Katalina Villarreal
News Reporter & Freelance WriterKatalina Villarreal, born and raised in Carbondale, reports with KDNK for the 5-6 evening news. She also pitches and produces stories for the air and writes with the Sopris Sun newspaper. Katalina believes in the power of education and being informed. Uplifting the community is her priority as a human and journalist. She will graduate from Central Washington University's online English: Professional and Creative Writing program December 2026 and plans to stay in the valley pursuing a career in journalism. Katalina is proud to be a part of KDNK's news department and hopes to grow with it.
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Last weekend, the Sopris Sun went to the Colorado Press Association Convention and received 38 awards. 15 of the awards were won by the Sopris Stars, the youth journalism program led by the Sopris Sun, and two awards originated from Sol del Valle, the Sopris Sun's sister newspaper. -
News host Katalina Villarreal brings listeners Friday's news, including: an announcement from the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office regarding Maroon Peak's closure while recovery operations occur for the deceased climber found Thursday morning, an account of Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd's appearance in Glenwood Springs from the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, and a two-way interview with the Sopris Sun's Editor, James Steindler, regarding recent awards won from the Colorado Press Association. -
News host Katalina Villarreal brings listeners Thursday's news, including: results from the latest Colorado Latino Policy Agency poll, a report from GOP gubernatorial nominee Victor Marx's stop in Delta County's small town Austin, and a story on the shorter farming season that leaves less room for farmers to react, both reports shared with us via Rocky Mountain Community Radio. -
News host Katalina Villarreal brings listeners Monday's news, including: an update on the deadly Grand Canyon National Park flooding and a request for anyone who has information on missing people, information on a 64-unit mixed-use development that was greenlit last week by the Basalt Town Council, and stories from Rocky Mountain Community Radio highlighting Teton County's response to JD Vance stopping in and a story on immigrant worker protections from Mountain Village near Telluride. -
News host Katalina Villarreal brings listeners Thursday's news, including: information on why Nevada is suing the trump Administration because of Colorado River water cuts, scrutiny for the U.S. food safety system amidst foodborne illness outbreaks, updates on Colorado suing the Postal Service to block the new rule on mail ballots shared with us via the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, and a conversation with Vic Vela from Aspen Public Radio and former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, shared with us via Rocky Mountain Community Radio.
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An interview with KDNK's Mike Lemmer and the City of Rifle's new Chief of Police, Tommy Klein. Klein talks about coming back to Rifle, how his experiences elsewhere have informed him, and what is in store for the Rifle police department going forward. -
News host Katalina Villarreal brings listeners Wednesday's news, including: a message from Light Out Colorado to protect birds migrating at night, what Republican gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx said at his Glenwood Springs stop, updates on the Trump Administration moving forward in the courts to restrict mail voting, both stories shared with us via the Capitol News Alliance, and a story on the potential Paramount-Warner Brothers merger deal and how it could affect local theatres. -
KDNK’s Katalina Villarreal spoke to the manager of the Crystal Theatre, Will Grandbois, and the former owner, Bob Ezra, about their insights on the potential Paramount-Warner Bros. studio acquisition and how it could affect local movie theatres and the film industry at large. -
News host Katalina Villarreal brings listeners Friday's news, including: updates on the month-long lockout at the Fort Morgan Cargill meatpacking plant, a story on the intense heat and how schools are implementing plans for reducing student heat exposure, and an interview with Jeni Blacklock, the executive director of Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, both stories shared with us via Rocky Mountain Community Radio.
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By mid-August, Colorado Parks and Wildlife had received more than 6,000 reports of bear encounters in 2026. Lately, everyone seems to have a bear story, including KDNK's Katalina Villarreal, who recently reported on an educational campaign aimed at reducing conflicts.
