TLN December 20, 2020

Many Coloradans will lose SNAP benefits under the budget bill, Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks for input on their moose management plan, Telluride Ski Resort takes control of their merchant pass program, and yes, it's true: you will no longer have to remove your shoes in the TSA line at the airport.

Happy Fourth of July from all of us here at Telluride Local News Network!

Fire temporarily closes Highway 550, Trump administration rescinds Roadless Rule protecting public lands from development, proposed budget cuts to the Land and Water Conservation Fund threatens conservation efforts including Lizard Head Pass land deal, and Search and Rescue teams get called out to Bridal Veil Trail twice over the weekend.

Road work planned for Highway 145 and Alta Lakes, Camp Bird Road reopens, snowmelt and warm temperatures create good early boating conditions on San Miguel River, and Happy Bluegrass weekend to all.

Structure fire at Lone Cone Saloon, county grants wetlands permit for Telluride Regional Airport project, federal budget bill would raise health insurance premiums in the state, and 9News segment features two local nonprofits.

Mountain Village considers rescheduling ballot question about lift tax to November, Colorado passes legislation to regulate the sale of kratom, Gov. Polis signs bill to provide paid leave for parents with babies in NICU, and phone scammers using Sheriff Dan Covault's name.

Weather forecasters expect a hotter-than-average summer and early monsoon season, Telluride High School's graduating class is the largest in the school's history, NPR and three Colorado public radio stations sue the Trump administration over funding cuts, and Denver mint to cease production of pennies.

Telluride Gymnastics had a fantastic year. Four athletes on the team qualified for the Xcel Region 3 Regional Championships in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Universal City, Texas, competing against gymnasts from seven other states. Vivian Black, of Telluride Intermediate School, took 4th place on Bars and 3rd on Floor in the Gold Level. Ember Blair from the Norwood School District also competed in the Gold Level, earning one of her highest All-Around scores to date. Liv Kramer, a Telluride High School student, was Colorado's State Champion this year. Kramer competed in Regionals at the Platinum Level, taking 2nd on Bars, 4th on Floor, tying for 5th on Vault, and earning 5th All-Around. Abigail Mann, another Telluride High School student, competed with Liv in the Platinum Level and took 4th on Floor, 5th on Beam, tied for 5th on Vault, and also came in 5th All-Around. Congratulations to these athletes on a successful season.

Collared female wolf roams into San Miguel County, emergency phone outage attributed to cut fiber line, bear charges at 49-year-old Ouray woman, and new mural marks the start of Mountainfilm weekend.

Telluride Tourism Board is looking ahead to summer, house north of Norwood burns down, Polis vows to veto bill making it easier to form labor unions, and there's a livestream available of a megaden of rattlesnakes in a secret Colorado location.