Eagle County

Even before the snow stopped falling this past winter, fire leaders across the region were ringing alarm bells about what it meant for the 2026 fire season.

James Van Beek has served as the Eagle County sheriff since 2014 and hopes to bolster the department’s mental health response and trust with immigrant communities. Rebecca Anderson, a Vail police officer, is running against him to bring change to the agency’s workplace structure and culture.

Eagle County is reviewing the final details of its new zoning plan. One group in Missouri Heights is mostly happy with the updates, but it worries the changes could open the door for more development in El Jebel.

The two Democratic candidates for Eagle County Sheriff agree that the agency lacks structure, but they differ on the details. The winner of the Democratic primary on June 30 will face incumbent Republican James Van Beek in the General Election on Nov. 3.

Firefighters continued making progress on the 20-acre fire east of Ruedi Reservoir Friday, reaching 40% containment. A road closure remains for the general public.

Healthcare workers use resource directories to direct people to the help they need. Now, the nonprofit West Mountain Regional Health Alliance has one for a range of Pitkin, Garfield and Eagle Counties’ organizations. This story is part of our “On the Ground” radio series that highlights solutions to local and global issues from Roaring Fork and Colorado River valley organizations.

A federal grant that funds the program will expire at the end of September, forcing the program to reduce its operations unless the county can find alternative sources of funding.

The Western Slope utility is instituting a demand charge to cover rising infrastructure costs and encourage users to stagger their electricity use throughout the day.

Rock Bottom Ranch director John Middleton joined a Rural Voices Day broadcast for an interview with Aspen Public Radio’s Sage Smiley. The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies prioritizes land stewardship as part of its agriculture operation in Basalt.

Ace of spades playing cards were left in abandoned vehicles last month after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained the drivers, according to a Glenwood Springs-based Latino advocacy nonprofit. The cards have historically been used as an intimidation tactic.