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• El Paso County: Changing the system when it comes to utilities Play Video

  May 31, 2013 11:22 AM

  El Paso County leaders say they think the system is broken and needs to be fixed when it comes to how utility projects are being approved. Some of those elected officials feel like their hands are tied, so they want to make some changes. The way the laws work... more »

• Water Battles in El Paso County Play Video

  May 23, 2013 11:51 AM

  Water, or the lack of it, has been a problem for years for residents living in the Cherokee Metropolitan District. It's a small enclave of homes and businesses on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs. Cherokee Metro has a new water source, but it's going to impact neighbors in... more »

• First Day of Civil Unions in El Paso County Play Video

  May 2, 2013 6:20 PM

  In El Paso County, the first day of civil unions got off to a modest start. There were no ceremonies at 8:00 a.m. at the clerk and recorders office, just a about a dozen same-sex couples coming in to get their civil union license. It took about 15... more »

• NRA Day controversy highlights political divide

  April 1, 2013 8:32 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - El Paso County Commissioners will vote this week whether to declare Thursday as Friends of the National Rifle Association Day . The resolution of appreciation is entirely symbolic. "They're fabulous community partners," said commissioner Peggy Littleton, who doesn't mind people knowing that she carries a concealed... more »

• Drought relief for farmers in 43 Colorado counties

  January 9, 2013 8:21 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Thirty of Colorado's 64 counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to severe drought and heat, making farmers and ranchers there and in adjacent counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday that overall, 43... more »

• 10 Public Trustees resign Play Video

  July 10, 2012 6:59 PM

  Gov. John Hickenlooper, on Tuesday, accepted the resignations of the 10 public trustees he appoints. The trustees are in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pueblo and Weld counties, most of the largest in Colorado without Denver County. "We all have to stand for good government,"... more »

• Drought aid offered to farmers in 10 counties

  January 31, 2012 1:56 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Farmers in 10 counties in east-central Colorado can apply for emergency loans and other help under a drought disaster designation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that Lincoln County was designated the primary disaster area, and that qualifying farmers in nine adjacent counties could apply for... more »

• Man dies on bus, family not notified for nearly a month Play Video

  January 30, 2012 12:34 AM

  David Mussack is struggling with the loss of his brother Mark who died of a heart attack. "It hurts. It's rough." he says, "He was a good guy. He was energetic. He was outgoing." As tough as Mark's was for his brother to hear, the mystery surrounding his death... more »

• Back to a 5 day week

  December 21, 2011 7:22 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - El Paso County offices that have been operating with a four-day workweek will soon go back to a Monday-through-Friday schedule. County commissioners had agreed in late 2007 to have some departments operate on a schedule of four, 10-hour days per week. At the time, county... more »

• Soldier needs help recovering lost family history

  October 1, 2011 4:55 PM

  After a 20-plus year career in the Army, a woman is looking back to where the military life began for her -- Colorado Springs -- and most importantly looking for two boxes she left behind. She's hoping someone can help her find them. "It's surprising to see how little you... more »

• El Paso County to stop collecting for delinquent storm water fees

  September 26, 2011 8:16 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - The El Paso County sheriff has told deputies to stop confiscating money for delinquent storm water fees. Sheriff's deputies went to several Ace Loan pawn shops around Colorado Springs on Friday taking cash from registers and safes. The raid was the second in recent... more »

• Man wanted in Evergreen shooting captured in Texas

  September 25, 2011 11:31 AM

  DENVER (AP) - A man wanted in the execution-style shooting of two men in Evergreen in 2004 has been captured in El Paso, Texas. Both men survived. KUSA-TV reports that U.S. Marshals captured Robert Montoya Friday night following a joint operation between FBI and Mexican police. Montoya is... more »

• Fire restrictions in your county

  July 1, 2011 2:59 PM

  Area counties have various restrictions on smoking, fireworks and even grills. The most restrictive rules are in Fremont County where you aren't supposed to smoke in your car or use gas grills. Here are the current rules for El Paso, Pueblo, Fremont, Teller and Custer Counties. Keep in mind... more »

• Fire danger douses holiday fireworks, campfires

  June 29, 2011 6:14 PM

  DENVER (AP) - National forests and counties along Colorado's Front Range and eastern plains are banning outside fires and fireworks as hot, dry weather keeps the fire danger high. The National Weather Service has issued a red-flag warning signaling high fire danger for much of southern Colorado, including Las... more »

• Warm, dry conditions are fuel for fires in our viewing area

  May 7, 2011 6:03 PM

  Today's warmer than normal temperatures and the already dry conditions are making things a bit difficult for fire crews all along the Front Range. Fire crews in La junta just completed fighting a fire along Hwy 50 that burned more than 100 acres. Fire crews have already rushed to grass... more »

• El Paso County unemployment takes big drop

  April 19, 2011 5:07 PM

  Unemployment fell sharply in El Paso County in March. The latest numbers from the Colorado Department of Labor put the Colorado Springs area jobless rate at 9.7 percent in March, compared with 10.2 percent in February. Those numbers are from Teller and El Paso Counties. Pueblo's unemployment numbers fell... more »

• Colorado's unemployment rate up in October

  November 23, 2010 3:18 PM

  Colorado's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased two-tenths of one percent to 8.4 percent in October. "Despite mixed results in the employment numbers, there are encouraging signs of improvement including recent increases in online job postings," said Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.... more »

• Green job training grants announced

  November 9, 2010 1:04 PM

  The Pikes Peak Workforce Center and the State Energy Sector Partnership Tuesday announced that companies in the energy efficient or renewable energy fields may be eligible for training scholarships. The scholarships are competitive in nature, but each company may receive up to $15,000 to train current workers. The... more »

• Nearly third of voters in Pueblo, El Paso counties voted early

  November 1, 2010 8:27 PM

  Election workers are gearing up for a busy day at the polls Tuesday, although new numbers show nearly a third of voters in El Paso and Pueblo Counties have already made up their minds. In El Paso County, 106,905 people or 29% of registered voters either voted early or by... more »

• State jobless rate up slightly

  October 22, 2010 1:27 PM

  Colorado's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of one percentage point to 8.2 percent in September from the revised August rate of 8.1 percent, according to Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. "Colorado's economy remains relatively flat," Mares said. "We have not seen... more »

• Election forum covers local races plus 60, 61 and 101

  October 21, 2010 2:46 PM

  News First and Independent election forum covers El Paso County Clerk, Commissioner District 5, Commissioner District 1, Amendments 60, 61 and 101 plus El Paso 1A (marijuana). more »

• Burglary arrests made in El Paso County

  October 19, 2010 7:50 PM

  Two people have been arrested in a home invasion burglary at 363 Greensboro South in El Paso County that happened on October 16. Officers reported three suspects knocked on the door and when the occupant answered the victim was hit with a stun gun. Several items were removed... more »

• Major initiative to make local teen drivers safer

  October 18, 2010 9:42 AM

  Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans aged one - 44. The problem is especially acute for new drivers, 15-19 years old. In an effort to save young lives in El Paso, Teller and Elbert counties, students from 32 high schools will participate in a peer... more »

• Federal disaster declared for farmers

  September 16, 2010 6:02 PM

  Fremont County farmers should be harvesting a huge crop of apples right now, but a late freeze damaged the crop. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared Fremont County a natural disaster area. The freeze occurred between April 30 and May 3. Also included in the disaster... more »

• Fire restrictions in Pike National Forest, BLM land

  September 16, 2010 5:44 PM

  Don't burn anything, anywhere, period. That's the message from a growing number of counties and agencies as extremely dry conditions and recent wildfires have land and emergency managers on edge. New on the list of restrictions--the Pike National Forest and Bureau of Land Management land in the Royal... more »

• Park County institutes fire ban

  September 16, 2010 2:41 PM

  Going camping this weekend? Add Park County to the list of places that have banned fires. Park joins El Paso and Fremont counties in banning outdoor fires, following the devastating wildfires in Boulder and Loveland. more »

