Local News https://www.the-journal.com/feeds/local-news/ 2026-06-03 07:51:18 -0700 en-us https://www.the-journal.com/articles/free-squash-planting-workshop-to-teach-indigenous-methods-in-cortez/ Good Sam’s Food Pantry is hosting a free squash planting and water resources workshop at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in its garden at 30 N. Beech St. in Cortez. “We think it's important to reclaim this parking... 2026-06-03 02:49:16 -0700 a4b9edfc-0120-4613-82bb-b5998ce323b2 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/its-not-all-about-pay-retaining-southwest-colorados-workforce-may-mean-adjusting-to-employee-need/ What if raising pay wasn’t the only way to keep employees around? Southwest Colorado small businesses often struggle to pay their employees competitive – or at times even livable – wages. Audre... 2026-06-03 12:49:33 -0700 3b7d330c-03ee-4d24-ab43-857445a7c9c2 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/polis-to-recognize-ksut-executive-director-for-creative-leadership-in-southwest-colorado/ Tami Graham, KSUT Four Corners Public Radio executive director, will join other Colorado creative leaders in Trinidad on Thursday to be recognized by Gov. Jared Polis for her contributions to the stat... 2026-06-03 10:55:54 -0700 c6610690-7e33-44b1-b244-d82a542f049e https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-river-fest-returns-saturday-with-music-river-parade-and-daylong-celebration/ For 21 years, the Dolores River Festival has celebrated the river that winds through town not only providing natural, scenic awe but serving local farmers, boaters, anglers and local businesses. The a... 2026-06-03 05:00:00 -0700 a1e8a486-fb13-4e06-949c-ef6deb6a0e2f https://www.the-journal.com/articles/republican-candidates-to-meet-wednesday-in-forum-ahead-of-primary/ Republican candidates vying for local offices will gather Wednesday for a forum, where they are expected to outline their positions on local issues just before voters cast ballots in the primary later... 2026-06-02 05:09:18 -0700 9f30300e-5a05-4cd9-bcb4-0e1dee959ba9 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southern-ute-drum-editor-reflects-on-lessons-learned-at-tribal-newspaper/ Producing a community newspaper requires being part of the community – a lesson Jeremy Wade Shockley learned repeatedly during his 14 years at the Southern Ute Drum, the biweekly newspaper serving the... 2026-06-02 10:00:00 -0700 3de7b903-01f4-4613-9d13-8f4fcba63b76 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-county-martial-artists-to-compete-on-world-stage-for-team-usa-in-france/ “Footwork is like eating vegetables,” coach Derek Beckman told a line of young martial artists warming up and stretching Saturday morning. “Nobody wants to do it, but it makes us fast,” he said. In f... 2026-06-02 05:00:00 -0700 ca275535-c9e9-4b88-9f50-a39844534f9e https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mancos-town-board-approves-letter-in-support-of-immigration-enforcement-reform-bills/ The Colorado Rapid Response Network, which runs a hotline for reporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, posted a video last week to Facebook showing two black cars reversing out of the M... 2026-06-01 08:04:00 -0700 b7ffca18-fec0-4149-bd56-03695492d7af https://www.the-journal.com/articles/housing-authority-supports-gradual-rent-increase-after-emotional-public-testimony/ Residents frustrated with dramatic increases to monthly rent were drawn to a public hearing held by the Housing Authority of Montezuma County on Thursday to discuss the issue. A public hearing Th... 2026-05-30 05:00:00 -0700 852e7a5b-15a3-45f5-b4fa-434f03818f63 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/montezuma-county-gop-candidates-debate-as-primary-race-enters-final-stretch/ Ballots for the June 30 primary will begin arriving in mailboxes as soon as June 8. With the vote merely days away, candidates for the Republican Party made their case before party members the evening... 2026-05-29 05:00:00 -0700 dcf5f47a-c872-47bd-87cc-904e3bfb94d2 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-finance-and-tourism-directors-cautiously-optimistic/ Cortez staff members expressed optimism for the city’s economic future given recent financial and tourism reports, noting domestic travel, steady development and spending consistent with the city’s bu... 2026-05-29 05:00:00 -0700 6addf1f4-d1e1-40cd-adc5-2fa71d868eb9 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/13-things-to-know-about-mining-exploration-in-the-la-plata-mountains/ Metallic Minerals, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, has been investigating portions of the La Plata Mountains in both Montezuma and La Plata counties as a potential mining district since ... 