Local News https://www.the-journal.com/feeds/local-news/ 2026-06-27 06:21:48 -0700 en-us https://www.the-journal.com/articles/rare-superbloom-event-takes-over-alpine-meadows-in-southwest-colorado/ The San Juan Mountains are experiencing an explosion of wildflowers known as “green gentians” or “monument plants” around high elevation meadows that only happens once in a blue moon. The large stalks... 2026-06-27 05:00:00 -0700 5e7cccac-b0d1-4a12-a336-541f932478a3 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/bond-lowered-to-175k-for-man-accused-in-montezuma-county-drug-trafficking-case/ Facing level-one drug felonies, Arizona resident Carlos Miramontes appeared for a hearing Thursday afternoon in Montezuma County Combined Courts. Last month, he was charged after a police operation in... 2026-06-26 05:00:00 -0700 68db788a-0ee0-472c-a95a-639deed3d535 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/rico-dolores-volunteer-fire-departments-struggle-with-recruitment-amid-oncoming-fire-season/ With 17 red flag warnings issued for Montezuma County this June, residents are on high alert for fires. Local volunteer fire departments are too – or, at least, as much as they can be. “I'm a little l... 2026-06-26 05:00:00 -0700 c037fda4-d998-48c2-af80-5c5d49efe01a https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southwest-health-system-report-shows-both-financial-struggles-and-strides-in-improving-care/ “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face,” read a graphic in Southwest Health System CEO Joe Theine’s presentation to the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners Monday. He was referrin... 2026-06-25 07:05:03 -0700 65050856-82c5-44dd-a8d2-022e89bdd0ce https://www.the-journal.com/articles/u-s-house-primary-democrats-answer-questions-at-durango-public-library/ Healthcare, state redistricting, the U.S. Supreme Court’s structure and other issues familiar to Colorado and national voters were among the subjects raised at an Indivisible Durango debate featuring ... 2026-06-24 09:12:52 -0700 ef032f25-8aa6-4226-b348-981e98f371cb https://www.the-journal.com/articles/canyons-of-the-ancients-to-host-indigenous-art-market-in-dolores/ Indigenous artists of all mediums from across the Four Corners will converge at Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center at 27501 Colorado State Highway 184 in Dolores to play music, perform and sell th... 2026-06-24 12:00:00 -0700 ad02ceb2-557d-4c08-8259-f26a83bb120b https://www.the-journal.com/articles/utah-wildfire-blankets-southwest-colorado-with-smoke/ Westerly winds carried wildfire smoke into Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners on Wednesday, reducing visibility and even lowering temperatures across the region, according to the National Weather... 2026-06-24 07:21:38 -0700 59d3e6ea-da8d-4216-9030-f3b4b77b6a54 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/colorado-wildlife-crossings-now-have-dedicated-funding/ From the perspective of wildlife and transportation officials, the everyday threat of wildlife-involved car collisions is not an “if” but a “when.” In 2025, statewide roadkill data showed 7,770 car wr... 2026-06-24 05:00:00 -0700 507b29b4-6bab-44db-a02f-5dbf92f86068 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/annual-celtic-fair-bringing-food-music-and-competition-to-cortez/ The ninth annual Cortez Celtic Fair celebrating Celtic culture through music, games and food will be back this weekend with proceeds from beer sales benefiting Renew Inc., a nonprofit supporting victi... 2026-06-23 04:30:00 -0700 c32fdfa0-88f5-40da-bd86-5e2564340df7 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/durango-man-who-sat-through-three-arson-trials-allegedly-vandalized-tesla-cybertruck/ Durango man and former Fort Lewis College professor with a history of arson accusations was arrested Friday on suspicion of spray painting a yellow blotch on the door of a Cybertruck. Bradley Clark, ... 2026-06-23 04:18:22 -0700 d4b71c38-a077-4dd7-9af3-0cae629ad235 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/candlelight-vigil-planned-for-recent-dolores-graduate-killed-in-crash/ A candlelight vigil is planned for Dolores High School Class of 2026 graduate Taisali Lambson, 18, who was reportedly killed in a crash last week. The vigil will be held at Joe Rowell Park from 7:30 ... 2026-06-23 02:03:12 -0700 e0055791-cf4f-43ba-b7a4-322e5cdf7757 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mesa-verde-attendance-rises-in-may-amid-flurry-of-120th-anniversary-festivities/ Mesa Verde National Park turns 120 years on Monday. (June 29) On that day in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed an act of Congress establishing the national park to preserve cultural heritage ... 2026-06-23 01:34:53 -0700 fa06ead2-87ca-4f89-93c5-7c03bdcd384e https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southwest-colorados-lgbtq-and-two-spirit-community-resilient-during-pride-month/ On June 6, at the ZU Gallery, under the flash of multicolored lights and casual conversation, owner Jodi Jahrling hosted a Pride Month dance party, inviting both members of the LGBTQ community and all... 2026-06-23 05:00:00 -0700 7a7ada58-627d-483e-99e0-3285ae8fa1b7 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/parade-of-homes-returns-to-durango-under-new-leadership/ The Durango Parade of Homes, a three-day, annual event previously hosted by the Home Builders Association of Southwest Colorado, is back under new leadership after a hiatus. This year’s parade, which... 