Regional News - The Durango Herald

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

Renters don’t benefit from property tax cuts, experts tell Colorado legislative panel

Experts told Colorado’s property tax commission on Thursday that rate cuts and tax decreases don’t often translate into savings for renters but that tax hikes can lead to higher rents. This ...

DATE: Oct 27, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado election reformers face conservative critics in Proposition 131 debate

Polls show GOP opposition to ranked choice voting as red states move to enact bans

DATE: Oct 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Scheme to cast votes on stolen mail ballots thwarted by Colorado election officials

Effort was blocked by state’s voter signature verification process

DATE: Oct 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

President Biden to apologize for 150-year Indian boarding school policy

NORMAN, Okla. – President Joe Biden said he will formally apologize on Friday for the country’s role in forcing Indigenous children for over 150 years into boarding schools, where many were ...

DATE: Oct 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Domestic violence deaths in Colorado dropped by more than a third in 2023

The drop amounted to 58 deaths last year, compared to 94 the year prior

DATE: Oct 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Diverging grassroots, super PAC funding shaping Colorado’s 2024 congressional races

Races in three of Colorado’s eight congressional districts are attracting campaign contributions by the truckload in 2024, especially from Democrats. But outside spending figures suggest a s...

DATE: Oct 20, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado officials encourage voters to be wary of intimidation, election disinformation

Two top state officials in Colorado recently shared information to ensure voters are informed on their right to vote free of intimidation and how to avoid election disinformation ahead of th...

DATE: Oct 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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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

Oil company agrees to clean up historic lead contamination in Rico

Colorado accidentally put voting system passwords online

Mailer in CD-3 appears aimed at boosting Libertarian candidate

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

The Blotter, Oct. 25-27

Renters don’t benefit from property tax cuts, experts tell Colorado legislative panel

Colorado election reformers face conservative critics in Proposition 131 debate

Scheme to cast votes on stolen mail ballots thwarted by Colorado election officials

President Biden to apologize for 150-year Indian boarding school policy

Domestic violence deaths in Colorado dropped by more than a third in 2023

Diverging grassroots, super PAC funding shaping Colorado’s 2024 congressional races

Colorado officials encourage voters to be wary of intimidation, election disinformation

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