DROUGHT IN THE WEST NOW CALLED “DRIEST IN 1,200 YEARS”

According to a study released Monday in the Journal of Nature Climate Change, the megadrought covering the American West deepened so much in 2021 that it is now the driest in at least 1,200 years. Last year was about as dry as 2002 and one of the driest years ever recorded in the region. It pushed the now 22-year drought past the previous record-holder for megadroughts in the late 1500s. It shows no signs of easing in the near future. Park Williams, the lead author of the study is a climate hydrologist at UCLA, and he studied the soil moisture levels in an area including: California, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, most of Oregon and Idaho, much of New Mexico, western Colorado, northern Mexico, and the southwest corners of Montana and Texas; using modern measurements and tree rings for estimates that go back to the year 800.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, OUTDOOR RETAILERS SAY KEEP RETAILER SHOW IN DENVER

Emerald X, the company that owns the Outdoor Retailer trade show, is considering moving the show from Denver to Salt Lake City after Denver’s five-year contract for the show ends in June following the Summer Show. The Summer Show is June 9-11 in Denver. The Conservation Alliance and two dozen outdoor recreation companies, including Patagonia, REI and The North Face announced Monday that they would boycott the Outdoor Retailer show if it were to be moved back to Salt Lake City. The Conservation Alliance and recreational companies saying they would boycott say Utah’s leaders continue to erode the protections for national monuments and public lands.

LOCKHEED CALLS OFF $4.4 BILLION ACQUISITION OF AEROJET ROCKETDYNE

Lockheed Martin Corp. has terminated its $4.4 billion deal to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne due to antitrust concerns. Lockheed’s acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne was considered a major advancement for the development of its missile and spacecraft systems, many of which are centered in Lockheed Martin Space, the division based in Jefferson County. The FTC filed suit in late January, alleging the deal would allow Lockheed Martin to harm rival contractors and consolidate multiple markets the FTC deemed critical to national security and defense. The FTC cited Aerojet’s status as the last independent U.S. supplier of missile propulsion systems.

KREMMLING RANCHER PAUL BRUCHEZ PICKED FOR COLORADO RIVER BOARD

Gov. Jared Polis has appointed Paul Bruchez, a Kremmling rancher to replace former state Sen. Gail Schwartz on the Colorado River Conservation Board. Schwartz is leaving the CRCB after serving one term representing the main stem of the river. The CRCB is made up of nine voting members, each representing a river basin plus one for Denver. The main stem extends from the headwaters to the Utah border. Bruchez, and his family run the Reeder Creek Ranch, a 6,000-acre cattle and hay operation about five miles east of Kremmling. He is also a fly-fishing guide and is currently the agricultural representative and vice-chair of the Colorado Basin Roundtable.

TINA PETERS ANNOUNCES A RUN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE

Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters Monday announced she is running for Colorado secretary of state to challenge the re-election of Jena Griswold. Peters made the announcement on the online podcast of Steve Bannon. Peters joins three other Republicans who are already in the race for the GOP nomination to challenge Griswold, a Democrat. By entering the statewide race for secretary of state, Peters cannot run for re-election as Mesa County clerk. That leaves Bobbie Gross as the only Republican candidate running for clerk in the June primary.

BLM PROPOSES LAND SALE TO RESOLVE GRAVEL PIT ISSUE

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is proposing to sell about 48.5 acres of public land located about 13 miles east of Collbran to a local landowner to resolve a longstanding issue of inadvertent trespass and unauthorized uses of public lands. The BLM proposes selling two parcels to Merial Currier at fair market value to be determined and approved by the Interior Department’s Appraisal and Valuation Services Office. The sale of the two parcels was part of a 2013 agreement to settle issues surrounding Currier’s operation of a 9-acre gravel pit on public land without BLM approval. Currier paid a settlement fee for the gravel removed and the settlement agreement stated there was “no discovery of intention” to trespass. Currier has paid for the BLM’s administrative costs of processing the sale.

CMU RECEIVES $1.1 MILLION GRANT FOR HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAMS

The U.S. Dept. of Commerce Monday announced that its Economic Development Administration awarded a $1.1 million grant to Colorado Mesa University to provide equipment and technology to support physical therapy, physician’s assistant and occupational therapy degree programs. The EDA’s grant will be matched with $280,495 in local funds. The grant is expected to create 200 jobs. Colorado Mesa recently unveiled its new 24,000-square-foot medical education building, the St. Mary’s Medical Education Center. The center houses the three programs benefiting from this grant, with 12 classrooms and labs, including a cadaver laboratory and group study areas.

CPW: ANTLER COLLECTING, BIG GAME LICENSES

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are reminding people that collecting shed antlers on all public lands west of Interstate 25 is prohibited Jan. 1 through April 30. The restriction went into effect in 2018 and covers all of the West Slope. It is intended to protect wintering animals from unnecessary human disturbances during the late winter months. CPW also advises that Colorado hunters will be able to draw for big game licenses starting March 1 for the 2022 season. This year, all hunters wanting to participate in the big game draw will need a qualifying license, which are available for purchase starting March 1 as well. The qualifying license must be purchased before applying for a big game license or preference points.

THE PUSH FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES…HERE ARE THE CURRENT NUMBERS

If you paid attention to the commercials during the Super Bowl, you remember seeing a high percentage of ads for electric vehicles. Six of seven Super Bowl car ads featured EVs. But what do the numbers say about EV sales:

• Only 9 percent of passenger vehicle sales globally are EVs
• There were 6.5 million EVs sold in 2021
• 3.2 million EVs were sold in 2021 to mainland China
• 2.3 million EVs were sold in Europe
• 535,000 were sold in the United States
• The 6.5 million EVs sold in 2021 was a 109 percent increase over 2020
• The total global passenger car market grew 4 percent in 2021
• The EV market grew at more than 25 times the pace of the car market overall
• In the U.S., the 535,000 EV cars sold represent about 4 percent of the total new cars sold
• Almost 60 percent of the EV cars sold in the U.S. last year were Teslas

MOM'S SUPPORT GROUP

One in five women will experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after birth. Are you a mother and wanting a supportive space to talk about mental health challenges or to meet and connect with other moms? There are bi-weekly meetings on Tuesdays, from 3 to 5 p.m., beginning March 1, at the Western Region One Source in Grand Junction. Some topics to be covered will be anxiety and depression, insomnia, nutrition, selfcare, relationships, and many more. To learn more, please email or call Nathan Rudolph at nathan.rudolph@va.gov or 970-263-2824, or Tamera Cleland at ntamera.cleland2@va.gov or 970-242-0731x1348.

VIRTUAL CONCERT TO HELP VICTIMS OF MARSHALL FIRE

Gov. Jared Polis announced that Dave Matthews, The Avett Brothers, OneRepublic leader Ryan Tedder and Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff will join dozens of other headlining artists in a virtual benefit for Marshall fire victims. The 7 p.m. concert on Monday, Feb. 28, will be streamed online and cost $10 to access. Tickets and more information are available at the link below.

NOURISH NEIGHBORS MONTHLY

Hunger is prevalent throughout our community year-round. Help fight against food insecurity every day by making a recurring donation of any amount each month. Reliable support helps the Food Bank of the Rockies plan and deepens your impact, and every $1 donated helps the organization distribute enough food for four meals to our neighbors struggling with hunger. Sign up today at the link below.