Durango Local News

Merely Players brings Shakespeare to life for modern audiences and contributes to a thriving local theatre scene in Durango. Talented actors, artists, and technicians in the local community come together to create collective art that celebrates imagination, innovation, and creativity. Merely Players has a diverse and interesting season ahead in 2023-24, kicking off with a Shakespearean classic, th...

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Southwest Colorado was recently voted Small Agency Board of the Year at the national Big Brothers Big Sisters convention. Rebuilding after the challenges of the pandemic, BBBS of Southwest Colorado has implemented a new three-year strategy that emphasizes leadership and development within the staff and board. By Rachel Hughes. Watch this story at www.durangolocal...

San Juan National Forest has released its annual Fall Colors Report , catch the leaves when you can! Cowboys abound this weekend with the 35th annual Cowboy Gathering , bringing poets, musicians, artists, and cowboy enthusiasts to downtown. Spoketober starts October 1st, catch the kick-off concert at Durango Hot Springs on October 4th, and there is no hazardous waste collection event this fall. By...

 It's all in the details for FLC Assistant Coach Jordan Bible, who works as the Skyhawks Recruiting Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach. Bible talks to us about managing chaos on the sidelines as Special Teams Coordinator. Junior Kicker Hunter Villavicencia handles both the kicking and punting duties for FLC. He details his kicking journey and reveals the techniqu...

On a sunny fall Saturday, 140 dogs and their owners took part in a rattlesnake avoidance training course, hosted by Durango Kennel Club . Professional Trainer Terry Chandler ( Rugerheim Kennels ) has over 35 years of experience training field dogs, and he brings that expertise from Las Cruces, New Mexico to help keep dogs and their owners safe while hiking in the southwest. The aim of the training...

Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center , like the artistic endeavors of its founders and participants, is a constantly evolving work. While its roots as an artistic co-op have not been forgotten, the non-profit has grown into a community center for visual and performing arts, offering classes, co-op space, and opportunities for the community of Ignacio to express themselves through art. The newest e...

Durango School District 9-R teachers achieved their certification for teaching Native American Games over the summer, thanks to a three-day training program through the Montana Office of Instruction . The traditional Native American games offer students of all grade levels various challenges and benefits, mental and physical. Title VI Program Manager Orlando Griego believes the addition will bring...

With school in full swing, Ignacio School District 11-JT would like to remind parents to fill out the free meals form so that every student can get free lunch. There is still the option for corporate sponsorships with the school district - support the students with athletics, clubs, and more! The Ignacio Community Library has added new events to its line-up heading into fall, with a teen night and...

The City of Durango voted unanimously to annex nearly 2,000 acres of land from the Durango Mesa Park Foundation . If you’re a poet, and you know it, applications are open for the first-ever Durango Poet Laureate position, there is an adult and youth position available, both are three-year terms And come celebrate with SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab with the completion of Phase One development. By Hanna...

The Durango Demons High School football team fell just one win shy of the 3A Colorado State Championship game in 2022. Following the season, Head Coach Todd Casebier retired from coaching, ushering in a change for D.H.S. Football. Head Coach Matt Burton has taken over, bringing with him a more modern spread offense. By Connor Shreve. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/durango-hi...

We Are Water hopes to inspire conversations about what water means to communities within the Four Corners region. The exhibit has partnered with Ignacio Community Library , which is serving as the place to meet and share, explore and learn about water in our community. The exhibit runs through October 29th. By Connor Shreve. Watch this story at  www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/dive-into-the-worl...

The Durango Derby hosts its inaugural event Saturday, September 23rd, looking to add another option for amature and pro mountain bikers in Colorado. Traffic has switched once again on the US Highway 550 project as construction to connect the highway with the existing US Highway 160 interchange. Durango Kennel Club invites you to sign up for its Rattlesnake Avoidance training this Saturday to keep...

