Opinion &#038; Letters to the Editor

Our view: Fake news

depends on transparency, accuracy and owning our mistakes.

October 29, 2025

Our view: Compassion in Action

Helping Durango’s unhoused come in from the cold

October 27, 2025

Our view: Historic deluge

Plata County’s first responders showed extraordinary teamwork and heart

Southwest Colorado deserves answers on health care

What does Rep. Hurd think about health care and the government shutdown? Who knows. Hurd certainly does not communicate much…

No Kings Day uplifts community spirit

What is this energy we all sink into when we read the news? There’s so much anxiety followed by anger,…

Messaging furthers politics over protection

Has anyone looked at a USDA Forest Service website recently? Every page contains a banner blaming “Radical Left Democrats” for…

Trump and Putin want the same thing

It’s intuitively obvious to casual observers around our shared planet that Vlad Putin and Donald J. Trump want the same…

Rising property values don’t offset losses

After a lifetime in La Plata County, I was sure I had the budget figured out. Property values keep going…

Outside money, politics don’t belong in Durango

I received a text on Friday, Oct. 17, which was hilarious, though unintentionally so. “Take Politics out of Classes,” it…

When ‘allergic reactions’ are fentanyl poisoning

Recently, an older adult was referred to me with a question about an alleged food allergy. The story was that…

Hurd’s inaction speaks louder than his words

I have written several emails to U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd. Most centered on the extreme abuses of power exercised by…

Vote ‘yes’ to protect county services

Due to cuts in federal expenditure and property tax funding roads, bridges, public buildings, law enforcement, public safety, wildfires, floods,…

‘Yes’ on 1A: Sustain vital county services

This past weekend was a powerful reminder of how deeply our county government touches our daily lives. When the waters…

Shutdowns should hurt lawmakers, not workers

I liked the cartoon regarding a possible side effect of the government shutdown (Herald, Oct. 17). So, here’s a thought…

We all need government to work

To all last-minute voters, we all benefit from the services that our La Plata County departments provide. We all drive…

An open letter to Jeff Hurd

Rep. Hurd, you may have noticed that on Sat., Oct. 18 there were a large number of Americans marching to…

Stegner does not belong on school board

I am a long time Durango resident with children of varying ages who have attended public, charter and private schools…

Our medical system treats disease, not people

Before 1910, anyone with minimal education could “practice medicine”; quackery was rampant. The American Medical Association addressed this situation in…

Real Americans defend the vulnerable

Congratulations to the citizens of Frisco, Colorado, who came to the aid of a business owner being harassed by Trump’s…

Reckless riding endangers everyone on the ART

I have seen a few letters from people complaining about all the e-bike riders on the Animas River Trail, and…

Our view: A mea culpa

A broader look at libraries’ freedom to read

October 24, 2025

A second chance for DeNier and former inmates

I am curious as to why the DeNier building is not being used? What a perfect opportunity for transitioning inmates…

October 24, 2025

Why I’m voting ‘yes’ on 1A

Living near Vallecito, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly disaster can strike. Whether it’s the flooding we’ve just experienced or the…

October 23, 2025

What a lawsuit says about our phony economy

The $12 million award to the girl who fell from a Crested Butte ski lift will likely cost every ski…

October 22, 2025

‘Fix our Forests’ is a faux fix

During my time as a student at Fort Lewis College in the late ’70s, I came to cherish the beauty…

October 22, 2025

It’s time to pay for better roads

As a long-term resident, retired bank CEO, former Transportation Commissioner and consistent cyclist, I have seen first hand the effects…

October 22, 2025

Caring for those who cared for us

I am writing to urge our community to support Ballot Issue 1A, which is crucial for the health and well-being…

October 19, 2025

LL & MM benefit all Colorado students

Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program is in danger of ending. Since 2023, the program has funded meals for…

October 19, 2025