ALAMOSA — As of press time on Thursday, H.R. 1 – otherwise known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill” – had not yet been up for a final vote as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries had already been speaking on the floor of the House for almost six hours in an attempt to delay the vote.  

SANGRE de CRISTO MOUNTAINS — On a recent hike on the South Zapata Lake Trail, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter a trail crew building a pedestrian and equine bridge across South Zapata Creek. This trail, located in the scenic Sangre de Cristo Mountains is not the popular trail to the falls, it is the more challenging 9.3-mile out-and-back hike to the lake. The bridge, strategically placed at a point where the creek can be particularly challenging to cross, will greatly enhance the hiking experience for both hikers and those on horseback. 

ALAMOSA — Highly talented artist Nikki Kaminski will have her work on exhibit in Milagro’s through the month of July. As she describes her work, Kaminski, who is based in Alamosa, blends soul visions (the inner landscape) with the beauty she finds in the natural world (the outer landscape).