• El Paso County unemployment rate drops slightly

  August 20, 2010 2:32 PM

  Colorado's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained the same in July at 8 percent. "Four months of stability in the unemployment rate combined with two months of notable private-sector job growth is encouraging news," said Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. "Our challenge... more »

• Sheriff candidate debate set for tonight

  July 1, 2010 4:53 PM

  The two Republican candidates for El Paso County sheriff will meet in a debate cosponsored by The Gazette and KOAA-TV News First 5. Sheriff Terry Maketa, who is seeking a third term as the county's top law officer, and Monument Police Chief Jake Shirk, will present their platforms and... more »

• Immunization clinic scheduled this weekend

  June 22, 2010 1:06 PM

  Saturday, June 26 is the last day to receive free H1N1 flu, pneumococcal disease and herpes zoster (shingles) vaccinations at the clinic at The Citadel in Colorado Springs. The clinic will be open 2 to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. "We are proud of... more »

• Body of man found on Rampart Range Road

  June 15, 2010 6:12 PM

  Rescuers from El Paso County Search and Rescue along with investigators from the Colorado Springs Police Department found a body this morning off Rampart Range Road. The Police Department received information Monday about a dead body, but found nothing until Tuesday. The dead person is an adult man, and... more »

• Another fox found with rabies

  June 14, 2010 2:38 PM

  A fox in the Woodmoor neighborhood in northern El Paso County tested positive for rabies according to the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment. This is the second rabid fox in El Paso County to be reported in 2010. Through June 8, 57 animals in Colorado... more »

• Disaster drill planned in El Paso County

  June 4, 2010 1:44 PM

  More than two dozen agencies will run a disaster exercise Saturday in El Paso County. The exercise, referred to as NOAA's Ark, is sponsored by the South Central Homeland Security Region and Pikes Peak Metropolitan Medical Response System. The event is designed to simulate a weather emergency, in this... more »

• Camping ban now in effect in El Paso County

  June 1, 2010 2:27 PM

  The El Paso County ban on camping on county owned land took effect today, June 1. It mirrors a camping ban that took effect in March for public land within the City of Colorado Springs. Executive Director Bob Holmes of Homeward Pikes Peak noted, "Now that we have a... more »

• One person killed in Peyton traffic crash

  May 12, 2010 10:25 PM

  The Colorado State Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle crash that happened late last night at the intersection of Curtis and Jones roads. Investigators say two vehicles were involved. One death has been confirmed, and two other people were transported to Memorial Hospital in unknown condition. Alcohol and drugs... more »

• Marc Sylvester trial ends with guilty verdict

  April 22, 2010 6:17 PM

  A Colorado Springs Jury returned a guilty verdict in the murder trial of Marc Sylvester Thursday afternoon. Sylvester was accused of killing Jennifer Warren last year. He faced four counts, and was found guilty on one--2nd degree murder. Warren's body was found on a roadside in eastern El Paso... more »

• El Paso County Democrats like Romanoff

  April 10, 2010 6:17 PM

  Both political parties had their county assemblies today in Colorado Springs. The headliner for the Deomcratic Party was the race for U.S. Senate. Challenger Andrew Romanoff beat Senator Michael Bennet by 10 percent of the vote. Romanoff had 307 votes while Bennet got 251 votes at the assembly held Saturday... more »

• Upcoming road construction

  April 6, 2010 1:48 PM

  A road construction project continues at Fillmore and El Paso. The work there won't be finished until mid summer. Beginning Wednesday, April 7, motorists will see lane closures in both directions on Fillmore Street between 8 p.m. and midnight. The Colorado Springs Police Department will be on site to... more »

• Colorado shut out of All-America City finalists

  April 6, 2010 12:07 PM

  More than two dozen communities have been named finalists for the National Civic League's 2010 All-America City Awards. The Denver-based organization says the cities were selected for addressing such issues as diversifying the labor force and funding services during the recession. Finalists are Chandler, Ariz., Bentonville, Ark., Dublin,... more »