Noticias

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West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum

Today on the West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin forum KOTO’s news team chats with editor Regan Tuttle. In today’s headlines: Cattle Rustling Issue goes National, Norwood School Debate Continues, and Wrights Mesa Water Coalition Gathers.

Story begins at: 0:35

A Look Back: Norwood Teacher Named One of the Best

KOTO News was recently recognized by the Colorado Broadcasters Association for its excellence in news programming in 2024. This week we’re highlighting KOTO’s award winning stories from last year. Today we have a story, originally broadcast in September 2024 – recognizing one of the best teachers in San Miguel County—and the state of Colorado.

Story begins at: 6:17

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Republican Pushback on State Gun Bill, and a step towards Restorative Justice

Colorado Republicans are pushing back on the progressive gun bill signed by Governor Jared Polis, and Legislators took a step forward for restorative justice to commemorate the Sand Creek Massacre. This week on Capitol Conversation, Statehouse Reporter Lucas Brady Woods shares the latest.

Story begins at: 11:09

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Camp Alderwild Returns to Telluride With Two-Day Electronic Music Festival

Join Planet Bluegrass this summer for Camp Alderwild—a two-day concert on Aug. 22–23 in Telluride Town Park. Following the announcement of EDM artist Of the Trees, a full lineup has been released for the weekend of electronic music.

Telluride locals are invited to sign up online to reserve tickets, which go on sale Friday, April 18. KOTO, your local radio station, will begin selling concert tickets the week of April 21, available every Thursday throughout the spring.

For every ticket purchased, $5 will go to KOTO Radio, and $1 will go to the National Park Foundation.

Further pricing and camping details are available online at campalderwild.com.

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Hickenlooper Pushes for Release of Federal Funds for Water Projects

Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper says he is working across party lines to release funding for critical water conservation projects frozen by the Trump administration.

At a roundtable of water users in Glenwood Springs on Tuesday, Hickenlooper heard from leaders in Grand to Mesa counties about projects in need of federal support. Water users said they are unable to access tens of millions of dollars for efforts to improve aging infrastructure, promote conservation and restore habitat.

“Many of us are kind of freaked out by the way they’re doing that—the priorities and how recklessly it seems that they’re firing,” Hickenlooper said. “You know, if you want the Bureau of Reclamation to do some of this work, evaluate these projects, they need people to do it. But right now they’re woefully short-handed.”

Cuts to the Bureau of Reclamation are also impacting negotiations over water use in the Colorado River Basin, which includes seven states from Wyoming to California.

Hickenlooper expressed frustration with the slow pace of those negotiations, as the current water agreement is set to expire in 2026. He said he is not willing to compromise on Coloradans maintaining their water rights, but added that the state should remain open to collaboration.

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Ballot Question 3A Goes to Court

An election complaint on ballot question 3A, to fund the Gondola renovation and other transportation needs, is being heard in San Miguel County court on Friday April 18^th. The complaint, filed by Emily Masson and 11 other local residents, is seeking to nullify the election results from November 2024. The ballot measure passed in Novembers election, comprised of voters in the San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation district. Those interested in the case can swing by the San Miguel County Courthouse at 9am, or tune in by visiting coloradojudicial.gov and searching in the San Miguel County court docket.

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Fort Collins Conservationist Urges Hope in Face of Environmental Challenges

Richard Knight, a conservationist and college instructor in Fort Collins, says it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—even hopeless—when looking at the state of the environment. But he believes the answer is not despair.

“Rather,” Knight said, “I ask us to roll up our sleeves and choose hope.”

Knight shared his perspective as part of the Writers on the Range series, brought to listeners by Rocky Mountain Community Radio.

Story begins at 18:45

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