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• Some Pueblo County neighbors in Vineland angry over trash on private property they say looks like a landfill Play Video

  October 29, 2012 7:43 PM

  A group of neighbors in Pueblo County say a property in Vineland has been trashy for far too long. We wanted a look for ourselves, so we headed out there earlier today. Here's what we found. It's a home some neighbors say has been an eyesore for decades. ... more »

• Residents take advantage of clean-up in Pueblo West

  September 29, 2012 5:21 PM

  It's a cheaper way to clean up your house and yard, and many Pueblo West residents took advantage of it today. The Health Department, along with other groups in Pueblo West, organize a clean up in the area once every year. It gives people a chance to get rid... more »

• Hyde Park gets cleaned up and Pueblo West will next weekend

  September 22, 2012 7:46 PM

  Pueblo's Hyde Park neighborhood on the west side has a new look. Once a year, the Health Department goes into different communities to pick up trash and provide a dumpster service where you can drop off bulk trash items for only $15 a truckload. Today, they collected 45 truckloads and... more »

• Risks of illegal tattoo operations Play Video

  March 22, 2012 9:15 PM

  Last night News 5 reported the story of a La Junta woman who allegedly gives tattoos to minors out of her trailer park home. Today we followed up by speaking with local Health Department officials, who explained why the law says unsupervised tattoo practices are so dangerous. The Colorado... more »

• EPA gives free lead blood testing in Pueblo

  March 15, 2012 7:48 PM

  Do you know if your children have high levels of lead in their blood? Folks from the EPA out of Denver came to the Pueblo Health Department Thursday to offer free blood testing to children and adults. Once they drew blood, results came back in just three minutes. Testers tell... more »

• Street foods: tasty, but safe? Play Video

  March 7, 2012 8:35 PM

  Sometimes you find the best tasting food in the least likely places- like from street vendors. But some of that food is prepared at home in unlicensed kitchens, which could pose a risk to your health. The Health Department inspects licensed eateries twice yearly, checking everything from temperature control... more »

• Chili roaster shut down over food safety concerns

  October 13, 2011 1:28 PM

  LAFAYETTE, Colo. (AP) - Boulder County has ordered a chili roaster to cease operations over food safety concerns. County health specialist David Baum says Red Wagon Organic Farm owner Amy Tisdale needs to install a sink and temperature control equipment to prevent food contamination. Tisdale says she was unaware... more »

• Pueblo health department closing early today

  July 19, 2011 12:01 PM

  The Pueblo City-County Health Department and the Pueblo WIC offices are closing at noon today due to mechanical issues, that may be affecting the cooling system. They hope to be back open for business tomorrow July, 20. more »

• Dogs in Calhan bitten by rabid skunk

  April 5, 2011 7:40 PM

  A pair of dogs in Calhan have been bitten by a rabid skunk and may have been exposed to the fatal disease. The two small dogs got into a scuffle with the skunk over the weekend and were wounded by the wild animal. The dogs were brought to their... more »

• Vaccines encouraged as rabid skunk sightings increase

  March 14, 2011 7:47 PM

  The El Paso County Health Department and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are encouraging pet owners and people who own livestock to get their animals vaccinated for rabies. They are concerned because a growing number of rabid skunks have been reported this winter which is unusual because the animals... more »

• Colorado medical pot users mostly men, figures show

  March 13, 2011 2:52 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado Health Department figures show that men make up the vast majority of registered medical marijuana users in the state. The Denver Post reported Sunday that men consistently made up more than 70 percent of the patients listed on the state's medical marijuana registry list between... more »

• Research firm studies teen pregnancy in Pueblo

  February 14, 2011 7:10 PM

  A new study is underway in Pueblo to find out why the city has one of highest teen pregnancy rates in the state. It's costing taxpayers millions as many young moms struggle to finish high school. The health department has now hired a research firm to study why its such... more »

• Flu season is here

  January 3, 2011 3:59 PM

  The El Paso County Health Department says all indications show the spread of influenza is underway. Locally six people have been hospitalized, and more and more lab tests are coming back with positive results for the illness. Dr. Bernadette Albanese, the health department's medical director, says it's going to... more »

• Health Department closing early due to weather

  December 30, 2010 5:07 PM

  As of 3 p.m. Thursday, the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment was in the process of closing due to the worsening winter storm. more »

• Pueblo Health Department gets LEED Gold Certification

  October 20, 2010 1:10 PM

  The Pueblo Board of County Commissioners announced Wednesday that it has been awarded the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for the new Pueblo City-County Health Department building located at 9th and Santa Fe. "Pueblo Board of County Commissioners strived for energy savings while creating a... more »

• Third Pueblo skunk tests positive for rabies

  October 8, 2010 7:52 PM

  A third skunk in Pueblo has tested positive for rabies. The Pueblo City-County Health Department say the latest skunk was found on the Eastside. A spokesperson with the health department did not have an exact location. "This increases the chance rabies will spread to people and pets," stated Dr. Christine... more »

• Second rabid skunk found in Pueblo

  October 6, 2010 12:34 PM

  A skunk has tested positive for rabies in Pueblo, this time in the Belmont neighborhood. This is the second rabid skunk to be identified in Pueblo in the past month. The first skunk was on the far southside of the city. Shylo Dennison, Public Information Officer for the... more »

• Health Department reopens after water emergency

  September 21, 2010 10:09 AM

  The El Paso County Health Department reopened Tuesday morning at 7 am and will remain open during its regular hours until 6 pm. It closed Monday after a water main break shut down water to the building. The water main was repaired. The Health Department is located at 301... more »

• Health Department closed due to water main break

  September 20, 2010 5:03 PM

  The El Paso County Health Department closed half way through the day Monday, due to a water main break. The building is located at 301 and 305 S. Union Blvd. The reason for the closure: no clean water for handwashing or restrooms. WIC clinics held at other locations... more »

• Old health department comes crumbling down

  August 31, 2010 7:06 PM

  It's the final chapter for a historic building in Downtown Pueblo. On Tuesday demolition crews tore down the old health department building on Central Main St. The building was built in 1956. The Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority says this space will temporarily be used as a parking lot and eventually... more »

• Couple linked to rabid bat finally found

  August 31, 2010 11:42 AM

  The El Paso County Health Department has finally found the two people who dropped off a rabid bat at the Pikes Peak Humane Society on Aug. 15. Their health is being evaluated. "We are relieved that we are able to conduct a proper investigation of this situation," said Marigny... more »

• Local farmer: Egg scare opens consumers eyes

  August 23, 2010 8:39 PM

  One of the countries favorite foods is making thousands of Americans sick. "This recall is huge." explains Dr. Bernadette Albanese with the El Paso County Health Department, "You're talking almost a half billion eggs being recalled." Eggs tainted with salmonella have been linked to a farm in Iowa which distributes... more »

• Person who dropped off sick bat may be in danger

  August 17, 2010 7:07 PM

  The El Paso County Health Department wants to make quick contact with a person who left a sick bat in the drop box at the Pikes Peak Humane Society on Sunday night. The bat was dropped off with a note that said, "bat hurt please help." The bat... more »

• West Nile Virus confirmed in Pueblo

  July 15, 2010 5:21 PM

  Pueblo's first case of West Nile Virus this year has been confirmed, according to Sarah Bruestle of the Pueblo City/County Health Department. The patient, who had to be hospitalized, is now home and expected to fully recover. West Nile Virus is transmitted to people through mosquito bites. Symptoms... more »

• Containing the Pueblo plague

  June 29, 2010 5:51 PM

  The Pueblo City County Health Department has started work to contain the plague, which has hit the southwestern part of pueblo. Workers began placing insecticide dust in each prairie dog burrow on the southwest side of town, near Galbreth Rd. and highway 78 Tuesday. A prairie dog from the... more »

• County mulls move to old Intel building

  June 1, 2010 5:21 PM

  El Paso County Commissioners are considering a $50 million consolidation project that would relocate several of their offices into one central building.  Should the Sustainable Facilities plan be approved, a vacant office building at the former Intel Processor Plant on Garden of the Gods Road could house the Health... more »

