Regional News - The Durango Herald

Federal judge blocks Trump threats to remove Coloradans from SNAP

Preliminary injunction blocks order that would have required Colorado to conduct in-person interviews for 100,000 households receiving food stamps

DATE: Jan 29, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado’s population growth is slowest since 1989 as thousands leave for other states

People are leaving; guess where they’re going

DATE: Jan 28, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado Democrats in Congress call on Noem to resign after ICE shootings

Rep. DeGette says ICE should be dismantled if agency is not held to ‘strict standards’

DATE: Jan 28, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Jan. 23-28

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office Friday 2:52 p.m. Someone called deputies to inform them that their neighbor’s ex-boyfriend was doing burnouts in their car out front of their house on H...

DATE: Jan 28, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado wildlife officials search for person who shot bald eagle with ball bearing

Bird was found Jan. 12 along the shoreline of Croke Reservoir in Northglenn

DATE: Jan 26, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Governors of Colorado River states summoned to D.C. in hopes of breaking negotiations impasse

Jared Polis plans to attend meeting

DATE: Jan 26, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Trump administration must keep funding Colorado’s poorest families, judge rules in temporary reprieve

President seeks to freeze $10 billion across five states, hitting child care assistance, among other programs

DATE: Jan 26, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

ICE agents leave ace of spades ‘death cards’ on detained immigrants’ cars

Card has a history of being used as a tool of intimidation by white supremacist groups

DATE: Jan 26, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Telluride Town Council launches investigation into councilwoman who proposed deal to buy ski resort

Mayor pro tem joined the now-resigned Mountain Village mayor in pursuing a deal

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Another gray wolf has died, bringing total to 11 of 25 brought to Colorado

Female’s cause of death hasn’t been determined

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Tina Peters involved in prison altercation, Department of Corrections says

Former election appears to grab another inmate by the neck and shove her

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado Parks and Wildlife pauses wolf reintroductions for the season

‘It’s challenging for us to find a population source that meets (federal) guidance,’ spokesman says

DATE: Jan 21, 2026 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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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

Federal judge blocks Trump threats to remove Coloradans from SNAP

Colorado’s population growth is slowest since 1989 as thousands leave for other states

Colorado Democrats in Congress call on Noem to resign after ICE shootings

The Blotter, Jan. 23-28

Colorado wildlife officials search for person who shot bald eagle with ball bearing

Governors of Colorado River states summoned to D.C. in hopes of breaking negotiations impasse

Trump administration must keep funding Colorado’s poorest families, judge rules in temporary reprieve

ICE agents leave ace of spades ‘death cards’ on detained immigrants’ cars

Telluride Town Council launches investigation into councilwoman who proposed deal to buy ski resort

Another gray wolf has died, bringing total to 11 of 25 brought to Colorado

Tina Peters involved in prison altercation, Department of Corrections says

Colorado Parks and Wildlife pauses wolf reintroductions for the season

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