Southwest Life

Travel

Visits to national parks dipped slightly in 2025 – after a record-breaking year

Tourists visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on November 1, 2022. Visits to national parks dipped slightly in…

March 30, 2026 • By Rachel Cohen — KUNC

Government health care

Health care costs in Colorado will grow under federal policy, patient advocates say

Sen. Hickenlooper says measure to require price transparency will help balance market

March 30, 2026 • By Lindsey Toomer — Colorado Newsline

Mountain Biking

As the BLM in Moab opens hundreds of miles of trails to e-bikes, Colorado land managers also weigh expansion

BLM’s Colorado River Valley Field Office is considering opening more than 220 miles of trails to e-bikes in Eagle, Garfield…

March 30, 2026 • By Jason Blevins — The Colorado Sun

And the West is History

And the West is History: Durango High School – ca. 1916

This is how Durango High School appeared shortly after its construction in 1916. Located at 201 E. 12th St., most…

March 30, 2026

Briefs

Spring Resource Fair to be held April 1

The Durango Education Foundation 2026 Spring Resource Fair will be held 4 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the La Plata…

March 27, 2026

Columns

Your home, your power: Building energy resilience in Southwest Colorado

Erika Brown Imagine a typical winter: temperatures dropped, a storm rolled in and your propane supplier can’t make it up…

March 27, 2026 • Erika Brown — Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency

And the West is History

And the West is History: Cascade Flume construction – 1924

Constructed between 1903 and 1904, the Cascade Flume transported water from Cascade Creek to Electra Lake. A separate section then…

March 23, 2026

Columnists

Congress rejects land protections

Over the past year, Congress has increasingly turned to a previously obscure legislative tool called the Congressional Review Act in…

March 21, 2026 • Mark Pearson — San Juan Citizens Alliance

4-H

Support Local Youth at the La Plata County 4-H Community Garage Sale

Spring has arrived, and for many of us that means it’s time to clean out closets, garages and storage spaces.…

March 21, 2026 • Angela Fountain — La Plata County Extension Office

Arizona

Apache women seek court intervention as federal land is turned over for copper mining

Mine shafts 10, left, and 9 tower over the Resolution Copper Mining Co. facility June 9, 2023, in Miami, Ariz.…

March 20, 2026 • By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN — The Associated Press

Crime

Woman who self-published book about coping with grief after husband’s death convicted in his killing

Defendant Kouri Richins, accused of poisoning her husband in March 2022, listens to closing arguments in the Third District Court…

March 20, 2026

And the West is History

And the West is History: St. Patrick’s Day supper providers – 1924

On St. Patrick’s Day in 1924, this group of high school women prepared a festive meal for the Durango School…

March 16, 2026

Tourism

What a reporter found when she returned to Cuba after last trip 3 years ago

Tourists travel in a classic American car along the Malecon littered with sargassum seaweed, in Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday, Jan.…

March 15, 2026 • By Laura Martínez and Dánica Coto — The Associated Press

Drought

In the West, snow drought is pushing cross-country ski areas closer to a breaking point

The Eldora Mountain Ski Resort Nordic Center is usually covered with more snow this time of year. Feb. 13, 2026.…

March 15, 2026 • By Sam Brasch — CPR News

Economy (general)

Once a beacon of cheap homes, Nevada has become a symbol of America’s struggle with high costs

Homes sites are seen under construction Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Las Vegas.cca Torres Suazo expects to continue sharing an…

March 14, 2026 • By JONATHAN J. COOPER — The Associated Press

Briefs

Duranglers to host Spring Fly Fishing Festival

Duranglers Spring Fly Fishing Festival will be held April 2 to 4 at various Durango venues. The fest will feature…

March 13, 2026

Briefs

Sunshine Gardens to hold fundraiser breakfast

Sunshine Gardens/Cornerstone will hold a community fundraiser breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. April 4 at 25 Sunshine Court. The…

March 12, 2026

Briefs

Local students named to Biola dean’s list

These local students were named to the Biola University dean’s list in fall 2025: Taia Shaffer, Durango, majoring in Bible,…

March 11, 2026

Briefs

Widowed and looking for support?

The loss of a spouse is one of life’s most difficult journeys. Durango Grief Center will hold a six-week widow…

March 11, 2026

Briefs

Easter Hop & Shop to be held in Ignacio

The ELHI Community Center will host the 2026 Hop & Shop vendor market and nighttime (teen) Easter Egg hunt from…

March 11, 2026

And the West is History

And the West is History: North U.S. Highway 550 construction – 1963

Durango’s Animas View Drive served as the primary northbound route to Silverton until 1963. West Animas Road, now County Road…

March 9, 2026

Ben Nighthorse Campbell

U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell’s successes

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, seen here in his eagle feather headdress, stands next to Southern Ute tribal member Kenny Frost…

March 8, 2026 • Andrew Gulliford — Staff reporter

Culture (general)

Exploring Mexico and its perceptions

A recent trip to Cancun featured culture, history and conversations about the country

March 8, 2026 • By David Ballantine — Special to the Herald

Columns

SJMA Education and Stewardship program strengthen connections in the Northern San Juans

A new education program of San Juan Mountains Association in action at Top of the Pine near Ridgway.cca This was…

March 7, 2026 • By John Malloy — Stewards of the Land