Telluride Local News

Weather forecasters expect a hotter-than-average summer and early monsoon season, Telluride High School's graduating class is the largest in the school's history, NPR and three Colorado public radio stations sue the Trump administration over funding cuts, and Denver mint to cease production of pennies.

Collared female wolf roams into San Miguel County, emergency phone outage attributed to cut fiber line, bear charges at 49-year-old Ouray woman, and new mural marks the start of Mountainfilm weekend.

Telluride Tourism Board is looking ahead to summer, house north of Norwood burns down, Polis vows to veto bill making it easier to form labor unions, and there's a livestream available of a megaden of rattlesnakes in a secret Colorado location.

Colorado legislators pass SB25-276 to protect immigrants, two ballot initiatives this fall will ask the state's voters about additional funding for school meals, the unofficial results from the Telluride Hospital District election are in, and trash truck catches fire near Mountain Village.

Dan Covault appointed to serve out Bill Masters' term as San Miguel County Sheriff, Forest Service seeks input on Telluride Ski Resort's capital improvements plan, residents speak out against diagonal parking, and one last ski run to say goodbye to winter. 

Judge halts deportation of Venezuelan immigrants being detained in Aurora, Telluride Hospital District holds election for board of directors, San Miguel County Commissioners to select a replacement to serve the remainder of Sheriff Bill Masters' term after he retires in June, and lock your car doors—the bears are awake and hungry.

Telluride Ski Resort owner Chuck Horning comes under fire from local officials, lawsuit over gondola ballot issue 3A is headed to trial, San Miguel County Public Health receives stop work order as federal funding is cut, Mountain Village receives grant funding for wildfire mitigation, and a big snowstorm caps off the 2024-2025 season.

New study shows Colorado children living near oil and gas wells have an increased risk of leukemia, food banks in the state face funding cuts, snowpack in our local river basins is just 73% of the median, and Bureau of Land Management shares a wild mustang virtual reality experience.

Mountain Village questions Telluride Ski Resort owner Chuck Horning's ability to lead as the council condemns a section of resort land for concert easement and looks at a lift ticket tax to enable the resort's promised contributions to gondola operations, Colorado is facing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, Mountain Village presents feasibility study for regional wastewater treatment facility, and Telluride puts its first all-electric Galloping Goose bus on the loose.

Closure of federal offices could hinder proposal to return BLM headquarters to Grand Junction, be prepared for bears this spring, rockfall closes Camp Bird road on the Ouray side of Imogene Pass, and fishing licenses are available now for the 2025-2026 season.

Changes in Colorado's school funding formula has negative effects on local school districts, Trump administration's tariffs could cost Colorado consumers $1.2 billion,  San Miguel County to support EcoAction Partners' regional Green Grants program, and Agaricus julius is in the running to become the official state mushroom. 

Skier caught and injured in avalanche near Ophir, homeowners insurance rates increase and some policies are dropped because of wildfire risk, Rep. Jeff Hurd (D3-COLO) speaks by zoom with San Miguel County Commissioners, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife still trying to capture and collar bighorn sheep in the area.

Skier partially buried in Bear Creek avalanche, local and state officials concerned over Forest Service layoffs, Wilkinson Public Library's visitation and digital circulation numbers increase, road and bridge department updates the county on timeline for repairing road and reopening Imogene Pass, and Telluride AIDS Benefit hits the runway this weekend.

In honor of Valentine's Day, this week we asked some locals to share their thoughts about love. 

Locals participate in "A Day Without Immigrants," two men sentenced to federal prison for fentanyl death in San Miguel County in 2021, mining claims including Bear Creek Falls listed for sale, and SMART is starting a new Montrose to Telluride bus route for commuters.

Gondola leadership committee hosts planning meetings about gondola stations, cost of eggs goes up because of avian influenza outbreak and Colorado's cage-free mandate, changes to child care assistance program (CCAP) result in funding shortfall, and natural avalanche on Ajax highlights changing conditions in the snowpack.

Colorado attorney general joins other states in lawsuit against executive order to overturn birthright citizenship, Chloe Hehir takes fourth in her first Freeride World Tour event in Spain, Colorado Parks and Wildlife completes second season of wolf capture and release, and this weekend is the 30th annual Ouray Ice Festival.

