Western Colorado

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Gas bills to plunge from 2008

Xcel Energy announced Friday that residential customers can expect their natural gas bills to be at least $18 lower this March than they were in March 2008. Xcel is proposing to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission that the commodity ...

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Even in lean times, romance rules day

The economic crisis is deepening. How about your love? Record job loss is hardly the thing of romance novels, but many local people seem certain that Valentine’s Day is recession proof. Ahhh, the recession, c’est ...

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Man faces homicide charge in fatal crash

The mother of a 24-year-old woman who was killed in a nasty car crash nearly two years ago pleaded with a judge Friday not to charge her daughter’s boyfriend, the driver of their vehicle. “He’s paid his dues,” Lois ...

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Energy services truck a total loss in fire near Rifle

A truck servicing the energy industry caught fire early Friday afternoon, causing a large, black plume of smoke to rise in the Anvil Points area west of Rifle. “The truck was a total loss,” said Donna Gray, a spokeswoman for ...

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Lawmakers honor area wine industry pioneer

State lawmakers voted Thursday to memorialize Doug Phillips, an architect of Palisade’s wine industry and pioneer in the state’s workers’ compensation system, citing his outstanding character and determination. Rep. Laura ...

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Helpful nature spares woman prison time for pot operation

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Panel OKs GJ legislator’s DNA bill

State lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to legislation from Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, aimed at streamlining and clarifying Colorado’s DNA-preservation laws. King’s proposal, House Bill 1121, removes misdemeanors ...

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Bomb threat clears GarCo offices

A bomb threat forced the early closure of the Garfield County Courthouse and sheriff’s office Thursday afternoon in Glenwood Springs. Sheriff’s spokesperson Tanny McGinnis said a man with no identifiable accent called a judicial ...

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Panel leaves Bradford bill in legislative limbo

State lawmakers left Collbran Republican Rep. Laura Bradford’s plan to toughen child molesters’ prison sentences in limbo Thursday after they failed to either kill the bill or move it along in the legislative process. The House ...

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‘One Book’ pick makes big noise

Immediately after Angie Allen finished reading “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer, she wanted to talk about it. As a member of the One Book, One Mesa County committee, she hopes everyone else in the ...

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