Corrections and clarifications: This story was updated to reflect the correct name of the Pueblo Mountain Park Construction taking place around the El Centro del Quinto Sol campus this summer into the end of 2025 is being funded by an initiative approved by Pueblo County voters in 2016 The Eastside Streetscape Project was one of 20 improvement projects in the original list of 2016 Ballot Question 1A Capital Improvement Projects funded by about $66 million in Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) funds Pueblo City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Pueblo County to allocate $810,145 in remaining funds for the Eastside Streetscape Project's construction on April 28 "El Centro is a community center that's very important for our residents that live there.. These improvements are going to make the entire site more accessible and improve quality of life for our residents there in the East Side," Pueblo Director of Public Works Andrew Hayes told the Chieftain the El Centro del Quinto Sol campus will receive new angled parking spaces gutter and sidewalk improvements and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps turf replacement and tree relocations will also be included as part of the project Initial plans for the project included a gateway sign to the East Side neighborhood and other improvements near East Fourth Street but those improvements are not part of the project due to budget constraints An exact date for the start of the construction has not been determined as of May 1 Hayes told the Chieftain individuals will still be able to visit El Centro del Quinto Sol and may only experience minor closures or traffic interruptions during construction "It is not going to close entire roads or anything like that for long periods," Hayes said "There may be sidewalk closed and somebody may have to go to the other side of the street.. Additional projects benefitting from voter-approved 1A funding include improvements to the Pueblo Memorial Airport A list of 1A projects is available online at county.pueblo.org/capital-projects-department/1a-projects For additional information on the Eastside Streetscape Project individuals may contact 719-533-2295 to speak with Pueblo Public Works 'Lightning Thief' musical: Pueblo County High School presenting 'The Lightning Thief', a 100% student-directed show Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com Emilio Garcia was ejected from a car that he was a passenger in in a high-speed crash on I-25. For nearly a week he had been fighting for his life in the hospital but sadly succumbed to his injuries on Thursday Two others in the car were taken to the hospital with serious injuries The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) is investigating the crash PPD says the driver of the car Garcia was in could be facing charges PPD says that the driver ran into another vehicle on the highway at a high rate of speed family members of Emilio Garcia were able to raise a Donate Life flag in his honor.  Emilio Garcia would look out for other kids in the neighborhood. They tell KRDO13 if he knew they didn't have a safe home to go to he'd bring them over for dinner and to stay the night. They say he's still giving back to this day "He gets to continue to give that same gift that he would always give to others they get to live on through him," explained Augustino Garcia His family shared stories of Emilio's fearlessness They say he'd never back down from a challenge and was always "one million percent savage" no matter what came his way Emilio's family tells KRDO13 he was a smooth talker able to get out of anything with his smile and kind words And whether it was doing typical boy stuff or helping somebody whether it was a friend to move or someone needed something Now they're left grieving the loss of their brother but are grateful he's able to give life to others.  His story is not done. His story is still ongoing And he's just proving how much of a hero he is to more than just us," explained Emilio's mother just speaking about Emilio and telling stories of his life brought smiles to the faces of the Garcia family They say Emilio was always the topic of conversation in their family In honor of Emilio's love for cars and motorcycles his family is planning a procession for his memorial service "I'd love to have as many cars and motorcycles as we can get for him on the road," shared Emilio's brother If you'd like to help the Garcia family during this difficult time, the family has created a fundraiser that you can find here. Emilio's father is calling for justice for his son telling KRDO13 that someone needs to be held accountable KRDO NewsChannel 13 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KRDO Jobs | FCC Applications | KRDO FCC Public File | KRDO FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Contest Rules Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPUEBLO a man was sentenced to 44 years in the Department of Corrections for the shooting of a Pueblo Police Officer in 2023 according to the Pueblo County District Attorney’s Office Deon Council-Rivera was arrested in early October 2023 on several charges after a Pueblo Police officer was shot. Council-Rivera was found guilty of third-degree assault-domestic violence obstruction of telephone service-domestic violence and child abuse but the jury was not able to come to a unanimous verdict on the rest of the counts Officials said Council-Rivera pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault on a peace officer “The officers in this case responded to a domestic violence call that morning,” District Attorney Kala Beauvais said “They were simply doing their job when the defendant made the deliberate decision to open fire on them Not only did the defendant place the officers in danger 4 other officers have been shot in our community This conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.” (KOAA) — A park on the east side of Pueblo is getting some upgrades Pueblo Public Works is working to make the El Centro Del Quinto Sol skatepark more accessible pavement and parking to make it easier for people to do the following in the area: "This is going to be an important piece to make sure that (the) community is getting its share and to make sure that folks can utilize the facility and the services that are.. great," said Andrew Hayes with Pueblo Public Works.A majority of the money for the project comes from a voter approved ballot measure in 2016 that funds capital improvement projects The city expects the work to be done by the end of the year it's worth noting that service members who retire and then teach at the Academy are considered civilian instructors Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5 Report a typo The spring sports regular season is starting to wind down and the postseason is about to begin for a few different sports There is a lot of game action to choose from this week in town for Pueblo’s Games of the Week for May 5-10 Please note: Game times and locations are subject to change without notice More: The dream has come true. Pueblo East grad Kain Medrano was picked in the NFL draft More: 'We can compete and play with anybody': Pueblo West girls soccer team finds ways to win Standings (updated through May 2) Baseball     Class 2A      The 2025 regionals for girls tennis have wrapped up in Pueblo and several local athletes have advanced to the state tournament The Class 3A and Class 4A regional tournaments were held here in Pueblo at City Park from Thursday through Saturday Pueblo Centennials Quincy Nakaguma advances as the no 1 singles seed coming out of the region and the doubles team of Myla Huang and Kai Pleasant have made it as alternates Pueblo Central’s Ashlynn Saenz and doubles teammates Alani Sanchez and Badyn Robinson both advance as the no 2 seed out of the region and Rachel DeYoung doubles teammates Riley Kehn and Everly Baum and Jordan Alfonso and Alliana Conchado all advance as alternates Pueblo East's Ava Andrada advances as the No 1 singles champion out of the region and teammate Haley Welte will go as an alternate Pueblo West’s Gabriella Bhagat will go as an alternate More: 'Just keep competing': How Pueblo Centennial baseball is turning around a lost season More: Colts' secret weapon helps volleyball team advance to the state tournament 3 doubles Keelyn Tucker and Amara Salazar advance as the no doubles teammates Aubree Romo and Noel Tapia The state tournament will begin on Thursday through Saturday with Class 3A at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs and Class 4A at Pueblo City Park This story has been edited to correct the spelling of Landen Cordova The Pueblo South Colts co-op boys volleyball team has for the first time ever advanced to the state tournament as regional winners The Colts took on Gateway and DSST on Saturday at home after earning the chance to host regionals with a regular season record of 18-5 The Colts took care of both teams with 3-0 victories “It’s a little bit of relief,” coach Ramon Arriaga said after the Colts won their first regional tournament “We are just blessed and grateful for this opportunity These guys have worked hard since the beginning of the year and we showed it today by representing Pueblo I couldn't be more proud and more thankful.”  The key to the victories on Saturday was the emergence of one player — Landen Cordova Cordova had never played competitive volleyball until this year and his growth and development all season long were on display in the regionals “You got someone like Landen who can learn from our seniors and that's how he learned how to play the game of volleyball You get those attributes with the senior leadership that we have and Landen make me a way better coach than I am.”  “We're going to celebrate this,” Arriaga said “We're going to preserve this is a big historic moment for Pueblo on Thursday that's the first thing we have to do and we're going to go represent Pueblo very well.”  The state volleyball tournament begins Thursday through Saturday May 8-10 at Fountain-Fort Carson High School in Fountain (KOAA) — A viewer reached out to News5 on Monday wondering if there was any update on when "The Slab" would open "The Slab" is made up of multiple basketball courts off N Elizabeth Street and W 28th Street in Pueblo it was surrounded by a fence as the Pueblo Parks and Recreation Department partners with the Colorado Lottery for renovations the City expected the renovations to be complete by spring of 2024 but now they are eyeing a month just before summer to reopen to the public "We had some delays with the concrete work which then pushed back our timeframe for the artists to complete the murals on the courts," Haley Sue Robinson the Director of Public Affairs for the City of Pueblo "We ran into temperature issues in the fall because the temperatures have to be above 40 degrees (including at night) in order to ensure the paint lasts for the murals on the courts So work has begun to resume and we're looking for an early June date for a grand opening The City also hopes to bring summer leagues back to "The Slab." A major part of the renovations comes in part thanks to Colorado Lottery funds The courts will feature murals from the following artists: The renovation includes a new post-tension concrete slab started in June of 2024.The rendering of artist's work from the Colorado Lottery can be viewed below: If you’ve recently seen a peacock wandering around near Thatcher Avenue, it’s not an escapee from the Pueblo Zoo. Zoo officials stated in an April 29 Facebook post that the bird is not a zoo animal and advised “If you live in the area and are aware of one of your neighbors with a Peacock While peacocks aren’t the most common household pet it’s perfectly legal to own them in Colorado provided they're permitted under local city and county laws And peacocks are far from the only exotic or novel animal species legal to own in Colorado Here’s what to know about owning exotic and domestic animals as pets in the Centennial State Like the roaming peacock spotted near the Pueblo Zoo, domesticated peafowl — meaning male peacocks and female peahens — are legal to own, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Other animals legal to own as pets in Colorado that may surprise you include: While some states allow wildlife such as raccoons even if the owner previously had them in a state where they're legal CPW breaks down legal pet animals into two categories: domestic animals and unregulated wildlife For a species to be unregulated and legal to own it has to be native to the tropics or subtropics only If its native range is outside or extends outside of the tropics or subtropics meaning it cannot be owned without a special license For a guide to what animals can be legally owned as pets in Colorado and Coloradans cannot remove an animal from the wild and take it home as a pet “CPW regulations do not allow keeping any state-regulated wildlife as pets even if those animals are allowed in other states,” CPW officials state on the wildlife agency’s website it still maintains its natural behaviors.” Keeping a wild animal as a pet can be dangerous for people and animals alike as wild animals will: lose their fear of humans and become dangerous to people; be more likely to approach humans in search of food or resources and become aggressive; and be more likely to come close to human structures and facilities where they may cause damage Wild animals can also carry diseases that pose a risk to humans or domestic animals humans and domestic animals may carry diseases that pose a risk to wildlife What animals can you own as pets in the city and county?While several exotic animals are legal to own in Colorado any animal ownership is also subject to city and county laws it’s illegal and a municipal offense for any person in the city to keep or maintain any wild animals or goats kept on land zoned for agricultural use pastured and maintained in compliance with all applicable city ordinances.” Pueblo County Code imposes zoning restrictions on certain types of animals but only prohibits residents from keeping or maintaining wild animals Pueblo County Attorney Cynthia Mitchell told the Chieftain More Pueblo news: Colorado could see record-breaking heat this summer, weather forecasters say Chieftain Editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@gannett.com or on X Support local news; subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com (KRDO) - The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) is offering free PFAS testing for residents' well water also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances can cause long-term negative health impacts they are referred to as "forever chemicals." PREVIOUS REPORTING: High concentrations of PFA’s found in Pueblo private wells According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used to make consumer and industrial goods since the 1940s most do not break down and can work their way into soil and drinking water and have been detected in humans and animals worldwide The ATSDR says increased exposure to certain kinds of PFAS is associated with: If residents are interested in getting free testing PDPHE says there will be a public meeting at their headquarters on May 7 Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here. Metrics details This work prioritizes Indigenous control of genetic data and brings together oral tradition with smoothing applied to produce derivative hillshade and terrain-relief datasets they also acknowledge uncertainties because of gaps in their oral history Such gaps are inevitable in a centuries-old community that by our