Nonpartisan staffers told lawmakers this month that the way they spent billions of dollars in one-time federal funds given to Colorado during the COVID pandemic contributed to the state’s budget shortfall.

The announcement from Parks and Wildlife on Wednesday came three months after the Trump administration blocked Colorado's original plan to capture a second batch of wolves in British Columbia and fly them to the state.

Steamboat Springs author and adventurer Eugene Buchanan has lived near the banks of the Yampa River long enough to notice it's rhythms and moods are often mirrored by the residents in his northwest Colorado ski town.

From January 16-18, 2026, the First People's Festival in Estes Park brought together Indigenous artists, dancers, educators, and families for a fashion show, an art market, cultural demonstrations, and a powwow, creating a space for celebration, education, and remembrance.

The proposals range from taking "no action" to a scenario that might result in water cuts to the lower basin states of California, Nevada and Arizona. One alternative developed in partnership with conservation groups would incentivize states and water users to proactively conserve the river.

The Navajo Nation Council says reports of unlawful detentions are being reviewed and urges citizens to carry valid identification, including a Navajo Nation ID or Real ID.

Cold nights are important for preserving snowpack and making snow at ski resorts. Climate change is affecting both.

Facing the prospect of a pause in additional wolves, wolf advocates say Colorado should add new protections for its existing population of less than 50 wolves.

Experts say the federal government does not want to be the decision maker, and is pushing states to come to an agreement on future water use that will inform the river's post-2026 operating guidelines. CU Boulder's Chris Winter weighs in on the Interior's draft environmental impact statement.

Ethics complaints. Gov. Jared Polis’ final year. New leaders. A lawmaker who died in November. The legislature has a lot to navigate in 2026 beyond its policy agenda.