Durango Local News

The Durango Women's Leadership Conference returns February 26 at Whalen Gymnasium with panels, breakout sessions, and talks supporting women’s athletics at Fort Lewis College. Comedian Olivia Carter performs in Durango February 27 after appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the Durango Independent Film Festival returns March 4–8 with screenings across Durango.

By Sadie Smith. 

Watch this story at durangoloca...

Every February, volunteers walk the banks of the Animas River counting American dippers — small, bold birds that dive headfirst into rushing rapids and spend their entire lives along river corridors. Because dippers feed on the aquatic insects that can only survive in clean water, they serve as a living indicator of river health. The American Dipper Project launched in 2016 following the Gold King Mine spill, and citizen scientists...

 Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet made a stop in Durango this week to discuss his campaign for governor, touching on some of the most pressing issues facing the state. Bennet, who has represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate since 2009, shared his vision for Colorado's future and what he says sets him apart as a candidate. Watch the full interview to hear where he stands.

By Paige Sparks.

Watch this story at durangolocal.news

Thi...

For over two decades, the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies has been monitoring Colorado's snowpack from weather stations on Red Mountain Pass. Their team digs snow pits every few weeks documenting dust layers, measuring snow crystals, and tracking how the snowpack reflects sunlight. This year they're recording unusually low snow conditions across the state while studying how dust particles reduce snow's reflecti...

This week in Durango highlights community leadership, small business support, and winter competition on the mountain.

Southwest Colorado Rocks will host its Annual Awards Ceremony on February 19th at 5 p.m. at the Community Concert Hall, honoring outstanding businesses and leaders from across La Plata County.

On February 20th, the Seeds of Success DFM Summit takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. The fr...

Durango's warming shelter is providing a lifesaving refuge for unhoused community members during the coldest winter nights. After years of discussion, the City Council unanimously approved the shelter following overwhelming neighborhood support with 88% of residents surveyed backing the initiative. The shelter opens when temperatures are forecasted to drop to 15 degrees or below, operating with trained coordinators and volunte...

KDUR, Fort Lewis College's radio station now in its 52nd year, hosts an annual cover night that has become a cornerstone event for Durango's music community. The tradition began when musicians from different genres came together to celebrate local talent by covering Neil Diamond songs, adopting the motto "local musicians unite." The event has grown so popular that tickets sell out within minutes. The fundraising...

Several events are happening around Durango this week, including a weekend of on-mountain activities at Purgatory Resort with live music, après-ski parties, Telemark Telefestivus, and a Venture Snowboards demo day. The Powerhouse hosts its Power of Movement event celebrating the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 16th and 17th. Looking ahead, REMS Southwest returns to Durango April 14th and 15th with radiation-free bone health screen...

Manna Soup Kitchen has expanded its mission to address housing insecurity in La Plata County. The organization recently received a donated residential property with four units where tenants pay no more than 30% of their income in rent.

Built in the late 1800s, the home has already seen improvements including driveway replacement, roof repairs, and radon mitigation. This year, Manna plans to remodel two units and replace exterior sid...

What’s happening in Durango: From thrilling acrobatics to local art and community celebrations, there’s something for everyone! The world-renowned Peking Acrobats perform February 4th at the Community Concert Hall. On February 5th, Ska Brewing celebrates the Durango Independent Film Festival with a special Indie IPA release. The Rigamarole Art Exhibition opens February 6th at the Durango Creative District, showcasing work by Fort L...

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is expanding its Range Rider Program as part of the state’s gray wolf restoration efforts following voter-approved Proposition 114. The program places highly trained riders in key regions to help reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock while supporting long-term coexistence.
By Paige Sparks.

Watch this story at durangolocal.news

This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango and Sunray Park & C...

The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College presents Constellations of Place, a powerful new exhibition rooted in the landscapes and layered histories of Southwest Colorado. Curated by Dr. Meranda Roberts (Yerington Paiute, Chicana), the exhibition brings together more than 60 works from the Center’s permanent collections alongside contemporary pieces by 13 Native American, Indigenous, and Latinx artists. The exhibition w...

A new documentary is shining a light on the power of local journalism and its role in a healthy democracy. Truth Be Told screened in Durango this week, hosted by COLab, marking the first stop on a statewide tour. The film explores how local news helps sustain informed communities and why its future matters. The screening tour was made in collaboration with the Colorado News Collaborative, a nonprofit newsroom strengthening local jo...

Snowdown is right around the corner with a brand-new theme and a big surprise for this year’s parade. Durango City Council locks in key decisions on 2026 lodgers’ tax funding, and your old Christmas tree can be recycled into mulch.  By Sadie Smith.

Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/durango-prepares-for-47th-annual-snowdown  

This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and Serious Texas Bar-B-Q. 

Supp...

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, Chabad rabbis lit a public menorah in Durango in response to the Sydney terror attack that killed 15 people, including their colleague Rabbi Eli Schlanger. The event was one stop on the Hanukkah in the Rockies tour, with four Chabad rabbis traveling across the Western Slope to bring the warmth and light of the celebration to mountain communities. Each menorah lighting was dedicated to the memory of those murd...

Pueblo Seed & Food Co. is a family-run organic farm and seed enterprise rooted in deep stewardship of land, seed, and community. Established in 1996 and now operating on irrigated acreage near Cortez, Colorado, the company grows a wide diversity of certified organic crops—open-pollinated seeds, chile peppers, varietal garlic, vegetables, legumes, and heritage grains—selling them as seeds, fresh produce, and handcrafted foods th...