Associated Press New Mexico – The Durango Herald

New Mexico Democrats pick top contenders for June 7 primary

SANTA FE – New Mexico Democrats are deciding which candidates to put at the top of their primary election ballot in June as the party strives to retain control of every statewide office and ...

DATE: Mar 4, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: &#39;Absolute honor to be back&#39; after stroke

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico returned to Congress on Thursday for the first time since he had a stroke, which kept him away from Washington for weeks and temporarily weakened Democrat's hold on power in the equally divided Senate.

DATE: Mar 4, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico University suffers shortage of donated cadavers

ALBUQUERQUE – Fewer people in New Mexico are donating their bodies to science when they die, making training harder for medical students preparing for their careers. The University of New M...

DATE: Mar 4, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Election official warns residents about door-to-door canvas

SANTA FE – New Mexico's top election regulator and prosecutor are warning residents of Otero County to be wary of intrusive questions and potential intimidation by door-to-door canvassers li...

DATE: Mar 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico increases focus on race in K-12 despite backlash

SANTA FE – New Mexico’s K-12 students will see a greater focus on race and ethnicity, including Native American history, in their curriculum over the next two years under new standards aimed...

DATE: Mar 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico Gov. signs education bills, $10k teacher raise

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s governor signed law four bills into law that will increase funding for education, including major hikes to teacher salaries.

DATE: Mar 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico lowers cap in interest rates for storefront loans

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed legislation aimed at underwriting loans to local startup companies with taxpayer dollars and a consumer protection bill that lowers the maxi...

DATE: Mar 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Harassment complaint against New Mexico legislator advances

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An attorney for a woman who alleges she was sexually harassed by a prominent New Mexico state legislator says an investigation by the Legislature is moving forward after an initial vetting of the complaint.

DATE: Mar 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico governor asked to stand up to more nuclear waste

ALBUQUERQUE – A coalition of environmentalists and nuclear watchdogs on Tuesday delivered more than 1,000 petition signatures to Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham asking her to take all...

DATE: Mar 2, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico horse racing dispute spurs ethics complaint

An advocacy group that represents thousands of racehorse owners has filed an ethics complaint against New Mexico’s racing and gambling regulators, claiming violations of their constitutional...

DATE: Feb 28, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

O&#39;Keeffe Museum gets patent for high-tech transport crate

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Space age and farm age engineers have been teaming up with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to create a next-generation transportation crate for fine art as it travels the world.

DATE: Feb 28, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

New Mexico lawmaker pleads not guilty, won’t seek reelection

SANTA FE – A New Mexico lawmaker charged with drunken driving during this year’s Legislative session won’t seek re-election, according to a statement from her lawyer. “It has been an honor t...

DATE: Feb 26, 2022 | CATEGORY: New Mexico

Photos: Funeral procession for Cortez Police Sgt. Michael MoranHundreds of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran

Hundreds of law enforcement vehicles escort the body of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran

PHOTOS: Fort Lewis basketball teams entertain Adams StateFLC men win 100-80 on Tuesday, women lose 76-56

FLC men win 100-80 on Tuesday, women lose 76-56

Hundreds attend Candlelight vigil for Cortez police Sgt. Michael Moran

Skyhawks score 41 points off turnovers Monday at Whalen Gymnasium

Snowstorm moves through the areaThe season’s first big snowstorm causes problems for drivers and makes for a winter wonderland

The season’s first big snowstorm causes problems for drivers and makes for a winter wonderland

Photos: Singing with SantaSanta Claus makes his first appearance in Durango

Santa Claus makes his first appearance in Durango

Snow descends on DurangoForecasters say storm could dump 6 inches in Durango area

A fall storm that moved into Southwest Colorado Friday morning was expected to dump 6 inches of snow in the Durango area – more than weather forecasters had initially predicted.Snow started falling about 9:15 a.m. Friday and intensified shortly before 11:30 a.m., blanketing parks, vehicles and the hilltops overlooking the city. Roads became slick about 2:30 p.m. As of 4 p.m., the Durango Police Department had responded to six crashes, in addition to a few stranded motorists.U.S. Highway 160 at County Road 44 near Mancos Hill was closed from around 4 p.m. to just after 6 p.m. because a vehicle carrying an “oversized load” had spun out and blocked both the eastbound and westbound lanes, according to Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes.“Right now our officers are able to keep up with the crashes that are coming in,” said Cmdr. Nick Stasi, with the Durango Police Department. “As always with winter weather, we remind drivers to slow down and give extra space for the cars in front.”Snow started accumulating very fast as the day went on, making it “challenging for plow operators to keep up,” according to CDOT.

Southwest Colorado’s five major mountain passes were icy and snowpacked Friday afternoon. But all five remained open as of 4:15 p.m.The Pacific storm favored the southern and central Colorado mountains, said Dave Byers, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.“Durango looks like a 70% chance of getting 6 inches or more of snow by the end of tonight (Friday),” Byers said.He expected a half inch to three-quarters of an inch of moisture from the storm, which is up from the one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch that was predicted earlier this week. Meanwhile, the mountains could receive 1 to 2 feet of snow from the storm, he said.“In the last few days, it has really picked up,” Byers said. “The southern mountains are catching the brunt of it.”The snowy weather didn’t stop Liz Ferrill and her family from stopping by Cream Bean Berry for a Unicorn Sundae. “We thought it might be a festive way to celebrate,” said Ferrill, who was visiting from Snowmass, where the first snow occurred in September.For others, the snow provided the impetus they needed to swap out tires or purchase new snow tires. Andre Payne, a sales person at J/P Tire in Durango, said the phone began ringing shortly after 9 a.m. with people wanting to switch to snow tires.“We’ve been pretty busy,” he said.

It is not unusual for drivers to wait until they see the first snow and then want to swap out tires. The tire shop began advising customers to switch to snow tires about three weeks ago. Some people take the advice, other choose to wait.“We can always tell people what to do, but if you're not ready for it then you have to suffer the consequences of waiting two hours or maybe getting in an accident,” Payne said.Byers said Friday’s storm was the result of a southwest flow pulling moisture from Southern California, Arizona and the Gulf of California.As the moisture-laden atmosphere hits the San Juan Mountains, it wrings out the moisture, he said.Temperatures are expected to cool off as the storm makes its way out of the region this weekend. The highs this weekend will be in the upper 30s, and the lows could dip into the single digits, he said.“There’s still a northerly flow that is pulling cold air down out of Canada,” he said.Byers characterized Friday’s storm as a “shoulder storm” between summer and winter, but he said it is a sure sign that a regular track is settling in for Southwest Colorado.“We’re expecting regular storms … from now on, more into that winter pattern,” Byers said.Residents can expect mostly clear conditions through Wednesday, with clouds moving in the following day ahead of another storm that looks “very similar” to Friday’s storm, Byers said.shane@durangoherald.com; mhollinshead@durangoherald.com

Forecasters say storm could dump 6 inches in Durango area

PHOTOS: Turkey Trot returns to DurangoNearly 600 competitors ran before they gobbled down their Thanksgiving feasts on Thursday

Nearly 600 competitors ran before they gobbled down their Thanksgiving feasts on Thursday

PHOTOS: Durango faces Lutheran in 3A state football quarterfinalsDemons fall to Lions, 39-30, on Saturday

Demons fall to Lions, 39-30, on Saturday

PHOTOS: Fort Lewis basketball teams host doubleheaderThe men’s team beat Western New Mexico 87-68, while the women’s team fell in the final minutes to Northern New Mexico, 67-62

The men’s team beat Western New Mexico 87-68, while the women’s team fell in the final minutes to Northern New Mexico, 67-62