Fort Lewis College Football Head Coach Johnny Cox previews the Skyhawks upcoming home opener Saturday, September 16 at Ray Dennison Memorial Field in Durango.  Defensive Coordinator Spencer Brown breaks down his units performance through two games. Sophomore Linebacker Christopher Ponce talks about changing the culture at FLC. Brought to you by our generous sponsors Sky Ute Casino , TBK Bank , and...

The Supreme Court’s June 29th ruling that race-based affirmative action in admissions is unconstitutional was disappointing for many educators, but not necessarily a surprise. But the rulings don’t impact how local institutions such as Fort Lewis College operate. Additionally, the rulings don’t impact how schools conduct outreach or recruit. By Connor Shreve. Watch this story at  www.durangolocal....

The City of Durango has launched a new campaign to encourage pet owners to clean up after their pets. Two new housing developments are recipients of the La Plata Economic Development Alliance ’s Housing Catalyst Fund . The Good Food Collective wants to help reduce food waste through its gleaning program, and if you own an electric vehicle, the City of Durango wants to hear from you what it’s like...

Brandarius Johnson knows the importance of mental health, especially among students. The Fort Lewis College alum visited Durango School District 9-R before the start of the school year to discuss how to talk to students - especially pre-teens and teens - about mental health. Johnson, a published author, runs several programs through his organization Day 1 Ambition . By Hannah Robertson and Connor...

The City of Durango has finalized the donation process for an additional 50 acres of land next to the Oxbow Preserve, donated by Bill and Maddy Waters. The design phase for ADA improvements along North Main has begun, and learn more about the “Grain Chain” through a program by the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Grain School . By Hannah Robertson. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/...

Fort Lewis College Head Football Coach Johnny Cox, Offensive Coordinator John Grinde and Tight End Joseph Barreras recap fall camp and preview the 2023 football season opener. Brought to you by Sky Ute Casino, TBK Bank, and Glacier Club Support the show

Documentarian Christi Bode is used to filming the aftermath of a wildfire - but when the Plumtaw Fire broke out within eyesight of her home, there was a new story to tell. In the American Southwest, so often stories of wildfires end in tales of destruction and loss, though that was not the case with the Plumtaw Fire. Bode, with her film company Moxicran Media , collaborated with several other loca...

Do you know an exceptional woman who deserves the recognition? Nominate her for the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame . Merely Players present the premiere of “A Slow Crawl Towards Heaven” by Javon “Ja’Moon” Jones, a visual storytelling experience, and Durango School District 9-R has open board seats for the November election. By Hannah Robertson. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/...

The Fort Lewis College Skyhawks football team has lots of new faces heading into Head Coach Johnny Cox’s second year at the helm of the program. Coach Cox’s rebuild will continue in year two with three new coaches and many more new players. Though improvement in some statistical categories didn’t translate to wins on the field in 2022, coaches and players are hoping year two brings more wins. The...

Centura Health is now CommonSpirit with the consolidation of parent companies. Fort Lewis College and the La Plata Economic Development Alliance have announced a new program for high-priority jobs in the La Plata region. Trails in the Horse Gulch and Durango Mesa system are nearing completion, and add rafting to work to your list of things to do this week! By Hannah Robertson. Watch this story at...

Ever been working on a home improvement project and find out you’re missing a specific tool? Durango Tool Library is here to help you find all the tools you need without breaking the bank. By Hannah Robertson. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/the-tool-lending-library   This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza and Wings and The Payroll Department This story was previously...

The fifth annual American Indian Art Festival was held under the trees at Aztec Ruins National Monument . It was nearly a hundred degrees in the shade, but the artists remained cool through the two-day event. Weavers, potters, painters, and jewelers came from all over the Southwest regions of the Four Corners, including Teec Nos Pos in Arizona and the ancient pueblo of Acoma, three hours south of...

Durango School District 9-R goes back to school on August 22nd - get your students ready for school with check-ins and in-person or online registration. Animas Museum invites you to learn about the history of the Buffalo Soliders in the southwest, and nominate yourself or someone you know for the “Coolest Thing Made in Colorado” competition by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce . Watch this story at...