10/08/25: October 11th marks the global celebration of Global Migratory Bird Day. Several species of birds migrate through the Rockies every year following food and warmer temperatures. Among them are the Yellow Warbler, a small gold and red species that favors thickets and hedges, and the Cinnamon Teal, a dabbling duck with red eyes and mottled plumage, whose presence is an early indicator of spring. This year’s Migratory Bird Day is focused on coexistence with our wild friends as humans increasingly spread into wild places. Protecting birds can be as easy as avoiding pesticides and keeping your cat indoors. More information can be found at migratorybirdday.org.
10/09/25: Under the government shutdown, public access to most sites remains open, despite furloughs of thousands of federal lands employees. At Colorado National Monument, the Saddlehorn Visitor Center is closed, but roads, trails and overlooks are still accessible. The National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service have furloughed about 40 percent of their remaining workforce. Limited services such as trash collection, restrooms, and campground operations may continue at fee-funded sites, but many visitor centers are shuttered. Officials warned that areas could close if safety, sanitation, or resource protection becomes an issue. Sen. Michael Bennet said he was relieved parks remain open but cautioned against damage seen in past shutdowns.
10/10/25: Hundreds of teachers staged a walk-out in El Paso County on Wednesday (10/08/25). The Colorado Springs District 11 teachers were protesting the loss of a collective bargaining agreement that was voted on by the school board in December of last year. The bargaining agreement had been present in the handbook since the late sixties, and the teachers told CPR they worried the administration would be able to change the handbook at will. District leadership called the strike a “political stunt” due to its proximity to the mail-out of general election ballots. This is the first teachers' strike in Colorado Springs in fifty years.
10/13/25: Brett Loeb is the Director of the Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center, and as of Friday (10/10/25), the winner of Finest Director of the Year by the national organization, NiCE Public Safety. Prior to Loeb becoming Director, the Pitkin Dispatch Center was facing high staff turnover, but in the last two years, the Center has retained nearly the entire team and is fully staffed. Loeb and his team are also credited with implementing new technology and training to increase public safety across the region. Loeb shares the honor with his team.
10/15/25: Glenwood Springs installed five speed cameras this month, so if you’ve been pushing the limits, you might be getting a speeding ticket in the mail. Speeding is one of the top contributors to fatal crashes in Glenwood Springs, and officials are hoping to curb dangerous driving. Tickets will be sent to car owners, regardless of who is driving them. The revenue these tickets generate will go towards operation costs and other public safety expenses.
10/16/25: Colorado Parks and Wildlife has lifted the voluntary fishing closure on the Crystal River, implemented all the way back in early August due to extreme low flow caused by drought. Additional closures on the White River in Rio Blanco County and the Yampa River will remain in place until further notice due water quality concerns related to this summer’s massive wildfires.