Local Government

Senate Bill 3 was recently signed into law by Jared Polis, prompting the BOCC to pass a resolution in support of firearm rights. SB3 will restrict access to semiautomatic guns, and bans their manufacture in the state of Colorado. Garfield County Commissioners say this is an overstep of state power.

Some Garfield County residents are drawing attention to the Garfield County Library District budget, complaining that the library has too much money and that some of it should be returned to taxpayers. At last week’s Garfield County Commissioner meeting, library staff set the record straight, and then some.

Carbondale’s Latino Advisory Board recently filled five of its ten seats. Town Trustee Christina Montemayor says that the Latino community is underrepresented in local politics and she aims to empower Latinos in Carbondale to make their voices heard. Here’s KDNK’s Lily Jones.

Efforts to remove books from public and school libraries have been increasing nationwide. According to PEN America, a non-profit that champions the freedom to write, there was an unprecedented surge in book bans during the latter half of 2023.Here in Colorado, a battle has been playing out in Garfield County, where some community members have been calling for the removal of certain books from public libraries. They have been lobbying the Garfield County Commissioners to override the library board and take action. Now the Commissioners are at odds with the library board. The commissioners are planning on appointing candidates for three open positions on the Garfield County Libraries Board of Trustees, despite the library board already reappointing two trustees. Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Maeve Conran spoke with Amy Hadden Marsh who says what’s happening in Garfield County is part of a national trend.

Three Garfield County Library Board of Trustee positions are open - in Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and New Castle. But the library board and Garfield County Commissioners disagree on how to appoint the two incumbents.

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

Shorthand guide for western slope candidates and state ballot measures

Carbondale’s Board of Trustees met Tuesday to discuss budgets and plan for 2025.

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

West Slope legislators including Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie held a bipartisan town hall last week via Zoom. The hour and half long meeting included a run down on legislative agendas from five Senators and seven Representatives.