TLN August 21, 2025

Telluride Ski Resort owner Chuck Horning comes under fire from local officials, lawsuit over gondola ballot issue 3A is headed to trial, San Miguel County Public Health receives stop work order as federal funding is cut, Mountain Village receives grant funding for wildfire mitigation, and a big snowstorm caps off the 2024-2025 season.

New study shows Colorado children living near oil and gas wells have an increased risk of leukemia, food banks in the state face funding cuts, snowpack in our local river basins is just 73% of the median, and Bureau of Land Management shares a wild mustang virtual reality experience.

Mountain Village questions Telluride Ski Resort owner Chuck Horning's ability to lead as the council condemns a section of resort land for concert easement and looks at a lift ticket tax to enable the resort's promised contributions to gondola operations, Colorado is facing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, Mountain Village presents feasibility study for regional wastewater treatment facility, and Telluride puts its first all-electric Galloping Goose bus on the loose.

Closure of federal offices could hinder proposal to return BLM headquarters to Grand Junction, be prepared for bears this spring, rockfall closes Camp Bird road on the Ouray side of Imogene Pass, and fishing licenses are available now for the 2025-2026 season.

Changes in Colorado's school funding formula has negative effects on local school districts, Trump administration's tariffs could cost Colorado consumers $1.2 billion, San Miguel County to support EcoAction Partners' regional Green Grants program, and Agaricus julius is in the running to become the official state mushroom. *CORRECTION: The one-year pupil count was a part of Gov. Polis's budget proposal, not the state legislation. We regret the error.

Skier caught and injured in avalanche near Ophir, homeowners insurance rates increase and some policies are dropped because of wildfire risk, Rep. Jeff Hurd (D3-COLO) speaks by zoom with San Miguel County Commissioners, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife still trying to capture and collar bighorn sheep in the area.

Skier partially buried in Bear Creek avalanche, local and state officials concerned over Forest Service layoffs, Wilkinson Public Library's visitation and digital circulation numbers increase, road and bridge department updates the county on timeline for repairing road and reopening Imogene Pass, and Telluride AIDS Benefit hits the runway this weekend.

This week, in honor of Valentine's Day, we asked some locals to share their thoughts about love.

Locals participate in "A Day Without Immigrants," two men sentenced to federal prison for fentanyl death in San Miguel County in 2021, mining claims including Bear Creek Falls listed for sale, and SMART is starting a new Montrose to Telluride bus route for commuters.

Gondola leadership committee hosts planning meetings about gondola stations, cost of eggs goes up because of avian influenza outbreak and Colorado's cage-free mandate, changes to child care assistance program (CCAP) result in funding shortfall, and natural avalanche on Ajax highlights changing conditions in the snowpack.