Regional News - The Durango Herald

Colorado to vote on ranked-choice voting, eliminating partisan primaries

Backers of Initiative 310 argue it will help advantage more moderate candidates

DATE: Aug 31, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Aug. 29-30

Durango Police Department Friday 12:41 a.m. A person on the 2600 block of North College Drive was arrested for driving under the influence. Thursday 10:53 p.m. Eight motorcycles were...

DATE: Aug 30, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

The Blotter, Aug. 27-28

Durango Police Department Wednesday 3:53 a.m. A person at Rotary Park, 1565 East Second Ave., was arrested for trespassing. 2:17 a.m. A man allegedly found under the influence at Mer...

DATE: Aug 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado lawmakers pass deal that could see lower property taxes for businesses, homeowners

Colorado’s special legislative session on property taxes has concluded, with the passage of a compromise bill to lower property tax rates and cap revenue growth. The deal is a source of angs...

DATE: Aug 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Electric vehicles aren’t more likely to ignite, but Colorado firefighters are adapting to the challenge of burning batteries

On Monday, a fiery electric vehicle crash killed a driver and shut down several lanes of Interstate 25. But while the use of battery-powered vehicles is growing in Colorado, safety groups sa...

DATE: Aug 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Property tax compromise passes key legislative hurdle, moves to state Senate

The bipartisan bill at the center of this week’s special session on property taxes cleared a crucial House vote Wednesday, 45-to-18, and has moved on to the state Senate. But for many of the...

DATE: Aug 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Aug. 22-27

Durango Police Department Tuesday 2:05 a.m. A loud alarm was sounding at the Mountain View Plaza Condominiums, 634 East Eighth Ave. Police made an arrest. Monday 10:49 a.m. A power line fell...

DATE: Aug 27, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado’s special session on property taxes may be a bumpy ride

It’s increasingly uncertain if a deal to cut taxes and prevent a pair of November ballot measures will survive

DATE: Aug 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

GOP chair Dave Williams voted out by party members in meeting he calls ‘illegitimate’

Members of the state Republican Party drove from across Colorado to a church in Brighton on Saturday morning, where they voted to remove state party chairman Dave Williams from his leadershi...

DATE: Aug 25, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Here’s how Colorado’s special session could save homeowners about 2% on property taxes

Colorado lawmakers will return this week to the state Capitol for an emergency special session. They’ll be considering a plan to reduce property tax rates. If they succeed, a group of busine...

DATE: Aug 25, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado awarded $12.6 million federal grant to plug methane-emitting oil and gas wells

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency are giving a $12.6 million boost to Colorado’s efforts to reduce methane emissions by plugging older, low-producing oil ...

DATE: Aug 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Aug. 21-22

Durango Police Department Thursday 6:26 p.m. A man who was allegedly drunk and harassing people at a Marathon gas station, 1680 Main Ave., was arrested for public intoxication. 2:09 ...

DATE: Aug 23, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

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

Colorado to vote on ranked-choice voting, eliminating partisan primaries

The Blotter, Aug. 29-30

The Blotter, Aug. 27-28

Colorado lawmakers pass deal that could see lower property taxes for businesses, homeowners

Electric vehicles aren’t more likely to ignite, but Colorado firefighters are adapting to the challenge of burning batteries

Property tax compromise passes key legislative hurdle, moves to state Senate

The Blotter, Aug. 22-27

Colorado’s special session on property taxes may be a bumpy ride

GOP chair Dave Williams voted out by party members in meeting he calls ‘illegitimate’

Here’s how Colorado’s special session could save homeowners about 2% on property taxes

Colorado awarded $12.6 million federal grant to plug methane-emitting oil and gas wells

The Blotter, Aug. 21-22

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