Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed a fifty six million dollar wildfire prevention program into law. And the Plumtaw Fire is burning about seven miles north of Pagosa Springs in the San Juan National Forest.

The Four Corners region is known for it’s piñon and juniper trees. But those trees are being threatened by lack of water, and their future is unclear as drought conditions persist. For KSJD News, Gail Binkley reports.

Possible solutions include screening kids earlier for mental health concerns and tapping into underutilized Medicaid benefits.

Two recent moves aim to benefit water access for tribal communities in the Colorado River basin. And the League of Women Voters of Utah is standing by its lawsuit challenging the state’s new congressional maps.

Fallout from the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to rattle commodity markets, the USDA cuts yield estimates on U.S. corn, avian influenza continues to impact chickens, turkeys, and other birds, Corn Belt agricultural land values are on the rise, the US Climate Prediction Center reports La Nina conditions are likely again this fall and upcoming winter, and the Russian military has stolen farm equipment from Ukraine that may be useless.

Certain diagnostic tests, screenings and treatments where the risk of harm or cost exceeds the likely benefit for patients - known as low-value health-care services - resulted in $134 million in excess spending in Colorado in 2020.

Warmer days are here, and the snow that supplies most of the water to the Colorado River is melting. Our drought-stricken region needs all the water it can get. So as the last traces of winter come to a close in the mountains, KUNC’s Alex Hager tells us what we can expect for a summer in the Colorado River basin.

Dozens of abortion rights supporters gathered in Cortez over the weekend. And the Ute Pass Fire broke out late Friday afternoon a few miles northeast of Durango, but is at least 80% contained.

Coloradans are on edge as climate change is fueling bigger, more destructive fires that are destroying entire neighborhoods and forcing evacuations all sound the state. Some forecasters say things could get worse this summer than they’ve ever been.

Many people move without realizing the danger that wildfires pose to their new home. A new risk rating system could help buyers learn more on real estate sites.