The county is rightly taking Battery Energy Storage Systems seriously, regulating amid real safety concerns

Last January, a fire ignited in a California battery energy storage system (BESS), the world’s largest, spewing black billowing clouds of toxic chemicals and, when extinguishment was hampere...

New REI will impact local outdoor stores and challenge Durango’s independent businesses and spirit

Now that REI has opened its store (Herald , Aug. 24), I wanted to offer a different perspective than what has been represented in the Herald’s coverage of this issue, especially the edito...

Donald Trump’s assault on capitalism

Ask an American conservative what makes America great, and at least until about a week ago, he might have said that, among other virtues, it’s a country in which the government stays out of ...

Neighbor suddenly a fixture in lives

DEAR ABBY: I have a female friend, “Kylene,” who needs yard work done weekly. My fiance, “Josh,” goes over there to do the work for her. He charges $60. During the last two weeks, she has be...

Beyond the bell: Education for a meaningful, purposeful, impactful and fulfilling life

As board members of Animas High School, we are well aware that the world our students are stepping into is nothing like the one we grew up in. With everything from climate change and AI to a...

La Plata County Fair: A celebration of community, talent and 4-H Excellence

The 2025 La Plata County Fair was an incredible success, filled with laughter, learning and a deep sense of community pride. This year’s fair offered a perfect blend of tradition and innovat...

Local First offers free training programs for small businesses across Colorado

At Local First, we believe locally owned independent businesses are the backbone of Southwest Colorado’s economy and the heart of our community. Every day, we see the dedication, creativity ...

KNFRMST: Musicians, professors of punk

Punk’s not dead. While some may think otherwise, it’s never been dead. With the rise of “alternative rock” in the 1990s bringing punk rock into the living rooms, resulting in the jock and ch...

Another family torn apart: The human cost of ICE in Southwest Colorado

In our quiet corners of Southwest Colorado, where families work hard, children play, and neighbors care for one another, there is a story that too many in our immigrant community have lived....

Wife’s view of herself shrinks

DEAR ABBY: About eight months ago, I stumbled on my husband watching online porn. He admitted to habitual use but said it was just a stress reliever and he would stop viewing it. Meanwhile, ...

Let’s be the kind of community that looks out for each other – and for the bears

If you’ve lived in Durango for more than a minute, you know we share our beautiful mountain town with some pretty wild neighbors – black bears. And while they’re majestic to see from a dista...

Health insurance affordability is not just policy – it’s a deeply human issue

Colorado’s Western Slope faces a daunting health care affordability crisis as private insurance premiums for 2026 threaten to skyrocket. Preliminary filings with the Colorado Division of Ins...