Columnists

Presence makes potential suitor uncomfortable

DEAR ABBY: There’s a girl I really like, “Torie,” who has a certain enthusiasm for me that few, if any…

April 22, 2026

Man spends money meant for daughter

DEAR ABBY: My oldest granddaughter will be looking at colleges soon. My son and her mother are divorced. My parents…

April 20, 2026

Action Line

Maybe the town deer could do the lawn mowing in May?

Blue ear tags on a deer means that it had to be tranquilized to help it out after getting entangled…

April 20, 2026

The U.S. has cheap power – policy is making it more expensive

America’s strength has long depended on building – farms, factories, power plants and the infrastructure that allows communities to grow.…

April 20, 2026

Sports

Kelly: The Masters’ no-cellphone policy would be refreshing change in all sports

From professional to high school games, experiences would improve

Dear Rachel

How do I convince my neighbors to fire-proof their property?

(Adobe Stock) Dear Rachel, I, like many Durangoans, am worried that an unprecedented fire season is on the horizon. My…

Man’s online shopping drains patience

DEAR ABBY: My husband of 50 years sits in his chair for hours at a time making online purchases he…

Business

How sustainable businesses strengthen La Plata County

In a place like La Plata County, where our outdoor landscapes, rivers and open spaces are central to our identity,…

We are losing local farmland – and with it, open space and stability

“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays…

La Plata County Commissioners: Prepare for wildfire season right now

The La Plata County Commissioners are using this space to issue an urgent call to action to every resident and…

Downtown Lowdown

Lawn Chair Kings turn 25

It was a quarter century ago when local rock band Lawn Chair Kings first came onto Durango’s scene. A perfect…

April 15, 2026

Flirty drinking buddy crosses the line

DEAR ABBY: We were friends with a couple we met about five years ago. We went out together a few…

April 15, 2026

Backcountry turkey hunting and the Roadless Rule are both worth protecting

Twenty years ago, I had the privilege of first crossing paths with Durango resident David “Elkheart” Petersen at a public…

April 15, 2026

Friend’s husband busy behind her back

DEAR ABBY: I have a new close friend, and I am conflicted about whether I should inform her about her…

April 13, 2026

Appeals court errs in Peters’ case, but her guilt remains

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters hasn’t been exonerated. Colorado’s most infamous election denier is still guilty of a litany…

April 13, 2026

Action Line

Momma always said ‘clean your plate’

In Colorado, driving with an obscured license plate is a Class B traffic infraction that can result in a fine…

April 13, 2026

Son keeps mom an emotional hostage

DEAR ABBY: My wife recently immigrated to our current residence in the U.S. from Canada. She has a 23-year-old son…

Colorado budget cuts will hit schools, Medicaid, SNAP and rural hospitals

As I’m writing this, the House is hearing the “long bill,” which lays out the entire Colorado budget for the…

The White House AI framework leaves rural America behind

The administration released its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence in March, offering Congress seven legislative priorities meant to establish…

Colorado’s wolf restoration program is working – and worth protecting

Colorado’s wolf restoration program has hit a few bumps, but overall has been successful in beginning the restoration of a…

From the Extension Office

If water changes landscapes, its availability can also change our actions

It’s a seasonal reward to escape to the desert in spring. With a mere 150 miles between us, we can…

April 9, 2026

What's up in Durango Skies

Welcome to galaxies season

The Artemis II crew captured this view as the Earth sets behind the Moon during a lunar flyby April 6,…

April 8, 2026