Regional News - The Durango Herald

Gray wolf tracked south of Interstate 70 for first time since reintroduction

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says migration is not unexpected

DATE: Nov 4, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Pro-democracy group’s Colorado election hotline sees uptick

Common Cause Colorado fields voter questions and reports of threats

DATE: Nov 2, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Proposition KK: What voters should know about Colorado’s proposed excise tax on guns, ammunition

Referred to the ballot by the state legislature, Colorado’s Proposition KK would impose a new 6.5% excise tax on guns and ammunition to fund support services for crime victims and other programs

DATE: Nov 2, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The last of Colorado’s dairy cows infected with bird flu have been released from quarantine

Earlier this summer, Colorado broke records for the highest number of reported cases in U.S. dairy herds to be infected with avian flu. It was also the first time Colorado’s dairy industry w...

DATE: Nov 2, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

What are Colorado’s voting machine BIOS passwords?

Passwords that make up part of the security system for computer equipment used in Colorado elections were published in a spreadsheet on the Secretary of State’s website. The posting of the “...

DATE: Nov 2, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

CD3 candidates make final push for votes ahead of election

Democrat Adam Frisch and Republican Jeff Hurd vying to replace Lauren Boebert

DATE: Nov 1, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

How a few unaffiliated voters who disliked Boebert feel about their options now

Unaffiliated voters make up the largest share of the electorate in the 3rd District

DATE: Nov 1, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Oil company agrees to clean up historic lead contamination in Rico

Mayor, state hail deal with Atlantic Richfield Co. to remove lead hazard from Colorado mountain town

DATE: Oct 31, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado accidentally put voting system passwords online

Lapse did not pose immediate threat to upcoming election

DATE: Oct 31, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Mailer in CD-3 appears aimed at boosting Libertarian candidate

Democratic campaign literature labels Libertarian James Wiley as ‘the strongest Trump supporter in the race’

DATE: Oct 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

How does abortion translate? Ballot measures are a challenge for interpreters

Vague or technical terms can be challenging, especially when it comes to Indigenous languages

DATE: Oct 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter, Oct. 25-27

Durango Police Department Sunday 12:30 a.m. A woman reportedly assaulted someone at 8th Avenue Tavern, 509 East Eighth Ave. 12:53 p.m. Five men were fighting, according to a report ...

DATE: Oct 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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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