Montrose County

FEATURE: For many parts of the rural Rocky Mountain West, public transit just doesn't exist, meaning locals and visitors are dependent on cars to get around. The Roaring Fork Valley 's local public transit system, RFTA , is the largest rural transit system in the U.S. For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Caroline Llanes looks at reasons residents take the bus, and how RFTA is trying to make its service even better.

Thursday’s special meeting of the Paonia Board of Trustees paved the way for a formal hearing on August 13th that could result in the ouster of Trustee Bill Brunner.

The Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia, Colorado has been hosting the Smithsonian's Crossroads: Change in Rural America Exhibition since mid-June. KVNF's Lisa Young spoke with Ali Lightfoot, Blue Sage executive director, about the exhibit highlighting rural America.

CDOT and Gunnison County have opened County Road 26 as a detour around the US 50 middle-bridge closure for local traffic. According to a CDOT press release, crews worked over the weekend to improve and open the Lake City Cutoff between Montrose and Gunnison. Pilot cars will lead passenger vehicles through the detour two times a day in each direction.

Montrose County recently awarded a $7.9 million dollar contract to FCI Constructors, Inc. for the construction of and renovation to the Montrose County Jail. Delta County Commissioners recently approved two Intergovernmental Agreements to place three new electric vehicle charging stations in Delta.

The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), through the Division of Housing's State Housing Board, recently allocated $7.2 million dollars for 171 new affordable housing units around the state. Home Trust of Ouray County was granted $100,000 to assist with new construction of two affordable housing units in Ridgway.

The Montrose Regional Library Board members are standing by their previous statements against book-banning, giving their stance at a special meeting last Wednesday and in wake of lengthy public discussion. State Representative Matt Soper worked alongside House Speaker Julie McCluskey on an amendment to the state budget, adding $1 million dollars for grants to help struggling rural hospitals. KVNF's Lisa Young has this story.

On this Local Motion, you’ll hear a conversation between KVNF's Cassie Knust and Michelle Leslie Prentice and Tom Cheney of Montrose. You'll learn about these two Montrose-based locals’ involvement in a new nonprofit, Friends of Ukraine. Friends of Ukraine was co-founded by a group of volunteers focused on helping Ukrainian refugee families transition from a war-torn country, all the way to Montrose, Colorado.

Montrose County School District is amongst a slew of districts across the country seeking to hold four major social media giants accountable. The district is entering a class action lawsuit against platforms like Facebook and Youtube. Just after the midway point of the Colorado State Legislative session, a number of West Slope Legislators teamed up for a virtual bi-partisan town hall meeting.

While this year’s snowpack has been cause for celebration throughout the region, a large spring runoff could bring flooding, reports the Montrose Daily Press. Bob Hurford, Division 4 water engineer with the Department of Water Resources spoke at a State of the River meeting earlier this week in Montrose. Hurford brought attention to the Uncompahgre River, the Gunnison River and its North Fork contributory noting the potential for spring flooding.