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The federal government shutdown has reduced local tourism by about 20%, according to Mesa Verde Country CEO Brian Bartlett, though some visitors are still exploring the region’s fall colors and outdoor recreation. Mesa Verde National Park and nearby Utah monuments remain open in a limited capacity, while the Ute Mountain Tribal Park continues to offer select tours. Despite fewer visitors overall, Bartlett notes that visitor spending in 2025 is up compared to last year.

U.S. farmers are feeling the pinch as corn and soybean markets continue to fall — with China halting soybean purchases and redirecting its beef imports to Brazil and Australia. Meanwhile, new U.S. port fees targeting Chinese-owned and Chinese-built vessels threaten to raise export costs and further reduce global competitiveness for American grain. Cuts to the USDA and Forest Service budgets are adding to concerns for rural communities already under financial strain.

Hundreds of homes were evacuated over the weekend as flooding swept through parts of southwestern Colorado. The hardest-hit areas were Pagosa Springs and Vallecito, where creeks swelled to more than twice their normal spring runoff levels, damaging roads, bridges, and homes. Although evacuation orders have been lifted, more rain from Tropical Storm Raymond is on the way, and flood watches remain in effect across the San Juan Mountains and southern valleys.

Farm organizations are warning that America’s agricultural economy is sliding toward crisis levels reminiscent of the 1980s, as low crop prices, high input costs, and ongoing trade disputes squeeze producers. The American Farm Bureau Federation has urged federal leaders to authorize bridge payments and enact long-term solutions to stabilize farm incomes, while analysts note that diversified farms and livestock producers are faring better thanks to strong markets.

A Flood Watch remains in effect through late tonight for the southern San Juans and nearby valleys, with several Flood Warnings still posted for rivers around Pagosa Springs. Rainfall totals of one to three inches were recorded over the past 24 hours, and while showers should ease this morning, scattered storms could redevelop by afternoon, bringing brief heavy rain, small hail, and gusty winds. Another system arrives Wednesday with additional showers, followed by a cold front Thursday that will cool temperatures by about ten degrees and drop snow levels to around 7,000 feet.

One of three finalists for superintendent of Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 pulled her name out of contention Monday night after a public interview session.

Recent storms brought record rainfall across the Four Corners — with some areas seeing a third of their annual total in a single day — but drought conditions remain. Water users across the Upper Colorado River Basin are facing deep, uncompensated cuts, forcing widespread farmland fallowing and new pressure on long-term water management.

KSJD’s Andie Ravensbergen talks with Sarah Burak, Education Director at the Bears Ears Partnership, about Bluff, Utah’s recent designation as an International Dark Sky Community and the town’s first-ever Dark Sky Festival on November 14th and 15th. Burak — a self-proclaimed “Dark Sky Enthusiast” — shares her passion for astronomy, community collaboration, and preserving the beauty of the region’s star-filled skies.

The Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 school district will soon have a largely new school board.

As freezing temperatures return to the forecast, protecting your home’s plumbing is about more than just good practice — it’s science. When water freezes, it expands and can burst pipes, but wrapping them with foam insulation or heat tape traps existing heat and slows the cooling process. Even a few degrees’ difference can prevent costly damage and keep water flowing when temperatures drop.