Columnists

It’s a wrap

PlayFest 2026 Playwright Panel was held June 24 at Blue Rain Gallery. From left: Dan Lauria, John Farmanesh-Boca, Christian Missonak,…

July 1, 2026

Food

Food for thought on the Fourth of July

Sean Beckwith Durango Herald journalist. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)Jerry McBride If we want to localize it, my favorite food in Colorado…

July 1, 2026

Dear Abby

Sister shows true colors time and again

DEAR ABBY: When I was 16 and my sister “Daisy” was 18, I found out she was in a sexual…

July 1, 2026

Opinion

America’s National Parks: the public inheritance no billionaire can buy

Jeff Bezos may have a 417-foot yacht and multiple private jets and mansions, but here’s something very special about America:…

July 1, 2026

Sports

The art of the scorebook makes for a great game of baseball

FARMINGTON – There are several traditions within the sport of baseball that I genuinely enjoy. In addition to finding colorful…

June 30, 2026

Dear Abby

Hot-headed grandson pushes grandmother to ground

DEAR ABBY: My 20-year-old nephew, “Conrad,” has anger issues. His girlfriend recently broke up with him. He was upset and…

June 29, 2026

Action Line

If a bear can get in a can, what can we do?

If your bear-proof can is difficult to open, or is broken so that it opens without operating the lever (or…

June 29, 2026

Culture Gulch

Frankly speaking: Bud and Fran Franks saying goodbye to PlayFest board

Remember STEAM Park? Back in the teens, a group of civic-minded Durangoans developed a vision of a convention center that…

June 26, 2026

Southwest Life

Remarkable bumblebees stir up a buzz

A bumblebee flies around lupine. Note the long tongue! (Courtesy of Kestrel Detweiler) Mary Grizzard First, though – a few…

June 26, 2026

Dear Abby

Fiance tells widow no pictures of late husband in home

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been a widow for nine years and just got engaged. When I asked my fiance if I…

June 26, 2026

Opinion

The constitution doesn’t trust anyone, and that’s the point

An oversight hearing in North Carolina produced one of those moments that was equally viral and revealing. When Rep. Chesser…

June 26, 2026

Downtown Lowdown

Yope drops debut album

The Ohio Players. Goose. Mateus Osato. Those are a handful of bands or musicians the members of local band Yope…

June 24, 2026

Dear Abby

Truth emerges after two decades of concealment

DEAR ABBY: Years ago, my wife and I were separated. During that time, we still spent time together, had marital…

June 24, 2026

Opinion

Don’t override voters’ will on funding Colorado’s roads and bridges

Drive almost any highway in Colorado, and you can feel the problem in your hands. The wheel chatters over ruts,…

June 24, 2026

Dear Abby

Wife realizes husband is someone else

DEAR ABBY: I have experienced something that other women I know have said they have also experienced. I dated a…

June 22, 2026

Opinion

The lesson from D-Day: America fought fascism, Trump undermines its legacy

As we mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day, Americans must remember not only the courage displayed on the beaches of…

June 22, 2026

Action Line

Please re-leash me, don’t let me go

Between all the patchwork lands and rules in the area, you pretty much need to keep your dog on-leash. (Action…

June 22, 2026

Dear Abby

Late friend’s son brings feral children for visits

DEAR ABBY: My husband’s best friend died when we were in our early 30s. His son, “Marty,” recently moved back…

June 19, 2026

Opinion

Southwest Colorado officials: Michael Bennet has always delivered for our region

We are city, county and state officials from across La Plata and San Juan counties, and we agree that Michael…

June 19, 2026

Opinion

The high cost of political musical chairs: why Colorado needs Bennet in the Senate

As the 2026 Democratic primary for governor of Colorado approaches, voters will be asked to choose between two capable leaders:…

June 19, 2026

Downtown Lowdown

J. Roddy Walston is having a blast

J. Roddy Walston likes being in a rock ’n’ roll band. The Richmond, Virginia-based musician, reared on a healthy dose…

June 17, 2026

From the Humane Society

Animal Protection in La Plata County: What’s changed and what’s stayed the same

Some changes were made at the start of the year to how Animal Protection is structured in La Plata County.…

June 17, 2026

Dear Abby

Patriarch’s passing creates chasms

DEAR ABBY: My husband of 31 years died suddenly five years ago. Our family – four children, six grandchildren –…

June 17, 2026

Opinion

City Council silenced the voices of Durango residents

Editor’s note: This guest column published June 17, “City Council silenced the voices of Durango residents,” and an editorial published…

June 17, 2026