Durango Local News

There is a subtle excitement hearing the tuning note as a symphony is about to start, and San Juan Symphony wants to bring that excitement to everyone, performer or concert-goer. Through community-based programs, working within local schools, and supporting other local music groups, San Juan Symphony is bringing professional-grade music to the small towns and communities, breaking down barriers to...

The City of Durango reviewed bids for the County Road 250 and County Road 241 improvement project at the latest City Council meeting. Pavement treatment projects are underway across town - make sure to plan your trip accordingly and be prepared for possibly delays and roadwork. And the Durango Adult Education Center would like to invite you to join its annual Literacy Luncheon fundraiser and celeb...

An international organization, Repair Café has recently opened shop at Ignacio Community Library to help folks fix everything from zippers and electronics to toasters and bicycles for free. Tools and materials are on hand, along with a variety of volunteer experts doing and teaching the fixing. Join the crew the first Thursday of every month at 6:00 p.m. By Donna K. Hewett. Watch this story at  ww...

18-year-old Tinashe Vareta has dealt with food insecurity his entire life. He overcame many challenges to even get to Durango to participate in an exchange program sponsored by Durango High Noon Rotary Club . Now, thanks to the generosity of club members and others throughout the community, Vareta’s family has a new home. By Connor Shreve. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/exch...

After operating as a successful agri-tourism farm and entertainment venue for two Autumn seasons, Jackalope Acres Farm is expanding offerings for its first summer in business. Hayrides allow visitors to see much of the farm's 60 acres located outside Ignacio. Sunflower and Zinnia festivals are scheduled for August and September and will lead Jackalope Acres into the fall-fest season it’s beco...

The Colorado Department of Transportation announced plans for the start of paving on the CO 172 project , which will cause alternate lane closures and possible delays of up to 30 minutes. The Multimodal Department is looking for volunteers to help with a pedestrian and bicycle counting survey and the City of Durango has been approved for funds from Proposition 123 to construct 184 affordable housi...

La Plata County and the  San Juan National Forest have enacted fire restrictions as the summer heats up. Durango School District 9-R introduces the two new leadership teams for Miller Middle School and Escalante Middle School . The City of Durango is looking for volunteers to join local boards and commissions, and La Plata Conservation District and Pine River Conservation District are looking for...

Fundamental Needs , a Cortez-based non-profit, began by helping out on the Navajo Reservation during the pandemic. Ultimately, the founder’s discovered water was one of the most desired resources on the reservation. It developed a program that installs water systems for individual dwellings that don't have access to clean water. In 2023, the non-profit will continue its expansion into the Far...

Sustainable Goods and Omni Cafe are now in their permanent home at 1259 Main Avenue in Durango. After operating as wholesalers and pop-up specialists, owners believe the climate is right to showcase sustainable and local products. Sustainable Goods features everyday goods and gifts from local and environmentally conscious companies, while collaborator Omni Cafe offers baked goods and coffee from l...

Durango Transit is halfway through its second summer of free transit, thanks to funding from Senate Bill 260 and the City of Durango . With an eye to reducing carbon usage over the summer, and removing barriers to transportation, the program so far has been an overwhelming success, with buses being full more often than not. By Hannah Robertson.  Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstorie...

Organizers have announced they are closing the public search for missing hiker Ian O’Brian after two weeks of searching. The City of Durango has voted how best to distribute the $361,084 in excess 2022 Lodger’s Tax. Come celebrate 100 years of one of the iconic engines from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at the Animas Museum , and voluntary water restrictions are in place as repai...

The Grand Canyon Trust , an organization dedicated to preserving the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, initiated the Pinyon Jay project to involve volunteers in wildlife conservation. Pinyon Jays have a symbiotic relationship with pinyon trees, making them a key marker in forest preservation for the pinyon and juniper forests dotting the Colorado Plateau. The project aims to gather data and p...

The City of Durango has announced that parking meters in high-occupancy areas downtown will see a 25¢ price increase as of July 1st, in accordance with the comprehensive parking plan. Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites amateur sportswomen to apply for the Ladies Cast, Blast, and Fling event this August, and participate in a survey to determine the “livability” of Durango this July. By Hannah Robe...

When some people see an issue, they go out of their way to find a solution. Mandy Magill realized that many places in Durango still used pesticides and other toxic products on landscaping and gardening, and decided through her organization - Project Dung Beetle - to create a speaker series designed to address all the different ways we can incorporate regenerative practices in our own backyard. By...

The end of April marked the beginning of a multi-year expansion project at the Durango La-Plata Airport  with a groundbreaking ceremony. The project, currently in Phase 1A, plans to address the growing services at the airport while simultaneously enabling day-to-day operations to continue. Since its construction in 1988, the airport has seen over a 100% increase in use with no major renovations or...

The City of Durango Municipal Court is now offering in-person, court-certified Spanish translation once a month to ensure equal access and aid in court decisions for cases requiring translation. The upcoming week is filled with Fourth of July celebrations across town, including events like pie-eating contests, ice cream socials, and the popular pancake breakfast. The week concludes with Elder Grow...

Ideal weather conditions have allowed local fire crews to do more mitigation work than in recent years, but they caution against letting your guard down heading into our warmest months. The Colorado State Forest Service , Live Wildfire Ready , teaches homeowners how to take simple measures to reduce the risk of losing a home to fire. The San Juan National Forest urges recreationists to know about...

Dan Korman of Alpenglow Properties, LLC discusses commercial and residential real estate in this installment of The Durango Real Estate Update. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/tamed-inflation-hopes-to-help-real-estate-market   Support the show

The Southern Ute Food Distribution Program aims to better the relationship between food and the people on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and beyond. The Ignacio Community Library wants to see your art grace its walls this summer, and come join the Books and Brews book club for fresh reads and roasts this July. By Hannah Robertson. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/nutritio...

Four local students from Durango High School and Big Picture High School will join the Durango School District 9-R Board of Education to help provide a student perspective on meetings and the like. The Southwest Rural Philanthropy Conference proved a wide success with over 350 participating individuals brought together with the focus on improving funding to southwest nonprofit organizations, and D...

As temperatures rise, so too does the number of D.U.I. and impaired driving cases. The issue is particularly bad in Southwest Colorado. Local non-profit, School Community Youth Collaborative , is bringing awareness to Ride Responsible. A program highlighting the problem of impaired driving and making safer modes of transportation more widely available. The organization partners with rideshare alte...

Santa Rita Park is the location of a new demonstration garden and landscape program, showcasing sustainable landscaping techniques for the arid Southwest region. At next week’s City Council meeting, the allocation of an extra $361,084 in lodger's tax will be discussed, with proposed funding for electric vehicle chargers, transportation signage, and Visit Durango projects. Clean Commute Week ,...

The call is out to share your story with the Ignacio Community Library to help contribute to the preservation of Ignacio’s unique history. Voices of Ignacio aims to find, curate and preserve stories from and related to our residents and region. Organizers hope the project unifies and promotes the community. By Connor Shreve. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/lend-your-story-to-...