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‘It doesn’t look good’: Colorado transportation officials will use $12 million in leftover snowplowing funds to up roadside wildfire mitigation amid drought

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‘It doesn’t look good’: Colorado transportation officials will use  million in leftover snowplowing funds to up roadside wildfire mitigation amid drought


Amid a historically hot and dry winter, the Colorado Department of Transportation will repurpose $12 million in unused snowplow funds for summertime wildfire mitigation efforts along the state’s highways.

CDOT Deputy Director of Operations Bob Fifer told the Colorado Transportation Commission at its work session this month that amid a record-low snowpack statewide, the transportation department is shifting its strategy to proactively address wildfire risk.

“It just doesn’t look good for us,” Fifer said at the March 18 meeting. “We are expecting a drought across the state.”



Almost the entire state saw snowfall totals well-below average this past winter, Fifer said. Most years, the state’s snowpack doesn’t peak until April, but this year the snowpack has already peaked and has melted off rapidly, he said.

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According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, more than half the state is experiencing severe drought, Level 2 of 4, with the northwest corner of Colorado experiencing extreme drought, or Level 3 of 4, and parts of Summit, Grand, Eagle, Routt, Garfield and Pitkin counties facing exceptional drought, or Level 4 of 4.



By June, Colorado’s Western Slope — including the Interstate 70 mountain corridor — is expected to be at above-average risk of significant wildland fires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

To determine where to focus the highway vegetation management, Fifer said the transportation department will leverage a Colorado State Forest Service Wildfire Risk Map to target roadside mitigation to the areas of the state that have the highest probability of burning.

“When you have 9,000 miles, or 24,000 lane miles, of road, where do you start mitigation?” Fifer asked. “What’s the most surgical area? How can we do it to get the most bang for the limited dollars we have? We’re going to use this data to drive that decision-making and we’re going to start with the most vulnerable areas.”

After choosing priority areas, Fifer said the transportation department will remove diseased trees and trees that are 50% dead or more, especially within the first 15 feet of the right-of-way. He said most of the wood will be chipped and slashed, then left on site to decompose, while larger blocks and diseased trees will be removed.

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Ladder fuels, like lower branches, that could carry a fire up into the crown of the forest, will also be removed from trees within the right-of-way, Fifer said. He said stumps will be cut to about 4 inches off the ground.

In addition to their importance as evacuation routes, Fifer noted that “the highways are natural fire lines or fire breaks” that can help slow the spread of wildfires and that firefighters can use to strategically hold the fire at bay.

CDOT Deputy Director of Maintenance Jim Fox told the Transportation Commission that crews typically mow the right-of-way along the state’s highways twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

So far this fiscal year, which began last July, Fox said the transportation department has already completed nearly 28,000 swath miles of roadside mowing, or slightly more than it did in the previous one-year period. He said the transportation department has also removed 3,848 trees from the right-of-way so far this fiscal year, compared to 2,453 trees in the previous fiscal year.

CDOT Director of Maintenance and Operations Shawn Smith noted that the $12 million in snow and ice contingency funds that are left over from the winter, due to the low snowfall, are among the dollars that will help fund the increased roadside wildfire mitigation.

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Although the transportation department already has some funds to dedicate toward increasing roadside wildfire mitigation, Fifer said, “We’ll probably need more to handle this.”

He did not provide an estimate for what the additional wildfire mitigation might cost.





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Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one

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Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one


A man already driving with a suspended license from a DUI is now accused of intentionally plowing into three people on a sidewalk in Colorado.

This happened near the intersection of East Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Willowbridge Way in Highlands Ranch around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

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CBS


Witnesses say that after the crash, the driver made a U-turn, went back to the scene, slowly drove past the wreckage, then left. That allowed another witness to follow him 5.5 miles down to Daniels Park, where just 15 minutes later, 28-year-old Adam Bauserman was taken into custody.

Bauserman’s demeanor was described by deputies as “unusually quiet.” At one point, he apparently asked, “Do you know if I killed the man?”

As it would turn out, the man survived, but his girlfriend did not. Flowers are piling up at the scene of a morning walk that turned deadly.

Right now, investigators don’t believe the driver knew any of those victims.

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“You expect to be safe when you’re walking on the sidewalk,” said neighbor Beth Chitel, who lived just yards from the crash site until she moved last month. “These are very highly trafficked pathways around here; it could have happened to any of our friends, any of our neighbors, any of our children.”

