CSU and CU Boulder team up in research, Fire in Larimer County forces evacuations, U.S. and Iran strike ceasefire deal

April 10, 2026·21 min·2 clips

A former Fort Collins school employee is arrested for sending sexual images to a minor, with a $50,000 cash-only bond.

The Rocky Mountain Review is a twice-weekly student news broadcast on KCSU 90.5 FM at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, hosted by news director Tyler Weatherwax and assistant news director George Yosathanisiu. Campus news opens with CSU announcing that its provost search has been narrowed to three finalists, with open forums for each candidate scheduled between April 13 and April 27 at Lurie Student Center and Canvas Stadium. A second campus story reports that CSU and CU Boulder signed an agreement effective April 1 to share 23 advanced research facilities between them, doubling available scientific tools for researchers at both institutions and reducing equipment and faculty costs. Local news carries a warning before reporting the arrest of 29-year-old Benjamin Rees, a former Blevins Middle School employee, on charges of internet sexual exploitation of a child and promotion of obscenity to a minor following evidence he sent sexual images to a juvenile girl via a messaging app over approximately one month. Rees is held on a $50,000 cash bond and is scheduled for a court appearance April 14; police say there may be additional victims. The second local story covers the Cougar Run Fire near Carter Lake in Larimer County, which ignited Wednesday morning, triggering mandatory evacuations for 679 contacts and voluntary notifications for 1,104 more before being fully contained at 3.5 acres. Preliminary reports suggest embers from an air curtain burner operated by the state's fire division may have started the blaze; no structures or injuries were reported. Life and events coverage notes the 11th Annual ACT Human Rights Film Festival at the Lyric, a Jazz Combo Concert at the University Center for the Arts, and a farewell show by Fort Collins band Ubuntu at Aggie Theatre. National news highlights Colorado being one of nine states with no jury duty age limit, illustrated by a Greeley man's 98-year-old mother being summoned to grand jury service in Denver. A prior bill capping juror age at 72 was vetoed by Governor Jared Polis; a new bill, HB 26-1022, now proposes letting older adults opt out without medical justification. The major international story is a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, which also includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz to safe passage. President Trump called the deal a 'total and complete victory'; the ceasefire excluded Lebanon, where Israeli bombardment continued. Sports coverage notes CSU softball sitting at 20-19 overall, Michigan defeating UConn 69-63 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship for Michigan's first title since 1989, and the NCAA Men's Hockey Frozen Four underway with North Dakota vs. Wisconsin and Denver vs. Michigan. The Colorado Avalanche clinched the Central Division and the Western Conference's top seed with a 3-1 win over St. Louis, with a shot at the President's Trophy that night against Calgary. The broadcast closes with a fundraising appeal for KCSU's DJ-A-Thon, with hosts explaining equipment needs including field reporting kits and a new studio soundproof door.

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An orderly campus-and-community rundown that stays easy to follow.

Rocky Mountain Review keeps this segment moving with a clean, practical sweep through campus and community news. It starts with Colorado State University updates, then shifts into the Laramie County wildfire evacuation, Fort Collins events, national headlines, CSU sports, and…

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