estimate (below) lost at least 85% of their members in the first several decades after European Contact the community had shrunk to around 300 members making them the smallest of the extant Pueblo nations centuries of oppression and prohibition of Picuris religion and rituals the loss of access to traditional and sacred landscapes and the placement of Picuris children into Native American boarding schools inhibited the intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge and history at Picuris these factors have often minimized Picuris’ voice in continuing discussions regarding the status and future of Chaco Canyon The Picuris community initiated this research to bridge and mend gaps in their traditional knowledge with appropriate scientific data and to address the extent to which they might have ancestral ties to Chaco Canyon and the regional system it anchored centuries ago that were on long-term loan to Southern Methodist University we have chosen to address both the Picuris Pueblo Tribal Nation and its members in the third person even though some of its members are coauthors of this study Picuris trace their origins to an underground realm inhabited by Pá à wíá è Páyó The community is divided in two halves (the ‘North’ and ‘South’ people) which have separate birthplaces in Picuris oral histories with the earliest peoples emerging from lakes near big white mountains One of those lakes is called Phaxwii Oxwalna The geographical correspondence of the ‘North’ people’s emergence location is less clear with some traditions identifying it as a spring near Pikes Peak After migrating through the landscape for an unknown duration of time these peoples settled at Picuris and Taos Pueblos Archaeological estimates put the founding of these communities at roughly 900 ce Although Pot Creek Pueblo was depopulated in roughly 1320 ce communities that speak closely related languages continuously occupied communities in the Americas when directly testing whether those populations carry instead ancestry from the other lineage in the form D(pop USR1.11,500 bp) we found all to be consistent with zero (maximum D = 0.011 Z = 1.82 for LaPlaya.600 bp and ‘CanAmerindian_1’) suggesting our dataset does not include a suitable proxy for the excess ancestry not represented in Anzick1 found in Picuris and other populations This probably represents either ancestry more basal than the one found in the Anzick1 genome or an ancestry source very distantly related to the ones with genetic data available the average shared IBD segments longer than 8 centiMorgans (cM) between Indigenous American populations and present-day individuals from Picuris Pueblo Populations are ordered by latitude and coloured by major geographic areas the demographical history of present-day Picuris individuals inferred using HapNe-LD with imputed diploid genotypes Shaded areas show 95 and 90% confidence intervals The x axis is the time (measured in generations ago since the time of sampling) and the y axis the effective population size (Ne) 5,480 using HapNe-LD) are consistent with estimates of around 10,000 individuals being part of the Picuris sphere of influence at the time The estimate of around 3,000 people at Picuris Pueblo is supported by oral traditions at Picuris as well as archaeological estimates based on ceramic frequencies and architectural space occupied at the site’s maximal size and arrival times in those regions have been of longstanding academic debate error bars represent about 3.3 standard errors (P ≈ 0.001 in a Z test with 172,863 SNPs in 5-Mb jackknife blocks) These results support a late arrival of Athabascan-related populations in the US Southwest or admixture evident in Southern Athabascans could have been one-directional Although this would explain the absence of an Athabascan ancestry signal in ancient Picuris given the extensive interactions between those two groups it is unlikely that such a scenario persisted over an extended period we show that individuals from Picuris Pueblo are the closest sampled population challenging claims of depopulation or disappearance in the area and establishing a genetic component to suspected cultural affiliation between a present-day group and Ancestral Puebloan heritage We emphasize that this conclusion does not challenge or call into question the connections and relationships that more than two dozen federally recognized Tribes have to Chaco Canyon the only example of paleogenetic data supporting a federally recognized Tribe’s affiliation with Chaco Canyon ancestors Their application can have profound restorative value for present-day communities discussions of their cultural heritage and ensure their federally recognized rights as stakeholders of ancient sites We hope collaborative efforts such as this one serve as catalysts for meaningful action and policy consideration greater respect for oral histories and traditions and that these results can be incorporated into well informed decision-making processes affecting Tribal sovereignty and community identity Further information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary linked to this article Analyses were done using freely available software, which have been fully referenced throughout the paper and Supplementary Information. 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G3 https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkab357 (2021) On the limits of fitting complex models of population history to f-statistics Detecting identity by descent and estimating genotype error rates in sequence data The spatiotemporal patterns of major human admixture events during the European Holocene Download references We dedicate this paper to the memory of Richard Mermejo as well as the Tribal liaison of this project We thank Picuris Pueblo Tribal council for their support for the project for providing a stimulating environment of discussion and learning The Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre is supported by grants from the Lundbeck Foundation (grant nos the Danish National Research Foundation (grant nos the University of Copenhagen (KU2016 programme) and Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S to E.W is funded by the National Science Foundation (grant no is funded by the Queen Margrethe’s and Vigdís Finnbogadóttir’s Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Ocean CNPq 406864/2022-5 and FAPEMIG APQ-00220-22 from Brazil is funded by the Quest Archaeological Research Fund and the Potts & Sibley Foundation is funded by the European Research Council (grant no These authors contributed equally: Thomaz Pinotti These authors jointly supervised this work: David J Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular (LBEM) Center for Molecular Anthropology for the Study of Ancient DNA Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences developed and maintained bioinformatic infrastructure did laboratory work and data generation (with support from M.F analysed sequence data (with support from G.S led community engagement (with support from T.P. provided archaeological curation and context were involved in conceptualizing the draft and final version wrote the initial draft with significant input from D.G All authors revised and agreed on the final submitted version The authors declare no competing interests Nature thanks the anonymous reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations The high branch lengths in some populations may reflect analytical artifacts: for ancient individuals they arise from high error rates due to low coverage and DNA damage they result from missing data caused by masking non-Indigenous American segments Present-day literature mitogenomes are in black present-day Picuris in blue and all other ancient mitogenomes in gold Near-zero length branches were collapsed for convenience Ancient Picuris are in red and present-day Picuris in blue Relevant literature individuals appear in italic In accordance with Picuris wish to not have its data included in any private database we do not describe any variant private to them Supplementary Table 1: Per library sequencing summary statistics Supplementary Table 2: Per individual sequencing summary statistics Supplementary Table 3: Present-day Picuris individuals sequencing summary statistics Supplementary Table 4: Reference genomic dataset summary statistics Supplementary Table 5: Reference hybridization capture dataset Supplementary Table 6: Reference array dataset Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08791-9 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology Clifford Tsosie stands in front of the round house used by members of the summer and winter society for rituals and meetings Researchers look at a Picuris Pueblo round house in New Mexico New genetic research confirms what the oral traditions of the Picuris Pueblo people of New Mexico have long described — that they're related to the Indigenous people of Chaco Canyon A "groundbreaking" DNA analysis of a small Pueblo tribe in New Mexico supports what their oral tradition has long described — that they're related to ancestral people who lived on their land as well as to Indigenous people who lived a few hundreds miles away at Chaco Canyon "We've always said we have this deep connection to Chaco Canyon," study co-author Craig Quanchello Related: Ancient Indigenous lineage of Blackfoot Confederacy goes back 18,000 years to last ice age, DNA reveals Oral histories from Picuris elders have long connected the tribe to Chaco Canyon, Picuris Pueblo Governor Wayne Yazza said at the news conference But knowledge lost over centuries of violence has led to gaps in historical knowledge To learn more about their genetic heritage Picuris Pueblo leadership contacted researchers in 2020 Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox a geogeneticist at the University of Copenhagen "We were pretty twisted up about using these data, because we knew how controversial they were," study co-author Mike Adler an associate professor of anthropology at Southern Methodist University "When we brought this up to the tribal council it was a very simple response: 'That's not your call because it's an avenue to better our understanding of our own past.'" —The 1st Americans were not who we thought they were —13 of the oldest archaeological sites in the Americas —Did humans cross the Bering Strait after the land bridge disappeared? Meradeth Snow an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Montana who wasn't involved in the study told Live Science the new study is "groundbreaking in a lot of ways." "I understand that there's definitely going to be different tribes in that region that are not going to be for this [type of DNA analysis] There's certainly been plenty of abuse of DNA data." Margaret OsborneLive Science ContributorMargaret Osborne is a freelance science journalist Her work has appeared in Smithsonian magazine She has a bachelor's degree from Stony Brook University in journalism and German language and literature.  you will then be prompted to enter your display name Ancient jawbone dredged off Taiwan seafloor belongs to mysterious Denisovan Secret 'drug room' full of psychedelic 'snuff tubes' discovered at pre-Inca site in Peru Mysterious Tikal altar that wasn't Maya after all includes at least 4 skeletons — and 1 was a child THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here A member of New Mexico’s Picuris Pueblo Tribal Nation stands in front of a Round House used for rituals and meetings A DNA study initiated and directed by Picuris officials now supports their oral histories describing more than 1,000-year-old ancestral ties to ancient Chaco Canyon society Oliver Gerhard/imageBROKER.com/Alamy Stock Photo By Bruce Bower Members of New Mexico’s Picuris Pueblo Tribal Nation have long told stories about having descended from ancient North American ancestors Genetic evidence now backs up what Picuris people — but not archaeologists — knew all along and fleshes out lost pieces of the tribe’s past came out of a collaborative study between Picuris Pueblo representatives and scientists Traditional knowledge keepers at Picuris Pueblo­ describe ancestral and cultural connections to ancient pueblo sites in northwestern New Mexico Oral histories emphasize ties to Chaco Canyon society a regional network of over 200 Great House communities that flourished from about 850 to 1150 Chaco Canyon lies 275 kilometers west of Picuris Pueblo We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.  You must be 13 or older to sign up For full digital access, consider a $2.99 per month subscription but it was very moving and powerful to see it validated on paper that we have a maternal genetic link to Chaco Canyon,” said Craig Quanchello Picuris Pueblo lieutenant governor and study coauthor With tribal permission, Willerslev’s team analyzed DNA from 16 individuals buried 700 to 500 years ago at Picuris Pueblo. For comparison, 13 current tribal members provided blood samples. Additional DNA came from ancient and modern people in Siberia and the Americas, including individuals buried in the largest stone Great House in Chaco Canyon Ancient and modern Picuris show close genetic ties including descent from a maternal Chaco Canyon line Some researchers have argued Chaco’s collapse around 1150 led to a full regional exodus ancestors of Picuris and other Pueblo tribes arrived in the Four Corners region later Patterns of inherited gene variants among ancient Picuris indicate that their population remained stable after the abandonment of Chaco Great House settlements That stability indicates that enough Picuris ancestors remained in the region once the Chaco era ended to maintain a line of descent that led to present-day Picuris Only Picuris remains dated to after 1535 showed DNA from Athabascan people a population that possibly entered the U.S Genetic analyses in the new study suggest Picuris numbers dropped about 85 percent after Spanish colonial rule began in the mid-1500s Quanchello notes that Picuris Pueblo people currently number 306 Pueblo tribes throughout the Southwest United States claim connections to Chaco Canyon’s ancient people and culture A growing number of collaborations between scientists and Indigenous communities have found genetic signs of ancient North American ancestry among today’s Native American tribes Indigenous groups’ insistence on reburying remains of their ancestors A 1990 federal law requiring repatriation of Native American artifacts and human remains increased pressure to link ancient skeletal finds to modern tribes Many Indigenous communities still harbor anger at archaeologists who demanded DNA samples from them and intruded on sacred burials genetic data now support oral histories and challenge archaeological assumptions about disconnected Native American cultures the Picuris investigation “is a landmark project,” says archaeologist David Hurst Thomas of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City keeping full control over participation and publication The new findings fit a scenario in which Pueblo communities such as Picuris left large Chaco settlements by around 1200 to escape a centralized political system with strict social classes “Picuris downsized and moved to where they could make their own Questions or comments on this article? E-mail us at feedback@sciencenews.org | Reprints FAQ T. Pinotti et al. Picuris Pueblo oral history and genomics reveal continuity in US Southwest J. Víctor Moreno-Mayar et al. Early human dispersals within the Americas Bruce Bower has written about the behavioral sciences for Science News since 1984 James Wilson (left) and Rodger Kram (right) carry a ponderosa