La Plata County’s first legal civil union last week, paving the way for more same-sex couples to follow suit without fear of persecution
 
An unprecedented week of May rain, bringing welcome relief to parched yards and trails, and a bonus to the mountain snowpack
The San Juan National Forest taking steps to stem abuse and overuse in the Weminuche, Colorado’s largest contiguous span of wilderness
 
Earth Day 2013 coinciding with an unprecedented high of 400 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere
 

The Animas Valley Mall parking lot shooting sparking fears of a gang war in Farmington
 
 
 
The death toll from Bangladesh’s garment factory collapse, the worst industrial disaster in the country’s history, topping 800