Recently at Aspen Journalism, our team has delivered a breakdown of the race to replace a controversial and long-serving Garfield County sheriff, the latest on the negotiations binding seven Western states over how to share a shrinking Colorado River, and an investigation into who’s left after historic staff cuts at the White River National Forest. Read on below for in-depth, investigative coverage of local issues with national implications, thoughtfully assembled and curated thanks to our team’s passion for public interest journalism. Thank you for reading, and supporting, this nonprofit news organization!
– Curtis Wackerle
Editor and Executive Director
Aspen Journalism
Two Republicans are vying to become Garfield County’s next sheriff in the June primary
Candidates weigh in on SPEAR, community trust and deputy wellness ahead of election
By Eleanor Bennett
June 11, 2026
With Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario retiring after 24 years in office, Republicans Brent Baker and Dan Loya are competing to lead the department in the June 30 primary, which will effectively decide the race because no Democrat is running. Baker, a Garfield County patrol lieutenant and longtime department employee, has centered his campaign on deputy wellness, increased traffic enforcement and planning for a new county jail, while emphasizing a collaborative leadership style and continuity with change. Loya, Eagle County’s undersheriff, is running on emergency preparedness, stronger executive management and expanded outreach to Latino and Spanish-speaking residents, arguing the county needs a new vision and broader community trust.
Feds say new Colorado River plan will be short-term
Operating plan may be based on latest Lower Basin proposal
By Heather Sackett
June 5, 2026
Federal officials say a new plan for managing the Colorado River will rely on a shorter-term framework designed to respond more quickly to worsening drought and fluctuating reservoir levels. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to issue a 10-year framework with updated operating guidelines every two years after the seven basin states failed to agree on a long-term water-sharing deal.
Colorado’s representative in the negotiations, Becky Mitchell, raised concerns: “How do we fund and finance if we’re constantly renegotiating? And how do we create the certainty that the 40 million people deserve?” Officials said the plan may initially mirror a Lower Basin proposal that calls for additional conservation cuts through 2028, while experts warned that temporary measures to prop up Lake Powell do not address the river’s long-term imbalance driven by climate change and overuse.
Continue reading…
‘Where’s our bench?’
With a third of its staff gone, the White River National Forest faces long-term challenges
By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy
May 29, 2026
The White River National Forest has lost roughly one-third of its year-round workforce since 2024, raising concerns about the agency’s long-term ability to manage the nation’s busiest national forest. The story details how hiring freezes, layoffs and early retirements under the Trump administration have hollowed out recreation, engineering and specialist positions, while outside hiring for entry-level jobs remains largely stalled.
Former forest leaders and employees warn that without recruiting and training new staff, institutional knowledge and future leadership pipelines could disappear, threatening projects, land management and visitor services across the forest.
Continue reading…
Dos republicanos compiten por convertirse en el próximo sheriff delcondado de Garfield en las primarias de junio
Los candidatos se pronuncian sobre SPEAR, la confianza de la comunidad y el bienestar de los agentes antes de las elecciones
Por
June 18, 2026
La iniciativa comunitaria para ayudar a los residentes a adquirir el parque de casas móviles Cavern Springs podría servir de referencia para la estrategia regional, pero siguen existiendo retos
La campaña multimillonaria para mantener la vivienda asequible se enfrenta a la presión del incremento de los alquileres y de los inversionistas corporativos
Por
June 11, 2026
Real-time local streamflow
Stream-gauge readings from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River basins updated in real time with an interactive mapping feature
By Laurine Lassalle
June 18, 2026
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