Colorado Lawmakers

News from late September through early October covering topics from wildfire recovery to Mountain Rescue Aspen's recovery of a stranded base jumper.

After a long summer of drought and enormous wildfires, Western Slope water is top of mind for many. In January, the Biden administration pledged $40 million to the Western Slope’s purchase of the Shoshone Water Rights in Glenwood Canyon; it was withdrawn that same month by the Trump administration. Congressman Jeff Hurd was questioned during a recent telephone town hall about the long contested-Shoshone water rights.

Wilderness Workshop, based in Carbondale since 2004, has a storied history and legacy of big wins for mountain landscapes and the environment. Founded back in 1967 by Joy Caudill, Dottie Fox and Connie Harvey, this powerhouse trio of Aspen women convinced Congress to designate capital-W Wilderness in the Hunter-Fryingpan, Collegiate Peaks, Raggeds and West Elks, and doubled the size of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area. That was in the 1970s and 80s. A string of policy victories followed. More recently, energy has focused on staving off ravages from gas and oil extraction, including the hard-fought cancelling of gas leases in the Thompson Divide outside Carbondale.The hard work is not over for Wilderness Workshop. Advocacy director Erin Riccio (RICH-eeyo) just returned from Washington D.C. She stopped by KDNK this morning to tell news host Mike Lemmer about the trip, and new threats to wilderness and communities from the energy sector.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

President Donald Trump is demanding the release of former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year sentence for her role in a 2021 breach of Mesa County’s election systems. President Trump has threatened Colorado with "harsh measures" if Peters is not released from prison.Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who is running in the 2026 Attorney General Race, has pushed back against calls to intervene.KDNK recently spoke with Griswold about the Tina Peters case and about the broader issue of election security in Colorado.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

KDNK’s news team brings you local and regional news from the Roaring Fork Valley ... and beyond.

Lawmakers recently passed President Trump's controversial budget plan that includes over $1 billion dollars of rescissions from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The cuts will revoke all federal support for National Public Radio, the Public Broadcasting Service, and all their member stations.