pine log using head straps called tumplines The two scientists suggest that this is how ancient people of Chaco Canyon hauled timber across more than 75 kilometers about 1,000 years ago Lava tubes like this one can be found throughout El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico The ice accumulated in their naturally cool interiors provided people in the area with a freshwater source during droughts for hundreds of years Burned tobacco seeds found at an archaeological site in Utah including this seed shown here from multiple angles Communal hunting of horses in Europe 300,000 years ago required sophisticated planning and coordination The Arabian Desert is today a vast and barren landscapes But humid periods over the last 8 million years may have brought ephemeral rivers and grasslands to the region The ancient cave site of Latnija on the island of Malta contains evidence of hunter-gatherer seafaring prowess from the Stone Age A pair of Bronze Age cymbals unearthed in southeastern Arabia including this one shown during excavations point to long-distance sharing of ritual and musical traditions around 4,000 years ago found at a 60,000- to 50,000-year-old Chinese site closely resemble implements made by European and western Asian Neandertals These oddly expressive figurines from the ancient Maya world were probably puppets for ritual scenes — and perhaps used for portraying people long dead A researcher examines edge damage on a 1.5-million-year-old bone tool found in Africa part of the oldest known set of such implements Shards of glass are what remain of a young Roman man’s brain Tests show that parts of the brain turned to glass after reaching 510° Celsius Science News was founded in 1921 as an independent nonprofit source of accurate information on the latest news of science our mission remains the same: to empower people to evaluate the news and the world around them It is published by the Society for Science a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education (EIN 53-0196483) enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions May 5 may fall on a Monday in 2025, but that's not stopping El Movimiento Sigue from celebrating Cinco de Mayo that day The local organization is hosting the 55th annual Pueblo Cinco de Mayo celebration at Ray Aguilera Park In addition to being a longstanding celebration of Chicano culture the Cinco de Mayo celebration hosted by El Movimiento Sigue is well attended Last year's event attracted almost 6,000 attendees according to El Movimiento Sigue's website "We do celebrate Cinco de Mayo on the day every single year," said José Ortega That's just to make sure that we do have our day of culture What is Cinco de Mayo?Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day It is an annual celebration of Mexico's victory in the Battle of Puebla Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza led his army to defeat much larger Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of victory over oppression Fighting against oppression is central to the mission of El Movimiento Sigue — an organization that emerged from the Chicano Movement for civil rights "We want to make sure that El Movimiento Sigue is not only in the community but also has a seat at the table where decisions are being made for the city of Pueblo and for our Chicano people," Ortega told the Chieftain will visit Pueblo to perform at the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist in the band told the Chieftain that Los Mocochetes has coined the term "Chicano Funk" to describe their sound "We're not limited to funk music or what they call Latin grooves but its a nice mix of rock there's some hip hop elements to it and all five of the members are all songwriters and vocalists," he said Abeyta writes and performs songs that address topics like the plight of undocumented immigrants "You can kind of think of anything in terms of a human rights perspective and we support all people being able to live and love freely as long as they're not harming anyone," Abeyta told the Chieftain Outdoor Recreation: Want to explore the outdoors? Check out these summer recreation opportunities in Pueblo (KOAA) — One person was injured following a shooting Tuesday according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office near the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Northern Avenue The sheriff's office says one person was injured and their condition is unknown at this time and details about what led up to the shooting are under investigation If you have any information regarding this incident or were in the area when it happened, you are asked to call the sheriff's office at (719)583-6250 A team of Pueblo County High School seniors has taken on the challenge of fully directing and choreographing multiple showings of a musical production open to the whole community "The Lightning Thief" is a production "12 years in the making," according to Director Craig Allen Allen and Technical Director EJ McDonald have long dreamed of directing their own show The two have joined forces with Assistant Director Sarah Paul and Choreographer Lucy Vargas as part of a senior capstone project through the school's Arts Academy Performances of the show — which is based on Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" series — will take place at the Pueblo County High School Auditorium on May 1 "It's about this kid named Percy Jackson who gets in trouble at school," Allen told the Chieftain but him and his mom have a very close relationship." Jackson is told by his mother that there is something unique about him and that he is going to a summer camp for "kids like him," Allen said The story later takes a turn into the supernatural and the world of Greek mythology "Things get even more complicated when they find out that Zeus' lightning bolt has been stolen and it has been pinned on (Jackson)," Allen said "He has to find out who did it to clear his name." Pueblo County High School's production of "The Lightning Thief" includes 18 performers and dancers Allen has worked closely with performers on an individual basis and has directed almost all of the movement seen on stage controlling aspects of the show like sound production Paul is serving as the production's music director in addition to the assistant director giving our input and our notes on it," Vargas told the Chieftain Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. They may be purchased at gofan.co/event/3525116 It’s been an incredible journey watching our students take full creative control of this production,” Pueblo County High School Principal Brian Dilka said in a Pueblo D70 news release “They’ve poured their hearts into every detail and audiences are going to really enjoy this production.” Rising Stars Film Festival: Pueblo student's film festival catches eye of Gov. Polis and Sundance CEO Over 135 years after the first International Workers' Day rallies were held to advocate for an eight-hour workday members of the working class around the world continued to rally for fair treatment on May 1 "We live and work in a country that was built on stolen land by slave labor," Southern Colorado Labor Council President Zach Werkowitch said and the only way we have ever had to reshape our work as workers is to join together and to demand change too: We know how to deal with bad bosses." Colorado WINS Vice President for Pueblo County Rayna Moreschini reminded attendees that workers' protections like a five-day work week and progressive wage increases that are taken for granted today had to be fought for Harass the hell out of your legislators with phone calls and letters Show up on their doorstep at the Capitol." Moreschini said issues facing the working class today include an ongoing attack on federal employees and cuts to education by government leadership and lobbyists told attendees he and his fellow federal workers at the survey have gone through turmoil in the past few months and are actively struggling to unionize at water science centers throughout the country "As someone who is not from the city but has lived here almost a decade now and I have had to have conversations with my spouse about leaving if I lose my job," he said In addition to being encouraged to continue fighting for workers' rights Werkowitch told attendees to remember the workers killed at the 1886 Haymarket affair and others around the world "who have struggled and died for a union." "We may not be able to fix all the problems or help all the people who have lost their lives fighting for their own freedom in this country but we can make sure that the blood they spilled isn't in vain," Werkowitch said Sit-lie ordinance: Pueblo City Council back to the drawing board with 'no sit, no lie' ordinance Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. 2021.Voters in Pueblo can weigh in now on whether the city should explore options to replace Black Hills Energy as its electricity provider in a mail-only special election The ballot measure and a recent feasibility study are in response to “ongoing community concerns about high electric rates limited local oversight and a strong desire for change from the local community,” according to a written statement by a city spokesperson The city council recently voted 4 to 2 to approve a resolution asking people to support the ballot measure that would allow the city to cancel the franchise agreement that makes Black Hills Energy the electric utility for city residents and businesses Cancellation would be predicated on finding a feasible solution to replacing the utility There is also an effort to oppose the measure Television ads featuring a current and a former council member are airing Flyers are showing up on people’s doorsteps yard signs and more are appearing in the Pueblo community All this marketing is asking people to vote no on the ballot measure Opponents say the change is not feasible based on Black Hills Energy-funded studies, because it would cost billions of dollars to condemn and acquire the existing electric infrastructure and assets. That’s according to a recent story in the Pueblo Chieftain A preliminary study paid for by the city also found that acquiring Black Hills Energy infrastructure and assets isn’t feasible because of high costs and the “lack of scale sufficient to make a City-only utility system financially viable,” according to a statement from the city.” The study also said the plan lacked feasibility due to changing conditions in the power market voting yes on the ballot measure simply allows the city to continue exploring other options for an electric utility “Future options may include a regional acquisition of Black Hills’ assets the formation of a multi-jurisdictional cooperative or utility or supporting a third-party acquisition of assets across Black Hills’ service area,” according to the city “A yes vote does not mean the Black Hills Energy would immediately stop operations in Pueblo,” according to a video statement by Andrew Hayes who leads Pueblo’s Public Works department “Black Hills Energy will continue to provide electric utilities to City of Pueblo customers until an alternative electric utility is identified or established.” Hayes also said the need for a special election now is related to deadlines in the current agreement the city council can end Black Hills Energy’s franchise in August the city would have to wait until 2030 for its next opportunity If voters approve the current ballot measure the city will continue to explore other options for electric service providers Once that work is done and brought to public meetings citizens will have a chance to “voice their opinion on any proposed plan.” “City council cannot terminate the franchise agreement unless it is feasible,” he said “Which means it is financially possible and affordable to the citizens.” Black Hills Energy is based in South Dakota and serves more than 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states Most of the company's Colorado customers are in Pueblo but it also provides service to customers in surrounding counties A rate increase for BHE customers in Colorado was approved earlier this year Southern Colorado is changing a lot these days Sign up for the KRCC Weekly Digest here and get the stories that matter to Southern Colorado Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Listen now. Contact KRCCFCC Applications & FilesFacebookInstagramNews That Matters © 2025 Colorado Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy Representatives of the Chavez Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy were ready to apply for authorization outside of Pueblo School District 60 but Pueblo D60's board directors prevented that from happening April 28 The Pueblo D60 Board of Education made a 3-2 decision to prohibit Chavez Huerta from submitting an authorization application to the Charter School Institute (CSI) Kathy DeNiro and Susan Pannunzio were the three board members voting in the majority Pueblo D60 voted in January not to renew Chavez Huerta's charter contract that expires June 30 citing concerns about the school's financial reporting and renewal application Pueblo D60 continues to retain exclusive chartering authority over Chavez Huerta This authority was addressed in an April 28 resolution "(Pueblo D60) highly values and cares deeply about maintaining that exclusivity supervise and control charter schools operating within the boundaries of District 60 in order to assure quality educational programs and accountability of all charter schools within District 60 boundaries," according to the resolution read by Cisneros on April 28 Chavez Huerta repeatedly asked to be released from Pueblo D60's exclusive chartering authority staff and community members associated with the school notably did so during a demonstration outside the Pueblo D60 administration building at 315 West 11th St Chavez Huerta attorney Richard Orona told the Chieftain that the charter school had "gone as far as we possibly can without being released" through the process of communicating with CSI about future authorization "(CSI is) just on standby to finish up where we are at," Orona said "One thing they've done is they've gone through our finances Our bond people have gone through our finances We're looked at monthly by all these entities that have a financial interest in us Chavez Huerta Board President Steven Trujillo told the Chieftain that an application intended for submission to CSI was sitting on the desk of Chavez Huerta Executive Director Fred Segura as recently as Monday School taking solace in state reportWhile Chavez Huerta representatives may be disheartened by the April 28 vote Orona told the Chieftain that the school takes 'solace' in an amicus brief submitted by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Senior Assistant Attorney General Joseph Peters "We take great solace in the fact that the state now has come in and their options do not include us closing," Orona said "They see there are other avenues besides closing" which was submitted in support of neither Chavez Huerta nor Pueblo D60 states that Chavez Huerta recently received over $30 million in Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant funds for the construction of a new middle school and renovation of a high school building Due to the BEST grant funds being an "investment of taxpayers," the amicus brief asserts that a scenario allowing Chavez Huerta's facilities to remain in operation as public school buildings would be in the best interest of students the likely outcome is the brand-new north campus sits mothballed until being sold in foreclosure at a substantial loss — with