2020

January 2020

• Options to treat salinity in the Dolores River spark concerns

• Cortez’s new land use code: A boon? A disaster? Or something in between?

• Draft recovery plan for grouse draws input

February 2020

• A load of salt: Options for treating salinity in the Dolores River raise some concerns

• BLM’s Southwest RAC has no quorum: U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton is looking into the situation, his aide says

• What does the future hold for the Bears Ears monument?

March 2020

• Controversies plague Cortez: Council wrestles with some issues, leaves others to wait for new board

• Taking it to the streets? Dolores to vote on whether to allow OHV use in town

April 2020

• Dolores says no to OHVs in town, yes to pot shops

• Cortez elects five to council

• Dolores River Festival canceled

• Montezuma County has one COVID-19 fatality

May 2020

• How are animals faring during the pandemic?

• Time to open up? Locals struggle to balance community health with the needs of small businesses in the age of COVID-19

• You, me and the DWRF collaborative: What will you do to ensure better fire outcomes in Southwest Colorado?

• Montezuma County drafts reopening plan

June 2020

• Knuckles named new police chief

• Free Press takes four awards

• From crank phones to smartphones: Farmers Telephone Company celebrates its 100th anniversary

• To mask up or not: The uncivil question dividing the U.S.

• Coronavirus surges in Arizona, Utah

• Cultural divide: Utes, county leaders wrestle with differences during talks about COVID-19

July 2020

• Summer camp: Boggy Draw has become a haven for those seeking recreation and escape. Is it growing too popular?

• A power play: Changes to Tri-State will affect Empire Electric and its customers

August 2020

• Masks prompt clash between county, DA

• A proposed upheaval: Montezuma County is mulling major changes to its land-use plan

• Life during wartime: The coronavirus pandemic is causing increases in anxiety, anger and crime

• Opposite views: Protests for and against Black Lives Matter rage in Cortez

September 2020

• Hoping to bring people together: Commission candidate Samulski has expertise in land-use planning, public policy and fire prevention

• Water in the desert: Nonprofit works to distribute sanitary washing stations to Native communities

• Cortez residents receive a state archaeological award

• An increasing rape culture?: Incidents in San Juan County, Utah, are sparking locals’ concern

• Ute Mountain Tribe garners historic-preservation funding

• It’s election time — political signs are disappearing

October 2020

• Demonstrations in Cortez pick up steam: Peace and justice walk, patriotism ride both draw more participants

• How many people can we support?: The commissioners mull changes that might increase the local population

November 2020

• Complaints dismissed: Tri-State wins a legal decision by the PUC regarding pricey exit fees

• A different view of history: Native speakers share their own perspectives on Columbus’ arrival

• Water arrives via a complex distribution system Continued on

• Going dry?: Droughts seem to have become the norm across the Four Corners

December 2020

• Are disparities worsening?: Native Americans face existing problems obtaining health care, but pandemic-related measures may be making those even greater

• Should he stay or should he go?: An election is set on whether to recall McDaniel from Re-1’s school board