Associated Press - The Durango Herald

Fire risk and strong winds continue in Southern California with potential rain on the horizon

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Parched Southern California was forecast to face more dangerous winds on Wednesday but could get some badly needed rain this weekend, dampening the prospects of another ro...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Winter storm that dropped record-breaking snow in New Orleans spreads into Florida and the Carolinas

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A major winter storm that slammed Texas and blanketed the northern Gulf Coast with record-breaking snow moved east Wednesday, spreading heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

GOP-led states are emboldened to keep rolling back trans rights. Democrats struggle with a response

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans and Democrats in Kansas agree that concerns about the economy drove voters to support President Donald Trump by a 16% margin. They also know that ads from Tru...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

A chef lost his dream home in the Palisades Fire. He keeps his spirits up by feeding others

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. (AP) — The Pacific Palisades home where chef Daniel Shemtob and his wife dreamed of raising a family is now nothing more than a cratered pit of twisted metal and ru...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Trump finds new ways to flex presidential power after returning to White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is swiftly breaching the traditional boundaries of presidential power as he returns to the White House, bringing to bear a lifetime of bending the li...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Search resumes after deadly flooding and landslides in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian rescuers retrieved two more bodies after they resumed their search Wednesday for people missing after floods and landslides on Indonesia’s main island of...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave, plans to lay them off

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave, plans to lay them off. ...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

South Korea to shrink biomass energy subsidies after criticism over link to deforestation

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The South Korean government will reduce subsidies for biomass energy after rising domestic and international criticism of its link to deforestation. Environmental a...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner elected to baseball's Hall of Fame

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. ...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump 's administration moved Tuesday to end affirmative action in federal contracting and directed that all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff ...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Trump administration throws out policies limiting arrests of migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration throws out policies limiting arrests of migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches. ...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law alleges abuse against second wife in affidavit to Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators vetting the nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary received an affidavit Tuesday from a former sister-in-law alleging that the onetime Fox News host was ...

DATE: Jan 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

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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

Photos: Where there's smoke there's firefightersDurango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Durango firefighters take advantage of the old River City Hall building for training

Photos: Durango plays Montezuma-Cortez in boys, girls high school basketballDurango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Durango girls and boys basketball teams defeat Montezuma-Cortez at DHS

Year in photos: A look back at Southwest Colorado in 2024Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is the people, their emotions, different cultures and varied forms of entertainment that make for impactful images. Add to that Southwest Colorado’s gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife and range of weather events, and you have the makings for stunning photos. We hope you enjoy Photo Editor Jerry McBride’s photos from 2024.

Each year brings some of the new and some of the old – breaking news and cherished traditions. It is...

Montezuma County DA Christian Hatfield charged with DWICharges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New MexicoMontezuma County District Attorney Christian Hatfield was charged Friday with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs 16 weeks after he crashed his SUV on U.S. Highway 64 outside Bloomfield.The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office charged Hatfield, 59, with petty misdemeanor charge of DWI and an open container in connection to the Aug. 30 single-car crash.The charges come after results from a blood test by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory showed alcohol and a drug in Hatfield’s body after the crash.

“The results show that at the time of the blood draw, which was approximately eleven hours after the time of the crash due to medical issues, were 0.05 g/100 ml of Ethanol and 0.04 mg/L of Zolpidem (Ambien). Both Ethanol and Ambien are Central Nervous System Depressants,” the law enforcement report states.Two vials of blood were taken from Hatfield at 1:33 p.m. Aug. 30, which was more than 12 hours after the crash occurred about 1 a.m. Those vials were received by the New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory at 10:26 a.m. Oct. 11, which was six weeks after the crash, according to records from the lab.An investigation into the blood warrant by The Journal newspaper in Cortez, Colorado, showed that the blood sample sat in a refrigerator at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office until Oct. 3, because paperwork to send it to the state laboratory was not processed.“I think it’s a non-prosecutable case because of all the errors made by law enforcement,” said Arlon Stoker, a high-profile defense attorney secured by Hatfield to fight the charges.

The charges made by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are “based on the observations made by law enforcement officers on scene and the presence of intoxicating drugs and liquors in Christian's blood,” according to the report that was given to The Journal by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.Amanda Lavin, legal director for NMFOG, assisted The Journal in accessing public records from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in Aztec. The records had been redacted, leaving out Hatfield’s name and information about the blood warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.Public records requests by The Journal and the Tri-City Record went unresolved for 14 weeks.The Journal requested body camera footage and lapel camera video on Sept. 3.The Tri-City Record requested any and all warrants, investigative reports and laboratory reports as well as photos, lapel cam videos and dash cam videos on Oct. 23.On Dec. 9, Lavin made the same requests.

The Journal received access to photos and videos in an email on Dec. 19, and Lavin, after making a legal argument for unredacted information, received the full report Dec. 19 and was advised that charges would be forthcoming.The report detailing the crash states that Hatfield was found “unresponsive and barely able to stand” about 1 a.m. Aug. 30 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and County Road 5099.Investigators and medics noted a “pungent” odor of alcohol coming from Hatfield, and investigators found “an open 12-ounce can of Mexican Lager with residual liquid inside,” an “empty wine glass,” and a “bottle of Ambien prescribed to Christian,” according to the report.The affidavit for search warrant for blood submitted by sheriff’s deputy Avery Killifer states he had an “opinion that the defendant was driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.” The deputy “placed the defendant under arrest” at the time, but Hatfield was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, because of “extensive injuries.”A summons was issued for Hatfield, and an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Charges come 16 weeks after crash near Farmington, New Mexico

Photos: Wreaths Across America honors fallen veteransDurango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Durango residents on Saturday honor those who served their country

Photos: Skyhawks men’s and women’s basketball Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Fort Lewis College men’s and women’s basketball lost to Regis on Saturday

Demons defeat Bobcats 62-47 on Friday at DHS

Fire risk and strong winds continue in Southern California with potential rain on the horizon

Winter storm that dropped record-breaking snow in New Orleans spreads into Florida and the Carolinas

GOP-led states are emboldened to keep rolling back trans rights. Democrats struggle with a response

A chef lost his dream home in the Palisades Fire. He keeps his spirits up by feeding others

Trump finds new ways to flex presidential power after returning to White House

Search resumes after deadly flooding and landslides in Indonesia

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave, plans to lay them off

South Korea to shrink biomass energy subsidies after criticism over link to deforestation

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner elected to baseball's Hall of Fame

Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave

Trump administration throws out policies limiting arrests of migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches

Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law alleges abuse against second wife in affidavit to Senate

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