“This was a horrific scene,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.

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CBS


Thirty-five-year-old Corrine More died in the crash. Her sister tells CBS Colorado she lived in the neighborhood and was out on a walk with her boyfriend. She describes Corrine as a nursing student with a big heart who was loved by everyone who knew her, and who was beautiful inside and out.

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Corrine’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Kyle Vasey, was seriously injured. He has undergone multiple surgeries and was described by a doctor in the affidavit as being at substantial risk for permanent disfigurement or death.

The other victim is 72-year-old Dianne Windes. The sheriff says she was walking in the opposite direction from the couple. She was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

Witnesses believe the driver who crashed into the three pedestrians did so on purpose.

“If we can prove that, we’ll certainly do that, but at this point we have no indication of that,” Weekly said.

It was thanks to a witness who followed that truck that deputies arrested Bauserman, who was driving with a revoked license after a DUI last year.

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“Mr. Bauserman has had several revocations and suspensions of his license over the last 10 years,” Weekly said. “He should never have been on the roadway, and as a result of that, somebody is now deceased.”

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Douglas County Sheriff’s Office


Deputies did not detect immediate signs of intoxication but are waiting on blood test results.

Right now, investigators believe Bauserman was only traveling 3 mph over the speed limit, at about 48 mph in a 45 mph zone. That will need to be confirmed in the investigation.

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“He should never have been on the roadway, period. And so, the fact that somebody in our community has been lost in such a tragic, horrible way. How many lives have been destroyed by this selfish act?” Weekly asked.

“I want to express my sympathies to the families, and yeah, we’re here to support you as a community, and we’re by your side,” said Chitel.

Neighbor Beth Chitel started an online fundraiser for the victims.

“The last thing that the family should be having to worry about right now is the bills that are coming,” said Chitel.

The sheriff says that 15 to 20 community members stepped up to help in the aftermath of this tragedy.

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Chitel says the community has been hurt by other recent tragedies, like the death of 13-year-old Alex Mackiewicz, who was hit while in the crosswalk on his way to school. That fatal crash happened just over a mile away from this one.

“Something really needs to be done. The community is well aware of the safety issues posed there, of course. Again, we don’t expect them on the sidewalk,” said Chitel. “We need more crosswalks; we could use more stoplights. We need more safety measures put in place because, in general, it’s really not a safe road. People speed on it.”

“It’s absolutely horrible. As the sheriff, I have done a lot to increase traffic enforcement. We’ve almost doubled the size of our traffic unit. I expect my folks to be out there and be productive and ensure the safety of our citizens. These tragedies, certainly back to back, are heartbreaking for everybody involved, it shouldn’t happen,” Weekly said.

Three families are forever changed, a community is left with questions, and the investigation is just beginning.

“We need to make sure that we do our job well, and that we get justice for all these victims,” Weekly said.

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Bauserman is being held on charges including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

Preliminary charges Bauserman is facing include the following seven felonies and one misdemeanor:

  • Vehicular homicide
  • Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death
  • Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury (two counts)
  • Vehicular assault (two counts)
  • Assault in the second degree – crimes to at-risk persons
  • Driving a motor vehicle with a license is under restraint (express consent refusal/DUI conviction)

These charges could change based on the results of the blood tests and additional information that is garnered through the investigation.

A judge set Bauserman’s bond at $100,000.

As the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office says anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Pereira at bpereira@dcsheriff.net or call (303) 660-7537.

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Eagle Rock Ranch

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Eagle Rock Ranch


When Dave and Jean Gottenborg met as teenagers wrangling horses in Estes Park, they dreamed of one day running a ranch together. That dream fell by the wayside for decades until 2012, when the couple purchased Eagle Rock Ranch in the Tarryall Valley.

Talking about the Gottenborg’s ranch means deliberately avoiding words like “owners” and “ownership.” The couple “manage” their land — their preferred term — through the conservationist lens of thinkers like Wendell Berry and Aldo Leopold. Visitors are welcome on the land (see some basic guidelines here), and they sell their beef by the cut, box and share at their family-owned mercantile in Fairplay.



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Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02

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Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02


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The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.

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The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Colorado Rockies visit the Los Angeles Angels.

Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels?

First pitch between the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.

How to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.

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Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.



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