no net proceeds available to return to the district," according to a copy of the amicus brief shared with the Chieftain by Orona's law office "Both the buildings and the value of the investments may be lost to the public school system." that an amicus brief was submitted April 29 and shared with Orona and Pueblo D60 Counsel Elliott Hood Chavez Huerta is moving forward with an appeal to the Pueblo D60 board's decision not to renew its contract The appeal is scheduled to be heard by the Colorado State Board of Education on May 15 No sit-lie ordinance: Pueblo City Council back to the drawing board with 'no sit, no lie' ordinance PUEBLO COUNTY — A 14-year-old Pueblo boy became unwittingly entangled in a swatting incident that led to the closure of three schools in Pueblo County District 70 last week The teen clicked on a link sent by a friend to watch what he thought was a harmless prank not realizing it would result in threats being made using his student email account Investigators quickly determined the teen did not send the threatening email that prompted the school closures but the incident has left him and his family dealing with serious consequences I didn't know any of this was gonna happen," Korbyn said The trouble began about a month and a half ago when a friend shared a link with Korbyn to watch an online group call in a fake report to get emergency responders to show up at someone's house do you want to do a call for us?'" Korbyn said not understanding the seriousness of his participation It is a crime to report an emergency you know is fake and the charges can escalate depending on the threat It's a federal crime to call an emergency response to a location in another state When the group later asked Korbyn to make a more serious call to someone in Chicago "They wanted me to say that I had shot my friend in my basement but I'm not gonna say I've hurt anybody,'" Korbyn said members of the online group began threatening Korbyn revealing they knew personal details about him and his family that he had never shared "They had called my dad's current house with it was I believe it was just my step mom and my baby sister there and it freaked them out because they had said something about my dad was got a gun out of the safe That's when it started to get very deep," Korbyn said on Easter Sunday when Korbyn's parents learned from a family friend that a threatening email had been sent from his student account the Online Learning Academy's Pueblo West campus as well as Swallows Charter and Liberty International he's still seeing messages shooting out that he's not sending," Cody said Korbyn sent a short email to the same group stating "I have no idea how it was sent through my email I am sending this to say it was not me." But the damage was done and law enforcement soon arrived at their door Pueblo County Sheriff's investigators have determined it was not a District 70 student but someone from out of state who is responsible for swatting the schools Investigators are working with the FBI on the case An FBI spokesperson said agents work with local law enforcement to track and create a real-time picture of swatting incidents to try and stop them and find who is behind them The agency uses its Virtual Command Center to track swatters there's no guarantee the same group won't threaten the schools or Korbyn's family again it's affecting me a lot more that they don't see and it's not I didn't ask for any of this happen," Korbyn said The teen's phone and school laptop have been confiscated and his classmates are keeping their distance it amounts to a significant disruption of his life I am in touch with investigators and will update you if there is any change in the case to find who is responsible This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.___ The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office showed off the capabilities of its Mobile Command Center in coordinating from the front line of emergency operations during an April 30 demonstration The Mobile Command Center, purchased in 2006 through a $500,000 grant by the Department of Homeland Security, serves as a mobile command post for ongoing incidents such as wildfires, floods, tornadoes, or shootings or to coordinate security at planned events such as the Colorado State Fair emergency management coordinator for the PCSO it's around 20 years old and has just under 5,000 miles on it." the vehicle has been used several times in the recent past we've had several incidents where it has been utilized," Johnson said "Pueblo had their tragic officer-involved shooting back on March 18 — it was deployed then — and we've used it at (Colorado State University Pueblo) recently so we just thought it was a good time (to show it off.) "Sheriff (David Lucero) invited all of our elected officials from around the city and the region to come look at it and be reminded it's here We just want to show it off and remind people it's still an asset in Pueblo County and the region." The Mobile Command Center is meant to act as a command post for emergencies in the field Unlike an emergency management center such as the PCSO Emergency Operations Center or Pueblo Police Department Real-Time Crime Center which are "meant to manage an emergency from afar," the Mobile Command Center can be deployed directly to a scene "Emergency operations centers typically are far removed from an incident whereas this is on the ground where things are happening," Johnson said "For the incident commander and people in charge of the incident this is where they can congregate and share information back to an EOC." What can the Mobile Command Center Do?The vehicle functions as a nerve center for operations in the field and is equipped for surveillance "This unit has all kinds of capabilities," Johnson said "Whether it's to bring officers in out of the cold or heat there is a computer display where we can display maps or other briefing materials The roof of the vehicle also features an observation platform as well as seven different security cameras mounted on a mast that can be raised or lowered to monitor and record crowds and vehicles in the area Inside the vehicle are multiple computer terminals for use by officers or fire personnel, as well as smaller cubicle pods designed for dispatching in the field, a backup to the communications center, or to interview suspects. The vehicle is also capable of relaying information to the Emergency Operations Center or Pueblo PD's Real-Time Crime Center. PCSO seeks to utilize command center more in the futureWhile the vehicle has been used less than PCSO would like over the past 20 years the PCSO hopes to use it more in the future the vehicle was also meant to be deployed in the counties that make up the south region as defined by the grant for major emergencies they can certainly reach out to us at the sheriff's office and we'd be happy to share it with them," Johnson said the PCSO has deployed "wildland strike teams" to La Junta and into Otero and Crowley counties for wildland fires Why use it more now?Johnson stated that with the vehicle usually stored at Pueblo Memorial Airport it may take an hour to retrieve and deploy it and it takes an hour to get to you and get fully set up the PCSO is training more staff to use the command center to improve response times and is also reminding agencies of the benefits it offers you can do this from inside your Tahoe and police cruiser Do you have all the other capabilities to go along with it The night of the police shooting that Pueblo had we were able to fit a lot of people in here It also allows collaboration — if you're in your own car The vehicle also has great applications for fighting wildfires and PCSO is currently "talking about" setting it up on Memorial Day Weekend in a pre-staged spot in preparedness to counter any emergent fires other agencies at planned events call us where we can bring it out whether it be for events or incidents," Johnson said "We just want to be good community partners and help our partners around the region." More in public safety news: Pueblo County man arrested for alleged assault on 18-year-old wife subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com (KOAA) — A Pueblo Police officer was injured Monday morning and a teen is in custody following a chase and gun battle Pueblo Police say they received a report just after midnight for a shooting and assault near Northern and Abriendo Avenues they noticed a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the area of 4th Street and Glendale Avenue Police say a passenger from the original report got out of the vehicle and carjacked another vehicle at gunpoint "An officer attempted to stop the stolen vehicle at which point the suspect began firing at the officer resulting in a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the officer," police wrote in a news release "The suspect was pursued by officers as he fled the scene and exchanged gunfire in the 4600 block of Thatcher Avenue Officers successfully stopped the vehicle using tactical vehicle intervention sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound The suspect is not being publicly identified The 10th Judicial District Critical Response Team is now leading the investigation Authorities are asking anyone with information to reach out to Pueblo Police at (719)553-2502, or remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at (719)542-7867 Wildfire season in Colorado is officially here and Pueblo officials are warning residents to be cautious of fire risks as temperatures warm up In the past few weeks, Pueblo County has already seen a handful of wildfires, including one at Lake Minnequa on April 10 and several others in the county Here's what to know about how wildfires start how agencies work to prevent and contain them and how Pueblo County residents can mitigate risks emergency management coordinator for the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office told the Chieftain that 80% of Pueblo County wildfires are started by humans such as from chains dragging on the roadway or cigarette butts thrown from cars wildfires along roadways are caused by things like a flat tire or someone throwing something out of a window," Johnson said wildfires in more mountainous communities such as Rye or Beulah may be started by people who are burning on their properties such as controlled burns of weeds or tree branches They may also be started by ashes from fireplaces or cigarette butts from smoking on a porch or deck "The vast majority of what we deal with here in Pueblo County are human-caused and are preventable in my opinion," Johnson said The National Weather Service monitors conditions that could contribute to the start and spread of a fire "Those are the factors that the NWS uses to issue red flag warnings," he said as the relative humidity gets down below 20% a spokesperson for the Pueblo Fire Department said "one-hour fuels" also play a large part in the beginning and spread of wildfires in the county as well as the city at places like Lake Minnequa "Those grasses we see burn a lot within the city we call one-hour fuels which means that even if they get moisture they're dried out and ready to burn again," he said deciduous grasses along "urban interfaces" -- areas where developed land butts up against wild undeveloped land -- such as along the bike trail City takes measures to mitigate fire risks in fire-prone areasTo reduce fire danger the city of Pueblo has worked to ensure that certain potential fire risks "We've done a lot of work with our parks and recreation department the last couple years we've brought in a (State Wildland Inmate Fire Team) which are inmates from our local penitentiaries that have gone out working as hand crews to mitigate some of the heavier fuels," Trujillo said Parks and Rec has done a tremendous job to make sure that those fuels on solid grounds are mowed down." The city also maintains firebreaks along urban interfaces to help defend the urban terrain These are stretches of bare mineral soil at least one and a half times the length of the height of the tallest fuel between the fire and "anything we don't want to burn," Trujillo said they keep that grass mowed to a couple of inches so (the firebreak) would only have to be about 5 inches somewhere to not necessarily get comfortable but we know if we're standing on the green side of it Both Johnson and Trujillo also noted the importance of mutual aid once a fire starts "We work very well and very closely with all of our partners," Johnson said so while none of us have the ability to fight a massive fire by ourselves even the state had firefighters there to fight the fire," he continued and we all come together to help each other because maybe it's Rural Fire's jurisdiction today mostly in the summer months between Memorial and Labor Day Johnson stated that there is no longer a true "wildfire season." we joke that we don't have a wildfire season anymore Johnson stated that while the bulk of wildfires still occur from late spring to early fall and start as early as March or even February Beyond common-sense measures such as being careful with cigarettes and ashes or not burning wood in the county on a windy day Trujillo advocated for "good yard-keeping" to help reduce the risk of a fire spreading This includes keeping weeds and tumbleweeds back from picket fences and out of backyards being aware and up to date on your surroundings and paying attention to weather conditions as well as watching for red flag warnings from the sheriff's office Trujillo also noted that it is illegal to burn at any time within city limits follow any rules the local fire department has concerning burning and make sure that space around your house is clear of high grasses or other fuels He also encouraged residents to sign up for emergency alerts through the city or the county More local news: Roadwork begins May 5 at US 50C and Baxter Road. Here's how it will impact your commute Support local news; subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPUEBLO COUNTY (KKTV) - The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office asked for the community’s help in identifying a suspect believed to be connected to a burglary The sheriff’s office said the burglary happened on Tuesday at the Sinclair on 108 Baxter Road The sheriff’s office said the suspect left in a white sedan and deputies were seeking information on the driver of that white sedan as well If you have any information on the individuals or the vehicle contact the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office at 719-583-6250 and reference number 10720 or Crime Stoppers at 719-542-7867 Fish Fry for Lent at Christ the King Church1708 Horseshoe Drive | 4-6:30 p.m | Join the Knights of Columbus for a fish dinner including fried or baked fish with homemade tartar sauce Cost is $13 for adults or $8 for children 12 and younger A bake sale will raise funds for the Capuchin Poor Clare Sisters in Pueblo Pueblo Community Taizé Candlelight Service at Ascension Preschool1800 N | Join in on an ecumenical candlelight service of sung prayers and silent meditation 615 E. Mesa Ave.  | 7-9 p.m. | Take part in a writers' workshop. Pay what you can on arrival, pre-registration is appreciated at ethospueblo.com/tickets Black Cat Paint-n-Sip Fundraiser at The Ethos615 E. Mesa Ave. | 8-10 p.m. | Paintings will be black cat themed. Tickets include: canvas, paint, tools, and one signature drink per person. Tickets are $55 each and are available online ethospueblo.com/tickets/ until noon April 9 | Check out classic cars and awe-inspiring aircraft | Join the Junior League of Pueblo for an event where kids can get to explore big rigs construction trucks and more while interacting with hometown heroes 1435 E. Evans Ave. | Dinner 5-7 p.m., Show 7:30 p.m. | Have a Mexican food dinner and enjoy the comedy of star Donelle Prado with Jose Macall, Dylan Kantor and Matt Greenwaldt. Tickets cost $16.78 and are available at eventbrite.com Night of Champions at Pueblo Convention Center320 Central Main St. | 5 p.m. | Join the Greater Pueblo Fellowship of Christian Athletes for a fundraising banquet featuring guest speaker Randy Gradishar, a hall-of-fame Denver Bronco linebacker. Cost is $60 and tickets are available online at greaterpueblofca.org | Karaoke with KJs Treble and Harmony every Second Saturday of the month 126 Oneida | 7-9 p.m. | Join in on a German tradition of decorating a paper mache Easter egg ornament. Decorate a hollow paper shell egg and create a mini mystical scene for your vintage-inspired paper bunny. Limited space available. Cost is $15 and includes one 16-ounce drink. Tickets are available at waltersbeer.com | The Jeffrey Alan Band will perform original classic and Top 40 country tunes with a bit of classic rock Deadline to Register for Candles in the DarkCenter for Inner Peace April 19 | Register for the April 19 collage-vision board event designed for those distressed by events occurring in the U.S Facilitators Leia Marie and Ksenya O'Banion will lead a morning collage-creating session followed by an afternoon ceremony and small group sharing Cost is $110 per person and includes materials and snacks April 161921 Flood program at Pueblo Community College900 W | Join the Pueblo County Historical Society's Peggy Willcox for the Pueblo History Speaker Series focusing on the 1921 flood that devastated downtown Pueblo | Check out all the favorites from tabletop games April 17Public comment hearing on replacement of Xcel Energy's coal plantCSU Pueblo | The Public Utilities Commission will hear comment on Xcel Energy's "Just Transition Solicitation," which addresses replacement resources to make up for the 2030 retirement of Unit 3 generation facilities in Pueblo Light refreshments and a children's play area will be available | Karaoke with KJs Treble and Harmony who run the most eclectic karaoke room in town 1 City Hall Place | Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. | From America's Got Talent, illusionist Leon Etienne brings his jaw-dropping show, "Magic Rocks!" to Pueblo. The family-friendly spectacular features illusions, sleight of hand, and hilarious comedy. Cost ranges from $38-59 and tickets are available at pueblomemorialhall.com Trivia Night at Walter's Brewery126 Oneida | 7-9 p.m | Join Walter's every Thursday night as the brewery's very own Malissa puts your smarts to the test Friday, April 18Christian Jaquez concert at The Abriendo Inn300 W. Abriendo Ave. | Doors open at 5 p.m., concert from 6-8 p.m. | Join Christian Jaquez for an indoor house concert. Drinks will be available for purchase in the "Bentley Bar" with cash or card payment options. Tickets are $15.38 and are available online at theabriendoinn.com or by calling 719-626-9676 | Join singer-songwriter Andrea Flanagan for a journey through the evolution of rock and roll during an intimate acoustic performance The unplugged tribute will celebrate the most influential rock artists with dynamic storytelling and soulful vocals bringing the songs to life in a stripped-down format see a marijuana-themed movie musical that's a cautionary tale about cautionary tales Come early and purchase an ashtray to decorate during the film 210 N. Santa Fe | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | The third annual One-Act Play Competition features local high school students from the community showcasing their theatrical talents. Concession stands will be available throughout the day. Tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for students. Get tickets at my.sdc-arts.org/oneact25 Children's Easter Egg Hunt at Rosemount Historical Museum419 W | Children can meet the Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs by age in three separate categories 494 E. Hemlock Dr., Pueblo West | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Children of all ages are invited to bring an Easter basket to hunt for eggs and play games. Lunch will be provided. There will be hunts in seven age categories spread out over the two-hour event. For details go to majesticchurch.org | The Pueblo Railway Museum will kick off the 2025 season with the Easter Bunny Express Train ride tickets are $15 for a ride in the engine Children 2 and younger ride the train free Trains depart from behind the depot every 20 minutes so there will be multiple opportunities to ride the train The special circus train also will be on display in cooperation with the Pueblo Downtown Association There is no admission fee to attend the event itself for the seed starter event | Bring a coloring book or use the pages provided markers and other coloring implements will be provided for the free coloring event Join the Pueblo Food Project for spring planting instructions Get everything you need to sprout your own vegetable or herb garden Cost is $15 per person for the seed starter event Comedy on the Riverwalk at 1129 Spirits & Eatery115 E Riverwalk #100 | 8:30 p.m | Join Pueblo Pfunny for a comedy show hosted by ventriloquist act Pam & Otis headliner Rosa Mariposa and featuring Leslie Fox Admission is $15 plus there is a two-order minimum from the bar or kitchen | The church will host two Easter services A nursery will be available at both services Children's Church will be offered during the 10 a.m associate professor of sociology and criminology at Colorado State University Pueblo "Cultures of Resistance: Collective Action and Rationality in the Anti-Terror Age," which provides new insight on a long-standing question: whether government efforts to repress social movements produce a chilling effect on dissent or backfire and spur greater mobilization Her books will be available for purchase at a discount The public is welcome and the facility is handicap accessible | The meeting will focus on what you should do if you inherit a stamp collection and Guyana will be brought for show and trade The meeting is free and open to the public April 22John Fielder's photo exhibit opens at El Pueblo History Museum301 N Tuesday through Saturday | See REVEALED: John Fielder's Favorite Place as the late photographer's work paints a picture of his love for Colorado Colorado's most celebrated nature photographer helped curate the exhibit prior to his death in 2023 Hasan School of Business auditorium | 6 p.m | Renewable Energy Owners Coalition is set to host Allen Best of BigPivots for "How Does Pueblo Fit In Colorado’s Energy Transition?” There will be tables for other energy projects of interest including a renewable energy park in Pueblo and a DC power transmission line Thursday, April 24Nikki Z concert at The Abriendo Inn300 W. Abriendo Ave. | Doors open at 5 p.m., concert from 6-8 p.m. | Join Nikki Z for an indoor house concert. Drinks will be available for purchase in the "Bentley Bar" with cash or card payment options. Tickets are $15.38 and are available online at theabriendoinn.com or by calling 719-626-9676 | The first rule of the club is to tell everyone you know who likes to read in peace about Silent Book Club There will be time to chat and buy food and drinks from 6-6:30 p.m. and optional socializing or continued reading time during the final half hour Things to Do listings run in print each Friday and are due by 10 a.m. each Wednesday via email at tharmon@chieftain.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. 2021.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is fining the EVRAZ steel mill in Pueblo $61,711 for safety violations discovered in the investigation of a worker’s death in 2024 Taylor Blake Gulliford, 26, was killed on August 9, 2024, while performing maintenance on a large piece of rail-making machinery known as a stamp wheel. The OSHA investigation report said Gulliford had not locked down the heavy machine while working and the stamp wheel assembly unexpectedly moved Gullifort suffered severe injuries when he was pinned between the stamp wheel and a guardrail Fines for EVRAZ were levied for four separate code violations with each totaling between $13,005 and $16,550 The OSHA inspection found the company did not have adequate protocols or training for its employees to power down and safely lock the stamp wheel in place According to his obituary, Gulliford was survived by his wife and four sons.  EVRAZ did not respond to a request for comment from CPR News. Steelmaking in Pueblo dates back to the late 1800s. The mill, originally owned and operated by the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, changed hands several times before it was acquired by the multinational corporation Evraz in 2007. However, the legal entity CF&I Steel, L.P. is still used in official documents and regulatory findings, such as the OSHA Investigation. The EVRAZ website claims the Pueblo mill is “the largest producer of premium and standard rail in North America.” Funding for public media is at stake. Stand up and support what you value today. The view from Pueblo Bonito Overlook Trail at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwest New Mexico in 2019 the people of Picuris Pueblo understood their connection to the Chaco ancestors Whether proving a relationship will give Picuris the seat at the table it deserves this scientific collaboration has important implications traditional people pass down history and cultural practices — but such tales aren’t always believed in the wider world By dismissing oral traditions as superstition or fable the world loses an opportunity to increase knowledge Its leaders wanted the pueblo’s roots at distant Chaco Canyon acknowledged the people of Picuris understood their connection to the Chaco ancestors Picuris has not been included in discussions of how best to protect the Chaco site which apparently was abandoned around 1150 C.E That’s when construction of new buildings slowed and occupants began moving away; before it had been a gathering place of importance in the region a site of religious and cultural ceremonies and a place to exchange goods and knowledge Modern Natives — including the Diné and several Pueblos — trace their lineage to the people who migrated away from Chaco a Tiwa pueblo tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of Northern New Mexico giving Picuris little say in efforts to safeguard the site is ripe for plunder by interests seeking to extract minerals and oil with little regard for artifacts Leaders of the pueblo decided to use modern science to prove their point They reached out to scientists and asked them to use the DNA of living and ancient Picuris residents and analyze potential connections to ancient Chacoans through DNA comparisons a genomic analysis connects a federally recognized tribe to their ancestors Results were reported in Nature and discussed at a news conference last week the all-knowing Western scientists came to places like New Mexico and dug up burial sites stole artifacts and otherwise tried to impose their theories on people living here Tribes have had to fight to reclaim sacred objects from museums who as governor helped start the collaboration and now serves as lieutenant governor believed in the power of science to reinforce Picuris oral history an archaeologist at Southern Methodist University who had worked with the Picuris for more than 30 years Adler’s possible solution: genomic analysis that compared modern and ancient Picuris people with those who had lived at Chaco Canyon the tribal council had to agree — understanding that the research could end up finding no link to Chaco Canyon The tribe could have stopped the project at any point Trust and respect were key to completing a project involving scientists from across the world This collaborative approach should be a model for future research projects The process showed how society can increase knowledge of the past while at the same time respect the sovereignty of a tribal nation At the center of this discussion is the future of Chaco Canyon The Navajo Nation sued in January to remove an approximately 10-mile buffer zone around Chaco Canyon National Historical Park The zone was established by the Department of the Interior in 2023 a federal court ruled that Acoma Pueblo and Laguna Pueblo could intervene in the lawsuit; these Pueblo tribes want to maintain protections Will Picuris representatives be allowed to participate in the lawsuit given their DNA is so closely linked to Chaco Canyon science has revealed the reliability of the tribe’s oral history The voices of the Picuris people are being heard Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Receive a list of headlines from the latest edition of The New Mexican in your inbox every morning get a preview of The New Mexican's big Sunday stories and review highlights from the week Stay informed of the latest local news by receiving emails as soon as news is posted online Stay up to date with news from the Capitol during the legislative session and follow New Mexico politics throughout the year A guide to outdoors opportunities and profiles on peoples' connections with places Keep up with what's going on in the local business scene Receive the latest episode of "Conversations Different" in your inbox every Tuesday.  Taking the temperature of New Mexico's environmental issues local prep sports and more every Wednesday Contests and special offers from The Santa Fe New Mexican and advertising partners Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account (KKTV) - Conservation organization Penguins International just wrapped up a March Madness -- for penguins Part awareness campaign and part popularity contest people got to vote for their favorite penguins around the world And one of those faves -- one of the top birds in the entire people’s penguin choice awards -- was a resident at the Pueblo Zoo Meet Duckie! “He is just over 6 years old and still very playful and very attention-seeking and fun,” said Hollie Wells an area supervisor at the Pueblo Zoo who knows Duckie very well This waddling warrior went flipper to flipper with dozens of other penguins across the globe for this year’s March of the Penguins Madness Zoos from New Zealand to Nebraska got to nominate their contenders But coming from a small zoo and relying on votes to advance he was an underdog against the much bigger zoos in the competition “We’d been in the competition before; however none of our penguins have made it past the first round,” Wells said Lucky for Duckie -- the city of Pueblo met the challenge Duckie’s competition included multiple penguins from various Sea Worlds a penguin from the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago we didn’t think that we’d probably make it but we didn’t really have any high expectations.” the zoo was surprised to see Duckie holding his own “It was close.  The voting was close the whole time so we were starting to get more and more hopeful but didn’t want to get our hopes up.  Woke up and found out a few days before we were able to release it that he made it “That’s when we started getting a little bit crazy!” Then came the second round on March 23-25: Flipper Frenzy up against a penguin from a big city aquarium in the Phoeniz area “I’d check my email the second I woke up every day the results would be coming through.  So I’d turn the alarm off and check the results,” Wells laughed.” It was pretty nerve-wracking and exciting.” Phoenix’s metro area has 4.9 million residents and the votes being very close.  