Associated Press - The Durango Herald

2 mass graves with bodies of nearly 50 migrants found in southeastern Libya

CAIRO (AP) — Libya authorities have uncovered nearly 50 bodies from two mass graves in the country’s southeastern desert, officials said Sunday, in the latest tragedy involving people seekin...

DATE: Feb 9, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Ecuador's conservative incumbent and a leftist lawyer are leading early presidential voting results

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador is likely to choose its next president in a runoff election later this year as early results of a first-round vote Sunday showed a tight difference between ...

DATE: Feb 9, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Denver faces Portland, aims for 7th straight victory

Portland Trail Blazers (23-30, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (34-19, third in the Western Conference) Denver; Monday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Denver heads into a matchup...

DATE: Feb 9, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Dalai Lama's elder brother, who led several rounds of talks with China, dies at 97

NEW DELHI (AP) — The elder brother of the Dalai Lama and former chairman of the Tibetan government-in-exile in India, Gyalo Thondup, who led several rounds of talks with China and worked wit...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Kosovo's governing party wins parliamentary election but without majority, preliminary results show

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Preliminary results showed that Prime Minister Albin Kurti ’s party won Kosovo's parliamentary election Sunday but without the majority needed to govern alone, as tal...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

As female representation hits new highs among states, constitutions still assume officials are male

PHOENIX (AP) — South Dakota’s constitution refers to the governor as a “he.” But for the past six years, the governor was a “she” — Kristi Noem, the first female to hold the position there. ...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Sam Nujoma, Namibia's fiery freedom fighter and first president, dies aged 95

OSHAKATI, Namibia (AP) — Sam Nujoma, the fiery, white-bearded freedom fighter who led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 and served as its first president for 15 yea...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Hawaii is the rainbow capital of the world. Here's what that means

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's regular sunshine, short rain showers and clean air come together to create some of the planet's best conditions for viewing rainbows. They're such a frequent sight t...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Denker scores 17, Northern Colorado knocks off Montana State 73-66

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — Quinn Denker's 17 points helped Northern Colorado defeat Montana State 73-66 on Saturday night. Denker shot 6 of 8 from the field, including 3 for 4 from 3-point range,...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

North Korea's Kim slams US-South Korea-Japan partnership and vows to boost his nuclear program

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said an elevated U.S. security partnership with South Korea and Japan poses a grave threat to his country and vowed to further bolst...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Langenhan, Germany dominate on final day of luge's world championships

WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) — History for Max Langenhan. History for Felix Loch. Once again, Germany proved its dominance at the luge world championships — finishing off in style Saturda...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

He's back, baby! ESPN's Dick Vitale makes return to commentating following 4th bout with cancer

CLEMSON. S.C. (AP) — He’s back, baby! ESPN’s Dick Vitale received a standing ovation Saturday night at Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum in his first game back as a commentator since recovering ...

DATE: Feb 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Photos: Fashion at its bestSnowdown Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Snowdown Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Snowdown on SaturdaySnowdown’s Canine Fashion Show and Outlaw Josie Pete’s Golf

Snowdown’s Canine Fashion Show and Outlaw Josie Pete’s Golf

Photos: Snowdown Rock-em-Sock-em Snowbots pillow fights

Snowdown Light Parade can boast another successful yearLights flashed, fire trucks wailed and a foam cannon spewed suds

Bright lights, screaming fire trucks and children bundled up so thoroughly it seemed like an army of Michelin men had taken over downtown Durango. Yep. It’s the much anticipated Snowdown light parade, this year distinguished by a crowd of onlookers peppered with scrabble tiles, Clue characters and playing cards.

Locals flocked to Main Avenue on Friday to get a look (and maybe a Smartie or two) at the floats parading through town on various, creatively decorated vehicles. There were some obvious standouts at this year’s board game-themed parade. After a fire truck’s opening sirens came the Purgatory car, toting a brightly lit ski bum moonlighting as a DJ, likely giving the women of Durango some unpleasant déjà vu. Best dressed had to go to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s bulldozer, wearing the most believable Hungry Hungry Hippos costume seen yet. Biggest crowd pleaser? The dancers boogieing to Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” while the crowd sang and wiggled along. But what got the biggest rise out of the onlookers was the white plumes of motorcycle exhaust, courtesy of the Harley-Davidson club. The smell of burning octane was a convincing enough reason for people to briefly unclutch the rails and step away from their coveted positions at the front of the fence. Last but not least, another machine spewing its interior into the crowd: a foam cannon, the first one to make an appearance in the history of Snowdown. Much better received than exhaust, it extracted gleeful screams from kids and adults alike. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Lights flashed, fire trucks wailed and a foam cannon spewed suds

Photos: Feel the heatSnowdown 2025 Hot Wing Eating Contest

Snowdown 2025 Hot Wing Eating Contest

Photos: Durango High School girls swimmingDHS girls swimming hosts swim meet

DHS girls swimming hosts swim meet

Photos: People’s MarchAbout 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

About 300 people take to the street on Saturday in Durango

Photos: Fort Lewis College basketballWomen’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Women’s and men’s basketball teams take on South Dakota Mines

Photos: Wrestling at Durango High SchoolDurango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night

Durango High School boys wrestling beat Bayfield High School Tuesday night