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In some parts of Ouray County it may look like popcorn grows on trees. The milky, honey-colored pocks on the trunks of ponderosa pines and other trees...

May 6, 2026

News

County appoints new planning commissioner

Ouray County commissioners unanimously appointed Danika Gilbert to the county Planning Commission on Tuesday. Gilbert will take the seat of Jennifer C...

April 29, 2026

News

Mine owners to address cleanup efforts at meeting

For the first time in eight years, the owner of the Idarado Mine is joining the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership for a public update on its cleanup e...

April 22, 2026

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County renews water lease for fourth year

Ouray County commissioners signed off on an agreement Tuesday to lease and help pay for backup water to support the county’s irrigators for a fourth y...

April 15, 2026

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Ditch users, county at impasse about culvert

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to more precisely reflect the condition of the culvert the ditch owners want replaced. A group of rancher...

April 15, 2026

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Planned EV chargers move to Visitor Center

During an April 8 meeting, the Ridgway Town Council agreed to move a charging station planned for the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds to...

April 15, 2026

Main, News

Town to sue MTN Lodge owners

The town of Ridgway is suing the owners of MTN Lodge, demanding they continue to pay lodging taxes while using their hotel as workforce housing over t...

March 27, 2026

Main, News

ICE FARMERS GET THEIR CROP

After weeks of planning for the worst, the Ouray Ice Park has ice to offer after all, just in time for the 31st Ice Festival this weekend. Ice Park Ex...

January 21, 2026

Main, News

Ice Park to open, resurrecting season after weeks of warm temperatures

After weeks of planning for the worst, the Ouray Ice Park has ice to offer after all, just in time for the 31st Ice Festival this weekend. Ice Park Ex...

January 20, 2026

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Fire district adopts budget with expanded wildland program

The Ridgway Fire Protection District board of directors last week adopted a 2026 budget slightly larger than its 2025 budget, while expanding its wild...

December 24, 2025

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Woman sentenced to probation in retaliation case

By Mike Wiggins

May 8, 2026

A former Ouray woman was ordered Thursday to spend two years on probation for retaliating against a woman who accused her son of sexual assault in 2023. Kristyn Trujillo must also perform 96 hours of ...

Main

Wildfire building rules trigger mix of compliance, skepticism

By By Mike Wiggins, Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

May 6, 2026

A state mandate requiring local governments to adopt stricter building rules to protect new and remodeled homes against wildfire has sparked varying reactions from elected officials in Ouray County. T...

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County policy would govern AI use

Manager: 'Folks want to feel we are doing our jobs, not delegating it to AI'

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

May 6, 2026

Ouray County commissioners want to regulate how employees use artificial intelligence when doing county work and limit cybercrime risk. Commissioners on April 29 looked at the first draft of an AI pol...

News

Town to pilot zero-waste rules at concerts

Following strong pushback from businesses, nonprofits, board devises more relaxed regulations

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

May 6, 2026

The town of Ridgway's Sustainability Advisory Board will pilot “zero-waste” rules at the town’s summer concert series, while it continues to craft a broader policy to implement for all events on town ...

News

Governor Basin cleanup project faces delays

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

May 6, 2026

A collaborative restoration project to clean up mine waste in Governor Basin dating back to 2018 remains on hold, while project partners continue to work out final agreements and how the project will ...

LIA SALVATIERRA

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines