The Pueblo Chieftain
Next round of Iran peace talks on hold
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire that was set to begin at 4 p.m. local time June 19 after escalating violence between Israel and Lebanon complicated President Donald Trump’s efforts to reach a final peace agreement with Iran. Still, the next...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘The difficult decision’
A Pueblo training center for aspiring U.S. Air Force pilots that was expected to partner with Pueblo Community College on a new degree program is set to permanently close in October. The closure of the CAE Pueblo Training Center will result in nearly...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Affidavit: Fight over lost phone led to shooting
A confrontation between two men that escalated into a shotgun shooting and high-speed police chase began over a missing cellphone that the shooting suspect claimed was stolen from him by the victim, according to Pueblo police. Security footage,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SPORTS, 1B
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2026 | CHIEFTAIN.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Explore Colorado’s most treasured landscapes
From scenic trails to cultural preservation sites, the history behind these Colorado destinations can help you celebrate America’s 250th birthday. h A visit to these three spots will help you get a glimpse into the state’s past as you explore the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘You’ll always see something different’
The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America & STEAM Center is officially open to the public after a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on June 12. The museum, dedicated to the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci, is located on the Pueblo Riverwalk at 310...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SPORTS, 1B
SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2026 | CHIEFTAIN.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Views split on White House UFC event
It was 2001, and mixed martial arts fighting was on the ropes. Banned in 36 states, booted from cable operators, derided as “human cockfighting” – it was such an outcast sport that it traded hands for $2 million. A song. The new owners of Ultimate...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo da Vinci Museum set for grand opening
The first and only Leonardo da Vinci Museum in all of North America is set to open its doors in Pueblo on June 12 in a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring a free outdoor festival. The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America & STEAM...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo city councilors: Project Falcon ‘not dead’
A project seeking to bring a tissue manufacturing facility to Pueblo with the help of a $65 million incentive package was put on an indefinite hold last week, but some members of city council say the deal, in the words of City Council President Mark...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Charting CSU Pueblo’s future
New Colorado State University Pueblo President Rhonda Epper seeks to strengthen the university’s economic partnerships, drive workforce and economic developments, and increase six-year graduation rates. h Epper has been president at CSU Pueblo for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘The majority of Puebloans support the project’
A potential partnership between the Pueblo community and a confidential company seeking to open a new manufacturing plant in the St. Charles Industrial Park has been put on hold indefinitely due to “general divisiveness” surrounding the project. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
What we know of Project Falcon
Pueblo City Council and the Pueblo Mayor’s Office continue to clash over a confidential project that would bring an international tissue manufacturing company to Pueblo through a $65 million city investment that includes significant infrastructure...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Setbacks keep piling up for Trump
WASHINGTON – The White House is all prepped for President Donald Trump’s big night, when 5,000 guests are set to attend a UFC cage fight in a makeshift arena that’s made the South Lawn to look like a theme park. But the president might have to ignore...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Riverstone Academy closes permanently
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters A controversial “public Christian school” in southern Colorado has closed permanently after changes in Colorado law cut off state funding, its...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Bryant is county’s first female undersheriff
While new Undersheriff Shelley Bryant is the first woman to serve as undersheriff for the Pueblo County Sheriff ’s Office, she told the Chieftain she does not want that achievement to overshadow the work she’s done climbing the PCSO ladder over the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
17-year-old charged after 18-year-old killed
A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged by police with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in connection with a deadly shooting in east Pueblo on June 1. The suspect turned himself in to the Pueblo Police Department later that...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo man gets 8 years
A Pueblo man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he brandished a handgun during a confrontation with police and led officers on a freeway chase. Daniel Stouffer, 37, pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Nonprofits to restore City Park Bathhouse
Pueblo City Council passed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 26 between the city and the nonprofits Friends of City Park and Historic Pueblo Inc. to restore the City Park Bathhouse. Historic City Park Inc. is included in the project due to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo chef bringing soul food staples to new eatery
A new Pueblo restaurant will soon be serving up plates of fried chicken, cornbread, macaroni, and other delicious soul food on Union Avenue. “Soul food, its background came from families who could not afford very much,” said Anthony Palmer, the owner...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Potential Iran deal puts Trump in a bind
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump finds himself in a bind as he seeks to end the war against Iran: He is under pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and get U.S. gasoline prices down but at the same time faces a potential backlash from Iran hawks...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo commissioners signal support for new projects
The Pueblo Board of County Commissioners recently approved three letters of support for grants sought by PuebloPlex, the budding industrial and technology campus. Two of the letters were related to transportation infrastructure around the site 15...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CO’s ‘first public Christian school’ drops its lawsuit
A southern Colorado elementary school that backers have called “Colorado’s first public Christian school” has dropped its religious discrimination lawsuit against the state less than four months after filing it. Riverstone Academy, along with its...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Claim of unfair labor practice dismissed
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Division of Labor Standards and Statistics recently determined that Pueblo Sheriff David Lucero did not commit an unfair labor practice (ULP) in his office’s negotiations with the PCSO’s deputy...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Attorney parts ways with school board
Just over two weeks after Pueblo County School District 70 parted ways with attorney Brad Miller’s law firm as its general legal counsel, the firm has cut ties with the district’s board of education. Pueblo D70 sent out a request for proposals for new...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Woman sues over denied land purchase
Civil rights groups have filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against a housing development, alleging the Arkansas-based organization denied a woman the chance to buy land because of her religion and her family’s racial background. The complaint,...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Where to commemorate Memorial Day in Pueblo
For communities like Pueblo, where many people have a profound reverence for those who've served in the U.S. military, Memorial Day is much more than just a good excuse for a long weekend or an unofficial start to the summer. The southern Colorado...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Universities still hold Native remains, artifacts
Many universities and museums in the United States have long held Native American burial artifacts, other sacred objects and even human remains. Most of these collections were acquired in the late 19th and 20th centuries. They came from grave...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
18 bodies ID’d in Davis Mortuary investigation
Eighteen of the 24 bodies found inside the private funeral home of former Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter in August 2025 have now been positively identified by the Fremont County Coroner’s Office in the ongoing Davis Mortuary investigation,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo man convicted of murder gets life in prison
A man convicted of first-degree murder by a Pueblo jury last week was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on May 19 in the 2025 killing of his roommate. Ryan Ramos, 43, was convicted May 14 of the April 15, 2025, killing of Rodney...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo prioritizes smaller road projects
Several road projects are in various stages of planning and development in Pueblo, but with a smaller-than-usual 2026 budget for roadwork, the city is largely prioritizing smaller projects this summer. Pueblo has allocated about $2.5 million to road...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Judge tosses evidence in Luigi Mangione case
A New York judge has partially granted a request to toss crucial evidence obtained after law enforcement located Luigi Mangione in the wake of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione, 28, was found at a McDonald’s in Altoona,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo coroner IDs 19-year-old suspect
A man who was shot and killed by a Pueblo police officer on May 14 after he allegedly brandished a handgun during a confrontation with police has been identified as a 19-year-old Pueblo man. Tayshawn Redford was killed in the shooting that occurred...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo police shoot and kill suspect
A suspect who allegedly brandished a handgun during a confrontation with Pueblo police was shot and killed by a police officer in the early morning hours of May 14. Police were called to Drew Dix Park on Massari Road around 12:18 a.m. on a report of a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Trump leaves Beijing with few wins
BEIJING – President Donald Trump left China on May 15 with no major breakthroughs on trade or tangible help from Beijing to end the Iran war, despite two days spent heaping praise on his host, Xi Jinping. Trump’s visit to America’s main strategic and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Our zoo, their future’
A boisterous baby bison and a plucky little penguin are among the new animal additions capturing Puebloans' hearts at the Pueblo Zoo. The female bison calf was born on May 1 and hit "all its important first-day milestones," according to zoo...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Balanced but competitive’
Pueblo’s residential real estate market saw “strong activity” in April, with a notable increase in home sales compared to April 2025. David Ramirez, a local real estate agent and spokesperson for the Pueblo Association of Realtors, said the market saw...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New Pueblo D60 middle school on track
A $7 million project to renovate a former school building on Pueblo’s west side is underway as Pueblo School District 60 prepares to welcome students to a new middle school this fall. The new Hyde Park Precollegiate Middle School is moving into the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo eyes growth
A new affordable housing complex is coming to Pueblo in 2027. Compass Pointe Apartments is coming to the Eastwood Heights neighborhood, commonly referred to by residents as Dog Patch, at the corner of Beaumont Street and Oakshire Lane. The project...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Finally parked’
Mother Smothers, owned by Deena and Juan Montoya, has “finally found its place to park” at its new brick-andmortar at 332 S. McCollough Boulevard in Pueblo West. Mother Smothers was a food truck for four seasons, serving up sloppers, tacos, hot dogs,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
County cuts the ribbon on new detention center
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office cut the ribbon at its new detention center on May 7, marking a major milestone for the PCSO and the Pueblo community’s public safety. The new $150 million facility, located at 3830 Medal of Honor Blvd., has 672 beds,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Why many feel bad about the economy
As the impacts from the Iran war spilled over into everyday life, more Americans have said they are worse off today than at most any point in the last 25 years. h More than half – 55% – say their financial situation is deteriorating, according to a new...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘There’s still some loose ends’
Pueblo County School District 70’s administration has agreed to part ways with attorney Brad Miller’s firm in favor of the Boulder-based firm Caplan and Earnest. The decision comes less than two months after the district sent out a request for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
County executive resigns 3 months after appointment
Pueblo County Interim Chief Administrative Officer Brandon Mathews has resigned roughly three months after his appointment. Commissioner Miles Lucero mentioned Mathews’ departure during a May 5 Pueblo Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) work session,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Wintry mix, possible snow in local forecast
Pueblo County has a 100% chance of getting some much-needed precipitation on May 6, and may even see some rare early-May snow. The National Weather Service’s Pueblo office is currently forecasting wintry conditions, with a high temperature of 41...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Zoo pushes tax measure
The Pueblo Zoo is launching a campaign to put a 0.167% retail sales tax question on the fall ballot to support zoo operations. If the effort is unsuccessful and other funding isn’t secured, the zoo could be forced to close in the next two to three...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘We must also stand on principle’
Colorado State Rep. Matthew Martinez is working with Pueblo group El Movimiento Sigue to find a new name for Cesar Chávez Boulevard. The stretch of Colorado State Highway 47 was named to honor once-revered labor and civil rights activist Cesar Chávez...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
States fighting DOJ over voter data access
Anthony Nel was surprised when his voter registration was revoked in Texas after he cast an early ballot for the November 2025 election. The Denton County resident was born in South Africa in 1996 and became a U.S. citizen in 2013 when his parents...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Iran submits latest proposal to end war
President Donald Trump showed no signs of trying to obtain congressional approval for the war in Iran despite reaching the 60-day deadline to do so, and a maritime blockade remained in effect as Tehran sent its latest proposal to end the conflict to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘To help her rebuild her life’
A woman is seeking $830,000 in compensation from the state of Colorado after her 2012 conviction for a Pueblo murder was thrown out in 2025. Acacia Lyn-Darr, 47, was convicted of the murder of Robert Piserchio and spent nearly 12 years in prison...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Activist faces felony charges a year later
A Pueblo activist has been charged with a criminal offense in his ongoing feud with a former city councilwoman, almost a year after the alleged offense was committed. Elvis Martinez, a multi-time city council candidate and vocal opponent of former...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MAGA-like politics popular in U.K.
LONDON − King Charles III isn’t an elected politician. But his trip to the United States has political implications. And with extreme movements on the rise in the United Kingdom, echoing divisions among Americans, the monarch’s state visit to mark the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Farmers Market returns to Mineral Palace Park
Kicking off May 2, the Pueblo Farmers Market will return with more vendors and more variety at Mineral Palace Park, 1604 N Santa Fe Ave. Market Director Marci Cochran told the Chieftain that there are over 50 total vendors, including about 30 new...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A walk on the wild side
The Steel City's wildest brew festival took over the Pueblo Zoo on April 25. The 11th annual Brew at the Zoo allowed Puebloans to sip, savor, and soak up the fun while checking out the unique animals that call the zoo home. The afternoon of craft...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Riverwalk celebrates boathouse grand opening
Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo Authority Executive Director Lynn Clark told the crowds that gathered Downtown on April 23 that the Pueblo Toyota Riverwalk Boathouse and nearby channel expansion were designed with a single goal in mind —...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
U.S. delegation to meet with Iranian officials
The United States is sending a delegation to Pakistan to meet with Iranian officials, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said April 24, resuming direct talks as both countries accuse each other of violating a ceasefire by seizing and blocking...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Brush fire burns 8 acres
A brush fire in the river bottom of Fountain Creek near the Pueblo Mall burned about 8 acres on April 22 before being contained by firefighters. Heavy smoke was visible in the area around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, sparking a response from multiple fire...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo County weighs new reserve policy
Pueblo County commissioners discussed plans to strengthen the county’s reserve policy on April 21, aiming to ensure long-term financial stability for the county and future boards. A resolution proposed by Commissioner Paula McPheeters would replace...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
The ‘story no one is talking about’
Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham took to Facebook the morning of April 16 to share what she called the “story no one is talking about.” The story in question concerns counterclaims filed by the city of Pueblo in its ongoing legal feud with the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Not going anywhere’
Leaders of CommonSpirit St. MaryCorwin Hospital are assuring the community the Pueblo hospital is “not going anywhere” after a new report by Public Citizen identified it as one of nine Colorado hospitals at risk of closing or reducing services as a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ENDLESS LOVE FOR DRIVE-INS
AApril 17. pair of drive-in movie fanatics who’ve visited more than 200 of them across 45 states are the new owners of Pueblo’s Mesa Drive-In movie theater. h Husband and wife Chris and Kelly Lally, who have a lengthy history working in and managing...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
What comes next for the Diocese of Pueblo
Bishop Stephen Berg was over 40 years old when he became a priest. The Diocese of Pueblo bishop, who recently submitted his resignation as required by the Catholic Church upon reaching the age of 75, entered the priesthood only after earning a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
U.K.’s Starmer resists pressure to step down
LONDON – Prime Minister Keir Starmer, under renewed pressure to resign, expressed anger on April 17 over not being informed that his former ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, had failed security vetting before being handed the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘A significant step forward’
Rocky Mountain Steel Mills in Pueblo has reached a new long-term contract with Union Pacific Railroad for the domestic production of steel rails, putting an end to a legal dispute between the two companies. The seven-year contract between the only...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Draft registration to become automatic
As the war with Iran approaches 50 days, a new policy that would automatically register eligible people for a possible military draft is renewing interest in the rules and process around military conscription. It’s the latest policy change around...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Goodnight Barn says bye to city ownership
A relic of Pueblo County’s cowboy past, the Goodnight Barn just south of the Arkansas River and west of the city has stood the test of time. Action taken by Pueblo City Council on April 13 set the stage for a new chapter in the over 150-year-old...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dockside complete
After nearly two years of construction, the Pueblo Riverwalk Boathouse and Phase IV channel extension project is complete. h Following the official opening of the channel extension earlier this year, the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo Authority...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
INSIDE, 4A
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 | CHIEFTAIN.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Read Full Story (Page 1)
YES, IT’S REALLY PUEBLO CHILE
A bill seeking to ensure Pueblo chile is Pueblo chile and Palisade peaches are Palisade peaches has been signed by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Polis signed “Protections for Agricultural Products Grown in Colorado,” introduced as House Bill 1031, which...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pentagon opens doors to other AI
WASHINGTON – Small defense industry artificial intelligence startups are suddenly fielding calls from generals, combatant commanders and deep-pocketed investors, after the souring relationship between the Pentagon and its once-favored AI vendor,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘The 90s are having a major moment’
A pop culture icon from the 1990s who’s as cold as Ice and a homegrown Colorado rock band are among the latest headlining acts announced for the 2026 Colorado State Fair. The “I Love The 90s Tour,” headlined by Grammy-nominated rapper Vanilla Ice,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New Medal of Honor Boulevard set to open
Medal of Honor Boulevard is set to open on April 10, connecting Pueblo and Pueblo West. An opening ceremony is set to take place at 11:30 a.m. at Warren Dockum Road near Medal of Honor Boulevard and will include brief remarks from Pueblo Medal of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Free ride program for teens proposed
An April 2022 crash near Fourth Street that killed two teenagers was the “tipping point” that led community leaders to brainstorm ways to prevent youth traffic fatalities. During an April 6 Pueblo City Council work session, Pueblo County Commissioner...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Amplify Pueblo
The third annual Steel City Music Showcase is set to bring over 40 artists to four stages in downtown Pueblo on April 10-11. The performance stages include Neon Alley, La Bella Union Plaza, Gold Dust Saloon, and Presley’s Community Stage. Steel City...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pueblo records hottest March in history
On the heels of its third-hottest February and third-hottest winter in history, Pueblo just had its hottest March ever, toppling a record set way back when William Howard Taft was U.S. president. According to the National Weather Service in Pueblo,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Nervous as to the harm it could cause’
Daneya Esgar, a former state representative from Pueblo, hoped that the U.S. Supreme Court would agree that a 2019 Colorado bill banning conversion therapy for minors was not about restricting free speech. Esgar was a prime sponsor of “Prohibit...
Read Full Story (Page 1)