Associated Press - The Durango Herald

Lawmakers can sue to ensure release of Epstein files, but not as part of Maxwell case, judge says

NEW YORK (AP) — Congressional cosponsors of a law forcing the Justice Department to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell can file a lawsuit seeking a court-appointed ob...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

US military transfers first 150 Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq

AL-HOL, Syria (AP) — The U.S. military said Wednesday it has started transferring detainees from the Islamic State group being held in northeastern Syria to secure facilities in Iraq. The m...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Pro Picks: Patriots will top the Broncos and Rams will edge the Seahawks to reach the Super Bowl

The NFL’s conference championship games feature both No. 1 seeds, two division rivals and a backup quarterback making his first start of the season. The Denver Broncos (15-3) host the New En...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Cody Bellinger stays with the Yankees, agrees to $162.5 million, 5-year contract, AP source says

Cody Bellinger became the last of the top free-agent hitters to reach a deal, agreeing Wednesday to stay with the New York Yankees for a $162.5 million, five-year contract, a person familiar...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Second fatal train crash shocks Spain as death toll in the first collision rises to 43

GELIDA, Spain (AP) — Commuter rail service in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region was suspended Wednesday after a Barcelona commuter train crashed the night before, killing one person and ...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

What the EU's 'trade bazooka' is and how it works

BRUSSELS (AP) — Rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump's threats over Greenland, the European Union is readying countermeasures against the United States. As primarily a trading bloc, the EU...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

After Minneapolis, Democrats confront political vulnerabilities as they battle Trump on immigration

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats had planned to campaign in the midterm elections on affordability and health care, two issues where Americans are particularly unhappy with President Donald Trump...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Indonesian handprints are the oldest cave art found yet

NEW YORK (AP) — Handprints on cave walls in a largely unexplored area of Indonesia may be the oldest rock art studied so far, dating back to at least 67,800 years ago. The tan-colored prints...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

From the NFL sidelines to a US Senate race: Michele Tafoya's new play

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya launched her campaign for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, hoping to win the Republican nomination for the Minnesota seat being va...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Everything you need to know about the 2026 Sundance Film Festival

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The 42nd Sundance Film Festival kicks off this week in Park City, Utah. It will be the last edition in its longtime home and the first without its founder Robert Redfo...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Rome pays last respects to fashion 'emperor' Valentino in a two-day public viewing

ROME (AP) — Rome was paying its last respects to the legendary Valentino on Wednesday at the start of a two-day public viewing for a fashion designer whose high-glamour gowns and trademark s...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

This just in from The New York Times: Its first 2-player game, and an evolving business model

For subscribers to The New York Times who are as interested in solving Wordle or filling in the crossword puzzle as in reading the latest political or business news, Wednesday is a big day. ...

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Associated Press

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members wore costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho’s bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the Secret Circus Society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this year’s costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since its inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Lawmakers can sue to ensure release of Epstein files, but not as part of Maxwell case, judge says

US military transfers first 150 Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq

Pro Picks: Patriots will top the Broncos and Rams will edge the Seahawks to reach the Super Bowl

Cody Bellinger stays with the Yankees, agrees to $162.5 million, 5-year contract, AP source says

Second fatal train crash shocks Spain as death toll in the first collision rises to 43

What the EU's 'trade bazooka' is and how it works

After Minneapolis, Democrats confront political vulnerabilities as they battle Trump on immigration

Indonesian handprints are the oldest cave art found yet

From the NFL sidelines to a US Senate race: Michele Tafoya's new play

Everything you need to know about the 2026 Sundance Film Festival

Rome pays last respects to fashion 'emperor' Valentino in a two-day public viewing

This just in from The New York Times: Its first 2-player game, and an evolving business model

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