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The Gazette

Appliance Group Challenges Colorado Gas Stove Warning Labels In Court
State, Approved, The Gazette

Appliance Group Challenges Colorado Gas Stove Warning Labels In Court

By Scott Weiser | The Gazette A trade organization representing gas stove manufacturers filed a request for a temporary restraining order against the state over a requirement that gas stoves sold at retail have a yellow sticker warning buyers of the purported health risks of using natural gas for cooking. The complaint, filed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, asserted a First Amendment violation over government-compelled speech and sought an injunction against the law. The trade association alleged HB25-1161’s labeling requirement unconstitutionally compels its members to convey a message they disagree with. The law went into effect Aug. 1. It requires the yellow label read: "Understand the air quality implications of having an indoor gas stove" and include ...
Air Force Academy Ends Race Based Admissions After Legal Settlement
National, Approved, The Gazette

Air Force Academy Ends Race Based Admissions After Legal Settlement

By Stephanie Earls | The Gazette More than four months after the U.S. Air Force Academy announced it no longer would consider race as a factor in its admissions process, the Justice Department said Tuesday a settlement has been reached between the Colorado Springs academy and a conservative nonprofit whose years long lawsuit challenged the school’s now-abandoned affirmative-action policies. The settlement closes the book on litigation against both the Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., filed by Students For Fair Admissions, the group whose successful challenge of such practices won over the nation’s top justices and swiftly — after Trump was sworn in for a second time — became a cause celebré for the new administration. “This Department is committ...
Colorado Springs leaders weigh in as pastors’ political speech could expand
The Gazette, Approved, Local

Colorado Springs leaders weigh in as pastors’ political speech could expand

By Debbie Kelley | The Gazette A recent proposed settlement in a federal court case out of Texas that would change how churches intersect with politics has become what supporters call restoring free speech rights and opponents call breaching the separation of church and state. If the filing by the Internal Revenue Service stands in a 2024 lawsuit that several religious groups brought against the IRS, churches and other houses of worship would be allowed to endorse political candidates from the pulpit during religious services without danger of losing their tax-exempt status. Reactions from pastors and politicians are mixed. The Rev. Steve Holt, founder and senior pastor of The Road Church, a large nondenominational congregation in Colorado Springs, supports the idea and said he...
Over 100K Acres Burn As Lee Fire Ranks Among State’s Worst
State, Approved, The Gazette

Over 100K Acres Burn As Lee Fire Ranks Among State’s Worst

By: Jonathan Ingraham | The Gazette The Lee fire southwest of Meeker, Colorado in Rio Blanco County has become the sixth largest wildfire in Colorado history, eclipsing the 2012 High Park fire, which burned 87,284 acres west of Fort Collins. The fire grew from over 88,000 acres to over 92,000 acres throughout the day on Saturday, with no containment, state fire officials said. By Sunday morning, the fire had burned 106,672 acres, however, some progress had been made and the fire was at 6% containment, according to state fire officials and federal fire maps.  A map published by the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 shows the growth of the Lee and Elk Fires near Meeker, Colorado. Credit: Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, Facebook Mand...
Kerber: How Colorado’s density push is an attack on the single-family home
The Gazette, Approved, Commentary, State

Kerber: How Colorado’s density push is an attack on the single-family home

By Dave Kerber | Commentary, The Gazette Our neighborhoods and communities are faced with a challenge to the very character of the place we have chosen to live. We live in a unique and astonishing place. People flock to Colorado because of our blue skies, fresh air and mountains. Coloradans have no desire to be New York City. These are two distinct and very different lifestyle choices. Yet, those in charge of Colorado at the moment want to bring that New York density here to Colorado — to change forever what makes Colorado such an incredible place to live and work. As a species, we have always wanted to live and work in larger spaces. It’s human nature. Two hundred years ago, it was common for families to live in a one-room cabin. One hundred years ago, it was normal to have 2-3 peop...
A Highland Ranch student’s final act of courage becomes a case for sainthood
The Gazette, Approved, Local

A Highland Ranch student’s final act of courage becomes a case for sainthood

By By Debbie Kelley | The Gazette Many hailed 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo as a hero for trying to stop a shooter at his charter school just a few weeks before he was to graduate in May 2019. But did the STEM School Highlands Ranch senior live a life of “heroic virtue,” before it was tragically ended by a gunman, who also injured eight people? Two priests at St. Mark Catholic Church in Highlands Ranch, which is part of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, believe so. And six years after Castillo was murdered, they’ve initiated a process that they hope will end with worldwide public recognition of how saintly his selfless actions were. Rushing at the shooter and giving other kids time to move away from the gunfire — which was credited with preventing more fatalities — ...
From Oregon to Colorado: Wolves Bring Carnage, Questions
The Gazette, Approved, State

From Oregon to Colorado: Wolves Bring Carnage, Questions

By Marianne Goodland | The Denver Gazette Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced Wednesday that another wolf from the original 10 that came from Oregon has died in Wyoming. Wyoming law prevents divulging more details on the wolf's death, although the tracking collar is being returned to Colorado. With the death of the female wolf identified as OR-2304, that makes four of the 10 animals from Oregon that have now died. All told, a total of 10 wolves out of the original 25, including the 15 brought to Colorado in January from British Columbia, have died. In a statement, the state wildlife agency said it would not comment further on the latest mortality since it took place outside of Colorado. Wildlife officers are also on the hunt for an uncollared wolf that killed three sheep i...
United Flights Resume After Grounding Thousands Over Tech Glitch
National, Approved, The Gazette

United Flights Resume After Grounding Thousands Over Tech Glitch

By Shivani Tanna and Rajesh Kumar Singh | The Gazette CHICAGO (Reuters) -United Airlines said a technology issue that led to a grounding of its flights for a few hours at U.S. airports and major delays across its network on Wednesday had been resolved. "While we expect residual delays, our team is working to restore our normal operations," the airline said. The technology issue prompted ground stops at several major United hub airports including Newark, Denver, Houston, and Chicago, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's website. United said the problem related to its Unimatic system that houses information about each flight that is then fed to other systems, including those that calculate weight and balance and track flight times. As of 10:25 p.m. ET (0225 ...
Monument skips bids to fast-track emergency water well repair
The Gazette, Approved, Local

Monument skips bids to fast-track emergency water well repair

BY SAVANNAH ELLER | THE DENVER GAZETTE Monument has bypassed its usual bidding process to complete emergency repairs on a well important to the town's water availability.  "We're living on borrowed time, potentially," said Jonathan Rigaud, Monument water manager.  Well 7 has been out of commission since July 9, when it unexpectedly shut down. After an investigation, the town discovered that wiring issues were to blame.  Wells are the main source of water for a portion of Monument residents west of Interstate 25, where the town's water enterprise is the main provider. The town has 13 wells, three of which went online in November. The other side of Monument is supplied by other water districts.  The well needs to be repaired to maintain the town's water ...
Shots Fired as ICE Operation Turns Violent in Colorado
Local, Approved, The Gazette

Shots Fired as ICE Operation Turns Violent in Colorado

By Nick Smith | The Gazette Two immigrants suspected to be in the country illegally are on the run after allegedly attempting to ram their vehicle into law enforcement officials during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation Thursday in the Black Forest area, according to an ICE spokesperson. An officer reportedly fired three shots into the vehicle, which fled the scene and was later found abandoned, the spokesperson said. No injuries were reported. A shelter-in-place order was issued in Black Forest around 10:30 a.m. Thursday for a quarter-mile radius in the 9900 block of Burgess Road between Windmill and Greentree roads, according to Peak Alerts and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. "Secure your home/business and stay away from doors and windows. Shelter...