Local News https://www.the-journal.com/feeds/local-news/ 2026-05-25 10:09:59 -0700 en-us https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-rico-residents-honor-fallen-service-members-on-memorial-day/ At the Cortez Cemetery, small flags billowed next to the graves of soldiers who died in combat while veterans and community members alike gathered at the American Legion Ute Mountain Post 75 to honor ... 2026-05-25 02:41:51 -0700 3c4d6c7e-87b4-4152-a1ec-0debb6614e52 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/how-fire-agencies-across-southwest-colorado-work-together-to-get-ahead-of-wildfire-season/ With the arrival of summer comes the reminder that a pronounced wildfire season across the West is swiftly approaching. In La Plata County, fire departments, utility providers, and county, state and f... 2026-05-25 05:00:00 -0700 49af9b69-71ec-4586-b337-74b4870ea003 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/judge-hears-oral-arguments-in-dollar-general-civil-case/ Questions on the meaning of rural character and statutory power were emphasized in 22nd Judicial District court Thursday as attorneys debated whether county officials lawfully denied a proposal to bui... 2026-05-23 05:30:00 -0700 3f6ef8bb-277b-4fed-a7bd-8accea637f14 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-district-attorneys-office-resolves-yearslong-child-sex-abuse-cases/ The District Attorney’s office in Montezuma County said recent convictions and plea agreements in four sexual assault crimes against children shows persistence from survivors and dedication among comm... 2026-05-22 08:01:20 -0700 917cb6ed-bcf7-4108-aa2d-0f99969db553 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/moco-compo-brings-food-curbside-composting-service-to-montezuma-county/ A new curbside composting business has been launched in Montezuma County, marking the first time residents can have food scraps picked up from their homes. MoCo Compo was founded by Dolores residents ... 2026-05-22 09:00:00 -0700 00da0472-b0ed-4134-b1d4-9f19289ca111 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/the-bikes-they-ride-and-the-stories-they-tell/ Cyclists from all walks of life sign up to take part of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic every May – a hallowed tradition of Durango’s cycling scene that goes back to 1971. They are drawn by the iconic... 2026-05-22 05:00:00 -0700 f3898a1a-697e-4bc5-a817-728902332c2d https://www.the-journal.com/articles/san-juan-national-forest-implements-stage-1-fire-ban/ Stage 1 restrictions will go into effect Friday across lower-elevation areas of the San Juan National Forest, primarily on the western side of the Dolores Ranger District, according to forest official... 2026-05-21 08:16:06 -0700 a0e25f00-8698-4ce3-94a5-94a209017f11 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/peace-run-relay-runners-to-stop-in-cortez-during-50-state-tour/ The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, known as the world's largest international peace torch relay, will reach Cortez on the morning of May 27 as part of its 2026 journey across the U.S. The event i... 2026-05-21 04:00:00 -0700 ee32337d-ee1a-4ef0-891a-cbdc604f9eb2 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/prescribed-burn-carried-out-12-miles-north-of-dolores/ DOLORES — Smoke may be visible across much of Southwest Colorado Wedneday night through Thursday as fire crews conduct a prescribed burn north of Dry Canyon near Dolores on roughly 1,660 acres to impr... 2026-05-20 05:32:31 -0700 489576da-0f58-488a-8356-02d4f4f073ad https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-cortez-drug-task-force-seizes-1-1m-in-meth-fentanyl-during-undercover-operation/ Alternative lead (your choice): The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office this week announced the seizure of more than 60 pounds of methamphetamine and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills ‒ with a co... 2026-05-20 03:45:01 -0700 d8cd6c69-799f-4e86-9529-763f53a10f70 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/wildfire-ready-plan-for-upper-dolores-enters-next-phase/ As wildfire conditions worsen across Southwest Colorado, the Dolores Watersheds Collaborative and partnering agencies are coordinating a “wildfire ready” action plan for the Upper Dolores River waters... 2026-05-19 09:47:06 -0700 1b69c3bd-be5c-4658-b150-37e681462439 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/the-mysterious-disappearance-of-vallecitos-35-foot-tall-logjam/ A massive logjam left blocking Vallecito Creek after the October floods has seemingly disappeared into thin air. Well not exactly. It was likely burned by an unknown person and carried away in billow... 2026-05-19 05:00:00 -0700 db92cf36-385c-4441-b148-329071bbea80 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/man-dies-while-swimming-at-lake-nighthorse-near-durango/ A 20-year-old man from Dallas, Texas, died Friday afternoon while swimming at Lake Nighthorse, according to the Durango Police Department. edit >>> The man, Eric Granados-Barcenas, was swimming w... 2026-05-18 05:48:31 -0700 173fae12-6bd7-4b8d-a6d7-108200441853 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/durango-therapist-tackles-trickle-down-effect-of-burned-out-bosses/ When bosses are burned out, employees can feel it – and according to Barbara Ferri, a therapist with Durango-based Solum Life Therapy, that can create tension in a workplace that might ultimately lead... 2026-05-18 11:00:00 -0700 0b7e5c52-2182-4040-ae9f-e30c28c0bd06 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-water-plant-expansion-near-dolores-approaches-completion-delayed-to-july-2026/ Montezuma Water Company’s long-awaited water treatment plant expansion southwest of Dolores is nearing completion after years of work, with the expanded portion of the plant expected to be operational... 