Petition to reopen Megan Trussell Investigation; Gov. Polis signs cuts to Medicare and higher education

Headlines Friday August 29, 2025

Petition Asking to Reopen Megan Trussell Investigation Hits 1,700 Signatures

An online petition has reached 1700 signatures requesting law enforcement reopen the case of University of Colorado student Megan Trussell’s death. Trussell passed this February and her cause of death was determined to be the result of amphetamine and exposure to a cold environment, or hypothermia. The Boulder County Coroner ruled the manner of her death a suicide.

The petition has been put together by Trussell’s Cousin, Rebecca Perez, and reached nearly two thousand signatures three days after the University of Colorado Police Department released Trussell’s case report.

The petition takes the stance that law enforcement mishandled Trussell’s case, skeptical of the details and results. Pereze, who penned the the petition, stands with Trussell’s mother, Vanessa Diaz, who’s stated public that she does not believe her daughter committed suicide

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Polis Passes Spending Cut, Redirecting Funds after Special Session

Thursday, Governor Polis announced $250 million dollars in cuts to close the state budget gap which is estimated to be nearly $750 million [dollars]. The governor signed an executive order to save the money, rolling back plans in healthcare reimbursements and money earmarked for higher education.

The budget gap comes from changes caused by the Republican federal tax and spending bill, also known as Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Part of the cuts to healthcare includes a reversal of the state’s plans to increase Medicare reimbursements. The cuts won’t affect public schools or public safety programs.

“My two commitments in managing these cuts — we’ve kept them both,” Polis told The Colorado Sun. “We are not cutting our public schools one dime. K-12 funding is held harmless. We also have zero cuts to public safety.”

A special legislation signed Tuesday will also increase taxes paid by businesses and business owners to address the budget deficit. 

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Wildfire Smoke and Pregnancy

It’s been a smoky summer here in the Rocky Mountain West, with multiple large wildfires burning in our region.

That smoke poses serious health risks for everyone, but especially when someone is pregnant. That’s because their respiratory system is under increased stress.

A recent study in California shows that exposure to certain kinds of wildfire smoke also increases the risk of preterm birth.

Jonathan Hershberg is a maternal fetal medicine and critical care specialist at the University of Colorado.

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He says more studies are needed to determine the exact cause — for instance, whether it’s the specific particle that someone is breathing in or the associated stress of a wildfire.

If you’re pregnant, Hershberg recommends keeping an eye on air quality alerts and avoiding exposure to wildfire smoke as much as possible.

Telluride Film Festival Opens this Weekend

The Telluride Film Festival opens today and will stick around all Labor day weekend. In addition to film screenings. The Festival announced the lineup just yesterday morning. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the festival will be screening 60 feature films and shorts throughout the weekend.

Multiple national and regional publications, including The Hollywood Reporter list Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and Hamnet as the most anticipated premieres. Springsteen follows the wildly successful singer-songwriter during the era of his Nebraska album. Hamnet is a biopic capturing a moment in time for Shakespeare, the generational poet. 

For the full lineup of screenings, visit the city of Telluride’s website at telluride.com/event/telluride-film-festival

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Flash Floods in Western Colorado Burn Scars

The National Weather Service has issued a number of flash flood warnings in recent days for areas in Western Colorado that have been burned by wildfires. That includes the Turner Gulch Fire in Mesa County, the Lee Fire in Rio Blanco County, and the Derby Fire in Eagle County. 

Erin Walter is a service hydrologist for the National Weather Service’s Grand Junction office.

She says fires can create conditions that are perfect for debris flows, which bring a torrent of rocks, mud, plants, and other loose materials. She also mentioned that because these impacts vary from fire to fire, they tend to err on the side of caution when issuing flash flood warnings in burned areas.

Lastly, Walter says anyone who’s out recreating near a recently burned area should be very cautious, and check weather forecasts before heading out.

Ski Season Approaches

Colorado ski resorts are getting ready for the new season, and some have announced tentative opening dates.

Keystone could be open as soon as mid-October, depending on weather conditions, according to The Denver Post. Breckenridge is targeting a November 7 opening date, and Vail is hoping to be ready by November 14th. Beaver Creek and Crested Butte are both looking to open on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving.

The slopes at Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, and Winter Park will open as soon as conditions allow it.

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Weather

In the weather today, sunny this morning and then rainy in the afternoon. The National Weather Service says we’ve got a forty percent chance of rain and thunderstorms, mainly after 12 O’clock. Highs along the Front Range will be in the mid to upper sixties.

In Boulder, today’s high is 69 degrees .. 60 in Denver, 65 in Fort Collins, and in Nederland, the high today should be 65 degrees.