Opinion https://www.durangoherald.com/section/columnists-opinion/feed/ Stay informed with the latest breaking news, local stories, sports, business, weather, and community events from Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners region. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:51:58 -0600 en-us 30 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/a-managed-campground-would-protect-durangos-trails-and-its-unhoused-neighbors/ I don’t blame anyone who’s homeless for trying their best to maintain a shelter, especially in the winter months. That said, something more needs to be done to manage homelessness in Durango, because the damage unregulated camping has done to... Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 2359D698-260C-4B5F-9DE4-849F4105AC05 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/choosing-to-live-fully-not-defined-by-an-alzheimers-diagnosis/ Kim Martin I’ve been off my game lately. That’s how I started an article that I wrote in its entirety last week to turn in to the Durango Herald. In it I complained of anxiety about what’s to come and... Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 C02CCB9E-9A5C-41F4-BEDF-5B2F894B192E https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/protecting-southwest-colorado-wildfires-water-and-our-way-of-life/ Katie Stewart After a record-breaking March that left much of our mountain snowpack depleted, forecasters predict June and July will be our hottest months of the year. With less snowpack comes less water flowing into our rivers and reservoirs, drier... Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:03:57 -0600 915A0BFC-8EFF-4910-925A-E0A07B5E0361 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/world-cup-is-the-best-global-diplomacy-america-has-had-in-years/ Yes, I have been watching the World Cup games, though I must admit that I was often reading the paper while doing so. Soccer is still a bit of an enigma to me and to many fellow Americans, as well.... Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 D3E76550-1590-4A46-81C1-207F0B1B3651 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/honoring-the-fallen-while-preparing-for-the-fire-season-still-ahead/ In Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, wildfire is a fact of life. Every summer, communities across Western and Southern Colorado prepare for the possibility that a single spark can threaten homes, businesses, public lands and lives. This year, that threat is... Mon, 06 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 51C0D873-A643-4B91-BA75-36E783DF069D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/celebrating-250-years-of-the-american-experiment-and-defending-its-future/ The United States has long been described as one of history’s most ambitious democratic experiments – not because its democracy has been flawless, but because it rests on a bold proposition: that a diverse people can govern themselves through liberty,... Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 826D3BDE-E9E6-43DF-AE02-ED9E59783DE2 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/the-declaration-of-independence/ Editor’s note: Saturday marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Most of us know the preamble by heart – “We hold these truths to be self-evident” – and little else. That’s a loss, because the bulk of... Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 DC041C36-7DA2-452B-80F1-38EAF6C2A391 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/americas-national-parks-the-public-inheritance-no-billionaire-can-buy/ Jeff Bezos may have a 417-foot yacht and multiple private jets and mansions, but here’s something very special about America: I have a couple of summer retreats that he could never buy. One is a spot beside a glacier-fed creek... Wed, 01 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 1730E111-0C43-4EC7-B25B-211559B942A0 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/the-constitution-doesnt-trust-anyone-and-thats-the-point/ An oversight hearing in North Carolina produced one of those moments that was equally viral and revealing. When Rep. Chesser asked Mecklenburg County Sheriff McFadden a basic civics question – “Which branch of government does his office operate under?” –... Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 5A989B93-8E65-4C54-9232-7C793198C95F https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/dont-override-voters-will-on-funding-colorados-roads-and-bridges/ Drive almost any highway in Colorado, and you can feel the problem in your hands. The wheel chatters over ruts, you swerve to miss potholes and you grip a little tighter on narrow, crumbling shoulders that should have been rebuilt... Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 AD50F26D-BB6F-4D68-AECB-32CE9D8A8C92 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/the-lesson-from-d-day-america-fought-fascism-trump-undermines-its-legacy/ As we mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day, Americans must remember not only the courage displayed on the beaches of Normandy but also what that sacrifice was intended to achieve. More than 156,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel on... Mon, 22 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 F8F5DAB3-D620-4465-8D15-8A687C957C1D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/southwest-colorado-officials-michael-bennet-has-always-delivered-for-our-region/ We are city, county and state officials from across La Plata and San Juan counties, and we agree that Michael Bennet has always been a staunch friend and ally of our corner of Colorado, has listened to us and has... Fri, 19 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 4A3050EE-EFAB-4B2D-B1C9-38A0AA374B57 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/the-high-cost-of-political-musical-chairs-why-colorado-needs-bennet-in-the-senate/ As the 2026 Democratic primary for governor of Colorado approaches, voters will be asked to choose between two capable leaders: Attorney General Phil Weiser and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. Both are fine public servants, with significant public service records and... Fri, 19 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 3F3CBAB6-C191-4C35-8093-2C001C3034C6 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/city-council-silenced-the-voices-of-durango-residents/ Editor’s note: This guest column published June 17, “City Council silenced the voices of Durango residents,” and an editorial published the same day, “Our view: Let the people speak,” contained factual errors. The column stated that city leaders “denied citizens... Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 F216AE6E-A15F-4E91-BE20-2789C3DAF5AB https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/colorados-most-important-election-may-be-the-one-youre-skipping/ Every November, Colorado voters turn out in impressive numbers. Every June, a different story unfolds. Bill Owens Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans who faithfully vote in general elections never cast a ballot in the primary elections that help determine which... Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 E32BFC80-56B3-4646-9D40-04B0EC0FB74D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/barb-kirkmeyer-real-solutions-proven-leadership-for-a-stronger-colorado/ Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in America. From the ranches and farms that feed our communities to the mountains, rivers and small towns that define the Western Slope, our state is worth fighting for. Yet too many... Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 E7ED4809-152C-4359-8F27-7B0D9D109417 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/new-yorks-bromate-ban-jeopardizes-its-greatest-products/ New York lawmakers have passed legislation banning bromate. I know, shocking, right? This is not a ban that affects neighborhood bros, homeboys and mates. No, it’s worse. It is a ban on potassium bromate, an iconic dough conditioner long used... Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 DFC87D44-8574-4ACF-B8DB-B3A2A67DC270 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/from-the-mountains-to-the-capitol-colorado-kids-need-a-champion-for-youth-mental-health/ Colorado is a state that takes pride in its quality of life – our mountains, outdoor culture and thriving communities. But there is a quieter crisis that has been building in Southwest Colorado and across our state, and it’s one... Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 C992C950-36D5-45EB-80A8-D19A76494C47 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/father-johns-message-was-love/ Father John Jatau, the parish priest at St. Columba Church, has left Durango. “God is great, all the time” was his greeting. His baseball hat said the same. You had to know him to appreciate the impact of those words.... Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 9341939E-C594-47FF-B6CB-05EC5220F55A https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/geothermal-energy-legislation-moves-forward-with-strong-bipartisan-support/ For many Americans, Washington can feel disconnected from the challenges people face at home. Too often, political debates generate headlines but little progress. When I ran for Congress, I made a simple commitment: focus on delivering results for Colorado’s 3rd... Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 C7875864-225D-4EF3-9431-295763F5055F https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/policing-homelessness-worsens-the-crisis/ A criminal record never helped me improve my life. I gained no benefit from mine and, though some people may think “that’s the point,” that is exactly my point. No amount of jail or probation got me any closer to... Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 F09A1F98-CBB9-4572-A7AF-77D2AB396895 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/michael-bennet-colorados-future-is-worth-fighting-for-together/ Editor’s note: The Herald Editorial Board invited Democratic and Republican candidates for Colorado governor to submit guest columns for publication. Columns are published as submitted, subject to editing for length, clarity and style. Republican candidates’ columns are scheduled to appear... Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 1C7DDFCC-2E24-437D-9033-A93D850DF963 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/what-we-lose-when-politics-becomes-tribal-and-performative/ I’ve posted political jabs online that felt sharp in the moment – and embarrassed me an hour later. They land exactly the way you expect: likes, agreement, a small rush of validation. And then they curdle. Read back an hour... Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 77C9F6E7-B89F-424E-BCF7-A8FDB296BCD2 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/business-growth-and-housing-expansion-could-reverse-la-plata-countys-economic-decline/ Editor’s note: Part I of this two-part column appeared in the Friday edition. Reversing these trends will require more than small adjustments. Two major initiatives could fundamentally change the county’s economic trajectory. First, build a business park. Roger Zalneraitis When... Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 E3AFCAD6-8C31-4B44-9BD2-D66DDF7C9F27 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/la-plata-countys-economy-is-stagnating-as-workers-and-families-are-pushed-out/ Editor’s note: This is Part I of a two-part column examining La Plata County’s economy. Part II will appear Monday, June 1. The La Plata County economy is failing. A lack of economic growth is contributing to declines in jobs... Fri, 29 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 CF71321F-FE48-4859-BB6B-B12E66AFBF06 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/responsible-mining-the-la-platas-are-not-ours-to-gamble-away/ I cry during movies frequently, though I am rarely – if ever – wrecked by a children’s movie. “Hoppers” did it; minutes in, I felt tears welling as the on-screen grandmother teaches her granddaughter Mabel to turn to nature for... Fri, 29 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 6E540692-735D-44D2-BB9A-6C917AE484FE https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/ted-turner-leaves-enduring-conservation-legacy-across-the-american-west/ Before he died at age 87 in early May, Ted Turner knew that stewardship of land would be his real legacy. Of course, he might also be long known for starting CNN and 24-hour news, as well as building a... Wed, 27 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 824707D2-C338-478F-B203-C4BC11D84B1C https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/remember-me/ Bob Harms I am Corporal Allen Stall; I am ALL those you will never know, I am those who lived and died far away, because I went where others didn’t go. Yes, you can call me corporal, but that really... Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 C573E682-31F8-4E9C-9BD6-1A5134C3470C https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/durangos-public-lands-need-rep-hurds-voice-and-vote-in-washington/ Drive any direction from downtown Durango, and you find public land within minutes. The San Juan Mountains surround us – the foundation of our economy, our identity and the lives we’ve built. Each of us is a joint owner of... Fri, 22 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 66337FE1-4466-4656-90A6-2B9D2A7BEB47 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/why-durango-school-district-is-building-three-springs-elementary-despite-enrollment-declines/ I understand why some community members are asking questions about building a new school while the district is discussing enrollment declines and budget challenges. Those are fair questions, and they deserve a clear answer. The answer starts with understanding that... Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 892C383F-081A-49A6-813A-EF41266AC742