2026-06-22 05:00:00 -0700 126fb37d-fc1d-4933-863f-be73fc8e7327 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/monster-trucks-take-over-cortez-in-a-barrage-of-noise-and-dirt/ Spectators at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds suddenly were struck by the sheer volume of trucks when, at 7 p.m., six supercharged engines roared to life beginning Friday’s small-town stadium show Ju... 2026-06-21 12:26:16 -0700 c0a1c73a-3f30-443b-8cc7-6f17c81e6782 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mancos-burrofest-draws-thousands-to-honor-the-beauty-of-donkeys/ Cars lined the streets of Mancos on Saturday morning, June 20, leaving stragglers hunting between alleyways and along dirt roads for a spot to park. The annual Mancos Burrofest drew a crowd of around ... 2026-06-21 11:52:07 -0700 eb43b00d-56d5-479f-87ef-f2fc2c96a0b8 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/monster-trucks-coming-to-cortez-this-weekend-for-two-nights-of-racing/ A year ago to the day, Payge “Bam” Christensen climbed into a full-size monster truck under arena lights in Cortez for the first time. The 17-year-old returns to the fairgrounds this weekend not as a ... 2026-06-19 05:00:00 -0700 0c26023c-ed2a-4349-bd66-418d570bd4f1 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/reports-involve-bears-lingering-in-towns-parks-other-public-spaces-cpw-says/ Bear sightings are nothing new this time of year in Southwest Colorado. Especially heading during late-summer months and through fall as they scavenge and pack on calories. However, this summer Colora... 2026-06-18 07:34:08 -0700 0624a036-b3a0-481e-9187-bac74c89d703 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/southwest-colorado-attorney-selected-as-durango-municipal-judge/ A new Durango municipal judge was selected Thursday by members of City Council. Beth Padilla, a longtime attorney with prior experience in the region, will replace Matt Margeson, who has served in th... 2026-06-18 03:27:27 -0700 2d590aa1-08b3-44bc-9006-abb0fb50e3ba https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-fire-protection-district-advertises-open-house-seeks-volunteers/ With summer starting hot and dry, the Dolores Fire Protection District is feeling the heat in more ways than one. The entire volunteer department is seeking more responders to handle 911 calls and fir... 2026-06-18 05:00:00 -0700 9bd8c954-ce5d-42ea-9dbe-3e11e1367599 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-invites-public-comments-on-7th-st-housing-project/ To gather community input on Cortez’s affordable housing project, Park Village on 7th, city staff alongside developer Evergreen Real Estate Group are hosting an open house on June 30. From 4:30 to 6:... 2026-06-17 05:19:59 -0700 d7ec6879-7dd3-4482-a665-ab90bb596c71 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/structure-on-fire-near-montezuma-county-road-n/ LEWIS-ARRIOLA — Law enforcement have contained a house fire near the 16000 block of County Road N that started mid-morning Wednesday June 17 after an ember escaped from a burn barrel and ignited a nea... 2026-06-17 12:08:10 -0700 14951cea-e395-4292-b932-13335e78b833 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/the-best-tax-is-one-that-somebody-else-pays-cortez-montezuma-county-consider-lodgers-tax-increas/ The city of Cortez and Montezuma County have uncharacteristically low lodgers tax rates for the Western Slope – but that could change if recent discussions between public officials are any indication.... 2026-06-17 09:00:00 -0700 981627e3-688a-4453-a209-7a835293398e https://www.the-journal.com/articles/dolores-library-board-fires-executive-director-after-workplace-review/ The Dolores Library District Board voted June 9earlier this month to terminate Executive Director Sean Gantt’s contract, ending his roughly six years of management. Board President Sandy Jumper said t... 2026-06-17 05:00:00 -0700 9bb2a931-d2b8-4a37-bdfa-b567fbee6da6 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/clearnetworx-begins-fiber-network-construction-in-mancos/ Clearnetworx, a fiber internet provider based in Montrose, has started building a new high-speed fiber network in Mancos. The project was announced June 9 and aims to deliver reliable broadband servic... 2026-06-16 06:08:47 -0700 7f462789-d625-4c70-afc2-d1905b0fcd79 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/mercy-hospital-ceo-to-leave-role/ Josh Neff, president of Mercy Hospital, is leaving after two years in the role and eight years with Mercy’s parent company, CommonSpirit. Neff is leaving effective July 2 to “pursue a new opportunity,... 2026-06-16 03:40:05 -0700 4e2d4f22-f264-4be9-b447-b2b948177e20 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/food-pantries-in-southwest-colorado-to-receive-farm-fresh-produce/ Banga’s Farm, in partnership with The Good Food Collective and the Southwest Community Food Alliance, will provide 20,000 pounds of produce to food pantries throughout Southwest Colorado. From June th... 2026-06-16 02:00:00 -0700 3881d0ce-0abe-4548-87ef-e68956e860b0 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/cortez-city-council-approves-building-plans-despite-neighbors-dismay/ Residents on and near Rolling Road in Cortez disputed plans for the construction of a large garage behind a property at the end of the residential street. Despite their protest, City Council is going ... 2026-06-16 02:00:00 -0700 2c99bdb4-ec84-409c-a702-f3c0b75f5dbb https://www.the-journal.com/articles/behind-rodeo-opener-veterans-carry-americas-flag-into-montezuma-county-arena/ It took four minutes for the skydivers to land – the last guy down at exactly 7:11 p.m. The retired military serviceman had dropped out of a plane at 10,500 feet, as one towed a gigantic American flag... 2026-06-16 05:00:00 -0700 4dbc10de-77da-4003-bfe7-1ebbb319d796 https://www.the-journal.com/articles/co150-film-festival-screens-in-cortez-mancos/ To celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary, films produced in and showcasing the beauty of the Southwest will screen in historic venues throughout the state – including the Sunflower Theatre and the Ma... 2026-06-15 06:08:07 -0700 dbf4b51c-1565-4369-8ec0-cd5820a306b2