Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Saturday, September 19, 2026
Ty's Take
Colorfest is back for Labor Day weekend, which means the sky over Pagosa will fill with hot air balloons while the rest of us fill our bellies and remember why we stick around a place this beautiful, even when the tourists triple our population and the water fights never quite get settled. It's the kind of event that works because it belongs to everyone, locals and visitors alike, and for one weekend the whole town remembers it's better when we're not keeping score. Get out there and look up.
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Pagosa Springs SUN
Colorado DMV extends online renewal window
Colorado's Division of Motor Vehicles has extended its online renewal window, allowing eligible residents to renew driver's licenses and ID cards online for up to 11 years from their last in-office photo. Most qualified drivers can now complete two consecutive online renewals before needing to...
Colorfest to return Sept. 18-20 for a weekend of balloons, food, music and celebration
Pagosa Springs will celebrate its 40th annual Colorfest September 18-20 with hot air balloons, food, wine, craft beer, and live music. The weekend features Passport to Pagosa on Friday evening, a balloon mass ascension Saturday morning over The Springs Resort area, and Bands, Brews and Barrels at...
End of Life Education to meet Sept. 17, 24
End of Life Education will meet September 17 and 24 at Community United Methodist Church in Pagosa Springs to discuss topics including coroner procedures and healthcare decision-making. The group will explore advance directives and living wills, with the goal of having participants complete these...
PAWSD receives clean 2025 audit
The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District received a clean audit for 2025 with no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses reported. The auditor noted that the district's financial statements fairly present its activities and that recent leadership transitions proceeded smoothly without...
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Pagosa Daily Post
EDITORIAL: Celebrating ‘Constitution Week’ in Archuleta County, Part Two
The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners designated September 17-23, 2026, as Constitution Week and urged citizens to study the Constitution and reflect on their rights and responsibilities. An editor discusses the history and importance of the Constitution's founding documents, including...
BLM Oil and Gas Leases Threaten Critical Colorado Wildlife Corridors, Lawsuit Claims
Environmental groups Wilderness Workshop and The Wilderness Society sued the Trump administration in U.S. District Court of Colorado over a June 2026 Bureau of Land Management lease sale affecting over 134,000 acres across the state. The lawsuit claims the BLM violated federal law by leasing...
READY, FIRE, AIM: How are Rising Prices Affecting You? NPR Wants to Know
A columnist reflects on how rising prices affect daily life decisions, noting increased costs for gas and groceries have changed shopping habits and social interactions. The writer describes NPR's survey asking residents how inflation influences their purchasing decisions and voting plans.
ESSAY: The Duke Chronicles, Part One
An essay chronicles the early relationship between a writer and Duke, a rescue dog originally from a Texas shelter who arrived in Pagosa via Denver. The narrative describes Duke's arrival and initial personality as a wary, energetic dog that quickly challenged his new owner's preconceived notions...
OPINION: Last Ditch Effort to Keep Coloradans from Voting on Tax Fairness
Supporters of Amendment 87, a Colorado graduated income tax measure, defend the ballot initiative against legal challenges from wealthy interests seeking to block voter access to the proposal. The measure would replace Colorado's flat tax system with a graduated structure affecting households and...
Democratic States Fight to Inspect ICE Detention Centers
Democratic-led states including Washington are pursuing legal action to inspect privately operated federal immigrant detention facilities, arguing states have authority over companies running these sites. The Trump administration claims federal supremacy prevents state oversight, while the GEO...
Chimney Rock National Monument to Reopen Today, Friday, Sept. 18
Chimney Rock National Monument reopened Friday, September 18, after crews repaired damage from severe thunderstorms that hit the area on September 14. Mud, rocks, and debris from the storms damaged roadways, parking lots, and pathways, requiring cleanup before the site could welcome visitors again.
PAGOSA UU FELLOWSHIP: Celebrating the Web of the Harvest
The Pagosa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will hold a program titled Mabon: Celebrating the Web of the Harvest on Sunday, September 20, marking the Autumn Equinox. The gathering will focus on grounding and centering as the community reflects on themes of harvest at this time of equal day and...
ESSAY: 20th Anniversary of ‘Rights of Nature’
Twenty years ago on September 19, 2006, Tamaqua Borough in Pennsylvania became the first place in western law to grant enforceable legal rights to nature and ecosystems. The movement that began in this rural community 75 miles from New York City has since expanded globally, with over 60 local...
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