Stories in this list received the most page views on postindependent from Oct. 20-Oct. 27

1.Documentary about Garfield County girl’s accidental meth overdose now free for public viewing 

A documentary chronicling the tragic death of 5-year-old Sophia Larson and her father’s ongoing effort to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use around children is now available to watch for free on YouTube.

“Lost Innocence: The Story of Sophia Larson,” originally released behind a paywall in 2024, was made publicly accessible Oct. 9. The film follows Sophia’s father, Alec Larson, through his yearslong pursuit of justice and advocacy following her accidental methamphetamine overdose in 2019 while in the care of her mother and two relatives.

Larson said that while the initial paid release struggled to reach a wide audience, making the film free to view fulfills his original intent — ensuring Sophia’s story is accessible to anyone who might learn from it.

-Taylor Cramer 

2.Glenwood Springs City Council reverses course, drops South Bridge toll to keep project on schedule  

Glenwood Springs City Council voted 5-2 on Thursday to move forward with the long-planned South Bridge project without a toll inside the federally defined project area — reversing a Sept. 4 decision to include one. The change was made with the goal of preserving federal funding and keeping the project on track for bidding in early 2026.

Mayor Marco Dehm, Mayor Pro Tem Erin Zalinski and Councilors David Townsley, Mitchell Weimer and Sumner Shacter voted to remove the toll. Councilors Ray Schmahl and Steven Smith opposed the motion.

City Engineer Ryan Gordon told council that because the city’s federal grant application never included tolling, adding one now would be considered “a fairly significant change” by the Federal Highway Administration. Such a change, he said, would require revising the grant application, resubmitting it to the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and conducting a full Environmental Assessment update and public process — all of which could push the project well past the September 2026 obligation deadline.

-Taylor Cramer 

3.Colorado State Patrol to increase enforcement in Summit, Eagle and Garfield counties this weekend 

The Colorado State Patrol will ramp up enforcement in Summit, Eagle and Garfield counties on Friday.

Troopers will be performing the high-visibility operation to focus on dangerous driving behaviors, including speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving, according to a news release from the State Patrol.

Drivers can expect increased patrols, enhanced traffic monitoring and strict enforcement of traffic laws, the release states. All drivers are urged to prioritize safety, including by driving sober, obeying speed limits and avoiding distractions.

-Ryan Spencer 

4.Colorado ski industry worried about slowdown in J-1 visas that are ‘essential for resort areas’ workforce 

Ski areas in Colorado and across the country are concerned about reported processing slowdowns for seasonal worker visas ahead of the 2025-26 ski season, according to the industry’s leading trade group. 

The National Ski Areas Association, which represents over 300 alpine resorts throughout the U.S., said it has heard from ski areas, including in Colorado, that are worried about a potential shortage of seasonal foreign workers on J-1 visas this winter. 

A J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows people from other countries to participate in temporary work and education programs in the U.S., with the purpose of promoting cultural exchanges. 

-Robert Tann 

5. 2 Colorado resorts see 6-plus inches of snow in overnight storm 

A storm system passed through Colorado’s mountains overnight on Thursday, dropping early-season snow on many resorts along the I-70 corridor into Friday morning.

West of the divide, Beaver Creek Resort recorded about 8 inches on its snow stake cam. Up the road, Vail Mountain recorded about 6 inches.

Vail Mountain will open on Nov. 14 and Beaver Creek will open on Nov. 26.

-Shelby Valicenti