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 protect the ecosystem while engaging amateur birders and outdoor enthusiasts, making the project accessible to everyone. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and Three Rivers Brewery

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 Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings

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 additions. By Hannah Robertson and Andy Wingerd. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett and Associates and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings

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 Grown’s Summer Camp, a one-night music festival showcasing diverse talents and music styles at Tico Time Resort, hosted by the Durango-based band Elder Grown. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware

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 current fire restrictions. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett & Associates and Serious Texas BBQ

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. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and Serious Texas BBQ

Dan Korman of Alpenglow Properties, LLC discusses commercial and residential real estate in this installment of The Durango Real Estate Update.

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 Durango has made it on to yet another unique list – one of 175 “alternative” romantic destinations in the United States. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Sky Ute Casino

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 alternatives and works with transportation departments for special events. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by The Payroll Department and Sky Ute Casino Resort

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, starting on June 24th, will feature various sustainable transportation activities and challenges, culminating in Bike to Work Day and the Love Your Commute celebration at Buckley Park. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Kroeger’s Ace Hardware and Serious Texas BBQ