All Entries in the "Hot Topics" Category
Kevin Ridder promoted as Chief of Police in Lamar – has been serving as interim Chief since May
The City of Lamar has promoted Kevin Ridder as its Chief of Police. Ridder has served in the interim capacity since Chief Al Fear’s departure in May. With previous experience in the agency, Ridder rejoined the Lamar Police Department in January of 2025 as Lamar’s Commander of Support Services. Support Services includes the detective bureau/drug […]
Advocates launch campaign to fully fund Colorado’s universal school meals program
Shannon Thompson, public policy and legislative chair for the Colorado School Nutrition Association, speaks at an event in support of two ballot measures that would shore up funding for the state’s school meals program, in Lakewood (Photo by Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) By:Chase Woodruff/ColoradoNewsline Parents, educators and anti-hunger advocates gathered at a community farm […]
Colorado’s prisons are full – A 2018 law requires efforts to reduce their population. Low vacancy rates could trigger expedited parole hearings, halfway house placements
Criminal justice reform advocates are pressing Colorado corrections officials for more details on their efforts to reduce the state’s prison population after the requirements of a 2018 law were triggered for the first time. The vacancy rate in state prisons stood at 1.92% as of Aug. 16, marking the 30th consecutive day the department maintained a vacancy […]
What the discovery of improperly stored bodies in a Pueblo funeral home says about the state’s death care industry
Following another case of mismanagement of human remains in Colorado, the state is grappling with flaws in its funeral industry. In Pueblo, a recent inspection led to the discovery of several decomposing bodies improperly stored at Davis Mortuary. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said Monday that there are more than the originally estimated 20 bodies […]
UCHealth and HCPF reach agreement that safeguards integrity of CHASE program and supports rural hospitals
In addition, UCHealth establishes a $5.7 million fund to support specific rural hospitals impacted by reclassification Aurora, Colo. (August 26, 2025) – UCHealth and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) have reached an agreement that will appropriately reclassify UCHealth hospitals in the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) hospital provider fee […]
Ye Olde Rummage Shoppe vital to the community but needs its help with keeping donation area behind store clean
The volunteers who keep Ye Olde Rummage Shoppe staffed are, from right to left: Pam Cabello, Bonnie Good, El Donna Mosier, Stella Figueroa, Punkin Kalani, Emilia Lynn, Annabelle Munez, Jo Ann Orozco, and Loretta Johnson. In front of the group is Amari Perkins, who is the great-granddaughter of John and Annabelle Munez. Loretta Johnson, John […]
Lee fire near Meeker has become the 6th largest wildfire in Colorado history
The Lee fire southwest of Meeker, Colorado in Rio Blanco County has become the sixth largest wildfire in Colorado history, eclipsing the 2012 High Park fire, which burned 87,284 acres west of Fort Collins. The fire grew from over 88,000 acres to over 92,000 acres throughout the day on Saturday, with no containment, state fire […]
Letter to the Editor – Longtime Hartman resident responds to recent Letter to the Editor regarding Hartman
I Mark Cooper am writing this in response that was submitted in the editor of the prowers county journal on July 2nd and August of 2025 about Hartman. The letter was written by Shauna Casey. It caused defamation to three trustees on the Hartman Town board. Ms. Casey has only lived in Hartman for the […]
Public school enrollment continues to fall – Colorado among states with most decline
Across the country, public school enrollment has failed to rebound to pre-pandemic levels — and data suggests the decline is far from over. According to projections from the National Center for Education Statistics, public K-12 enrollment peaked at 50.8 million students in autumn 2019, but is expected to fall by nearly 4 million students to 46.9 […]
Colorado’s wolf restoration program costs exceed $8 million over 5 years
Colorado has now spent more than $8 million over five years on the wolf restoration program, according to a presentation made at Thursday’s Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in Grand Junction. Justin Rutter, the assistant director for financial and capital services at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, also addressed the apparent discrepancy between the General […]
Prowers Medical Center issues statement regarding Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing asking rural hospitals to return provider fee reimbursements
EDITOR’S NOTE: Karen Bryant, CEO of Prowers Medical Center released the following statement as a response to news that Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is asking rural hospitals to return nearly $60 million due to a failed lawsuit against UCHealth. In it, she reiterates that PMC is currently in a stable financial […]
Attorney General announces $3M grant to CDPHE to provide free naloxone through June 2026
June 24, 2025 (DENVER) — Attorney General Phil Weiser today announced a $3 million grant from Colorado’s opioid settlement funds to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to provide free naloxone to eligible organizations statewide, helping expand and sustain access to a medication that reverses opioid overdoses and saves lives. “Every life lost […]
US inserts itself into Israel’s war with Iran, strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The United States struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel’s war aimed at destroying the country’s nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe despite fears of a wider regional conflict. Addressing the nation from the White House, President Donald Trump asserted that Iran’s key nuclear were […]
Statement from Prowers County Coroner in regard to dismissal of lawsuits between his office and Prowers County Commissioners
Update, for the citizens of Prowers County, in regards to the lawsuit filed by the Prowers County Commissioners, against the Prowers County Coroner. The lawsuit against the coroner was dismissed, with prejudice, by the court. Attached are the official court documents and a statement from the coroner’s attorney. The Prowers County Coroner’s Office is providing […]
Trump directs ICE to expand deportation efforts in America’s largest cities
By Audrey Conklin Fox News President Donald Trump on Sunday said ICE must “expand efforts to detain and deport” illegal immigrants in “America’s largest [c]ities,” including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.” The president’s comment came in a Truth Social post on Sunday evening after a week of anti-ICE protests that have taken place in major cities across the country, with […]