And the idea of he could be advancing!’ was really exciting every time!” Wells said “We started getting a little bit crazy with and everybody needs to wear orange and support our guy we had orange bands that we wore on our right wing to support him because he is banded on his right wing.” Duckie was squaring off against a penguin from halfway across the world “We even had a penguin from a really popular conservation center in Africa competing Pueblo voters made Duckie one of the last six penguins standing a controversial move: the adults were pitted against the chicks Duckie faced off against a 2-month-old chick -- and his Cinderella run came to an end They picked a penguin chick that had a little feather Afro … so he was tough competition,” Wells explained The community did a really great job in voting for him and then we came through and he had a lot of votes towards the end But the Pueblo Zoo couldn’t be prouder of its plucky penguin or the love he got from the city of Pueblo “He did such a great job and that’s the community!” Wells said She told me the support from the city has translated into something even bigger than winning the title: an increased interest in the zoo’s African penguins “Duckie is a great ambassador for his species It’s really been an honor to talk to people directly about him and for people to come in and just ask about him and have people invested,” Wells said “People will come in and ask about him and say we’re really sorry he lost.  We were really rooting for him but he’s the winner in our hearts.’  He’s the winner in our hearts too He’s done more than we could ever expect.” “It means a lot to us as a zoo,” she went on explaining why the community’s backing meant so much We are really close to a couple of really large zoos While we love and support those and feel that they support us I was impressed that we were even able to outcompete them They have a lot more visitors all of the time they are able to advertise to a larger base and so the fact that we had more people stand behind us and support us and push us through just feels really good Sometimes it feels like we are the little lost zoo in Southern Colorado but we are a great zoo and we have a lot to offer and so having the community show that they understand that we can do things here too he can be found at the penguin exhibit inside the Ecocenter building at the Pueblo Zoo “If anyone wanted to meet him or his brother and a little one-on-one time for our penguin facility and exhibit A portion of that money helps our facility and a portion of that money goes to our conservation,” Wells said Conservation efforts are critical for penguins like Duckie I asked her what people can do to change that I would say things like buying fish sustainable so don’t just go out and buy any sort of seafood make sure that you know what you’re buying and that it is sustainable support your local zoo -- we support the conservation centers that support these guys So when you support us that doesn’t just help us Even something as simple as recycling,” Wells said “The purpose behind the competition is really just to raise awareness for penguins but any sort of education and acknowledgment not only our zoo can get but penguins as a species except when it comes to the fish,” Wells laughed ‘Hey remember when I was in that competition and winning The company that stands to gain a seven-figure profit on the sale of the former Professional Bull Riders building started negotiating the sale of the building at 101 W Riverwalk Place to the city even before it was officially purchased on Jan according to emails and sale documents obtained by the Chieftain The city of Pueblo will proceed with its $7 million purchase of the Riverwalk building — at a price $1 million higher than what "101 W Riverwalk LLC" spent to purchase it — after city council on March 10 voted 5-2 to approve the purchase on second reading City council also voted 5-2 on March 10 to authorize going into debt up to $9.1 million to purchase the building and make improvements through certificates of participation PBR announced last August it would be moving out of Pueblo resulting in the professional bull riding organization vacating its office building at 101 W A contract to purchase the building was signed on Jan who is the manager of the two trusts that own 101 W Riverwalk LLC DeRose told the Chieftain via email that he has no ownership of the limited liability company On Jan. 7, 101 W Riverwalk LLC was formed through the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. According to the secretary of state's website Pueblo attorney Stacie Shirley of the Buxman and Shirley law firm is the registered agent for the LLC but the registration does not list who owns the limited liability company A contract to purchase the building was signed Jan 17 emails shared with the Chieftain by a citizen who obtained them from the city through the Colorado Open Records Act showed that DeRose was negotiating with Pueblo City Attorney Carla Sikes on a deal for the city to buy the building "Just to recap key terms we expect in LOI (Letter of Intent): $7,000,000 purchase price as is $500,000 escrow that goes hard before Jan 30th city can occupy floors 2 and 3 as soon as close and 4th floor on July 1st 101 Riverwalk will give city any furniture that is left city will lease to 101 Riverwalk 50 parking spaces at $40 per spot per month if it does not purchase building The purchase did not include the first floor of the building City council on March 24 approved the sale of that first-floor property to Erika Almeida-Trujillo in a deal that will result in a net profit of $900,000 for the city Sikes responded to DeRose with an email that included a signed Letter of Intent "The city has agreed to the $7M purchase price and to close by May 1 there are a couple of terms that are different than you requested," Sikes wrote in the email the Letter of Intent provides for the earnest money to be made by promissory note which shall be paid at closing it provides for 20 parking spaces at $65/space/month if the city does not purchase the property." Dan DeRose's son; Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham and her Chief of Staff Brian McCain 23 email followed from Sikes with a revised Letter of Intent indicated the sale would be contingent upon the final passage of an ordinance by city council "unless the deadline is otherwise extended in writing by the mayor." According to the Pueblo County Assessor's website 101 W Riverwalk LLC bought the building for $6 million on Jan The city is now under contract to purchase the building "as is" for $7 million by May 1 When asked if the LLC had performed significant renovation work to justify the price increase "The building was appraised at over $8 million and the city had recently offered near that appraised amount The appraisal referenced by DeRose was conducted in 2023 DeRose said the building was shown to other prospective buyers prior to agreeing to the sale to the city Mayor explains need for building and how deal came togetherDuring a March 3 work session city staff detailed the deteriorating condition of some of the city's office buildings and reported the 31,000 square feet of space on the top three floors of the Riverwalk Place building could house offices for human resources On a March 3 "Mayor's Mixtape podcast" posted to the city's website Graham said the city "tried to purchase the PBR building at the beginning of last year." "It has since come back on the market and we were contacted by the people who had purchased it to see if the city was still interested," she said saying the LLC initially approached the city to lease the building but the city countered by saying it would rather purchase it "We brought this to city council and they all agreed this was a plan to have a municipal one-stop shop for all of our departments to be in instead of having them spread out all over the city," Graham said on the podcast During a March 7 interview with the Chieftain Graham said she couldn't disclose the owner or makeup of the 101 W Riverwalk Place LLC "because I don't have all that information." Graham said the city originally made an offer of $8 million on the building last year She said PBR did not accept that offer from the city and she believes it went with another buyer but "when that fell through or whatever happened they contacted a third party that was interested and I think they sold it for less than what the city had offered the first time." "Originally we were willing to pay $8 million for the space and so I think getting it now at $7 million is a decent price," Graham told the Chieftain "We weren't aware of what they (101 W Riverwalk LLC) paid for the building right away." Pueblo City Council approves purchaseCity council voted 5-2 to approve the purchase of the Riverwalk building on final reading with Council President Mark Aliff and Councilor Roger Gomez voting against the purchase Aliff and Gomez also cast the two "no" votes on the certificates of participation ordinance that allows the city to go into debt up to $9.1 million to purchase and improve the building The Chieftain reached out to Graham again March 27 for further comment "The mayor's statement on who the LLC belongs to and that the city is unsure of who all the owners of the LLC are stands," said Haley Sue Robinson More: PBR sold its building for $6 million in January. Pueblo now plans to buy it for $7 million Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X at x.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com A 36-year-old Avondale man was arrested April 25 on suspicion of second-degree assault and domestic violence after allegedly assaulting his 18-year-old wife Deputies responded on April 24 when the sister of Taggart Rieke called the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office to report her brother was "threatening people's lives," according to an affidavit authored by a PCSO deputy Deputies responded to Rieke's mother's address and found Rieke's wife in a vehicle at a stop sign Deputies observed injuries to the woman's face as well as dried blood around her nostrils The deputies photographed the injuries to the woman's face Reike's wife told investigators she "did not want to get (Rieke) in trouble." However she told them that she was punched five or six times in the head and face by her husband with a closed fist in a moving vehicle while Rieke drove on Avondale Avenue earlier that day Rieke's wife told investigators he hit her because he believed she was cheating on him where a doctor concluded her injuries rose to the level of serious bodily injury but he refused to leave his Avondale residence Due to statements by Rieke's wife that he was armed and may "try to commit suicide by cop" as well as safety concerns to officers deputies declined to enter the residence at that time Rieke told a deputy his wife had assaulted him during an argument at their residence and that he "may have hit her once" to defend himself the deputy stated in the affidavit that there was no redness or swelling anywhere on Rieke's face Rieke was previously charged in 2020 with sexual assault on a child concerning an alleged sexual relationship with his current wife was dismissed in 2022 due to a court finding Rieke incompetent to stand trial and unlikely to be restorable "in the foreseeable future." Rieke is currently being held in the Pueblo County jail on a $50,000 bond He will make an official first appearance in the court of Tim O'Shea on May 1 All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until More on Pueblo public safety: Man facing new charge after alleged escape from Pueblo jail 2 days before planned release About  .  Contact  .  Donation led a genetic study confirming their ancestral connection to the famous Chaco Canyon — a monumental site central to Pueblo culture This collaboration with international geneticists represents a significant shift in the methods of scientific research involving Indigenous communities an Indigenous group of only around 300 members today have preserved oral histories linking them to Chaco Canyon — a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its vast desert landscape and unique sandstone structures — for centuries the stories were dismissed and excluded by scholars and policymakers Seeking a louder voice in decisions about the region particularly as the debate over oil and gas drilling continues tribal leaders turned to science to confirm their historical narratives The project began in 2019 when Southern Methodist University archaeologists informed the tribe of remains uncovered near Taos that had been excluded from earlier repatriation efforts In an attempt to use these remains to establish their connection to Chaco Canyon a leading ancient DNA scientist at the University of Copenhagen during which the tribe reserved the right to halt the project at any time The scientists sequenced genomes from 16 ancient Picuris people and compared them with those from 13 living members of the tribe Results show a high genetic continuity between ancient and modern Picuris people — and genetic ties to people buried at Chaco Canyon whose remains had been studied in a controversial 2017 study that did not involve tribal consultation the Havasupai tribe sued Arizona State University in 2004 for the misuse of DNA samples that were originally collected for diabetes research Researchers required tribal approval for all aspects of the project and any subsequent use of the data needs to be approved by the tribe Although the Picuris now also possess genetic evidence supporting their link to Chaco Canyon There are nearly two dozen Puebloan tribes claiming associations with the site the current research does assist in further bolstering the claim of the Picuris Pueblo in ongoing legal and environmental debates surrounding the site and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative A thousand years ago, the people living in Chaco Canyon were building massive structures of intricate masonry and trading with locations as far away as Mexico with little indication that the same culture was re-established elsewhere If the people of Chaco Canyon migrated to new homes Around the same time that construction expanded in Chaco Canyon far smaller pueblos began appearing in the northern Rio Grande Valley hundreds of kilometers away These have remained occupied to the present day in New Mexico; although their populations shrank dramatically after European contact their relationship to the Chaco culture has remained ambiguous worked with specialistsancient DNA to show that they are the closest relatives of the Chaco people yet discovered confirming aspects of the pueblo's oral traditions The list of authors of the new paper describing this genetic connection includes members of the Pueblo government That's because the study was initiated by the members of the Pueblo who worked with archeologists to get in contact with DNA specialists at the Center for GeoGenetics at the University of Copenhagen members of the Pueblo said they'd been aware of the power of DNA studies via their use in criminal cases and ancestry services The leaders of Picuris Pueblo felt that it could help them understand their origin and the nature of some of their oral history which linked them to the wider Pueblo-building peoples the collaboration settled on a plan of research and the ancient DNA specialists were given access to both ancient skeletons at Picuris Pueblo as well as samples from present-day residents These were used to generate complete genome sequences The first clear result is that there is a strong continuity in the