2026-05-17 05:30:00 -0700 44d54494-1fdc-4f7d-8051-72e7a37bf313 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/988-mental-health-team-to-host-informal-gathering-in-dolores/ DOLORES – Colorado’s 988 mental health support line is preparing an outreach tour through the Four Corners Area next week and is planning an informal gathering for Dolores on Thursday. The hope is to ... 2026-05-16 07:45:00 -0700 631fce04-50db-41dd-8eb1-a6281c283b27 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southwest-health-in-cortez-spotlights-fiscal-report-during-community-picnic/ Southwest Health System leaders highlighted expanded medical care, investments in employees and a unified patient records system during the organization’s annual community picnic in Cortez on Wednesda... 2026-05-15 08:10:15 -0700 ab7b9371-b426-49c6-b176-53521df7dd4b https://www.the-journal.com/articles/one-case-confirmed-of-vesicular-stomatitis-virus-for-montezuma-county-horse/ A Montezuma County horse tested positive for vesicular stomatitis virus, a contagious livestock disease spread by insects causing painful, blister-like sores in horses and cattle, according to the Col... 2026-05-14 08:05:06 -0700 db457706-3b86-444d-8cc7-c194c8df727b https://www.the-journal.com/articles/trial-of-cortez-man-accused-in-veterans-park-murder-set-for-this-fall/ A Cortez man accused of murder in incidents taking place at Veterans Park in August is scheduled to go to trial in early September. Robert Salt is scheduled for a trial Sept. 8 starting with jury sele... 2026-05-14 02:00:00 -0700 4c0dc7ef-0616-42af-b29b-124ad3ee5466 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-board-approves-concept-plan-for-riverside-and-third-street-apartments/ DOLORES – After a lengthy debate extending well into Monday night, the Dolores Town Board approved a concept plan for the new development proposed at Riverside and Third Street by KKV Development’s Br... 2026-05-14 04:00:00 -0700 63357aec-3dbb-44f9-9fe5-123765286ae7 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/barking-at-court-montezuma-county-explores-addressing-prairie-dog-overpopulation/ From bears wandering Dolores streets in daylight to burrowing beavers, officials say some wildlife in Montezuma County is increasingly becoming a burden. The issue is big enough the county commission ... 2026-05-13 05:00:00 -0700 438fb05f-f54f-41af-8bbf-26952fad9084 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/april-rain-lifts-cortez-precipitation-totals-but-relief-is-minor/ Despite a small reprieve from early April storms delivering 179% of the month’s average precipitation, the local desert climate remains in the throes of drought. A bout of hail and thunderstorms broug... 2026-05-12 08:59:29 -0700 42e680e2-22b9-448a-b5b5-0e7434032e70 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southwest-colorado-small-business-conference-tackles-burnout-professional-kindness/ IGNACIO – Fostering professional connections amid a shifting market and an often difficult business-ecosystem was a common theme at last week’s 14th annual Southwest Colorado Small Business Conference... 2026-05-12 03:35:47 -0700 e71c2195-f3ce-4050-a6ec-1cddd0a44e62 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southern-ute-government-becomes-first-tribe-to-sign-federal-energy-agreement/ The Southern Ute Indian Tribe signed a Tribal Energy Resource Agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior on Monday, becoming the first tribe in the nation to do so, according to a tribal governmen... 2026-05-12 03:24:06 -0700 1c80f485-c427-439b-b59a-e67a75bb4153 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/october-trial-set-for-cortez-mother-accused-of-daughters-death/ A two-week trial has been scheduled for October in the case against Rachel Leonard, the Cortez woman accused of killing her 5-year-old daughter, Annika Sandoval. The closely watched Montezuma County h... 2026-05-11 03:40:38 -0700 ca5cfdc4-ba85-4605-9951-3cb001bd8205 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-to-shut-off-water-monday-for-seventh-street-water-line-project/ As part of the Seventh Street water line project, the city of Cortez will replace a water valve at South Chestnut and West Seventh streets on Monday, May 11. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until the work i... 2026-05-11 10:53:37 -0700 8675c508-d5d1-4d61-86c6-c11e47983d40 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mancos-to-impose-mandatory-outdoor-watering-restrictions-for-summer/ The town of Mancos has announced water restrictions for the summer, with seasonal watering guidelines already coming into effect May 1. The mandatory outdoor watering restrictions will come into place... 2026-05-11 10:49:49 -0700 633cf3f6-059b-4e0a-a384-6bc241ede05e https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-woman-pleads-not-guilty-in-veterans-park-beating-case/ A Cortez woman accused of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault pleaded not guilty Thursday in 22nd Judicial District Court. Nykhona Holiday appeared in court Thursday, enteri... 2026-05-09 08:36:45 -0700 0e43529f-4ca2-444c-a18c-1ed5fa8d5b39 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/florida-road-roundabout-art-sculpture-damaged-again-in-durango/ A 90-year-old man driving west on Florida Road crashed a Lincoln MKC through the roundabout near Chapman Hill and damaged a cyclist statue Saturday morning – one of only two remaining after a nearly i... 2026-05-09 01:46:27 -0700 6aa502d2-17c1-40c9-b078-ea8fc8720343 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-author-honors-father-in-chicken-soup-for-the-souls-latest-release/ Cortez author Curt Melliger always had a tattered American flag from his dad, a World War II veteran, swinging from his porch. With some of the proceeds from his publication in Chicken Soup for the So... 2026-05-09 11:00:00 -0700 2ca5e887-b76d-4619-9e57-40b506302d80