Today... More than two-hundred cats were spayed and neutered at a Montrose clinic led by the Colorado Cat Coalition and Doctor Jeff Young, part of a broader push to curb overpopulation and expand affordable, humane care for pets.

And later… Montrose Classical Academy’s twice-rejected charter application is back before the Montrose County School Board after the state ordered a reconsideration, reigniting the debate over school choice in the community.

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Today... A Montezuma County grand jury indicted thirty-eight-year-old Rachel Leonard for the 2022 death of her five-year-old daughter Annika, alleging she suffocated the child after a custody dispute, though her defense is challenging the evidence ahead of an October plea hearing.

And later... Shepherd’s Hand and the Lighthouse shelter have merged under one leadership to pool resources, secure funding, and continue serving Montrose’s growing unhoused population.

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Today... The Montrose Botanic Gardens is celebrating its 30th anniversary this Saturday with a free, family-friendly sunflower-themed party featuring music, activities, and a look ahead to new community projects like the renovation of its children’s garden.

And later... A Montrose man is facing charges after a bar altercation that police say turned violent and targeted a person’s gender identity.

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Today... Montrose Classical Academy, twice denied by the local school board, is appealing to the Colorado State Board of Education in hopes of opening a tuition-free classical charter school in Montrose by 2026.

And later... More than two-hundred neglected cats and dogs were rescued from a Delta County property, while the seventy-eight-year-old owner faces over two-hundred counts of animal cruelty as her court case continues.

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Today... Montrose County Commissioner Scott Mijares will face a November recall election after declining to resign or challenge petitions, with supporters citing his conservative record and opponents accusing him of reckless, divisive leadership.

And later... All Colorado water users—motorized or not—must clean, drain, and dry their gear to stop invasive zebra mussels from spreading and damaging ecosystems, recreation, and infrastructure.

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Today... At a recent roundtable, Senator John Hickenlooper heard Western Slope leaders warn that federal cuts and agency shortfalls are leaving small communities struggling to fund projects, manage public lands, and meet rising local needs.

And later... Montrose County voted to oppose the "Gunnison Outdoors Resources Protection Act", despite none of its lands being included, with supporters citing economic and control concerns and the lone dissenter warning it shuts the county out of future talks.

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Today... Sometimes the most interesting journeys don’t start with a plane ticket. They start with a question. For Montrose author Diane Winger, that question was: What would it take to write a full-length novel?

And later... Montrose Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is offering a six-week women’s self-defense course, teaching teen girls and women practical skills to build confidence, awareness, and the ability to protect themselves.

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Today: Former funeral home operator Megan Hess and her mother Shirley Koch, convicted in a body-sale fraud scheme, have been granted more time to file appeals challenging their twenty- and fifteen-year prison sentences.

And later: Montrose County has reported its first West Nile virus death, with two local cases confirmed, prompting health officials to urge residents to take precautions against mosquito bites.

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