population living at Picuris The ancient skeletons range from 500 to 700 years old and thus date back to roughly the time of European contact They also share strong genetic connections to the people of Chaco Canyon where DNA has also been obtained from remains is more closely related to Ancestral Puebloans from Pueblo Bonito [in Chaco Canyon] than the Picuris individuals are," the paper concludes There are several things that this does not mean There is no way to tell from this data whether former residents of Chaco contributed to the population that was present at Picuris 700 years ago It also does not preclude the possibility that residents of other Pueblos in the northern Rio Grande Valley are equally or even more related Genomic data from these populations is very sparse so it's hard to say anything much about how residents of Picuris Pueblo relate to other groups in the region the data placed the Picuris residents in the context of the peopling of North America There's a major split between indigenous populations in the northern parts of North America (Athabaskan populations) and everyone south of that including all of Central and South America The boundary between this split is a bit fuzzy; at least some of the Athabaskans migrated to the US Southwest The Picuris people are clearly part of the southern group but also seem to have ancestors from a separate branch of that group who were likely contemporaries of the Clovis population We have no information whatsoever about any population that corresponds to this genetic lineage Although the study didn't provide a clear answer to every question biologists might have it appeared to leave the residents of Picuris Pueblo satisfied which is a bit fragmentary because of the sudden drop in population that followed European contact the Picuris leadership was emphatic that they lead the process and the work was designed to get them the answers they were most interested in It's a big contrast to a lot of the past scientific inquiry into the history of indigenous populations, which often involved cavalier seizures of remains and a general dismissal of oral histories. That's starting to change, as researchers are beginning to work with native populations to help define the questions that interest them most and science can address as more groups see successful collaborations like this one we'll get a clearer picture of our complicated history Nature, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08791-9  (About DOIs) an El Paso County judge handed down a sentence to a Colorado Springs man who had a lengthy criminal history Justin Kula will serve 48 years behind bars for running over a parole officer with his car and killing her in 2023 a judge and jury believe he drove into one of the parole officers an El Paso County jury found Justin Kula guilty of vehicular homicide the jury also found Kula guilty of three habitual offender charges which serve as sentence enhancers to the four counts he was convicted of: KRDO13 Investigates previously reported that Kula had 13 prior felony convictions in the state of Texas, along with 18 arrests. Kula was parked at a convenience store when he was approached by parole officers Security video showed that he quickly backed his vehicle out of the parking spot before speeding out of the lot and fatally running over Parole Officer Christine Guerin Sandoval in the process His arrest affidavit showed he had been using meth and heroin at the time of the incident He also told detectives he thought he was being robbed and claimed he did not know Sandoval was a law enforcement officer when she and others opened his car door His defense team explained similar sentiments in their Opening Arguments of the trial on Monday calling Officer Sandoval's death a tragedy the Chief Deputy District of the 4th Judicial DA's office argued that the officers were wearing marked uniforms and that Kula had fled from the scene Tyler is a reporter for KRDO. Learn more about him here. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Governor Dianne Primavera joined filmmakers and local leaders at the 2025 Pueblo Film Festival to celebrate Colorado’s vibrant creative community and recognize outstanding achievements in independent film “It was an incredible night celebrating the talent and hard work of Colorado’s creative community,” said Lt “Nothing Safer represents the kind of fearless purpose-driven storytelling that makes our state proud and the quiet strength of women and animals lifting each other up Films like this remind us that art isn’t just entertainment — it’s a powerful tool for empathy Governor joined director Cynthia Cazañas Garin of Nothing Safer on stage as they accepted the award for Best Heritage Short The film was also nominated for Best Women in Film Short Governor also presented the Colorado Film Advocate of the Year Award to high school senior Sunny Wiggins for planning and executing a five-day film festival in March of this year Nothing Safer is a documentary exploring Colorado's Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program where incarcerated women train rescue dogs in collaboration with the Colorado Office of Film and the Colorado Department of Corrections The film highlights how the program provides women with skills while also offering trained companion dogs to children with medical needs It showcases the transformative impact of the program on both the inmates and the dogs they train followed by a panel discussion in which Lt offering remarks on the importance of second chances and Colorado’s commitment to inclusive opportunities across communities “Nothing Safer is a story of redemption and empathy,” said Cynthia Cazanas Garin “Creating pathways for incarcerated individuals to find meaning and purpose in their lives through service to others I want to thank the Pueblo Film Fest for this recognition and Colorado Film Commissioner Donald Zuckerman for the opportunity to tell this extraordinary story And a special acknowledgement for Colorado’s Lt who had the creative idea and vision to make this film.” “Nothing Safer is a reflection of the transformative power of second chances,” said André Stancil Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections “We are proud to support programs like the Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program because they not only change the lives of the participants and the animals they care for but they also reflect the heart of our mission: rehabilitation Nothing Safer helps to recognize the staff and program participants who make that vision real every day.” we have the opportunity to elevate important Colorado stories and showcase our vibrant film industry,” said Donald Zuckerman “We’re thrilled to see Director Cynthia Cazañas Garin recognized for bringing this incredible story to life.” the Pueblo Film Festival continues to uplift local voices and foster connections among filmmakers and advocates for the arts across Southern Colorado PUEBLO — The Pueblo Memorial Airport is getting a new airline that will offer more flights to and from Denver It's all part of the city's plan to revamp and improve the airport The small airport ended an agreement with the former airline The new airline plans to make travel to and from the Steel City easier The City of Pueblo has partnered with Denver Air Connections to be the new essential airline at the Pueblo Memorial Airport "Travel (is) stressful to begin with and just being able to have a regional airport that could take you to the bigger airport is just.. so much better,” said Kerry Roman who lives in Pueblo Roman used to fly out of the Pueblo Memorial Airport years ago but she said there were several issues with the previous airline "They had a tendency to cancel flights and to be delayed,” said Roman Roman said she did not trust it and decided it was easier to fly out of Denver International Airport (DIA) getting her husband to drive her all the way to DIA or hopping on the bus hasn't been convenient "It is a hassle to have to drive up to Denver from Pueblo,” said Roman The drive from Pueblo to DIA is around two hours with no traffic a flight with Denver Air Connections (DAC) from the Pueblo Memorial Airport will take about 50 minutes "This is going to encourage me to travel more,” said Roman DAC will offer 12 weekly flights to and from Denver “Skipping I-25 is a definite benefit for a lot of us,” said Donielle Kitzman Vice President of The Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Kitzman said these flights will help economic growth in Pueblo “We believe we're going to see increased visitation to Pueblo increased hotel stays as a result of that,” said Kitzman “Bringing business travelers in helps all of the industry at the Pueblo Memorial Airport and the surrounding areas.” She said Pueblo County traveler spending in 2023 brought in $277 million “You expand upon and increase the jobs associated with tourism in Pueblo County This is one great way to increase that economic impact,” said Kitzman they hope the new airline will bring convenience and ease reliability back to flying in Pueblo “All I want is for you to get me from point A to point B on time and not cancel and leave me an alert,” said Roman (KRDO) – The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office has confirmed to KRDO13 that an inmate escaped the Pueblo County Jail last night KRDO13 Investigates learned that same inmate had previously pleaded guilty to an escape charge the inmate was gone for about 35 minutes after walking out of the detention center is back in custody following assistance from the Pueblo Police Department in locating him inmates designated as "kitchen trustees" were cleaning up for the night on Thursday "He worked in the kitchen since March 31st [for] 24 days he's been working and never had an issue," Captain Dawn Ballas a security captain at the Pueblo County Detention Center Brown had just two days left in his sentence The sheriff's office said he was originally sentenced to 90 days for criminal mischief KRDO13 Investigates undercovered court documents that showed Brown had pleaded guilty to one count of escaping from a staff-secure facility in 2017 A spokesperson with the 18th Judicial District Attorney said the escape attempt didn't come at a prison or jail but from a court-mandated treatment facility in Aurora The court sentenced him to 60 days for this escape Brown faced multiple charges of assaulting a guard Those charges were pleaded down to 3rd degree assault KRDO13 Investigates asked if the sheriff's office knew about these charges when giving Brown a trustee job What I have for him is he was sentenced as a misdemeanor That's what we go off of," Captain Dawn Ballas said Then we asked if it was a mistake to give him that trustee title in the kitchen I don't know that there was a mistake made because based on what we have of him here it's the criminal mischief," Captain Dawn Ballas said The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office later clarified that inmates with a history of escape can still earn a 'trustee' job in the jail if they've been sentenced they wouldn't be given a job that includes outdoor duties This should've disqualified Brown from having that kitchen job Michael Logerwell is a weekend anchor and member of the KRDO13 Investigates team. Learn more about him here. (KKTV) - Health officials are warning citizens of potential exposure after a case of measles was confirmed in Pueblo an unvaccinated adult resident visited an area of Mexico experiencing a measles outbreak that person went to an urgent care and was tested for measles The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) says that test came back positive Monday though the patient is now over the infection and is doing well Officials say the case is likely tied to the outbreak in the U.S. which is already closing in on 500 cases in more than 20 states in just the first three months of 2025 In an email released jointly by the CDPHE and Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) there are concerns that others in Pueblo may have been exposed between March 17-22 anyone who was in the following locations during the dates listed may have been exposed to measles and should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure and consider avoiding public gatherings or high-risk settings,” the email read Health officials do not believe the patient has left Pueblo since returning from their trip and currently do not know of any other potential exposure sites within the city Both CDPHE and PDPHE are strongly urging anyone who is experiencing measles symptoms to not visit a medical facility without calling first so that arrangements can be made to minimize exposure The health departments reiterated in a news conference Tuesday that while measles is one of the most contagious diseases out there -- “It is much more infectious than COVID-19 much more infectious than influenza,” said state epidemiologist Dr Rachel Herlihy -- it can be prevented with a vaccine and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 94 percent effective; two doses are 97 percent effective in protecting an individual from measles Health officials said the vaccine offers lifelong protection but if anyone unsure that they were vaccinated as a child or if they were vaccinated earlier than 1968 to contact their health provider to see if another dose is needed var(--popover-size));border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-l3);--popover-z-index:var(--chakra-z-index-popover);z-index:calc(var(--popover-z-index) + var(--layer-index 0));outline:0;transform-origin:var(--transform-origin);max-height:var(--available-height);--popover-padding:var(--chakra-spacing-5);}.css-1v5f30s:is([open] [data-state=open]){transform-origin:var(--transform-origin);-webkit-animation-name:scale-in,fade-in;animation-name:scale-in,fade-in;-webkit-animation-duration:var(--chakra-durations-fast);animation-duration:var(--chakra-durations-fast);}.css-1v5f30s:is([closed] @layer recipes{.css-3n6tnx{padding-top:var(--chakra-spacing-4);border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-top-color:var(--components-article-header-hero-divider-border-color 0.15));}@media screen and (min-width: 80rem){.css-3n6tnx{padding-top:var(--chakra-spacing-6);}}}@layer recipes{.css-10yri1v{color:var(--semantics-text-paragraph-primary-color 12:08 PM (ET)@layer recipes{.css-107anqq{font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-body);color:var(--components-article-header-hero-author-text-color);font-size:var(--chakra-font-sizes-xs);line-height:1;width:-webkit-fit-content;width:-moz-fit-content;width:fit-content;}html.teamusa-theme .css-107anqq{text-transform:uppercase;}@media screen and (min-width: 80rem){.css-107anqq{font-size:var(--chakra-font-sizes-md);line-height:md;}}}by USA Boxing USA Boxing will host the 2025 International Open inside the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo The 2025 USA Boxing International Open will feature men and women competitors in the junior with athletes from the USA Boxing organization and across the world in action throughout the duration of the week With just under two weeks until the start of the 2025 USA Boxing International Open there are nearly 400 boxers expected to compete across the three divisions there will be 22 nations represented in the event across the six men’s and women’s divisions “We are incredibly excited to return to Pueblo for our first national event of the 2025 calendar year,” said Michael Campbell USA Boxing Operations and Technical Service Senior Manager “The City of Pueblo and the Pueblo Convention Center have been incredible partners for us over the years and we are confident that they will once again assist in providing a top-notch event for our valued USA Boxing members and international athletes.” 