Regional News - The Durango Herald

As session hits final days, Democrats push forward with gun bills

Nearly a dozen gun bills remain active, but opposition is stiff

DATE: Apr 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, April 26-28

Durango Police Department Sunday Noon: A man was waiving a crowbar and hitting his own vehicle in the 700 block of Tech Center Drive. 5:31 p.m. Someone reported finding a pair of ski...

DATE: Apr 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Grants available for programs that will reduce community gun violence in Colorado

Colorado’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention opened up applications for grant funding available for grassroots and nonprofit organizations working to prevent gun violence within the state. T...

DATE: Apr 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado lawmakers scale back legislation to limit local control over renewable energy projects

A new bill introduced in the Colorado Senate last week cautiously wades into a growing debate over community opposition to utility-scale wind and solar projects. An early version of the legi...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

To spread word of free tuition and boost low-income enrollment, one university goes on Western Slope high school tour

In Colorado, fewer than half of high school graduates go on to college, well below the national average. In recent years, universities across the state have stepped up efforts to change that...

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

‘We would lay our arms down:’ Is this the end of the property tax wars, or just another battle?

Once again, Colorado lawmakers are debating a big plan to reduce property tax rates

DATE: Apr 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, April 25-26

Durango Police Department Friday 12:02 a.m. Someone was running a backpack blower in the north City Market parking lot, 3130 Main Ave., creating a noise disturbance. 1:05 a.m. Smoke ...

DATE: Apr 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Local author to publish novel centered around grief in 2025

The novel has been in the works for 10 years

DATE: Apr 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado used to be a national leader in home solar. Two big moves could push it back on top.

State awarded $156 million federal grant to get rooftop solar for low-income families, while a bill in the legislature would boost community solar projects

DATE: Apr 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado’s craft beer boom may be winding down as tastes shift and costs rise

The smell of fresh hops permeated the air as Shawnee Adelson sat at Joyride Brewing Company in Edgewater. As Adelson set up her office for the day, workers were preparing a fresh batch of cr...

DATE: Apr 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, April 24-25

Durango Police Department Thursday 1:20 a.m. Someone reported a loud party at the Silver Peaks Condominiums, 1100 Goeglein Gulch Road. Wednesday 7:42 a.m. Police responded to a rear-...

DATE: Apr 25, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, April 19-23

Durango Police Department Tuesday 12:04 p.m. A man had drug paraphernalia and needles strewed on a table at Wendy’s, 1840 Main Ave. 6:28 p.m. A woman was yelling at no one in the 310...

DATE: Apr 24, 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

As session hits final days, Democrats push forward with gun bills

The Blotter, April 26-28

Grants available for programs that will reduce community gun violence in Colorado

Colorado lawmakers scale back legislation to limit local control over renewable energy projects

To spread word of free tuition and boost low-income enrollment, one university goes on Western Slope high school tour

‘We would lay our arms down:’ Is this the end of the property tax wars, or just another battle?

The Blotter, April 25-26

Local author to publish novel centered around grief in 2025

Colorado used to be a national leader in home solar. Two big moves could push it back on top.

Colorado’s craft beer boom may be winding down as tastes shift and costs rise

The Blotter, April 24-25

The Blotter, April 19-23

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