Colorado oil lease auctions; Colorado Medicaid driver fraud; Wolves from recent release died; Fort Carson soldiers convicted in poaching investigation

Headlines Wednesday January 21, 2026

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    Colorado oil lease auctions; Colorado Medicaid driver fraud; Wolves from recent release died; Fort Carson soldiers convicted in poaching investigation KGNU News

Colorado oil lease auctions see weak demand

Recent federal auctions for oil and gas leases in Colorado have met a wall of silence, with nearly 40% of available public land receiving zero bids. The Colorado Sun reports that this marks the first major test of the “Big Beautiful Bill” land reforms, which require the Bureau of Land Management to hold mandatory “replacement sales” for unwanted parcels, most of which also failed to attract a single buyer.

Watchdogs call the repeated auctions “absurd,” arguing the lack of interest proves there is no energy emergency requiring the exploitation of protected lands. In contrast, industry leaders blame the silence on a slow and uncertain regulatory environment, though some groups point out that total lease revenue is still significantly higher than in previous years.

As global oil prices fluctuate, the debate continues over whether these new federal rules are a success for the economy or a giveaway of Colorado’s natural resources.

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Colorado Medicaid driver fraud cost $25 million, say officials

Yesterday, Colorado’s Medicaid authority revealed that the 2023 Medicaid fraud scheme targeting a free medical transportation program cost $25 million dollars. Two years ago, the Denver Post reported that contract Medicaid drivers had sidestepped state rules by packing their cars with patients, some of whom were homeless, and driving them hundreds of miles to maximize payouts. Now, Medicaid officials say that patients were offered cash and drugs by some drivers, that the fraud cost $25 million dollars in federal and state funds, and that the agency also blocked $24.5 million dollars in additional funds from being paid out.

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Nearly half of wolves from recent release have died

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed that another wolf from the January 2025 wolf release has died from unknown causes. Last year, CPW released 15 gray wolves from Canada into Eagle and Pitkin counties. About half of them have died, as CPW learned about the death of a female wolf in northwest Colorado last week. Gray wolves are a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is investigating the cause of its death.

CPW says it will release an updated gray wolf map to their website today, Wednesday. The agency has said it planned to reintroduce a third round of wolves in January 2026, it’s not yet clear if that will happen.

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Fort Carson soldiers convicted in poaching investigation

Three active-duty soldiers have been convicted on dozens of wildlife charges following a major poaching investigation near Colorado Springs. Officials say the men were responsible for illegally killing six mule deer across military and state lands.

The investigation began in November 2024 when boot tracks led officers to several abandoned and partially processed carcasses. Sergeant Jacob Keyser, who admitted to the poaching, faces over $19,000 in fines, while fellow soldier Juan Salcedo was fined nearly $9,000 after pleading guilty to related charges.

Beyond financial penalties, the Colorado Sun reports that the soldiers now face a potential lifetime hunting and fishing ban across all 50 states under the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

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Fossils newly found at Dinosaur National Monument

The National Park Service says that new fossils were found last fall during parking lot construction at Colorado’s Dinosaur National Monument. The Denver Post reports that this marks the first discovery at the monument in more than 100 years.

A Parsk Service news release says that Monument staff discovered the fossils — which likely belong to the Diplodocus, a large, long-necked dinosaur — on Sept. 16 near the Quarry Exhibit Hall, while removing asphalt during construction.

Some fossils from the excavation are already on display at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, and in the Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument.

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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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