49 weight classes will be represented across the six divisions with females representing 16 percent of the registered boxers for the event Of the pool of the event’s registered boxers the elite male and female divisions represent 41 percent of the event field while 29 percent of the registered athletes will compete in the youth division The junior division will comprise 30 percent of the athletes registered for the International Open Check-in for the 2025 USA Boxing International Open will take place at the Pueblo Convention Center on Sunday For more information, visit the official 2025 USA Boxing International Open event page. [data-focus]){outline-width:var(--focus-ring-width 2px);outline-offset:var(--focus-ring-offset solid);outline-color:var(--focus-ring-color);outline:none;}.css-puhhl:is(:focus-visible [data-focus-visible]){box-shadow:none;outline-width:3px;outline-style:solid;outline-color:var(--semantics-focus-light);outline-offset:3px;}.css-puhhl:visited{color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color);}.css-puhhl:visited.css-puhhl:visited:is(:active [data-state=open]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-active);}@media (hover: hover){.css-puhhl:visited:is(:hover [data-disabled]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-hover);}}.css-puhhl.css-puhhl:is(:active [data-state=open]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-active);}@media (hover: hover){.css-puhhl:is(:hover white);}}© 2025 Copyright © USA Boxing- All Rights Reserved PUEBLO COUNTY — The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying a man connected to a theft the alleged theft happened at the Dollar General in Blende If you know who he is, you are asked to call the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office at (719)583-6250, reference #7590. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at (719)542-7867 That’s a big change for the route to and from Denver the airport's only flight destination at this time The 30- to 50-seat passenger jets flown by Pueblo’s new carrier will replace the nine passenger prop planes currently in service That means more reliability and improved ADA accessibility issues causing trouble for the airport according to the facility’s director of aviation Greg Pedroza.  “We did lose a lot of folks that in their frustration will claim ‘we'll never fly out of Pueblo again,’” he said we’re hoping that they will realize it was the airline and it wasn't the Pueblo airport and give us another chance.” The new carrier will get federal subsidies over the next two years totalling more than $13 million to operate the federally supported Essential Air Service program Pedroza said he expects that will help keep fares low so the idea of flying to Denver International Airport can compete with the expenses and potential hassle involved in driving to the larger airport “They're (Denver Air Connection) going to be very mindful that their price point is competitive to that drive and all the other expenses that come along with going to Denver or Colorado Springs,” he said Pedroza noted that parking is free at Pueblo Memorial Airport and it’s only seven miles from downtown Pueblo so flyers can save on gas TSA security lines are short and easier to navigate since only one plane boards at any given time Denver Air Connection is offering 12 nonstop round trips per week to DIA which currently flies in and out of locations including Alamosa was one of the top picks for Pueblo City officials and the public among five airlines bidding on the route.  The number of passengers who flew in and out of Pueblo dropped precipitously during the COVID-19 pandemic according to a statement from Mayor Heather Graham's office Less reliable service on smaller turboprop aircraft also contributed to the decline.  "Small-sized aircraft do not meet the needs of our community," Graham said in the statement That decrease in passenger numbers also meant that the airport had a harder time qualifying for federal grants for things like runway improvements “If we get 10,000 people to buy their tickets and start their trip in Pueblo then we reach a hundred percent funding level that continually provides us with dollars to do projects,” Pedroza said Pedroza said he and the mayor’s office are also working on ways to pay for a $5 million upgrade at the airport that would include new restrooms for passengers who have gone through TSA security checks as well as eventually improving the drop-off and pick-up area in front of the terminal “We do have a renovation project for the airport terminal shovel-ready The design is already on the shelf here in my office,” he said “The mayor is committed to trying to help us find some funds so that we can pull the trigger and get that done.” The airport recently ended its contract with the food concessionaire that was running the restaurant there and is looking for a new vendor to serve passengers employees and people working at and visiting other facilities in the industrial park and surrounding areas Pedroza said their goal is to make it an easy choice to fly in and out of Pueblo He said if they can show that there’s demand for travel to and from Pueblo it's possible that could attract other airlines to offer services to other cities as well “But we have to support the airline that's here,” he said The North Shore Marina at Lake Pueblo State Park will be closing in April and demolished in July after needed repairs were determined to be cost-prohibitive CPW officials said in a March 12 news release that the 700-slip marina will close April 1 after the expiration of the current lease with The O’Neil Group — the Colorado Springs company that has operated the marina on an interim basis since November 2022 LLC and CPW have collectively decided not to pursue further operations under a long-term concession agreement for the operation of North Shore Marina,” CPW officials said in the release “After an in-depth evaluation of the marina it has been determined that it is cost prohibitive to keep it open due to the extensive repairs needed.” CPW will begin demolishing the marina structure on July 1 but the North Boat Ramp will remain open and continue to provide boater access to Pueblo Reservoir Boat owners renting slips have been sent notifications informing them they will need to move their boats from the marina by April 1. Those unable to remove their boats by the deadline or boaters with other questions can contact park staff at lake.pueblo.park@state.co.us “The extensive work required to rebuild is more expensive than either CPW or the O’Neil Group can take on,” Lake Pueblo State Park Manager Joe Stadterman said in the release “Unfortunately the enormous cost to rebuild the marina and damaged docks to ensure the property meets the appropriate standards for public safety makes demolition of the structure the only viable option.” an independent electrician hired to review the marina’s wiring system discovered its electrical service was “dangerously out of compliance with National Electrical Code which governs electrical wiring standards nationwide." The lack of ground-fault interrupter protection on some of the marina's electrical circuits presented an "imminent threat of electrocution to boat owners, their guests and park visitors in the water near the marina," the state wildlife agency said at the time. after the former operator — Colorado Marine and Boat Works — signed a settlement agreement essentially turning over the business to CPW Colorado Marine and Boat Works had operated the North Shore Marina at Lake Pueblo for 20 years “CPW invested more than $135,000 in its failing infrastructure including repairs to wiring to protect patrons around the marina A key public safety improvement was a repair to the electric wiring that allowed the operation of a bubbler system that prevents ice from forming in the marina and allows boats to remain docked all winter,” CPW officials said in the release “The O’Neil Group also performed emergency repairs to marina sewage pumps and its anchor system.” CPW turned over operations to The O’Neil Group Co with the hope that a long-term contract could be negotiated and signed “The O’Neil Group is grateful for the short-term concession contract to operate the state-owned infrastructure at North Shore Marina while we explored whether building a new marina was an option,” Kevin O’Neil “After two years of planning and a million dollars spent on plans for a new marina it is heartbreaking to see North Shore Marina close “I have enjoyed coming to the lake for over 50 years and North Shore Marina has been our landing platform," O'Neil said "When decades-old assets are being renovated Environmental risks — things like sunken boats concrete blocks and the unknown of other hazards 100 feet below the surface — made the project unaffordable We would like to thank Colorado Parks and Wildlife for attempting to save the marina."  More local news: Pueblo's homeless can now be ticketed for public camping regardless of available shelter This week’s Players of the Week in Pueblo feature big games from the diamond and fast athletes from track and field Each week, the Chieftain recognizes the top student-athletes from area schools to highlight those who have performed at a high level. The Chieftain sports staff selects them. Coaches can nominate players by emailing cabdelmalek@gannett.com before Wednesday night Pueblo Chieftain readers can now vote for their favorite high school athletes at the newspaper's website The poll is located at the bottom of the article and closes at midnight Friday This poll will close on Friday at midnight Here are the Players of the Week for March 21-27 More: 'You're never alone': Pueblo East's Chaz Leyba opens up about dealing with death Montoya had a big game for the Hornets as they got past Canon City 6-4 in ten innings Montoya tied the game up with a double in the seventh inning then drove in a run in the tenth inning with a single giving up only one hit and striking out eight Ortiz was stellar for the Colts in their win over Liberty Baca had a big game against their in-town rival only giving up two hits and striking out 10 batters along the way baseball Burbidge had a big game for the Thunderbolts as they got past Rocky Ford 12-0 He was also on the mound for three innings getting seven strikeouts and only walking one batter Krenz had a big game for the Cyclones co-op team as they defeated Holy Family 15-3 He scored six goals and even chipped in two assists in the victory Krenz is third on the team in goals scored so far this season Guzman is gearing up for another run at a state title as he took first place in the triple jump at the Larry Pickering Centennial Invite with a distance of 44-5 feet track and field House took home first place in the discus at the Larry Pickering Centennial Invite almost three feet further than second place track and field Falletta is picking up where she left off last year She took home first place in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles at the Larry Pickering Centennial Invite Vargues was fast in his latest race at the Larry Pickering Centennial Invite He took first place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 52.61 narrowly beating out Pueblo West’s Chase Harrison More: Silent Leaders: Pueblo County Hornets baseball is buzzing thanks to quiet seniors A 61-page feasibility study concludes that municipalizing Pueblo's electric utility is too expensive but notes there could be a path forward for a city eager to leave Black Hills Energy The study commissioned by the city and conducted by GDS Associates asserts that skyrocketing power supply costs a "relatively low" 6.7% rate increase approved for Black Hills post-pandemic increases in electric utility operating costs and Black Hills' significant planned distribution investment in Pueblo make it "infeasible" for Pueblo to create a municipal utility on its own the study adds that there is a "strong likelihood" the city could garner regional or statewide support for its efforts and collaborate with electric cooperatives nearby municipal electric utilities and other communities in Black Hills' Colorado service area in exploration of alternatives The city of Pueblo is having some of those conversations already: Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham told the Chieftain the city has met with four utility providers as of April 25 the city has plans to meet with leaders in Cañon City — another city that has expressed frustration with the electric rates they pay Black Hills — to discuss the potential acquisition of Black Hills assets "I think until we have the conversations with the other communities on if we were going to acquire the assets and provide energy to everybody that Black Hills provides energy to.. It's still going to be up in the air until we know what their stance is from those other communities," Graham said Black Hills' Colorado service area includes over 100,000 customers in Crowley, Custer, Fremont, Otero, Pueblo and Teller counties. A Black Hills-commissioned study by the Brattle Group determined that purchasing the entire service area would cost the city over $4 billion Whether or not citizens of Pueblo are in alignment with city leaders' goal of separating from Black Hills will be apparent after a special election on May 6 Ballot Initiative 2A asks voters if the city should cancel its franchise agreement with Black Hills and acquire its distribution generation and transmission assets "if determined feasible." 'A very complex situation'With a "yes" vote from citizens the city will continue its conversations with utility providers and potential partners in the hope of providing lower electric rates to residents a "no" vote from citizens does not mean the city will completely abandon its search for feasible alternatives to Black Hills Whether citizens decide now or in five years I think that the city should have a plan moving forward on what an alternative is and what the options are for the community," Graham said I think that we just continue the path forward to see what our options are in order to get Black Hills out of the community." The city spent $300,000 for GDS Associates to conduct the feasibility study and approximately $100,000 to conduct a special election. Some have been critical of the city's use of taxpayer funds for the study and special election. On April 8, Pueblo County Commissioner Miles Lucero said the election was "a rather large waste of time and taxpayer dollars." Spending for the feasibility study has been criticized by the "No on 2A" campaign which sent a statement to the Chieftain following the release of GDS Associates' full feasibility study "Voters should be alarmed that city hall spent $300,000 for a badly done If you can't manage a study why should voters trust you to run a utility." Graham said it was "responsible government" for the city to commission a feasibility study and run a special election "I would hope that the citizens would want the city to pay somebody besides the city of Pueblo to investigate and see what the best option is for the community," Graham said "That's not something that we are experts in.. I also think it's responsible government for us to put the ballot question out and ask people what they want." GDS Associates' full feasibility report is available online at pueblo.us/DocumentCenter/View/38195/City-of-Pueblo-CO---Initial-Feasibility-Report Front Range Passenger Rail: Lauren Boebert wants DOGE to kill passenger rail funding. Jeff Hurd is with her '100%'