• A person in a safety vest crouches by the edge of Reservoir Number 2, observing the calm waters and innovative floating solar panels beneath a clear blue sky.

    Floating Solar on Reservoir Number 2

    April 2, 2026

    Norwood is teaming up with EcoAction Partners and the Colorado School of Mines to explore floatovoltaics - floating solar panels - to reduce evaporation, prevent algae blooms, and generate renewable energy.

  • Event poster for a Norwood radio drama listening party featuring Spawn of the Subhuman—with original and new recordings—on January 23 at 6 PM at The Livery, presented by the N3 Music & Theater Club.

    Spawn of the Subhuman Comes to the Airwaves

    January 22, 2026

    A hijacked plane, an evil scientist and a celebrity-turned-gorilla collide in Spawn of the Subhuman, a delightfully over-the-top radio play produced by N3 Music & Theatre Club. Directed by Brock Benson and performed by local middle school students, the reimagined 1942 script blends campy sci-fi, sharp humor and heartfelt community storytelling — proving that radio theater can be both hilarious and deeply meaningful.

  • Kirk Alexander stands outdoors holding two pack mules with a small dog nearby; mountains and trees frame this peaceful scene of remembrance.

    Remembering Kirk Alexander

    December 4, 2025

    Kirk Alexander, a lifelong rancher and respected Norwood community member, died Sunday, Nov. 30, at 98.

    Born in 1927 in what is now Lawson Hill, Alexander carried on a family ranching tradition in San Miguel County dating back to the early 1800s.

  • A two-story rustic building with a stone and wood exterior, reminiscent of a Revival style, features a covered porch and gravel driveway under a clear sky—perfect for a charming Bedrock Store setting.

    The Bedrock Store Revival

    December 1, 2025

    Four new owners are restoring Bedrock’s historic general store, aiming to reopen next spring with live music, community space and an artist-in-residence program.

  • Solar Quest in the West: One Man’s Step in A Renewable Future

    November 20, 2025

    Tim Erdman’s Last Dollar Solar Garden above Telluride Airport demonstrates small-scale community solar, providing power to local nonprofits and the airport while highlighting the challenges and opportunities for renewable energy in Western Colorado.

  • Rows of solar panels installed on a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky showcase growing solar adoption on the Western Slope, with mountains visible in the background.

    Solar Quest in the West: From Frogs to Solar Panels, and the Energy Future of the Western Slope

    November 19, 2025

    Montrose County remains the only Colorado county with a solar moratorium, highlighting community fears and regulatory challenges. Local residents, officials, and utilities discuss the future of solar energy in Western Colorado.

  • A high-angle view of a mountain valley with rugged rock formations, forested slopes, autumn foliage, and a small mountain town in the distance captures the spirit of Solar Struggle and sustainable living in Colorado.

    Solar Quest in the West: The Struggle for Solar in Colorado’s Mountain Towns

    November 13, 2025

    Ophir, Colorado set out to become 100% renewable, but local opposition derailed its solar microgrid. Across the state, solar projects are booming in conservative counties and stalling in liberal ones revealing an unexpected divide in Colorado’s clean energy future.

  • Rows of solar panels are arranged outdoors on a sunny day in a testament to Colorado solar innovation, with grass and dirt beneath them and a partly cloudy sky overhead.

    Solar Quest in the West: Colorado’s Uncertain Solar Future

    November 12, 2025

    Colorado’s push for 100% clean energy by 2040 is in jeopardy after the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act. Billions in federal solar funding have vanished, and state utilities now face steep hurdles in meeting renewable energy targets.

  • Representative Hurd, dressed in a dark suit, light shirt, and striped tie, sits before a blurred backdrop, facing the camera with a neutral expression—reflecting his focus on San Miguel County issues.

    Jeff Hurd Says It’s Simple–Open the Government

    October 29, 2025

    During a visit to Telluride, Rep. Jeff Hurd met with San Miguel County leaders to address the impacts of the federal government shutdown — from food assistance cuts to healthcare funding shortfalls.

  • Modern multi-story apartment buildings surrounded by dense green trees with mountains and ski slopes visible in the background under a clear sky.

    $1 Billion Four Seasons Project Stirs Community

    October 1, 2025

    A billion-dollar Four Seasons resort is underway in Mountain Village, promising luxury and jobs but raising alarms in West End communities over housing, infrastructure and workforce impacts. Local leaders are calling for regional collaboration as construction begins on the three-year project.

  • “Off the Record” 9-30-25: Norwood School Bond Measure & Norwood School Board Candidates

    October 1, 2025

    After two failed votes, the bond measure for a new Norwood school is back on the ballot in November, and two seats on the Norwood School Board are up for election. KOTO News team has a discussion with Mayor Candy Meehan and San Miguel County Commissioner Galena Gleason on the Norwood School Bond Measure, and a candidate forum for the Norwood School Board.

  • West End Uranium Heats Up

    August 22, 2025

    Uranium mining is seeing a revival in Colorado’s West End. At the Sunday Mine complex north of the Dolores River, Western Uranium and Vanadium has begun selling stockpiled ore to Utah’s White Mesa Mill after prices surged under President Donald Trump’s call to “unleash American energy.” CEO George Glasier says his Nucla-based company has doubled its workforce and plans to expand further as demand for domestic uranium grows.

  • Nonprofits Help Keep Forests Open, Safe, and Accessible

    June 13, 2025

    As trail season kicks off in the San Juans, local nonprofits like the Telluride Mountain Club and San Juan Mountains Association are working alongside the Forest Service to clear downed trees, manage erosion and keep public trails open and safe for everyone.

  • A large group of cyclists pose with their bicycles in front of a weathered, corrugated metal building under a clear blue sky.

    The Grand Loop Provides

    June 4, 2025

    Riders from across the country gathered in Nucla for the Grand Loop, a 350-mile bikepacking challenge through rugged terrain, heat, and high country solitude. This year’s ride saw record times, community spirit, and a deep test of endurance.

  • Representative Hurd, dressed in a dark suit, light shirt, and striped tie, sits before a blurred backdrop, facing the camera with a neutral expression—reflecting his focus on San Miguel County issues.

    Hurd backs House budget cutting rural energy tax credits, SNAP and Medicaid

    May 27, 2025

    U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd voted for a sweeping House budget bill that cuts billions in clean energy tax credits used by rural utilities, along with deep reductions to SNAP and Medicaid. Local leaders warn of major setbacks for energy resilience projects across western Colorado.