2026-05-29 05:00:00 -0700 e0830930-7bdd-4a47-8775-fc14e72685f3 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/man-faces-drug-trafficking-charges-after-undercover-operation-in-four-corners/ A man accused in a Four Corners drug trafficking investigation appeared Thursday in Montezuma County Combined Courts. Prosecutors allege Carlos Miramontes intended to distribute large quantities of il... 2026-05-28 09:26:30 -0700 3748bfd5-fbb9-4c56-ab7b-048cd965f405 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/free-family-wellness-program-comes-to-cortez-in-june/ The Colorado State University Extension is seeking the participation of families with teens in rural Southwest Colorado in its free six-week wellness program starting Wednesday. From 5:30 to 7:45 p.m.... 2026-05-28 06:09:44 -0700 13800ba3-2a04-4753-a5e3-eb5f498dc4e5 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dwayne-romero-says-experience-and-service-set-him-apart-in-cd3-race/ Democratic congressional candidate Dwayne Romero is hoping a message centered on public service, affordability and local experience can help flip Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in 2026. Romero,... 2026-05-28 06:05:44 -0700 e7680fe3-d95d-421a-8219-ed0f64515741 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/alex-kelloff-says-cd3-needs-stronger-rural-representation/ Democratic congressional candidate Alex Kelloff says his campaign is focused on lowering the cost of living, protecting rural communities and restoring what he describes as missing representation for ... 2026-05-28 06:05:33 -0700 82183115-7502-4a79-aa7e-92daa00bc5b8 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-city-council-proclaims-june-pride-month-amid-disagreement/ Nearly 20 minutes of back and forth among Cortez City Council members about whether to proclaim June 2026 as Pride Month dominated Tuesday’s meeting, with the measure ultimately passing 5-2. with five... 2026-05-28 05:00:00 -0700 dd97b40b-29f0-4513-8362-2094c3396f6c https://www.the-journal.com/articles/u-s-highway-550-to-fully-close-monday-between-silverton-and-molas-pass/ U.S. Highway 550 will close from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday between Molas Pass and Silverton. Vehicles traveling northbound between Durango and Silverton will be stopped at mile marker 64 on Molas Pass,... 2026-05-27 10:38:26 -0700 ad8545b6-a5e0-4cc5-89ba-a765fa19d685 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/how-do-feds-calculate-fire-danger-when-setting-those-colorful-metered-signs/ The fire danger signs posted along highways and outside communities across Southwest Colorado read simple: low, moderate, high, very high or extreme. Drivers pass them daily going through Dolores, bet... 2026-05-27 09:26:57 -0700 b65db6fe-8772-4438-9b77-15de66a180a1 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-leases-surplus-municipal-water-for-agricultural-operations/ As farmers struggle to make do with severe water cuts, Cortez agreed to lease some of its water to the Dolores Water Conservancy District for agricultural operations. “This decision reflects the city’... 2026-05-27 09:04:40 -0700 d69cd835-65c1-48ab-ba6a-45b92c24b02f https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-mayor-welcomes-international-peace-runners/ As a man carrying a large torch once held by Pope Francis and Paul McCartney veered toward Cortez City Hall, residents and local government officials burst into applause, cheering as he triumphantly a... 2026-05-27 08:54:17 -0700 6a06f3fd-d515-4f06-bd8c-d37f6cbb8a9f https://www.the-journal.com/articles/see-who-rode-in-the-2026-iron-horse-bicycle-classic-road-race/ About 830 riders participated in this year’s Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Road Race. Here are the names of those who rode. Abbot, Kevin - Denver Abfalterer, Quinn - Los Alamos NM Adams, Henry - Durango ... 2026-05-27 06:25:22 -0700 cda56201-7d7f-41d9-9075-9932f7aa96e3 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/fire-ban-takes-effect-thursday-in-unincorporated-parts-of-montezuma-county/ Local government officials are establishing a mandatory fire ban for the unincorporated areas of Montezuma County beginning Thursday morning, mainly in response to dryness expected to come and recent ... 2026-05-27 05:00:00 -0700 7c7e8e22-3a19-4e12-81ca-6edbf5aabbbd https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-recognized-for-excellence-in-financial-transparency/ The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada recognized Cortez for excellence in financial transparency following the city’s work to correct delinquent audits and end fi... 2026-05-26 10:51:22 -0700 defb1058-96d0-4c29-999c-78601a510995 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/see-who-rode-in-the-54th-iron-horse-bicycle-classic-citizen-tour/ More than 900 riders participated in this year’s Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Citizens Tour. Here are the names of those who rode. Abbey, James - Durango Abercrombie, Robert - Durango Adams, Jonathan - ... 2026-05-26 03:12:15 -0700 d7bb912c-91f4-49ab-84d1-a2ee5563f614 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/at-bus-stops-across-durango-these-volunteers-try-to-shield-families-from-ice/ The sun has not yet spilled onto the roads winding through the Animas Valley as elementary school children, oversized backpacks on their small frames, gather at the bus stop at the edge of their mobil... 2026-05-26 08:12:32 -0700 8192c62e-7f0e-4403-a2cb-dbeb6340835b 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