Telluride Town Council could amend short-term rental limitations to avoid Mountainside Inn lawsuit, Colorado's first avalanche fatality of the season involved a solo backcountry skier in the San Juan Mountains, Planet Bluegrass is looking to secure August dates for a concert, and Telluride residents show their support for victims of the California wildfires. 

Explore Act protects fixed climbing anchors on public land, BLM to charge for overnight camping but not day use, report details threats to lynx habitat in the San Juan Mountains, and—yeehaw!—the San Juan Skijoring event is this weekend.

Cattle shooting is likely unrelated to suspected cattle rustling on the Western Slope, psilocybin therapy is now legal in Colorado, Telluride opens outdoor skating rink on the volleyball court, and according to CDC data, excessive drinking in San Miguel County is slightly lower than the state average.

As 2025 approaches, we are taking a look back at some of the top stories from 2024. From all of us at the Local News Network Telluride, we wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

Colorado's new hands-free law goes into effect Jan. 1, San Miguel County Commissioners discuss results from Placerville survey, Ouray Ice Park opens Dec. 21, and the Angel Tree down valley gets a new home.

Telluride to expand metered parking zones and step up enforcement, Daniel Zemke to replace Susanne Ross as Telluride's municipal court judge following her retirement, San Miguel County Commissioners are looking to support legislation that would exempt some employers from the cap on H2-B work visas, and wolves will be reintroduced on the Western Slope beginning in January of 2025.

San Miguel County finalizes its 2025 budget, COTREX app to include avalanche information, cattle from local ranch is missing or stolen, and county sheriffs are holding a unique type of food drive.

Telluride Arts pauses construction of Transfer Warehouse, Forest Service to cut budget and not hire seasonal workers, Telluride Foundation to launch pilot program for down payment assistance, and next week is opening day for the ski resort's 2024-2025 season.

Tri-County Health Network releases the local results from the 2023 Healthy Kids Survey, Mountain Village parking passes for the winter season are on sale, Colorado Parks and Wildlife studies mountain lion density on the Western Slope, and Red Mountain Pass rockfall closure allows for moose crossing.

Galena Gleason and Anne Brown win San Miguel County Commissioners seats, county voters approve gondola funding, tax reallocation to affordable housing, and a mill levy for the Norwood Fire Protection District, Colorado approve amendments to the state constitution adding abortion protections and remove the same-sex marriage ban, and the Free Box opens at its new spot in the Voodoo building.

San Miguel Power Association is seeking another fee increase and a tiered rate structure for electricity used during peak hours, Kathleen Merritt and Paul Major receive lifetime achievement awards from El Pomar Foundation, Bruin to offer compost pickup service to HOAs and businesses in Telluride, and speaking of compost...you can recycle those pumpkins for free in Mountain Village.

Early voting is underway in San Miguel County, arrest is made in 25-year-old cold case involving Nucla man, KOTO turns on new transmitter and KOOK signal in Ouray and Ridgway, and season's first significant snowstorm also results in its first avalanche incident.

This week we are taking a look at the local and regional ballot questions: tax increases to support the gondola and transportation, lengthening term limits for San Miguel County Commissioners, and using part of the existing parks and open space revenue to fund affordable housing in the county. 

San Miguel County Sheriffs asking for pay increase, sections of the Valley Floor will be closed for a helicopter operation to remove dead trees, Telluride Horror Show happening this weekend, aurora borealis seen in town, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife releases two great horned owls into the wild.

District Attorney Seth Ryan resigns, San Miguel County updates ordinances to align with new Colorado statutes, Colorado voters to decide this November whether or not to adopt ranked-choice voting in elections, and the new Free Box is taking shape.

Climber suffers fatal fall on Wilson Peak, marshals respond to report of a weapon at Telluride High School, San Miguel Resource Center and Ah Haa School for the Arts team up on Community Garden project for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and ski resort offers free ski passes to residents 80 years and older who can't afford them.

Telluride Town Council continues to fine-tune policies for rental housing, San Miguel County adopts solar regulations, Bureau of Land Management proposes fees for day use and camping at sites along San Miguel River and for the Ridgway Area Trails (RAT), and there are no dogs allowed on Mt. Sneffels, per a new Forest Service plan.

