Regional News - The Durango Herald

Colorado legislators weigh grants for behavioral health services in jails

Committee considers other programs to help divert youth from criminal justice system, provide supportive housing to people deemed incompetent

DATE: Aug 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Space debris is a danger. Colorado’s congressional delegation wants to do something about it

‘There's 900,000 pieces of junk flying around in low Earth orbit,’ Sen. Hickenlooper says

DATE: Aug 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado governor calls special session on property taxes

Term will start Aug. 26 and last at least three days in order to send bill to governor’s desk

DATE: Aug 15, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Tim Walz, speaking at $3 million Denver fundraiser, attacks Trump for false AI-crowd claims

Democratic megadonor opens up his mansion to about 150 people for the occasion

DATE: Aug 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

After years of dings, coal-fired powerhouse Tri-State now noted for switch to solar, wind

Co-op umbrella utility is transforming into a renewable-energy giant covering four Western states

DATE: Aug 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

A bylaw amendment could make it more difficult to dislodge Colorado GOP chairman

Change would make it harder to call a special meeting to vote on whether to remove Dave Williams

DATE: Aug 13, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Tiny, endangered toads transplanted to Colorado pond successfully breed after 7 years

Biologists are thrilled at discovery of Boreal tadpoles in a bog in the mountains

DATE: Aug 13, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Former election clerk Tina Peters, hero to election deniers, found guilty

DENVER – Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, a hero to election deniers, was found guilty by a jury on most charges Monday in a breach of her county’s election computer system. Peters was acc...

DATE: Aug 12, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Coloradans cite cost concerns as major reason for delayed health care

Over two-thirds of adults in Colorado delayed or went without health care over the past year because it was too expensive, a recent survey from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative found....

DATE: Aug 11, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Aug. 2-7

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday 10:57 p.m. A person driving a semi truck asked for help in finding a place to park for the night. 7:09 p.m. A person on County Road 234 in ...

DATE: Aug 11, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Silverton’s Hardrocker Holidays games this weekend celebrate Colorado’s mining past

Colorado mountain towns share one big industry: you. Tourism is vital to these remote, picturesque spots. But mining is what started almost all of them. For one weekend a year, the tiny comm...

DATE: Aug 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado election officials train on how to combat AI misinformation

It’s noon on election day and a video of Colorado’s Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold is circulating, telling people that the state’s polling places will be staying open until 10 p...

DATE: Aug 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional 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 legislators weigh grants for behavioral health services in jails

Space debris is a danger. Colorado’s congressional delegation wants to do something about it

Colorado governor calls special session on property taxes

Tim Walz, speaking at $3 million Denver fundraiser, attacks Trump for false AI-crowd claims

After years of dings, coal-fired powerhouse Tri-State now noted for switch to solar, wind

A bylaw amendment could make it more difficult to dislodge Colorado GOP chairman

Tiny, endangered toads transplanted to Colorado pond successfully breed after 7 years

Former election clerk Tina Peters, hero to election deniers, found guilty

Coloradans cite cost concerns as major reason for delayed health care

The Blotter, Aug. 2-7

Silverton’s Hardrocker Holidays games this weekend celebrate Colorado’s mining past

Colorado election officials train on how to combat AI misinformation

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