This is your KVNF regional newscast for Tuesday, June 3rd. I’m Brody Wilson.
Cortez Man Sentenced
A Cortez man has been sentenced to over three years in federal prison for making violent threats against Colorado elected officials, including Secretary of State Jena Griswold. Teak Brockbank pleaded guilty to threats in interstate commerce after repeatedly calling for officials to be hanged or killed in online posts. The Montrose Daily Press reports that prosecutors cited Brockbank’s long history of online extremism and illegal firearm possession. The court denied his request for leniency, citing a serious threat to public officials and democracy. After his release, Brockbank will serve an additional three years on supervised release.
DMEA Board Elections
Members of the Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) have the opportunity to shape the future of energy in our region. Three of the co-op’s nine board seats are up for election this year, and nine candidates are running:
- District 3: Demitri Stelter, Gary Hubbell, and Jacob Gray
- District 4: Jeff Hubbard, Emily Sanchez, and Shelley Kelly
- South Region: Jock Fleming, Ken Norris, and Joseph Simo
Voting is open now and closes next Wednesday, June 10 at noon. Members can vote online through their SmartHub account, by mail, or in person at the DMEA Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 12 at Hotchkiss K-8 School. In-person voting runs from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a business meeting, Q&A session, and family-friendly entertainment with live music. Each DMEA member gets one vote, no matter the method used. For candidate bios and full voting details, visit dmea.com/elections.
Feature from Mountain West News Bureau - State crime labs struggle to keep up
In state news, Colorado crime labs are grappling with an 18-month backlog in processing evidence from sexual assault cases. Despite earlier expectations that the delays would improve, progress remains slow. As Chas Sisk of the Mountain West News Bureau reports, advocates and lawmakers say the system is underfunded and overwhelmed. A forensic scientist accused of manipulating results for over a decade compounded the issue, leaving many survivors waiting for closure. Experts stress that without more resources and better management, backlogs will continue—jeopardizing timely justice.
Feature from Rocky Mountain Community Radio - Celebration and Advice for recent high school graduates
A celebration of new beginnings in Telluride - graduating seniors in the Class of 2025 paraded down Main Street last week, marking the end of one chapter and the start of the next. KOTO’s Julia Caulfield asked onlookers to share advice they wish they’d received at graduation. The responses were heartfelt and honest: “Don’t rush,” “Care less what others think,” “Travel,” and “Keep an open mind.” Others encouraged young people to have fun, be themselves, and know that things get easier after high school.