Local jeep outfitters ask county officials to prioritize opening and maintenance of mountain passes, Imogene Pass Run to be rerouted due to road damage, Initiative 89 asks Colorado voters to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, and Selena Gomez attends Telluride High School volleyball game.

Heavy rains result in the temporary closure of Imogene Pass and the closure of Black Bear Pass for the rest of the season, Telluride Ski Resort shares its conceptual plan for the Lift 7 and Carhenge area, San Miguel County Commissioners approve ballot measure that would reallocate part of the Parks and Open Space tax revenue into affordable housing fund, and a woman whose vehicle went off the road on Norwood Hill into the San Miguel Canyon spends the night trapped in before being discovered and rescued the next morning.

Mountain Village's Stegosaurus Trail is open, lost woman survives four nights alone in the wilderness near Lone Cone Peak, Zoe Dohnal is appointed as Telluride's Town Manager, and Telluride Film Festival requests a permit to host tethered hot air balloon rides.

Mudslides close Imogene and Black Bear passes, Colorado public health officials are concerned about the decreasing rates of vaccinated students, Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters found guilty of election breach, and boreal toad conservation efforts wield wild tadpoles after seven years of reintroduction.

Firefighters battle several small fires on the West End and Nucla's Bucktail Fire grows to nearly 4,000 acres, initiative to ban trophy hunting of mountain lions will be on the November ballot, Telluride Town Council selects two local businesses to rent Voodoo commercial space, and Suzy, the pup who ran away July 4th,  returns home after thirty days.

Firefighters quickly contain blaze outside of Norwood, Mesa County officials propose a smaller Dolores River conservation area, Telluride Marshals ask the public for information about an alleged sexual assault, and the community housing survey is available online.

Norwood trustees hope to mediate personnel issues, public health officials are monitoring a bird flu outbreak in the state, Voodoo Affordable Housing lottery is open, and 50% of Coloradans admit they fight with their virtual assistants.

Ah Haa School for the Arts holds the HAHA event this weekend, San Miguel County planning commission finalizes solar regulations, primary race for House District 58 is headed for a recount, and Kyle Lutz is through-hiking the region's Fourteeners.

Water conservation efforts in the West appear to be working, Mountain Village is considering allowing LLCs and trusts to vote in local elections, Colorado's ban on "forever chemicals" goes into effect this month, and the Pinhead Institute hosts its annual fundraiser.

Primary election results are in, Mountain Village under contract for potential new waste treatment site, Telluride appoints Zoe Dohnal as acting town manager, and Colorado welcomes its first new native wolf pup.

Healthy Kids Colorado Survey results from 2023 are in, GMUG forest plan is finalized, Telluride Town Council holds hearing about ethics complaint, and celebrate the peak of the season with the summer solstice and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

County reviews more uranium mining permit applications, local farmers markets open for the season, officials see an unprecedented number of wildlife attacks on humans during calving season, and Telluride's main drag is honored as one of the most beautiful streets in the world. 

Primary ballots have been mailed, a new study suggests climate change is causing groundwater storage to decline, Telluride Town Council schedules a public hearing about an ethics complaint, and the ecology commission is considering an unusual method for weed control on the Valley Floor.

County planners finalize East End Master Plan, construction work to resume on the Boomerang Bridge on the Valley Floor, volunteers tag trees with pheromone packs to deter beetles, and the Balloon Festival takes off this weekend. 

Local drowns in Trout Lake,  Spruce Fire continues to grow, Avery MacCracken sentenced to federal prison for involvement in Jan. 6 insurrection, and Mountainfilm kicks off the summer festival season.

Telluride Town Manager Scott Robson resigns, Colorado legislators pass several affordable housing bills, San Miguel County and EcoAction Partners hold annual spring cleanup, and Northern Lights make an appearance in Telluride. 

Brian Aitken reaches plea deal for November 2021 shooting in Telluride, fatal car crash closes Highway 145 temporarily, Colorado Avalanche Information Center says there were significantly fewer avalanche deaths in 2023-2024, and Colorado says "welcome back" to wolverines.