Good morning, Grand Junction.

CASA of Mesa County swore in eight new advocates who completed more than 30 hours of training over six weeks to support children in foster care (training covered trauma, foster-care experiences, and advocacy).

Community members can attend an informational meeting on Nov. 10 at 12:15 p.m. at the CASA office (open to prospective volunteers).

Colorado Mesa University guarantees admission to any student with a 3.0 GPA or higher and offers guaranteed scholarships of at least $3,000 for applicants with a 3.2 GPA or higher, available to students nationwide, and it's ramping up outreach for the fall 2027 class (a new parking structure opens in January).

Final design is underway for pedestrian and bike improvements on 38 Road in East Orchard Mesa, including about 600 feet of west-side path, a box culvert, and a pedestrian bridge; construction is set to start in 2027 and is funded by a $2.35 million CDOT Transportation Alternatives grant (20% Mesa County match: $470,589).

Mesa County Public Health released today a restaurant inspection blotter showing most local eateries passed recent checks.

CMU dining passed its Oct. 15 inspection with four violations, several follow-up visits passed, and The Coffee Trader still awaits a re-inspection after an Oct. 13 inspection that found nine violations.

St. Mary’s Regional Hospital earned Magnet redesignation with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence, patient safety, and care coordination; the hospital first received Magnet status in 2022 and is the only Magnet hospital in Western Colorado (and the second in the state to earn the Distinction).

Mesa County ended September with 1,090 active listings, a 34.7% year-over-year rise and the highest since November 2014; closed sales dropped to 197, months of inventory rose to 5.5, and the median price was $414,000 (up 1.4% year-over-year).