Author - News

Columns, Feature

Closing out Ouray’s hottest summer on record

Summer 2026, from June through August, was over-the-top hot in the Lower 48 states and Ouray as well. It was also the warmest summer “in 132 years of ...

September 23, 2026

Columns, Feature

Monsoon flooding as old as Ouray itself

Situated on debris fans created by Portland and Cascade creeks, Ouray lies in a 5,000-foot deep rock bowl drained by five major creeks emptying into t...

August 26, 2026

Columns, Opinion

Rain helps, but region still mired in drought

Two weeks ago, the southwest monsoon arrived, bringing relief to these parched landscapes and their residents. Most afternoons since then, Ouray has h...

July 29, 2026

Columns, Opinion

Drought persists, but relief may be en route

Ouray County remains in serious drought, as it was last month. Most of Colorado’s mountains are in extreme/ exceptional drought; the northern San Juan...

June 24, 2026

Columns, Opinion

Will Super El Niño boost winter snow? Stay tuned

A “9,000 mile “freight train of warm water” — a Kelvin wave — “hundreds of feet deep” in the Pacific Ocean has surged eastward toward Peru since April...

May 27, 2026

Columns, Opinion

Super El Niño could be boon for parched area

After three months of desperately dry Colorado weather, there’s finally good news. ENSO-neutral conditions are now present and favored from April-June...

April 29, 2026

Main, News...

A Monster celebration

October 7, 2026

Main, News...

City, county near pact on police services

Boards to vote this month on sheriff 's $1.1M annual proposal to police Ouray

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

October 7, 2026

Ouray County and the city of Ouray are hammering out the details of an agreement that would enlist the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office to provide full law enforcement services to the city for potentiall...

Main, News...

Reservoir transfer bill clears Senate

By Chart Riggall

October 7, 2026

Federal legislation to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray cleared the U.S. Senate last week, sending the bill to the House of Representatives as the clock winds down for Cong...

News

SMPA plans Four Corners solar project

Utility: Array, battery storage could meet up to 40% of consumer power needs

By Chart Riggall

October 7, 2026

San Miguel Power Association has joined three other southwest Colorado electricity providers in throwing their weight behind a sprawling solar facility near Cortez that could meet up to 40% of their c...

News

Council not on board with transit funding next year

Ouray won't budget for in-town shuttle, Montrose bus

By James Hanlon

October 7, 2026

The Ouray City Council dropped funding from the proposed 2027 budget for the city’s free in-town shuttle and contributions to the OurWay bus that runs between Montrose and Ouray. The in-town Ouray shu...

Karen Risch

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines