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Articles by Nat Stein
Nicola Sapp leaves El Paso County with $150,628 settlement
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Nicola Sapp leaves El Paso County with $150,628 settlement Posted By Pam Zubeck on Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 3:54 PM click to enlarge Courtesy El Paso County Nicola Sapp: Served more than 17 years with El Paso County. Longtime budget director for El Paso County Nicola Sapp was paid $150,628 upon her departure on March 19, according to a "waiver and release" agreement obtained by the Indy through an open records request.
Commander Vasquez named Colorado Springs deputy police chief
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Commander Vasquez named Colorado Springs deputy police chief Posted By Pam Zubeck on Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 3:25 PM click to enlarge Courtesy CSPD Deputy Chief Adrian Vasquez Commander Adrian Vasquez has been named deputy police chief. Vasquez, with the Colorado Springs Police Department since 1995, fills a vacancy created by the promotion of Vince Niski to police chief upon the retirement in February of Chief Pete Carey, who now serves as undersheriff for El Paso County.
Gov. Polis unveils new state logo
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Gov. Polis unveils new state logo Posted By Faith Miller on Tue, Mar 26, 2019 at 11:44 AM The new logo features a green pine tree to the left of a blue and red letter "C" with blue mountains and a yellow background in the center. New brand, who this? #copolitics pic.twitter.com/o1hhu6yxW8 — Jared Polis (@GovofCO) March 26, 2019 Gov. Jared Polis unveiled a new state logo to replace the one implemented by his predecessor, John Hickenlooper, at a press conference March 26.
Affordable housing bill gains momentum in State Assembly
click to enlarge Courtesy of Ebersoldt and Associates The Commons, a permanent supportive housing development proposed by Homeward Pikes Peak, will need tax credit funding. A Democrat-led bill that would double the amount of state funding for affordable housing is gaining momentum in the state Assembly. House Bill 1228, sponsored by Reps. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, was approved by the House Finance Committee on March 22 and now heads to the Appropriations Committee.
Colorado Springs Utilities to add solar panels to power 30,000 homes
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Colorado Springs Utilities to add solar panels to power 30,000 homes Posted By Pam Zubeck on Wed, Mar 20, 2019 at 3:59 PM click to enlarge Courtesy Colorado Springs Utilities Here's an aerial view of Springs Utilities newest source of renewable energy at Clear Spring Ranch south of the city. This project features 42,000 solar panels that will produce enough energy to power 3,000 homes annually.
What's true and what's false about claims on firefighters' Issue 1?
click to enlarge File photo The only issue on the April 2 city ballot asks voters to decide whether to give firefighters collective bargaining rights. What's true? What's false? And what lies somewhere in between? When it comes to political ads, it's hard to discern fact from fiction, so we'll try to help voters by dissecting campaign literature from time to time.
Bill would give "Dreamers" a path to citizenship
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Bill would give "Dreamers" a path to citizenship Posted By Faith Miller on Tue, Mar 12, 2019 at 5:50 PM click to enlarge Courtesy of the Guerrero-Olivares family "Dreamer" Oscar Guerrero-Olivares (right) was arrested by ICE agents in January.
Order to remove hijab at Fort Carson spurs controversy, but versions of story differ
click to enlarge Pam Zubeck Sgt. Cesilia Valdovinos believes that she was discriminated against when a superior officer at Fort Carson ordered her to remove her hijab. It was about 3 p.m. on March 6, and Sgt. Cesilia Valdovinos’ unit was receiving training in suicide prevention at the chapel on Fort Carson.
Former Fountain resident testifies on PFASs in D.C.
click to enlarge Courtesy of Mark Favors Mark Favors, second from left, submitted written testimony to the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Environment. He spoke with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-New York, center, about the effects of PFAS contamination on his family. Also pictured, from left: Chet Whye, Hope Grosse and Loreen Hackett. An Army veteran who grew up near Peterson Air Force Base was among those in attendance at a House subcommittee hearing March 6 on Capitol Hill.
Panorama Park in the Southeast set for makeover
Wednesday, March 6, 2019 Panorama Park in the Southeast set for makeover Posted By Pam Zubeck on Wed, Mar 6, 2019 at 4:13 PM click to enlarge Courtesy City of Colorado Springs Panorama Park will get a facelift next year. The long-neglected southeast part of the city will get an infusion of cash to spruce up 13.5-acre Panorama Park, thanks to a $350,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, the city said in a news release.
Fisher's Peak in Trinidad will open to the public, thanks to land purchase
click to enlarge Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy/Lauryn Wachs Crazy French Ranch, which contains Fisher's Peak, is a 30-square-mile area south of Trinidad. Just east of Interstate 25, a few miles north of the New Mexico border, 9,600-foot-tall Fisher's Peak is a hidden gem in plain sight. The Trinidad landmark has long been closed to the public. But thanks to a land purchase completed Feb. 28, the peak and the ranch it sits on will open for as-yet-undefined public use within a few years.
Firefighters endorse challenger John Pitchford in mayor's race
click to enlarge Courtesy of the candidate John Pitchford wins firefighters' endorsement in mayor's race. The Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters has endorsed challenger John Pitchford for mayor, a dramatic move in an election in which Mayor John Suthers signed a fundraising letter on behalf of a political action committee that opposes the firefighters' collective bargaining measure, which also is on the ballot.
Suthers poll shows strong support for extending city road tax 2C
click to enlarge Magellan Strategies A newly released voter poll shows 59 percent of likely voters in the April 2 city election would support renewing the city's 2C road tax at a rate of .57 percent. That's lower than the first five-year program's tax of .62 percent. Poll respondents were not asked their opinions of renewing the tax at the full .62 percent level, which voters approved in 2015.
Kyle Hybl to succeed his father as El Pomar Foundation CEO
Thursday, February 28, 2019 Kyle Hybl to succeed his father as El Pomar Foundation CEO Posted By Pam Zubeck on Thu, Feb 28, 2019 at 11:15 AM click to enlarge Photos Courtesy El Pomar Foundation Kyle Hybl: Following in his father's footsteps. Kyle Hybl will succeed his father, Bill Hybl, as president and CEO of El Pomar Foundation, the benevolent organization announced Feb. 28. The younger Hybl joined the agency in 2000 as general counsel.
Jill Gaebler apologizes for comment at bike lane debate
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 Jill Gaebler apologizes for comment at bike lane debate Posted By Faith Miller on Wed, Feb 27, 2019 at 2:50 PM click to enlarge Griffin Swartzell Jill Gaebler represents District 5. City Council President Pro Tem Jill Gaebler, who represents District 5 northeast of downtown, seems to have ruffled some feathers with a comment she made at the Gazette's Battle of the Bike Lanes forum Feb. 25.
City Council gives $40 million in tax breaks in hopes of gaining $4 billion in economic impact
click to enlarge Courtesy City of Colorado Springs This map shows the two tracts City Council intends to annex into the city limits. In a series of votes on Feb. 26, Colorado Springs City Council set in motion development in the north end of the city that officials say will bring a total of more than $4 billion in economic impact in the next 25 years. But in doing so, the Council also assigned at least $40 million tax dollars over those 25 years to help those developments along.
Independence Center celebrates accessible health care
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Independence Center celebrates accessible health care Posted By Faith Miller on Wed, Feb 13, 2019 at 12:53 PM click to enlarge Faith Miller Betty Jo Sjoberg, center, nominated Matthews-Vu Medical Group to receive an accessible table and lift from the Independence Center. RMA Manager Brandy James, left, and Director of Operations Paul Novotny represented Matthews-Vu at a luncheon celebrating the equipment giveaways.
Transgender man files discrimination charge against local company
click to enlarge Courtesy of the ACLU of Colorado Dashir Moore hopes sharing his story will help other transgender people get the care they need. At 31, Dashir Moore left his family and friends behind in Atlanta for a new life in Colorado Springs. His dream?
Campaign roundup: A town hall, endorsements, a new voter is born
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Elections / Local Government / Politics Campaign roundup: A town hall, endorsements, a new voter is born Posted By Pam Zubeck on Wed, Feb 13, 2019 at 11:29 AM click to enlarge The April 2 city election is just around the corner. Here are some tidbits from the campaign trail: City councilor town hall: Incumbent City Councilors Tom Strand and Bill Murray will host a town hall meeting on Feb. 14 — as nine other candidates are vying for one of three at-large seats.
Chick-fil-A executive's planned speech at AFA draws criticism
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Chick-fil-A executive's planned speech at AFA draws criticism Posted By Pam Zubeck on Wed, Feb 13, 2019 at 10:20 AM click to enlarge Courtesy MRFF The Falcon football team kneels in the end zone to pray in a past season, a show of religion opposed by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. A speaker at the Air Force Academy's Character and Leadership Development Symposium on Feb. 21-22 has drawn the attention of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
Colorado may legalize medical marijuana for autism
Tuesday, February 5, 2019 Colorado may legalize medical marijuana for autism Posted By Faith Miller on Tue, Feb 5, 2019 at 11:44 AM click to enlarge Shutterstock.com Last year, a state bill that would have have added autism spectrum disorders to the list of qualifying conditions for a medical cannabis prescription passed both chambers of the state Assembly with bipartisan support. But on June 5, Gov.
First campaign finance reports filed for 2019 city election
click to enlarge The first campaign finance reports filed after the field of Colorado Springs City Council and mayoral candidates was set in late January suggests it could be a costly race, although many candidates didn't file reports by 5 p.m. on Feb. 1. Voters will choose three at-large candidates from a field of 11, and also select a mayor at the April 2 city election.
Homeless Right to Rest Act gets fifth try in Colorado Assembly
click to enlarge Faith Miller Christer Pierce, center, lets Jackie Allen borrow his guitar so she can earn money for lunch. The Right to Rest Act would make it illegal for cities to ban sitting or standing in public spaces.
Air Force Academy sees drop in sexual assault reports
Thursday, January 31, 2019 Air Force Academy sees drop in sexual assault reports Posted By Pam Zubeck on Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 5:04 PM click to enlarge Courtesy Air Force Academy The Air Force Academy's number of sexual assault reports received in academic year 2017-18 declined, while reports at the other two service academies climbed. That's one finding of the Department of Defense's Annual Report on Sexual Violence and Harassment at the Military Service Academies, released on Jan. 31.
"Small house" community coming to Woodland Park
click to enlarge Shutterstock.com Woodland Park developers think a planned “small house” community called the Village at Tamarac is the answer to many people's tiny-home dreams. But think "dreams" in terms of lifestyle, not cost — affordable housing experts say developments like these aren't for those looking for a deal. The Village at Tamarac will offer 53 models, says Pete LaBarre, one of the developers behind the project, which was first reported about in the Gazette.
41 percent of Suthers campaign fundraising comes from Broadmoor zip code
Monday, January 14, 2019 Elections / Local Government / Politics 41 percent of Suthers campaign fundraising comes from Broadmoor zip code Posted By Pam Zubeck on Mon, Jan 14, 2019 at 5:00 PM click to enlarge J. Adrian Stanley Suthers: Wealthy people always give more to causes. Mayor John Suthers is off to a smashing good start in fundraising for his re-election campaign in the April 2 city election. According to four reports filed since October, the most recent submitted on Jan.
El Paso County needs SNAP paperwork early due to shutdown
click to enlarge Faith Miller Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado will hold a food distribution event Jan. 18. Due to a federal government directive, state and local agencies around the country are sounding an urgent message to those in need of food benefits: Get your paperwork in before funding runs out. Those in El Paso County whose food assistance cases are due for redetermination must submit documents by 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan.
CSFD response times slow, firefighter ballot measure found sufficient
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 CSFD response times slow, firefighter ballot measure found sufficient Posted By Pam Zubeck on Wed, Jan 2, 2019 at 11:28 AM click to enlarge Colorado Springs Fire Department map and data The Colorado Springs Fire Department has seen response times get slower across the city over the last year, meaning it takes firefighters longer to get to the scene of a car crash, house fire or rescue.
Hickenlooper pardons Rev. Promise Lee for murder
Friday, December 21, 2018 Hickenlooper pardons Rev. Promise Lee for murder Posted By J. Adrian Stanley on Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 8:44 PM click to enlarge Casey Bradley Gent The Rev. Promise Lee has been pardoned for second-degree murder. In the Dec. 26 issue of the Independent, we tell the story of a man's transformation. Here's the snapshot: Forty-four years ago, when he was just 16, Promise Lee shot and killed 20-year-old Fort Carson soldier Daniel Hocking in a drug deal gone bad.
Shooting an Citadel Mall injures two, closes mall
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 Shooting an Citadel Mall injures two, closes mall Posted By Pam Zubeck on Tue, Dec 18, 2018 at 5:28 PM click to enlarge El Paso County Assessor's Office The Citadel Mall was the scene of a shooting about 2 p.m. on Dec. 18. It reopens on Dec. 19 at 9 a.m. If you were thinking of wrapping up your Christmas shopping after work today at the Citadel Mall, forget it. It's closed following a shooting that left two people seriously injured but not with life threatening injuries.
Olympic City USA celebrates Olympic Day
June 23 marked the 70th Olympic Day, celebrating the modern Olympic Games which began June 23, 1894. Olympic Day is now celebrated by millions in 160 countries, including over four million in 2017, according to the United States Olympic Committee. The Olympic Day mission is to promote fitness, well-being, culture and education, while promoting the Olympic values of excellence friendship and respect.
A firsthand look at PikeRide, the city's new bike share
June 27, 2018 Slideshows » News Tyler Grimes PikeRide is Colorado Springs' new bike share program. Tyler Grimes A PikeRide bike next to a new parking protected bike lane. Tyler Grimes PikeRide bikes come with solar powered batteries. Tyler Grimes Bikes will soon have turn by turn navigation. Tyler Grimes Bikes come with a basket. Tyler Grimes Allen Beauchamp, Bicycle Initiatives Coordinator for the Trails and Open Space Coalition, led the community ride.
25th Bike to Work Day draws record numbers
On Wednesday, June 27, 1,355 Springs residents participated in the 25th annual Bike to Work Day, a record number of participants. Bike riders chose from several breakfast locations to stop for free breakfast on their commute, and The Corporate Challenge pitted businesses against each other to see who could draw the most participation. The Class A (1-29 employees) winner of the Corporate Challenge was Honest Accurate Auto Service with 12 out of 12 employees participating.
Cory Gardner backs off marijuana defense
Colorado’s Sen. Cory Gardner announced on Feb. 15 that he was backing off his hardline position defending the state’s marijuana industry against federal intrusion.Gardner had taken the unusual step of saying he would block all Department of Justice nominees after the U.S. Attorney General’s Office rescinded the 2013 Cole Memo , which said that the federal government would leave state-legal marijuana industries alone.
Locals take to the streets in the Springs and around the state for 2018 Womxn's March | Slideshows | Colorado Springs Independent
January 22, 2018 Slideshows » News Locals take to the streets in the Springs and around the state for 2018 Womxn's March Braving freezing temperatures, snow and wind, marchers gathered in downtown Colorado Springs Sunday, Jan. 22. The day before, Civic Center in Denver saw another demonstration for the anniversary weekend of 2017's Women's March. By Indy staff | 34 Images J. Adrian StanleyMarchers in the Springs brave the weather Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. J.
Bokashi could revolutionize weed growing, and maybe agriculture in general | ReLeaf | Colorado Springs Independent
hen imagining where an agricultural vanguard might occur, one could be forgiven for overlooking our sprawling urban playgrounds of concrete and metal in favor of the more historically fertile ground found in the rural parts of our country. But at least one company, Innovative Organics, situated only a few miles west of downtown Denver in a 12,000-square-foot rental space, is proving that you don’t need to dig your toes into the earth in order to rejuvenate it.
Unite Colorado backs unaffiliated candidate in House District 18 | Politics | Colorado Springs Independent
third, a third, a third. That’s useful shorthand for understanding the electorate in Colorado. The longer version goes like this, according to the Secretary of State’s most recent count: Out of 3,305,245 active voters, there are 1,050,246 registered Democrats, 1,044,731 Republicans and 1,149,303 unaffiliated voters.
"Joint roller" is actually a job | ReLeaf | Colorado Springs Independent
t’s not an exact science, but a math equation does apply. At a rate of about 40 rolls an hour, Danielle Anderson is responsible for rolling about 6,000 joints in the year and two months she’s worked for Quality Choice dispensary in Colorado Springs.Once prohibited, the cannabis industry has its share of out-of-the-ordinary job titles. Joint-rolling as a profession is one of them. A joint is basically cannabis flower rolled up in paper, to be smoked like a cigarette.
Will Congress help or hurt medical marijuana? | Marijuana News | Colorado Springs Independent
ince President Donald Trump’s administration rescinded the Cole Memo on Jan. 4 , legal marijuana industries in states like Colorado have been thrown into uncertainty.
Citizen engagement with Congress reached a high in 2017. How will it fare in 2018? | Politics | Colorado Springs Independent
any folks who are generally displeased with the state of the world developed a new habit in 2017: contacting their elected representatives on a weekly, if not daily, basis. It’s one of several ways for people who aren’t lobbyists or donors to engage with the people who govern their lives.
No-smoking rules put a damper on weed tourists, but a novel business offers a solution | ReLeaf | Colorado Springs Independent
ari and Chauncey Frederick, co-owners of Lofty Living Bud and Breakfast, have a unique draw for those looking to rent a room: permission to use cannabis in designated areas on the property.The Fredericks initially began renting rooms in their spacious, four-bedroom house on Airbnb, but say they didn’t decide to green their business until a visit from one memorable guest: a female ex-police officer, whose debilitating arthritis left her unable to function without medical marijuana for pain...
Not much is known about the marijuana work force | ReLeaf | Colorado Springs Independent
n Colorado, 155,142 people work in construction, 219,659 in education and 23,541 in mining, according to the 2016 counts kept by the state Department of Labor and Employment. But CDLE’s economic analysts don’t count how many people work in the cannabis industry.It’s frustrating, since job creation was one of the primary benefits touted by supporters of 2012’s Amendment 64, the state law that legalized recreational marijuana.
ReLeaf: Winter 2018 (Digital flip-book) | ReLeaf | Colorado Springs Independent
n these times, it’s natural for consumers to become alienated from the supply chain that brings a product from source to shelves. Cannabis consumers prove no exception. Consider this issue a reintroduction to the folks who bring your favorite plant to you.Before you smoke it, someone had to grow your cannabis, perhaps outdoors under the sun or under the carefully calibrated lights of a greenhouse. The plant was tended and harvested by meticulous cultivators, then dried, trimmed and packaged.
Outdoor fires pose danger in dry spell | The Wire
If you've glanced at TV news over the past few weeks, you've probably noticed the uptick in creekside fires.
Give! campaign brings in over $1.5 million for local nonprofits | Local News | Colorado Springs Independent
Numbers are in from the 2017 Give! campaign. Over the course of two months, 4,079 donors raised over $1.5 million for 75 local nonprofits. That's about $100,000 over the campaign's goal at a time when, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, charitable giving by individuals is down nationwide.
Local officials, marijuana group react to Sessions' move on legal marijuana | Marijuana News | Colorado Springs Independent
A version of this story first appeared on the Indy's news blog, The Wire. fter about a year of wondering “will he or won’t he?” it appears he will.On the morning of Jan.
Legislative session begins in Colorado | The Wire
State lawmakers got back to work on Jan. 10, as the second regular session of the 71st General Assembly convened at the state capitol in Denver.It was an eventful off-season, with a bungled special session shifting party affiliations and high-profile accusations of sexual misconduct . It's likely to be an eventful season, too, with a revenue surplus setting the stage for battles over education, transportation and public pensions Democrats hold a nine-seat majority in the House.
Salvation Army warming shelter gets cool response from some — but not all — neighbors | Local News | Colorado Springs Independent
urprise: Many people don’t want to live next to a homeless shelter.The city’s planners and developers field complaints for all sorts of projects, but few generate the resistance caused by the prospect of a “human services shelter.” On Jan. 3, the Downtown Review Board got an earful about the Salvation Army’s emergency warming shelter , located in southeast downtown.This will be the third winter in recent years that the Salvation Army opened its two-story, 40,000 square-foot building at 505 S.
Deadline for insurance enrollment fast approaching | The Wire
You have until Friday, Jan. 12, to sign up for health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, the state marketplace set up by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Plans purchased between now and then will go into effect Feb. 1. After that, you can only access the exchange if you experience a "life-changing event," like marriage, divorce, having a child, losing employer-sponsored insurance or moving to Colorado.
Sessions to open door for marijuana crackdown | The Wire
After about a year of wondering “will he or won’t he?” it appears the answer is: “He will.”As of Jan. 4, multiple news outlets reported that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions intends to rescind an important Obama era drug enforcement policy known as the Cole Memo. The Cole Memo , named for then-Deputy Attorney General James Cole, was issued in 2013, after voters in Colorado and Washington approved measures legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
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