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Here are some of the stories we are following this week. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for up-to-the-minute news.
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In Colorado, home insurance rates have increased 100% since 2020. This is the highest increase in insurance rates in the entire nation. But fear not, Governor Jared Polis will get government involved in this soon. That will reverse the trend, right?
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A total of 68 attorneys who belong to law firms that have had legal dealings with Attorney General Phil Wieser have donated to his campaign for governor. What do you suppose their return on investment will be if he’s elected?
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A law passed this year in Colorado requires rigorous health and safety inspections at ICE facilities in Colorado. This law is clearly meant to harass ICE for enforcing immigration law, so the private company that operates this facility is suing.
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Would current Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser use his taxpayer-funded position to help Boulder with a climate lawsuit against energy companies? The answer is, he probably would.
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Current Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is failing again. While campaigning for attorney general, she blatantly lied about how poor she was growing up. That’s the kind of hustle we’ve become accustomed to seeing out of Colorado public servants. Great job, Jena!
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Here is the list of the new Colorado helicopter-parenting laws that will go into effect in July. What would we do without our radical state government micromanaging our daily lives?
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Governor Jared Polis is lashing out at the Trump administration order to keep certain Colorado coal plants operational past the time Polis wants them retired and replaced by windmills. He’s signed a bill dictating new emission controls and reporting requirements on these plants.
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Public schools in Colorado are costing taxpayers more and more each year. This spending is still not reflected in higher student achievement. In fact, many 4th-grade students cannot even read.
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Black Hills Energy has proposed an electric rate increase to the Colorado PUC, and the commission will likely approve the request. Black Hills customers could see an increase of almost $11 per month on their electric bills.
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Local media outlet KOAA is reporting on the story that we broke about former mayoral Chief of Staff Jamie Fabos being let go from the city, and receiving a large, taxpayer-funded severance check.
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One Colorado landlord is wondering how she will repair the $100,000 in damage one tenant, who received taxpayer-subsidized rent from the Colorado Springs Housing Authority, caused to her property.
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The City of Colorado Springs Planning Department has approved a data center project that would be built at the former chip manufacturing plant on Garden of the Gods Road. The Planning Department’s review of the project has been publicly released. It is expected that the residents who live near the area will appeal the decision.
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Colorado Springs Utilities updated their Sustainable Energy Plan by adding a commitment to exploring the feasibility of nuclear power.
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There are allegations that some marijuana growers in Colorado are not paying as much as they should be paying in taxes. One cultivator says that some companies are gaming the system, and that state regulators are aware of the problem.
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The recent budget cuts in Denver city government also eliminated an office that reviewed parking tickets in the city. Now, some drivers who have received parking tickets that are clearly errors are being greatly inconvenienced.
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One Denver program allows vagrants to use public libraries as a place to escape the summer heat.
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife has had to destroy another wolf in the state. This wolf ate several sheep in multiple incidents. The wolf was just being a wolf. The wolf reintroduction program is the real problem.
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A feasibility study is underway in Colorado Springs that would revitalize parts of Monument and Fountain Creeks near downtown. Many residents near this proposed project have concerns. Despite their concerns, we are certain that this project will be approved.
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Did you fill out and return your primary election ballot? If not, you could be opting out of the most consequential election of the year.
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When Boulder, Colorado was selected to host the Sundance Film Festival, the thinking was that lodging costs would be lower for attendees than the former festival home of Park City, Utah. It’s looking like that was a bad bet.
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The Denver Post had its offices located in a building owned by the City of Denver. DP Media, which owns the Denver Post, stopped paying rent last August. Now, DP Media has agreed to pay Denver $13.5 million in back rent, and take their name off the building.
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If you would like to help support us in our mission as government watchdogs by becoming a Newsletter Sponsor, we are offering two sponsorships for each weekly newsletter, at the nominal cost of $100 each. Funds raised from these sponsorship opportunities will help us to keep looking out for taxpayers.
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You can also support Springs Taxpayers United when you shop. Springs Taxpayers United is now enrolled with the King Soopers Community Rewards Program. You can link your SooperCard to us by logging into your account and designating Springs Taxpayers United (SW470) as the recipient of the community reward for your King Soopers card. Thanks for your support!
Here are some upcoming meetings in the area. We hope you can attend one or more! If there are other public meetings you’d like to see announced here, please drop us a line. We are happy to include them in an upcoming newsletter. These might be government-related, candidate, or elected official meetings. Thanks!
Colorado Springs City Council Meetings
Monday, July 13, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council Work Session
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, July 14, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners Meetings
Tuesday, June 23, 9:00 a.m.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Centennial Hall
200 S. Cascade
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, July 7, 9:00 a.m.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Centennial Hall
200 S. Cascade
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Colorado Springs Utilities Board of Directors
Wednesday, July 15, 1:00 p.m.
Utilities Board of Directors
Blue River Board Room
Plaza of the Rockies, South Tower, 5th Floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Miscellaneous Meetings of Interest
Friday, June 26, 9:00 a.m.
Front Range Passenger Rail Board of Directors Meeting
Online Meeting - Registration Required
Information and Agenda
View the full Colorado Springs City Council meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings.
View the full Board of El Paso County Commissioners meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings.
View the full Colorado Springs Utilities Board meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings. Please also follow CSU on their Facebook Page and on Twitter.
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Since most of the City and County board and commission meetings are not televised or recorded, we are trying to remedy that. We now have a camera and tripod for volunteers to check out for future meetings.
If you have a tip about a story in the Pikes Peak region that you aren’t seeing reported, let us know. We will see what we can find out.
How to Contact City and County Officials:
City Hall
107 N. Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 385-5986
Contact City Council
Mayor's Office
30 S Nevada Avenue, Suite 601
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
(719) 385-5900
Contact the Mayor's Office
County Commissioners
200 South Cascade Avenue, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2202
Phone: (719) 520-7276
https://www.elpasoco.com/contact-us/
Thank you!
Rebecca
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