Opinion & Letters to the Editor

A vote of confidence for LPEA
Letters to the Editor

A vote of confidence for LPEA

May 9, 2026

Paying a utility bill to a monopoly provider can be frustrating, especially as the cost of living rises. That frustration might tempt you toward “change for change’s sake.” But as…

Leadership, process and public trust
Letters to the Editor

Leadership, process and public trust

May 8, 2026

I read the recent coverage of the Durango City Council’s selection of mayor and mayor pro tem with interest (Herald, April 24) and would like to offer a perspective based…

Purser will bring LPEA transparency, accountability
Letters to the Editor

Purser will bring LPEA transparency, accountability

May 8, 2026

LPEA members deserve transparency, accountability and a voice in major decisions. That is why I support John Purser for the District 4 board seat. Over the past several years, LPEA…

Hurd’s dismal public lands record
Letters to the Editor

Hurd’s dismal public lands record

May 8, 2026

I recently learned about this website – https://morethanjustparks.com/congressional-public-lands-score – and entered 81301. The results for Rep. Jeff Hurd were an “F.” I think this deserves news coverage, and he should…

Council actions undermine public trust
Letters to the Editor

Council actions undermine public trust

May 8, 2026

The article detailing the City Council’s departure from long-standing procedures for selecting the mayor and deputy mayor is deeply troubling (Herald, April 24). Public trust is not lost overnight –…

Focused on the future: Vote Jenkins, Luschen, Pitcher
Letters to the Editor

Focused on the future: Vote Jenkins, Luschen, Pitcher

May 8, 2026

The LPEA election is in full swing and, as expected, people who oppose progress and reliable, sustainable and affordable electricity are spreading misinformation and engaging in cruel personal attacks against…

Voters must do their homework
Letters to the Editor

Voters must do their homework

May 8, 2026

William Shakespeare famously asked, “What’s in a name?” The meaning behind the famous reply – “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” – suggests there is more…

Hurd seems happy with Washington
Letters to the Editor

Hurd seems happy with Washington

May 8, 2026

If you do not receive Rep. Jeff Hurd’s newsletter, you should. What you will see is Hurd smiling – a lot. Smiling in Pueblo, smiling in Crestone, smiling in Delta,…

Our view: Are fire truck prices justified?
Editorials

Our view: Are fire truck prices justified?

May 8, 2026

COVID-19 and the pent-up consumer demand that followed led to higher-than-usual price increases for both materials and wages, which have continued. Prices have a way of doing that, seldom falling…

Our view: Fire Ready Expo worth attending
Editorials

Our view: Fire Ready Expo worth attending

May 8, 2026

At a time of significant drought, attendance at La Plata County’s Fire Ready Expo on Saturday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds makes good sense. From 10 a.m. to 3…

Our view: Rethinking ‘No Mow May’
Editorials

Our view: Rethinking ‘No Mow May’

May 8, 2026

An Action Line inquiry this week asked whether it was safe to abandon “No Mow May” early because local lawns are already getting long after a warm spring (Herald, April…

Look beyond candidate name recognition
Letters to the Editor

Look beyond candidate name recognition

May 7, 2026

Have you heard of Phil Weiser for governor? Maybe not, or maybe only from the Herald’s disappointing headline (Herald, April 13), “Weiser takes aim at Bennet at Durango event.” Michael…

Community rallies to support Fr. John Jatau
Letters to the Editor

Community rallies to support Fr. John Jatau

May 6, 2026

Two and a half years ago, Fr. John Jatau came from Nigeria to Durango to assist and then lead our parish, St. Columba. He has truly been a man of…

Affordable energy requires honest accounting
Letters to the Editor

Affordable energy requires honest accounting

May 6, 2026

Susan Atkinson’s opinion (Herald, April 20) is right that energy policy has real consequences. When projects are delayed or costs increase through tariffs and regulation, consumers pay the price. That’s…

Protesters are well compensated for activism
Letters to the Editor

Protesters are well compensated for activism

May 6, 2026

We are handsomely paid for our protests. I have been protesting for many years – the Vietnam War, women’s rights, Black Lives Matter, No Kings, just to name a few.…

Our view: Bears
Editorials

Our view: Bears

May 6, 2026

La Plata County’s lead in human-bear conflict is nothing to celebrate By nearly every meaningful measure, this region ranks near the top in human-bear conflicts, from sightings and trash-related incidents…

Re-elect Luschen to continue LPEA progress
Letters to the Editor

Re-elect Luschen to continue LPEA progress

May 4, 2026

As of April 1, LPEA, our electric cooperative, has exited its restrictive contract with Tri-State and is now finally able to truly serve its members. This means keeping electric rates…

Red lights ignored, pedestrians endangered
Letters to the Editor

Red lights ignored, pedestrians endangered

May 4, 2026

I am an avid walker in our beautiful city of Durango. My dog and I make good use of the Animas River Trail and enjoy the many improvements over the…

FBI must not become a partisan weapon
Letters to the Editor

FBI must not become a partisan weapon

May 1, 2026

Beginning in the 1950s, my father was an FBI agent with a legal background who felt he was fighting dangerous criminals. I’m glad he didn’t live to see that organization…

Jenkins brings experience to LPEA District 3
Letters to the Editor

Jenkins brings experience to LPEA District 3

May 1, 2026

LPEA, our electric cooperative, and its members deserve knowledgeable and experienced directors. For the past 20 years, Jenn Jenkins has worked with rural stakeholders around the country providing affordable and…

Jenkins offers steady hand for LPEA’s future
Letters to the Editor

Jenkins offers steady hand for LPEA’s future

May 1, 2026

As a young homeowner in Durango, I’m paying close attention to the future of our local electric cooperative and the stability of the rates I’ll be living with for decades…

Try Utah
Letters to the Editor

Try Utah

May 1, 2026

Dear people of Durango, If you like to travel, then maybe you should try Utah. When you go to Utah, try Monarch or Fish Mouth. Just beware – both of…

Go outside
Letters to the Editor

Go outside

May 1, 2026

Dear people of Durango, In my opinion, people should go outside more. I think this because you can get a lot of exercise if you take a hike or a…

Orange chicken is the best
Letters to the Editor

Orange chicken is the best

May 1, 2026

Dear people of Durango, In my opinion, orange chicken is the best because it is so good! It has a great taste. When I eat it, it makes me strong.…

It feels so good to cook
Letters to the Editor

It feels so good to cook

May 1, 2026

Dear people of Durango, Please try to cook. It is really fun. If you eat it after, you will feel like, “Wow, I made that!” If you don’t get into…