Colorado Health Insurance Prices Expected to Rise; Dead Birds Test Positive for Avian Flu in Southern Colorado State Park; Telluride Ski Patrol Union Rejects Contract with Ski Mountain

Headlines Monday December 15, 2025

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    Colorado Health Insurance Prices Expected to Rise; Dead Birds Test Positive for Avian Flu in Southern Colorado State Park; Telluride Ski Patrol Union Rejects Contract with Ski Mountain KGNU News

 

Colorado Health Insurance Prices Expected to Rise

On Thursday, the U.S Senate failed to pass a deal extending health insurance subsidies set to expire. 

As a result of expiring subsidies, the Colorado Sun reported that the average person shopping for health coverage on their own will see a 101% increase in 2026 unless the subsidies are extended. 

These expiring subsidies were central to the federal government shutdown of 43 days, ending when a handful of Democrats in the senate, not including Colorado senators Bennet or Hickenlooper, agreed with Republicans to reopen the government with the hope of voting to extend health insurance subsidies, a vote that failed Thursday.

The expiring subsidies are expected to impact roughly 225,000 people in Colorado. The state Division of Insurance estimated up to 75,000 people may drop coverage due to rising costs related to subsidy expiration.

While a united plan has not been presented, congress could still extend subsidies for 2026 even after the start of the new year. 

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Dead Birds Test Positive for Avian Flu in Southern Colorado State Park

Four dead birds in south-eastern Colorado park tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI this weekend. The deceased birds were found at John Martin Reservoir State Park in late November, with results being posted to social media by Colorado Parks and Wildlife last week.

CPW says that migratory birds have been testing positive for the virus at that park since 2022 and that the infection jumping over to humans is uncommon. Symptoms for the disease found in living wild birds include an inability to fly, swimming in circles for an extended period, and a swollen head.

To report a group of birds with suspicion of disease, Colorado Parks and Wildlife can be reached at 303-297-1192. A map of your nearest Colorado Parks and Wildlife office can be found online at c-p-w[dot]state[dot]c-o.

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Aurora Fracking Plan Tabled

The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, or ECMC, voted to indefinitely postpone the next well pad application for the Lowry Ranch oil and gas plan in Aurora. The vote to indefinitely postpone the current plan was passed 4-to-1 at the end of last week, until Civitas’ Crestone Peak Resources submits an alternative location analysis, according to a press release from ECMC.

The Lowry oil and gas plan was initially approved in August 2024, which includes 32,000 acres of proposed subsurface mineral development with 10 locations and 166 new wells – Colorado Politics said years of push back from resident and activists preceded the initial approval.

The pad that was rejected by the ECMC would have hastened the process for drilling from 32 wells. In its current, tabled form the well pad would be a mile from two elementary schools and only within a 2-mile radius of over 10,000 households.

The alternative location analysis to be submitted by Crestone Peak Resources is pending submission.

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Telluride Ski Patrol Union Rejects Contract with Ski Mountain

 The Telluride Ski Patrol Union has rejected a contract proposal from the Telluride ski resort, with a  possibility of a strike is now back on the table.

“The contract was emphatically and resoundingly, voted down to the tune of 99%,” said Graham Hoffman, president of the Telluride Ski Patrol Union and Ski Patroller at TelSki for 10 years. Hoffman says with the vote, the ball is now back in Telski’s court.

In a merchant meeting with local businesses on Tuesday, TelSki representative Steve Swensen said the ski company’s offer to ski patrol is competitive when compared with other similar resorts. He says, TelSki is in the process of reaching out to those who have bought lift tickets for the season, so they’re aware of a potential strike he adds. If the union decides to strike, it would have a devastating impact on the community.

“If there’s a walkout, we’re expecting that. All of us, all businesses will be negatively affected. We know that this situation could affect us for this winter, over the holidays, for the whole winter, and for ongoing winters,” said Swensen.Telluride Ski Patrol began contract negotiations with the Telluride Ski Resort in early June. Their contract expired in August. The Telluride Ski Resort opened for the winter season on December 6th. Ski Patrol is continuing to work on the mountain without a contract until they decide to strike.

 

You can hear daily headlines on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show with coverage of local and regional public affairs and news with headlines and commentary. Click here to listen to full episodes of the Morning Magazine.

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