Regional News – The Durango Herald

The Blotter, July 19-21

Durango Police Department Sunday 3:40 p.m. A mudslide was covering Colorado Highway 3 near Sawmill Road. 6:22 p.m. A drunken man was provoking customers near the grocery store entry ...

DATE: Jul 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Key Colorado Democrats react to Biden withdrawing from presidential run

Gov. Jared Polis, senators endorse Harris as new nominee

DATE: Jul 21, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Biden drops out of 2024 race after disastrous debate inflamed age concerns. VP Harris gets his nod

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised do...

DATE: Jul 21, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Health insurance rates are expected to go up in 2025 – but the state says reinsurance program is keeping prices from going up faster

Health insurance rates on the individual market may rise 5.5% next year. That's a bit below average compared with prior years. The state's insurance division has released a preliminary look ...

DATE: Jul 20, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

All sides set, again, in criminal trial of former Grand Junction county clerk

The oft-delayed criminal trial of Tina Peters is scheduled to start later this month

DATE: Jul 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Are sweet treats the most controversial part of state’s new psychedelic mushroom program?

Advocates for child safety ask if making psilocybin more palatable is the right move

DATE: Jul 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Republican infighting intensifies in Colorado as Dave Williams sues

‘Accuracy of information in the current political climate is critical to a functional democracy,’ lawsuit declares

DATE: Jul 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Motorcyclists will soon be allowed to ‘filter’ through gridlock traffic in Colorado

Law enforcement explains different between 'lane filtering' and 'lane splitting’

DATE: Jul 18, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

At the RNC, Colorado delegates enjoy camaraderie, share optimism for November

‘It's wonderful to see Republicans getting along and behind one message’

DATE: Jul 18, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Boebert looks to replace Haaland at Interior Department if Trump wins

Colorado congresswoman makes interest in secretary job known during interview at Republican National Convention

DATE: Jul 18, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Democrat Adam Frisch shifts campaign message to abortion in CD3 race

Candidate thinks women’s reproductive rights a winning issue in Republican-leaning district

DATE: Jul 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

How Colorado’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention are feeling about Joe Biden

None of the state’s delegates polled said they plan on abandoning Biden

DATE: Jul 15, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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Photos: ‘Mini Takes the States’ tour stops in DurangoHundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Hundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Photos: Boxing returns to DurangoAnimus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Animus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Photos and video: Going for the gold by devouring piesContestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Contestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Photo: Fireworks light the sky in DurangoDurango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Durango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Photos: Working with woodLocal craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

Local craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

2024 Fourth of July Parade draws crowd Thursday in downtown Durango

Photos: Downtown Durango hosts Fourth of July ParadeDowntown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Downtown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Durango Rotary Club, Parks and Recreation department host Independence Day events

Law enforcement conducts active threat training at Park Elementary SchoolResidents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Law enforcement agencies across Southwest Colorado sent officers to participate in active threat training this week at Park Elementary School in Durango. Those in the neighborhood can expect police vehicles parked on the premises, officers in tactical gear conducting exercises inside and outside the school, and signs advising that training is in progress. The sounds of shouting, airsoft weapons and the popping of a starter pistol will also be audible near the school, said Karla Sluis, spokeswoman for Durango School District 9-R.Sluis said that members of the school district’s safety department have gone door-to-door with flyers notifying residents around Park Elementary School about the training.

Hosted by the Durango Police Department and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, this week’s voluntary training invited officers from law enforcement agencies across a five-county region of Southwest Colorado encompassing La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, Montezuma and Dolores counties.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputy Mike Latham, lead instructor for this week's training, said Wednesday and the first half of Thursday were mostly preparatory, teaching officers the school’s layout and devising scenarios, whereas the latter half of Thursday and Friday residents should anticipate some noise as active threat scenarios play out.

Latham said active threat training teaches officers proper protocol during active threat scenarios, especially in densely populated areas where they have become increasingly common.Park Elementary School is not the only Durango School District facility law enforcement has conducted active threat training. Latham said schools lend themselves well to this sort of training because, “It gives us all kinds of doors to work on, different rooms, different scenarios we can run. We can pretend it’s a mall with nice big corridors, we can even pretend it’s an outdoor area in the gymnasium.”Latham has participated in active threat training multiple times in the past and described the drills as exhilarating and nerve-wracking. He said one of the training’s main goals is teaching officers how to manage stress and remain calm with lives on the line.

“I take a pulse oximeter in the morning and get a baseline on their heart rates,” Latham said. “And sometimes, just before they’re about to engage a threat, I say ‘Timeout.’ Put it (the oximeter) on there, and their heart rate’s skyrocketed to 140, 150, 160 just in training.”

Latham said throughout his career active threat training has evolved to become safer for officers and fall in line with increasingly professional police standards.“When I first started we were just running into halls and rooms hoping for the best,” Latham said. “Now the tactic is still to get there, still stop the taking of lives, but tactics are much better than they were 20 years ago.”

Residents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Photos: Flower powerDurango Botanic Gardens holds 11th annual ‘Gardens on Tour’ on Saturday

Durango Botanic Gardens holds 11th annual ‘Gardens on Tour’ on Saturday

The Blotter, July 19-21

Key Colorado Democrats react to Biden withdrawing from presidential run

Biden drops out of 2024 race after disastrous debate inflamed age concerns. VP Harris gets his nod

Health insurance rates are expected to go up in 2025 – but the state says reinsurance program is keeping prices from going up faster

All sides set, again, in criminal trial of former Grand Junction county clerk

Are sweet treats the most controversial part of state’s new psychedelic mushroom program?

Republican infighting intensifies in Colorado as Dave Williams sues

Motorcyclists will soon be allowed to ‘filter’ through gridlock traffic in Colorado

At the RNC, Colorado delegates enjoy camaraderie, share optimism for November

Boebert looks to replace Haaland at Interior Department if Trump wins

Democrat Adam Frisch shifts campaign message to abortion in CD3 race

How Colorado’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention are feeling about Joe Biden

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