Opinion https://tj.durangoherald.com/section/columnists-opinion/feed/ Latest local news from The Durango Herald. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 21:00:22 -0600 en-us 30 https://tj.durangoherald.com/protecting-southwest-colorado-wildfires-water-and-our-way-of-life/ Katie Stewart After a record-breaking March that left much of our mountain snowpack depleted, forecasters predict June and July will be our hottest months of the year. With less snowpack comes less water flowing into our rivers and reservoirs, drier... Fri, 17 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 9D4D8527-4988-41E9-A5B9-263D01BA40EA https://tj.durangoherald.com/after-fur-debate-gratitude-for-colorado-wildlife-professionals-remains-strong/ The March meeting of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission centered on proposed changes involving the sale of furs from legally harvested wildlife. In the end, the commission voted 6-4 to advance rule changes that many in the room –... Sun, 12 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 9C9B9EC2-D367-4A6E-8C79-7F1356FB4A1C https://tj.durangoherald.com/honoring-the-fallen-while-preparing-for-the-fire-season-still-ahead/ In Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, wildfire is a fact of life. Every summer, communities across Western and Southern Colorado prepare for the possibility that a single spark can threaten homes, businesses, public lands and lives. This year, that threat is... Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 C8768FFE-7A98-4C2D-8270-E95C13503768 https://tj.durangoherald.com/dont-override-voters-will-on-funding-colorados-roads-and-bridges/ Drive almost any highway in Colorado, and you can feel the problem in your hands. The wheel chatters over ruts, you swerve to miss potholes and you grip a little tighter on narrow, crumbling shoulders that should have been rebuilt... Sun, 05 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0600 8F8F9D26-EA20-4ECA-B3AA-98082C991114 https://tj.durangoherald.com/colorados-most-important-election-may-be-the-one-youre-skipping/ Every November, Colorado voters turn out in impressive numbers. Every June, a different story unfolds. Bill Owens Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans who faithfully vote in general elections never cast a ballot in the primary elections that help determine which... Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 3135032A-C5BE-4A9D-ADF3-C26D3C748543 https://tj.durangoherald.com/barb-kirkmeyer-real-solutions-proven-leadership-for-a-stronger-colorado/ Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in America. From the ranches and farms that feed our communities to the mountains, rivers and small towns that define the Western Slope, our state is worth fighting for. Yet too many... Sun, 21 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 BBC57C9F-39E9-49BC-8934-FF6C884721E8 https://tj.durangoherald.com/our-wins-for-hd-59-and-advancing-affordability-in-southwest-colorado/ We brought real progress home to HD-59 this legislative session. I’m proud to share that 14 of my bills were signed into law. We also worked across the aisle, successfully passing seven bipartisan bills through the Legislature. From healthcare and... Fri, 19 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 97130B13-FDCE-4401-A1B6-0CB3DDD2C721 https://tj.durangoherald.com/understanding-who-does-what-a-lesson-in-municipal-county-and-state-responsibilities/ When residents have questions or concerns, one of the most common sources of confusion is determining which level of government is responsible for providing a particular service. In Colorado, responsibilities are divided among municipalities, counties and the state. While they... Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 7043B2A6-30DC-4F12-8B88-3459D53A949E https://tj.durangoherald.com/michael-bennet-colorados-future-is-worth-fighting-for-together/ Editor’s note: The Journal Editorial Board invited Democratic and Republican candidates for Colorado governor to submit guest columns for publication. Columns are published as submitted, subject to editing for length, clarity and style. Republican candidates’ columns are scheduled to appear... Sun, 14 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 B51AC669-DCFF-4FAD-A635-CD8B73FE11FD https://tj.durangoherald.com/from-the-mountains-to-the-capitol-colorado-kids-need-a-champion-for-youth-mental-health/ Colorado is a state that takes pride in its quality of life – our mountains, outdoor culture and thriving communities. But there is a quieter crisis that has been building in Southwest Colorado and across our state, and it’s one... Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 2AFE659D-5B2A-4956-A08B-AC3B760CE9E9 https://tj.durangoherald.com/geothermal-energy-legislation-moves-forward-with-strong-bipartisan-support/ For many Americans, Washington can feel disconnected from the challenges people face at home. Too often, political debates generate headlines but little progress. When I ran for Congress, I made a simple commitment: focus on delivering results for Colorado’s 3rd... Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0600 3CFD9EF5-48D8-4DFA-8720-102B39F4C04D https://tj.durangoherald.com/colorado-lawmakers-keep-dodging-debate-over-public-stream-access-rights/ It’s perplexing that preserving legal public stream access remains one of the most untouchable topics in the Colorado legislature. Our state’s constitution boldly proclaims that every natural stream belongs to the public, yet bizarre court rulings have twisted that promise... Sun, 17 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 2967B4F2-216F-42AC-91D3-E1339B1ECFBC https://tj.durangoherald.com/colorado-budget-passes-but-long-term-fiscal-imbalance-remains-unresolved/ As the Second Regular Session of the 75th Colorado General Assembly winds down, the conversation once again centers on the state’s annual budget. On April 30, the General Assembly finalized next year’s fiscal plan and sent it to the governor... Fri, 15 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 8BCB5891-549D-4D3C-A7F4-CEED9A809FF2 https://tj.durangoherald.com/legislative-sessions-final-sprint-votes-signing-ceremonies-and-upcoming-town-halls/ This year’s legislative session ends May 13, and we worked through the weekend to get bills across the finish line. If you’d like to learn more about our work over the past year, come to one of my town halls.... Wed, 13 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 4D00833F-F38C-4A9F-B812-6CDE29CB8524 https://tj.durangoherald.com/delivering-reliable-water-for-tribal-communities-in-the-west/ In parts of the Upper Colorado River Basin, families still live without reliable access to safe drinking water. That’s not a resource problem; it’s a delivery problem. Hurd For decades, the federal government has made commitments to tribal communities to... Fri, 08 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 07E7735A-5CF1-41D7-BFFB-AD1BB0EE73B8 https://tj.durangoherald.com/keeping-montezuma-county-beautiful-a-balance-of-policy-and-partnership/ As Montezuma County Commissioners, we have heard our residents’ concerns loud and clear. Across the county, people are seeing an increase in trash, abandoned vehicles, and neglected properties – and we agree that it’s time to take meaningful action. Jim... Fri, 01 May 2026 05:00:00 -0600 4051E8BE-B3A2-4686-8D81-3A2DFCEF0D27 https://tj.durangoherald.com/who-is-government-panel-brings-public-service-stories-to-cortez-stage/ Perhaps the most famous quotation from a U.S. inaugural address is John F. Kennedy’s: “And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” It was a... Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0600 08BF0A44-8BFF-4DE8-9860-1A92912C20DF https://tj.durangoherald.com/backcountry-turkey-hunting-and-the-roadless-rule-are-both-worth-protecting/ Twenty years ago, I had the privilege of first crossing paths with Durango resident David “Elkheart” Petersen at a public meeting of the Colorado Roadless Areas Review Task Force in Pueblo. David was a Task Force member and board chair... Sun, 19 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0600 045CF462-7FA1-4B6A-B649-F0F003B3E233 https://tj.durangoherald.com/colorado-budget-cuts-will-hit-schools-medicaid-snap-and-rural-hospitals/ As I’m writing this, the House is hearing the “long bill,” which lays out the entire Colorado budget for the coming year. As many of you know, Colorado is facing a more than $1.5 billion budget deficit for the next... Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0600 8B1743F3-F4CB-4DFE-B13F-7BF830E49F06 https://tj.durangoherald.com/the-farm-bill-should-work-for-the-people-who-actually-produce-our-food/ In Washington, the Farm Bill is often treated like another large piece of legislation to negotiate, debate and delay. In Colorado’s Third District, it is something much more concrete. Hurd It is whether a rancher in the San Luis Valley... Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0600 206785C2-EB1B-4EDB-A81B-6871FDB3A56D https://tj.durangoherald.com/protect-our-public-lands-protect-the-la-plata-mountains-2/ Our beautiful area in the Southwest is graced with an abundance of public lands – places that are part of our culture and ingrained in the identity of the region. These spaces provide opportunities for everyone to recreate, work, decompress... Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0600 02D08F51-093D-4EFC-AF2D-C1518D3D32E2 https://tj.durangoherald.com/colorado-river-crisis-demands-leadership-before-washington-takes-the-reins/ On Nov. 11, the seven states that share the Colorado River missed a critical deadline. The Department of the Interior asked them to agree on the bones of a post-2026 management plan – the rules that would decide who gets... Sun, 16 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0700 52182335-67AF-4592-9601-539AB96009AA https://tj.durangoherald.com/at-the-front-lines-fighting-for-colorado/ We live in a challenging time. Rising costs make Colorado more unaffordable for working families; climate change creates serious risks for our land, air and water; unnecessary red-tape blocks businesses from opening their doors or makes it harder for them... Sun, 04 May 2025 05:00:00 -0600 4DE9D92F-0449-4920-AC44-B871BA76380E https://tj.durangoherald.com/prioritizing-security-and-safety-rep-hurd-visits-the-u-s-mexico-border/ I recently joined Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and eight other freshmen members of Congress on a delegation trip to the U.S.-Mexico border. The purpose of our trip was to gain firsthand insight into the critical issues at our border, and... Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0600 25525D45-6AA1-4CBD-889E-7A18D5EF8113 https://tj.durangoherald.com/enshrine-abortion-rights-in-state-constitution-with-initiative-89/ Karen Middletondu1-i-syn In the face of relentless attacks on women’s bodily autonomy, it is more crucial than ever that we stand up and defend the fundamental right to choose. And here in Colorado, where we were the first state to... Sun, 21 Apr 2024 04:15:00 -0600 E04260CE-E3F4-4B76-A364-364CE11F0447