NEWS BRIEFS
You're watching Montezuma Local News. Watch all our stories at MontezumaLocal.NEWS. Download our podcasts, and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Send story ideas to ideas@thelocalnews.us. Advertise with us: Sales@thelocalnews.us

Bill Advances to Expand Park Access for Ute Tribes

March 04, 2025

A draft of the City of Cortez Safety Action Plan is available for review and public comment. Find out how you can add your input! Join author Scott Graham , at the Dolores Public Library for an author’s talk about his first National Park Mystery novel. A bipartisan bill to provide Ute tribal members free entry to Colorado state park passed the committee vote. The Colorado Department of Revenue introduces an online tax benefits hub to help taxpayers save money. Watch for more information. By Rachel Hughes. This story is sponsored by The Lor Foundation and Choice Building Supply.

Learn More...

City of Cortez - https://www.cortezco.gov/

Dolores Public Library - https://www.doloreslibrary.org/

Scott Graham - https://www.scottfranklingraham.com/

Colorado General Assembly - https://leg.colorado.gov/

Colorado Department of Revenue: Taxation Division - https://tax.colorado.gov/

Southern Ute Indian Tribe - https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe - https://www.utemountainutetribe.com/


The Lor Foundation - https://lorfoundation.org/

Choice Building Supply - https://www.acehardware.com/store-details/06453

Read the Full Transcript

The City of Cortez reviewed your traffic feedback and seeks public comments on a new safety action plan. The Dolores Public Library will host a local authors talk on Monday, March 10th. State Park entry fees may be waived for Ute Tribal members. And Colorado Department of Revenue has a new resource to share with taxpayers. You're watching the "Local News Roundup," brought to you by the LOR Foundation and Choice Building Supply. I'm Connor Shreve. A draft of the City of Cortez Safety Action Plan is available for public comment. The plan aims to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes across all modes of transportation in Cortez. Based on a survey and comments on an interactive map, the community identified speeding as the biggest traffic safety concern. As a result, the city has developed a new plan that includes speed management strategies, infrastructure, traffic control, and safety education. To comment on the new plan, visit the City of Cortez website and submit your comments before Monday, March 31st. Join author Scott Graham at 6:00 PM on Monday, March 10th at the Dolores Public Library for an author's talk. In honor of the 10th anniversary of Graham's first book release, Graham will discuss "Grand Canyon Sacrifice," the first of his "National Park Mystery" series. His most recent novel, "Death Valley Duel," the ninth book in the series, was released in 2024. A bipartisan bill to provide Ute Tribal members free entry to Colorado State Parks passed the committee vote. The bill was unanimously approved by the State Legislature's House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee in February, and plans to expand outdoor access and connection to ancestral lands, including 43 state parks for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Mountain Ute Tribe. The legislation is supported by Ute Tribal Leaders, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The Colorado Department of Revenue introduced an online tax benefits hub to help taxpayers save money. The resource offers tax benefit information for families, individuals, seniors, retirees, and information about charitable contributions and climate-friendly tax credits. The deadline to file 2024 income tax returns is April 15th. For more information and tax resources, visit the Colorado Department of Revenue website. You can learn more about these and other stories online at montezumalocal.news. Thanks for watching this edition of the "Local News Roundup." I'm Connor Shreve.

PAST montezuma NEWS STORIES

December 12, 2025

Growing Community, Culture, and Climate-Adapted Crops

Pueblo Seed & Food Co. is a family-run organic farm and seed enterprise rooted in deep stewardship of land, seed, and community. Established in 1996 and now operating on irrigated acreage near Cortez, Colorado, the company grows a wide diversity of certified organic crops—open-pollinated seeds, chile peppers, varietal garlic, vegetables, legumes, and heritage grains—selling them as seeds, fresh produce, and handcrafted foods through their Seed & Bakehouse retail space. Their mission centers on renewing and strengthening community resilience by stewarding healthy seeds and food, guided by regenerative, biodynamic, and conservation farming traditions that honor both plant genetics and human stories. As winter approaches, Farm Direct Seed & Food Co. invites its community to celebrate the Winter Solstice Fundraiser on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at their downtown Cortez Bakehouse. This festive gathering not only marks the seasonal turning point with music, hands-on milling and baking, and holiday shopping, but also serves as a kickoff to their exciting new initiative—the Pueblo Seed & Grain Hub, developed in partnership with the Onward! Foundation to expand regional capacity for drought-tolerant grain and legume production. Join in the spirit of the season with whole grain cookies, community, and support for food and seed security in the Southwest. By Paige Sparks. This story is sponsored by Choice Building Supply and The LOR Foundation.
Copyright © Local News Network Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy
JOIN OUR TEAM