Local NEWS Montezuma serves Dolores, Cortez, and Mancos, Colorado and is part of Local NEWS Network (LNN), a proprietary platform to produce and distribute local NEWS programming in small towns across the USA. Check us out online at www.montezumalocal.news or on one of our four digital displays around town and at the airport.
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12 recent
August 14, 20261 min
New Colorado Law Cracks Down on People Who Attract Bears
Colorado's "Negligently Luring Bears" law, House Bill 1342, cracks down on people who attract wild bears. The law lowers the legal standard from "intentional" to "knowing" behavior, removes the automatic warning first-time offenders used to receive, and raises the fine for repeat violations from $2,000 to $5,000.By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by the FLC Center for Innovation and Sky Ute Casino.
August 7, 20263 min
Aztec Riverside BMX Track Breaks Ground This Fall
Aztec Riverside BMX aims to break ground this October on a two-acre, city-owned lot for a new BMX track, giving local children a home course instead of long drives to Durango or Albuquerque to race. The nonprofit is working with USA BMX to design the track to national standards. Beyond race day, organizers plan a loaner bike fleet, Strider races for the youngest riders and a school partnership teaching children how bikes work through a STEM program.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.NewsThis story is sponsored by Home2Suites and Sunray Park & Casino.
August 5, 20263 min
Main Street Businesses: As Durango's Landfill Fills Up, One Business Has a Solution
Table to Farm Compost is a Durango based climate activist business that has been turning food scraps into compost since 2016. Co-owner Monique DiGiorgio was recently named the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year by Southwest Colorado Rocks for her leadership in growing the company to more than 800 subscribers and achieving the highest level of compost certification in Colorado. The company offers curbside pickup of food scraps and transforms them into high quality compost used by local gardeners and agricultural producers across La Plata County. With Durango's Bonded Landfill at 70% capacity and Durango City Council set to decide on composting requirements this fall, Table to Farm is at the center of an important conversation about how Durango handles its organic waste.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango, Legacy Financial Advisors and RMW/Tafoya Barrett & Associates. And presented by the La Plata County Economic Alliance and the Durango Chamber of Commerce.
July 31, 202610 min
Beyond the Embers
Living in southwest Colorado means the risk of fire and flood is never far from home.First responders and firefighters are currently fighting the Rio Blanco Fire, located 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs. The lightning-caused fire started on Tuesday, July 28, and as of Thursday evening, it has grown to 781 acres with 0% containment. Nearly a year ago, communities just west of town experienced a similar threat: the Oak Fire, fueled by dry conditions, quickly outpaced on-the-ground resources with its extreme behavior. Sixty days later, historic, climate-fueled floods resulted in the third-largest flows on record for the San Juan River. These forests are increasingly defined by cycles of extreme multi-year droughts and wildfires interspersed with catastrophic precipitation in a warmer atmosphere. Beyond the Embers, a new short film produced by local filmmaker, Christi Bode, reflects on 2025 events and expresses the continued need for community preparedness before the next natural disaster. The film was produced with support from the San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership, Wolf Creek Ski Area and Best of Pagosa Springs Real Estate.By Christi BodeWatch this story at LNN.news
July 17, 20262 min
Former NBA Player Volunteers at Navajo Basketball Camp
Analyss Benally grew up in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation and went on to play Division I basketball at San Jose State before launching her professional basketball career in Europe. Today, her nonprofit, AB Five Basketball, brings free camps and clinics to Native youth across the Southwest.This summer, AB Five returned to Shiprock with volunteer coaches, including former Los Angeles Lakers guard Andre Ingram.By Tanner WaiteWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Ace Hardware in Farmington and Fitness World.
July 10, 20264 min
Pagosa Improv Group Invites Residents to Laugh, Learn and Connect
Lickety-Split Comedy is a comedy and improv group based in Pagosa Springs, founded by veteran performers Karisa Bruin and Scott Morehead. After years of working as improvisers, actors and writers in Chicago and Los Angeles, the two moved to Pagosa Springs and launched Lickety-Split. The group offers classes and workshops in unscripted theater as well as monthly shows on the third Monday of each month at Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. For more information visit LicketySplitComedy.com.By Christi BodeWatch this story at LNN.news.This story is sponsored by RMW Tafoya Barrett & Associates and Dunkin Donuts.
July 3, 20263 min
Mancos United's Summer Hub Supports Local Families
Mancos United started in response to tragedies the Mancos community experienced in 2021. From there, the organization worked to identify gaps in support for families and kids. Their flagship program, Summer Hub, provides full-day summer care for working families on a pay-what-you-can model, funded by community donations and business sponsorships.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Keesee Motor Company and Blondie's Trophy Room.
July 1, 20261 min
BurroFest Brings Community and Joy to Mancos
The Mancos BurroFest returned for its seventh year and drew in over 2,500 attendees for a day of art, food, music, and burros. What began in 2019 as a small gathering of local artist-ranchers has grown into the Mancos Creative District's number one fundraiser and the biggest sales day of the year for many local galleries and restaurants. This year's theme, the Burro Birthday Bash, celebrates Colorado's 150th birthday with Colorado-themed obstacles, costumes, and community joy.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by The LOR Foundation and Big O Tires.
June 24, 20262 min
96 Years Strong: The Ute Mountain Roundup Returns to Cortez
The Ute Mountain Roundup returned to Cortez for its 96th year bringing thousands of visitors and top PRCA cowboys and cowgirls to the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. From the board members who organize the event year round to the stock contractor who drives twelve hours from Wyoming to bring the animals, this is a look at what it takes to put on one of the biggest events in Montezuma County.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Keesee Motor Company and Hospice of Montezuma.
June 12, 20261 min
Movement Is Medicine
Dr. Larry Grogin, 71, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Rather than let the diagnosis define him, he set out to run 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days from New Jersey to Los Angeles to raise awareness for the Davis Phinney Foundation and prove that movement is medicine.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings.
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