Columnists - The Journal

‘No one should freeze to death’: The Bridge Shelter’s 20 years in Cortez

Homelessness in Cortez is not new. MB McAfee recalls that while growing up, it wasn’t unusual for several people to freeze to death in Montezuma Park every winter. However, it was a death in...

DATE: May 29, 2026 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Colorado lawmakers keep dodging debate over public stream access rights

It’s perplexing that preserving legal public stream access remains one of the most untouchable topics in the Colorado legislature. Our state’s constitution boldly proclaims that every natura...

DATE: May 17, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Colorado budget passes, but long-term fiscal imbalance remains unresolved

As the Second Regular Session of the 75th Colorado General Assembly winds down, the conversation once again centers on the state’s annual budget. On April 30, the General Assembly finalized ...

DATE: May 15, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Legislative session’s final sprint: Votes, signing ceremonies and upcoming town halls

This year’s legislative session ends May 13, and we worked through the weekend to get bills across the finish line. If you’d like to learn more about our work over the past year, come to one...

DATE: May 13, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Delivering reliable water for tribal communities in the West

In parts of the Upper Colorado River Basin, families still live without reliable access to safe drinking water. That’s not a resource problem; it’s a delivery problem. For decades, the feder...

DATE: May 8, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

When conflict turns into avoidance

Editor’s note: This is the fourth segment of a five-column series. Life is all about relationships. That may seem simplistic to some, but think it through, and I believe you’ll find tha...

DATE: May 1, 2026 | CATEGORY: Lessons from the Sandbox

Keeping Montezuma County beautiful: A balance of policy and partnership

As Montezuma County Commissioners, we have heard our residents’ concerns loud and clear. Across the county, people are seeing an increase in trash, abandoned vehicles, and neglected properti...

DATE: May 1, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Wild hunting dogs

African wild hunting dogs are one of the most successful predators in the animal kingdom. Cooperation and coordination are the keys to their success. Because of their small stature, injuries...

DATE: Apr 24, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Who is government? Panel brings public service stories to Cortez stage

Perhaps the most famous quotation from a U.S. inaugural address is John F. Kennedy’s: “And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your co...

DATE: Apr 24, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

What lurks in pawn chains

Black to move and win Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan won the open division of the Candidates Tournament in historic fashion and will play India’s Gukesh Dommaraj for the World Chess Champio...

DATE: Apr 20, 2026 | CATEGORY: Chess Corner

Backcountry turkey hunting and the Roadless Rule are both worth protecting

Twenty years ago, I had the privilege of first crossing paths with Durango resident David “Elkheart” Petersen at a public meeting of the Colorado Roadless Areas Review Task Force in Pueblo. ...

DATE: Apr 19, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Colorado budget cuts will hit schools, Medicaid, SNAP and rural hospitals

As I’m writing this, the House is hearing the “long bill,” which lays out the entire Colorado budget for the coming year. As many of you know, Colorado is facing a more than $1.5 billion bud...

DATE: Apr 17, 2026 | CATEGORY: Opinion