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• Copper thieves disguising themselves as city utility workers? Play Video

  December 3, 2012 9:38 PM

  So far this year, City of Colorado Springs has spent more than $500,000 to replace stolen copper wire being taken from street lights. It's a growing problem for taxpayers, and a story News 5 has been following for years. Both the City and Colorado Springs Utilities have had... more »

• Former exec to stand trial in $1.8M paving scheme

  April 16, 2011 2:09 PM

  BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) - The former president of a paving company has been ordered to stand trial on charges of participating in a scheme to bilk Adams County taxpayers out of $1.8 million on road projects. The Denver Post reports Jerry Rhea appeared in court in Brighton on Friday... more »

• IRS files more tax liens

  January 5, 2011 11:43 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A government watchdog says the Internal Revenue Service is tormenting struggling taxpayers in the midst of a slumping economy by increasing the number of liens the agency has filed against people who owe back taxes. The IRS filed nearly 1.1 million liens in the budget year... more »

• Does the IRS owe you money? Search our list

  November 17, 2010 1:06 PM

  The Internal Revenue Service owes Colorado taxpayers $2,156,188. The refund checks were returned to the IRS as undeliverable. The IRS compiled a list of taxpayers for NewsFirst5 from the following cities and towns: Air Force Academy Avondale Calhan Canon City Cascade Colorado... more »

• College dropouts cost taxpayers billions

  October 11, 2010 8:31 AM

  Students dropping out of college after just one year are costing taxpayers billions of dollars, a new report says. States appropriated almost $6.2 billion to four-year colleges and universities between 2003 and 2008 to help pay for the education of students who did not return for year two, the... more »

• Gov. Ritter to visit Vestas European headquarters

  September 29, 2010 8:40 AM

  Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is heading to Denmark and Finland this week. His office says he will promote Colorado clean-tech jobs. Among his destinations is the world headquarters of Vestas Wind Systems in Denmark. Vestas is building four production plants in Colorado, including one in Pueblo, that will employ... more »

• Douglas Bruce not held in contempt of court

  September 8, 2010 8:37 AM

  A judge has ruled that anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce won't be held in contempt of court for not testifying in a lawsuit about tax-slashing ballot measures, but he will have to answer questions about them. Denver District Judge Brian Whitney ruled Tuesday against the attorney general's request to hold... more »

• Douglas Bruce contempt hearing continues

  September 3, 2010 12:27 PM

  Government lawyers are continuing to push for Colorado Springs tax-cutting activist Douglas Bruce to give information about his role in three ballot measures before voters this fall. The contempt-of-court hearing against Bruce continues in Denver. Bruce is the father of Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill Of Rights (TABOR), and the... more »

• Auditors say Colorado pension plan recovering

  August 17, 2010 8:35 AM

  Colorado's state pension fund is back on track toward solvency after state lawmakers became the first in the nation to cut retiree benefits to prevent its pension system from going broke. Thomas Cavanaugh, an actuary for Cavanaugh Macdonald Consulting, told lawmakers Monday that they would have to spend 40... more »

• 'What gall!' Inmate sues his crime victims

  July 30, 2010 10:56 AM

  A Florida inmate has filed a lawsuit seeking $500,000 in damages from three men who caught him red-handed with a stolen bicycle, claiming they roughed him up, according to a newspaper report. Michael Dupree is serving a 12-year sentence for burglary and cocaine possession stemming from a 2007 break-in... more »

• Colorado prosecutors, deputies stranded on public dime by volcano

  April 27, 2010 5:39 PM

  Ouch--imagine this hotel bill for taxpayers! Two Colorado prosecutors and two sheriff's deputies were among travelers stranded overseas when an Icelandic volcano erupted and forced the closure of much of Europe's airspace. The four were in London for interviews and an extradition hearing in a slaying case. ... more »

• School board plans private meeting during pricey trip

  April 8, 2010 3:27 PM

  The Harrison District 2 School Board is spending over $10,000 of taxpayer's money this weekend for a trip to the National School Board Association Annual Conference in Chicago. While they are there, the board plans to hold a private meeting to discuss Superintendent Mike Miles performance and bonus pay.... more »

• Katrina negligence ruling could cost taxpayers

  November 19, 2009 8:44 AM

  A $720,000 award to seven plaintiffs in a suit over Hurricane Katrina damage could open the federal government--and taxpayers-- to billions of dollars in claims. A federal judge in New Orleans has ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers' failure to properly maintain a navigation channel led to massive flooding... more »

• Pueblo City Schools approves new teachers, superintendent contracts

  October 8, 2009 1:51 PM

  The Pueblo City Schools Board of Education unanimously approved two major contracts Thursday morning--a two year deal with teachers, and a three-year pact with new superintendent Kathy West. Union teachers approved the contract in a vote last week. The teachers received a 2.2% pay increase for the first year... more »

• Confronting homelessness; police try new approach

  September 16, 2009 8:37 PM

  There's growing concern over the homeless camps in Colorado Springs. The campsites are much more visible, and businesses are worried that panhandlers are becoming more aggressive. To confront the issue, the police department has created a Homeless Outreach Team. The officers of team are assigned to patrol the homeless... more »