• Police building could be next riverwalk improvement

  May 4, 2010 8:29 PM

  In just a few days, Pueblo's new police building will open on Main St. and the old one, just up the road, may be getting new life. "I think the developer had got some great plans and ideas," said Jeff Bailey, Pueblo's Assistant City Manager for Development Services. Bailey says... more »

• Thursday Call-in Night: Pet health and rabies

  April 21, 2010 12:00 PM

  Do you have questions about your pet's health, or rabies that's been reported in El Paso County? If so, get your questions together for a News First call-in night. We'll have experts on hand to answer your questions. The phone numbers to call Thursday from 5-7 pm: ... more »

• El Paso county buildings not making the grade

  March 29, 2010 11:49 PM

  The latest financial report from El Paso county shows the county did slightly better than expected on the operational side of things. But when it comes to some aging buildings, the news isn't as positive. "Anytime we try to do anything proactive it could cost us a lot more money... more »

• Swine flu vaccine may go to waste

  March 17, 2010 11:34 AM

  The Tarrant County, Texas Health Department is scrambling to administer 20,000 swine flu shots in the next two weeks as demand for the vaccines has plummeted nationwide. "At the end of the month they'll expire, and we'll have to throw them out," said health department spokesman Marc Flake. ... more »

• A look at restaurant inspections in Pueblo, El Paso Counties

  March 15, 2010 11:44 AM

  It's happened to many of us. You dine out and later experience nausea or some other type of stomach pains. Food poisoning. It often goes unreported, but an estimated 76 million Americans are sickened by foodborne illness each year, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So how often... more »

• Swine flu tougher on diabetics, asthmatics

  January 14, 2010 2:59 PM

  Swine flu is tougher on patients who also suffer from diabetes and asthma, according to the state health department. Ned Calonge, chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said, "Colorado is a state with high asthma and diabetes rates, especially among the Latino and... more »

• H1N1 vaccines unrestricted in the Springs

  December 5, 2009 7:16 PM

  Thousands show up for an H1N1 clinic in Colorado Springs. There were 3-thousand doses and no restrictions on who gets the vaccine. H1N1 vaccination clinics have drawn large lines, but they get longer when you allow anyone to get the shot. "I thought it would probably be... more »

• Pueblo opens swine flu vaccine clinics to all residents

  December 1, 2009 6:36 PM

  The Pueblo Helath Department is opening-up future H1N1 swine flu vaccine clinics to all residents who want the shot. In the past, the city-county health depat. has restricted the vaccine to residents who were in target groups. Here are the upcoming clinics: * Saturday, December 5 at East... more »

• Preventive maintenance in Pueblo

  October 31, 2009 7:19 PM

  The Center for Disease Control has released the latest numbers. 19 deaths from H1N1 were reported in children last week alone - making it the deadliest week for kids since the outbreak started. More than two-thirds of the deaths are in kids who have underlying health conditions. Experts... more »

• Colorado reports 6 more deaths from flu

  October 21, 2009 11:33 AM

  Six more people have died from the flu in Colorado, bringing the total this season to 20. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released the new toll Wednesday. It's not yet clear how many of the most recent deaths were from swine flu, also known as H1N1,... more »

• Pueblo health department faces funding crisis

  September 21, 2009 12:32 PM

  The Pueblo City-County Health Department says it may be forced to cut basic health services for the public. The City of Pueblo has proposed slashing its funding for the health department by 90%. Dr. Chris Nevin-Woods says that amounts to about a $900,000 dollar loss for the health department. Dr.... more »

• H1N1 Virus Call-in night at News First 5

  September 8, 2009 4:07 PM

  Experts from the El Paso County Health Department and Pueblo City-County Health Department will be on hand Tuesday night (September 8) to answer your questions about the H1N1 flu virus. The phone numbers are 632-5030 in Colorado Springs and 544-5781 in Pueblo. Have your questions ready between the hours... more »