1. Concerns grow in Colorado’s mountain towns as U.S. Forest Service freezes hiring for swath of seasonal employees

The U.S. Forest Service has issued a nationwide hiring freeze on all non-fire seasonal employees, a decision that could have ripple effects across Colorado mountain communities, where vast swathes of land are national forests.

One-fifth of Colorado is comprised of U.S. Forest Service-owned lands. In places like Summit County, where the White River National Forest makes up 85% of the county, the federal government manages the majority of local lands.

Traditionally, seasonal Forest Service crews have provided on-the-ground work in many of these communities, from maintaining trails to patrolling campgrounds, educating visitors and conducting field work.

— Ryan Spencer

2. Money from across the country pours into Colorado’s fight over big cat hunting

Late into the campaign season for Colorado’s November 2024 election, a second issue committee has emerged opposing Proposition 127, a measure that seeks to ban the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx. 

The committee filed with Colorado’s Secretary of State on Oct. 5 under the name Western Heritage Conservation Alliance. 

It joins two other issue committees fighting over the measure: Cats Aren’t Trophies, a citizen group that petitioned to get Proposition 127 on the ballot, and Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better, which also opposes it.

— Ali Longwell

3. Back-to-back snowstorms headed for Colorado’s mountains this week

Editor’s note: This story was published Monday, Oct. 28.

Dual storms are expected to bring several inches of snow to Colorado’s High Country beginning Tuesday morning and into Wednesday afternoon.

Snow totals around 2-6 inches are possible in central mountain valley areas, with greater accumulation likely in high-elevation zones over 10,000 feet, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Bruno Rodriguez.

Snow is forecast to begin falling Tuesday morning with intermittent showers throughout the day. A second wave of precipitation will hit Wednesday morning with light, isolated showers until the afternoon. 

— Robert Tann

4. ‘Unacceptable’: Colorado’s federal lawmakers respond to U.S. Forest Service seasonal hiring freeze

The Colorado congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., is calling on the U.S. Forest Service to continue partnerships with Rocky Mountain communities amid the agency’s hiring freeze on seasonal employees.

Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper as well as Colorado Representatives Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen penned a letter Monday, Oct. 28, to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack.

In particular, the letter takes issue with the Forest Service applying the hiring freeze not only to positions funded through the federal budget but also to positions supported by local funding. 

— Ryan Spencer

5. Interstate 70 fully open following crash near Frisco Monday morning

Editor’s note: This story was published Monday, Oct. 28.

The crash occurred near Exit 203 around 11 a.m. Monday morning. Colorado Department of Transportation cameras show traffic backing up on westbound I-70.

— Summit Daily News staff