Columnists - The Durango Herald

Samuelson: How resilient is the typical American consumer?

WASHINGTON – The American consumer is the great engine of growth for the $19 trillion U.S. economy, representing nearly 70 percent of spending. If the consumer is confident and happy, chance...

DATE: Oct 9, 2017 | CATEGORY: Robert Samuelson

Woman not social after loss

DEAR ABBY: I am at that age when most of my friends and colleagues are having children. I suffered a miscarriage (my first pregnancy) a few months ago, and I have been feeling depressed ...

DATE: Oct 9, 2017 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Grads itching to leave Durango may be making rash decision

My daughter has been invited to apply for a full-ride scholarship to any in-state college, but she says she would rather be homeless and $300,000 in debt than go to college in Colorado. Do a...

DATE: Oct 8, 2017 | CATEGORY: Action Line

When the stress of a disaster causes death

Two weeks after Hurricane Irma, the Miami Herald reported that Florida’s unofficial death toll had risen to 75. Depending on the practice philosophies of Florida medical examiners, that figu...

DATE: Oct 8, 2017 | CATEGORY: Coroner's Report

Got a complaint about the travel industry? It’s got a complaint about you

“I’m weary of those entitled passengers who are continuously whining and complaining,” says Lisa Thomas, a veteran flight attendant based in Denver. “I feel like telling them, ‘Take some res...

DATE: Oct 8, 2017 | CATEGORY: The Travel Troubleshooter

Wife of slob fed up with mess

DEAR ABBY: I dearly love my husband. We’ve been married 33 years. We have raised three productive citizens, have five beautiful grandchildren and live in the heartland of America. ...

DATE: Oct 8, 2017 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

In death, Verlena showed us how to live a rich life

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” – Verlena Collentine, 2017 Reflecting on Verlena’s life for the last time publicly, I particularly note two things, aside...

DATE: Oct 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: Authentic Aging

The life-changing benefits of conscious spending

In an interview with a CNBC writer, I was sharing my story and thoughts on taking control of my money. As I tried to sum up the benefits of changing my money habits, I realized that consciou...

DATE: Oct 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: Money Savvy

We are all La Plata County; join the conversation

In addition to pumpkin carving, Halloween goblins and colorful oak-covered hillsides, October also means budget season for the La Plata County Commissioners, when we look at the hard work yo...

DATE: Oct 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: From the Chair

McLachlan, et al.,: Special session inaction hurts Western Slope

On Monday, the Western Slope Democratic caucus converged on Denver to join our colleagues at the state capitol for the first special legislative session held since 2012. The six o...

DATE: Oct 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman

Kristof: Inside North Korea, and feeling the drums of war

PYONGYANG, North Korea — To fly into North Korea on an old Russian aircraft is to step into an alternate universe, one in which “the Supreme Leader” defeats craven U.S. imperialists, in whic...

DATE: Oct 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: Nicholas Kristof

Larson: No more gerrymandering

Should voters pick their legislative representatives or should politicians pick their voters? Should congressional and legislative district boundaries – adjusted every 10 years after the Cen...

DATE: Oct 7, 2017 | CATEGORY: From our Congressman