmacy and Bent’s Old Fort were added to the Most Endangered Places list. The Ordway Pharmacy at 231 Main Street, has stood empty since 2020 when it moved across the street. It had been the cornerstone of daily life for residents of Crowley County for 100 years. Generations of families passed through its doors, making it a cornerstone of daily life for

(news release from the Colorado Secretary of State's office) Denver, CO – The Elections Division of the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office announced today that proponents of Proposed Initiative #108, "Penalties for human trafficking of a minor,” have submitted the required number of signatures to appear on the November 3, 2026 General Election Ballot. Proposed Initiative #108 submitted 169,775 petition signatures. After reviewing a five-percent random sample of the submitte

~Anne Boswell If you opened up an unknown number to see a text reading "Colorado Traffic Violation Notice," you're among of few of us who have seen such a thing. The text reads that you've been recorded and have a violation such as not paying a toll, not registering your vehicle, etc. They threaten that if you don't take action by clicking their link they will transfer such information to a recovery department with a 35% additional fee. They threaten that there will be lega

By Norman Kincaide Ten years ago, I entered upon my first active participation in a political campaign. This happened at the GOP State Assembly in Colorado Springs, April 2016, when Kimmi Clark Lewis asked if I would be one of her Facebook page administrators. I said: “Yes.” Lewis recognized my writing and publishing skills during the defeat of the Canyons & Plains National Heritage Area in 2014 and desired to enlist those qualities in her campaign for Colorado House District

~Norman Kincaide On February 17, 2026, the United States Forest Service (USFS) held a Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (CCNGs) Preliminary Plan Revision Webinar by Beth Davis, Land Management Planner, Plan Revision Project Leader, during which a maximum twenty-seven individuals participated. A follow up webinar with no formal presentation was held on February 25, thirteen individuals attended of whom six were USFS employees or contractors, discussing issues with the

(Las Animas, CO) -- If you saw law enforcement out in Las Animas this week installing what looked like cameras, you're among a few who reached out to us. The cameras were being installed on a utility pole on Highway 50 between Maple and Grand. A citizen stopped to snap a photo and contacted us with questions. We then reached out to Mayor Charles Shupe and Police Chief David Daughtery to ask what the cameras would be used for. Mayor Charles Shupe stated that the city has b

~Norman Kincaide On February 17, 2026, the United States Forest Service (USFS) held a Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (CCNGs) Preliminary Plan Revision Webinar by Beth Davis, Land Management Planner, Plan Revision Project Leader, during which a maximum twenty-seven individuals participated. A follow up webinar with no formal presentation was held on February 25, thirteen individuals attended of whom six were USFS employees or contractors, discussing issues with the

~Norman L. Kincaide After the Pledge of Allegiance, Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District came to order at 10:30 A.M. February 25, 2026. After a quorum was established, the board recessed to the Enterprise meeting to approve routine items, which were moved, seconded and passed. The Enterprise meeting adjourned and the regular board meeting reconvened. Visitors were introduced and routine items moved, seconded, and approved. There were no committee or legal reports. Under

Both sides of the aisle want to add another safeguard for elections in the state of Colorado. House Bill 26-1080 is scheduled to be heard on a second reading Friday, February 27th at 9am in the Colorado House of Representatives. The bill would add a team of bi-partisan judges to verify signatures on ballots. Right now, the statue only requires one election clerk to verify the signatures. The bill requires the secretary of state to adopt rules concerning the procedure for usin

~Anne Boswell Remember when you heard about a bill that became a law in Colorado that didn't really affect Denver but greatly affected our small towns in rural Southeast Colorado? Yeah, well, sometimes a bill sounds like a good idea in theory but the impact on small local governments and communities is overlooked and sometimes ignored. State Senator Rod Pelton and Representative Ty Winter are presenting a bill that would require impact hearings on potential effects of a bill

~Anne Boswell A Colorado Senator has sponsored a bill that would limit how police and deputies use surveillance. Senator Linda Zamora Wilson's bill, Senate Bill 26-071 establishes the "Surveillance Accountability and Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act" (SAFE Act). If passed and signed into law, after July 1st of next year, 2027, it would require an agency to use technology like cameras and drones only for public safety and on-going investigations. Should law enforcement use surveil

(Bent County, CO) -- Anne Boswell has announced her candidacy for Bent County Clerk and Recorder, seeking the office as a Republican and pledging a strong focus on customer communication, customer service, transparency, and community engagement. Boswell brings more than 25 years of professional experience in media, public relations and engagement, education, and customer service. Her background includes three and a half years working as a news anchor, reporter, and talk show

~Anne Boswell (Denver, CO) -- Colorado legislators are talking about a bill that would expand how ranchers can be paid out when losing livestock. Right now, the money in the diseased livestock indemnity fund can only be used because the animals were exposed or found to have infectious or contagious diseases. This bill would change that to include using the money for emerging threats to livestock health. Southeast Colorado Representative Ty Winter is a co-sponsor on this bi

By Anne Boswell There is no surprise that you have likely heard that housing is hard to find in Colorado. With rising costs to include inflation, taxes, fees and low wages in the Centennial State, many people are struggling to find something they can afford. Democrat State lawmakers believe they have found a solution under a new bill introduced this year. House Bill 26-1001 would require local governments to allow residential development on qualifying properties owned by c

By Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D. Through the auspices of Margaret Byfield of American Stewards of Liberty, Barb, Zane and Andee Leininger were able to meet with Chief of the Forest Service, Tom Schultz in Washington D.C., November 19, 2025. During this meeting the Leiningers and Byfield were able to express the concerns of Comanche National Grassland Allotment Owners regarding the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Draft Assessment for a revised management plan. These conc

By Anne Boswell You've been scrolling and have seen it before. Someone has a cute kiddo who happens to go viral doing something cute or funny on a social media platform like Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. Now, a bill brought by both Republican and Democrat lawmakers would protect minors in these situations. House Bill 26-1058 states the following: The bill creates new requirements and civil remedies beginning June 1, 2027, related to minors who are featured in compensated co