Sports Highlight: North American Freeskiing Jr. Championships

New legislation weakens Colorado's Open Meetings Law, Telluride Town Council increases festival capacity to 12,000 per day, Canyonlands and Tower House affordable housing project receives planning and zoning approval, and Lizard Head PeeWee Hockey Team wins state championship in an exciting double overtime final game.

Telluride High School freshman Gunnar Drew is the first athlete from the Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club's Nordic program to be selected for the Jr. Nordic National Championship. Drew will be competing next week in Lake Placid. Go, Gunnar!

Colorado Parks & Wildlife announces legislation to allow the reintroduction of wolverines in the state, San Miguel County and Colorado primary election results are in, county commissioners decline the request to put a moratorium on new mining permits, and Telluride and Durango high school students on the Durango Demons hockey team win the state championship.

Officials postpone executive session to discuss future plans for Diamond Ridge property, conflicts between humans and bears decreased in Colorado in 2023, Colorado's primaries and caucuses are next week, and tickets are on sale now for the inaugural Fringe Festival.

Telluride Mountain Club submits trail proposal to Forest Service, U.S.P.S. plan to move mail processing to Denver concerns local residents, Diamond Ridge rezoning appeal is dismissed, and Telluride Gay Ski Week kicks off Saturday.

Local leaders discuss the future of the gondola, bill introduced in the state senate would establish a panel to oversee construction permits in wetlands, Telluride Regional Medical Center hires an executive director, and avalanche mitigation at the east end of the valley draws a crowd. *Avalanche footage by Michael Mowery and Kathrine Warren

Colorado Senate Bill 33 to raise property taxes on short-term rentals could be amended at first committee hearing, the feasibility study on the Down Valley Connector Trail is complete, Sheep Mountain Alliance is circulating a petition against a uranium/vanadium mining project in Slick Rock, and Mountain Village is considering an ordinance to prohibit helicopters from landing in unauthorized locations.

Brian Aitken acquitted on second degree murder charge but trial ends in a hung jury on the other assault charges, the town of Telluride’s budget—with more than $66 million in expenditures last year—is now online for 2024, Telluride Ski Resort and the Town of Telluride have signed an agreement to collaborate on the plans for the Lift 7 base area, and a ski patroller stays busy in the summer by handcrafting signs for the ski runs.

Dr. Peter Harrelson perishes in avalanche accident, Brian Aitken attempted murder trial is underway in Montrose, Ouray County Plaindealer newspapers are stolen after reporting on an alleged sexual assault that occurred in the police chief’s home, and KOTO Lip Sync is the hottest event during the coldest month

County to install avalanche gates on Ophir Road, real estate sales down in 2023, San Miguel Power Association planning for community-scale microgrids, and sharing the slopes with wildlife.