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False claims, real consequences: Judge rejects activist’s First Amendment defense
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False claims, real consequences: Judge rejects activist’s First Amendment defense

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice El Paso County judge rejects motion to dismiss defamation suit against Bernadette Guthrie, ruling that calling a school board member a “child predator” is not protected by the First Amendment. For more than a year, Derrick Wilburn – father, community leader and now an elected school board member – was publicly branded a “child predator” by a vocal district parent. The accusations, repeated at school board meetings, online and even in state legislative testimony, painted him as a man who preyed on children.  Wilburn filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2024, seeking accountability. And on April 29, a Colorado judge drew a legal line.  El Paso County District Court Judge Gregory Werner denied defendant Bernadette Guthrie’s motion...
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El Paso County defies state sanctuary push, gives deputies ICE powers
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

El Paso County defies state sanctuary push, gives deputies ICE powers

By Nick Smith | Denver Gazette On a day when the El Paso County Sheriff's Office announced the transfer of 16 people to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, its sheriff, Joe Roybal, said Tuesday he intends to enter an agreement that will give his deputies specified powers of an ICE agent. The 287(g) program authorizes ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform certain immigration officer functions under the agency's direction and supervision, according to the Immigration and Nationality Act.  The program has three models that local law enforcement agencies can enter into, each that gives the agency distinct powers. A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office said they are not ready to comment on which model Roybal...
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Homeless camp tapping I-25 power cleared by Colorado Springs deputies—site continues to reappear
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Homeless camp tapping I-25 power cleared by Colorado Springs deputies—site continues to reappear

By Ashley Eberhardt | Fox31 COLORADO SPRINGS (KXRM) — On Tuesday, May 13, multiple law enforcement agencies cleared out a homeless encampment beneath Intestate 25 near Woodmen Road, where televisions, lighting and stereo equipment were found to be powered by illegally tapping into I-25’s light poles. According to a press release sent by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, its agency teamed up with the Colorado Springs Police Department and the Colorado Department of Transportation to help initiate a restoration project beneath I-25 just north of the Woodmen Road exit. EPSO said this location, where Pine Creek flows under the interstate, has been a frequent site for homeless encampments. “This encampment has been a persistent concern for the surrounding community, affecting res...
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Denver ICE ride-along: Colorado jail limits force agents into streets as officer assaults surge 400%
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Approved, KXRM-TV, Local

Denver ICE ride-along: Colorado jail limits force agents into streets as officer assaults surge 400%

By Sarah Ferguson | KXRM (COLORADO SPRINGS) — Recently, NewsNation affiliate KXRM went on a ride-along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Denver, as its officers conducted targeted enforcement actions on at-large fugitives from ICE in Colorado Springs. From attending the early morning briefing, to witnessing ICE officers making arrests of “public safety threats,” to touring the Florence Sub-Office for processing, KXRM was able to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into an arrest made by ICE officers and the steps taken thereafter.  Morning briefing: Day of ride-along Just before 5 a.m. on the day of KXRM’s ride-along with ICE Denver, our team met with officers at an undisclosed location where the morning briefing ensued. During the briefing, ICE officers...
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Pikes Peak Library District board seat draws high interest ahead of May 19 decision
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Pikes Peak Library District board seat draws high interest ahead of May 19 decision

By Brennan Kaufmann | Denver Gazette Nearly five months after the term expired for the Pikes Peak Library District's former Board of Trustees director, city and county officials will meet to discuss who to appoint to the open seat. The library liaisons for the Colorado Springs City Council and the El Paso County Commissioners are in charge of narrowing down the list of applicants and recommending who to appoint to the entire body. Lynette Crow-Iverson and Nancy Henjum oversee the process on the city side, while Carrie Geitner and Holly Williams serve on the county side. The four officials of the Joint Appointment Committee will meet May 19 at Colorado Springs City Hall to review the final list of applicants for the library and recommend the next board member. The appointment ...
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Former El Paso County public defender pleads not guilty to sexual assault of a 14-year-old
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Former El Paso County public defender pleads not guilty to sexual assault of a 14-year-old

By Mackenzie Bodell | Denver Gazette A former El Paso County public defender accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old pleaded not guilty in the 4th Judicial District on Thursday. Thomas Cushing, 26, was arrested Nov. 22, 2024, and faces one count of sexual assault against a child, according to court records. An affidavit for Cushing’s arrest indicates he met with the victim on two different occasions for sexual intercourse. The document also states the victim told Cushing that she was 18 years old, but made it clear she was a high school student still living with her legal guardians. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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School board in El Paso County moves to restrict transgender athletes, citing safety and fairness
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Approved, Local, The Colorado Sun

School board in El Paso County moves to restrict transgender athletes, citing safety and fairness

By Ann Schimke | Colorado Sun At an April school board meeting near Colorado Springs, debate raged over a proposed policy to ban transgender students from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity. A high school student named Sadie, who spoke against the policy, asked why her district would need a blanket policy when a tiny percentage of student athletes are transgender. A 60-year-old man who supported the policy and described himself as stronger than any woman in the building claimed a transgender girl could slam a ball into a girl’s head hard enough to put her in the hospital. A father opposed to the policy said his son, a district student, has an extra X chromosome and suggested gender is more complicated than it seems. He said of the proposed policy...
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El Paso Commissioner Applegate: America’s space advantage depends on keeping command in Colorado
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Approved, Commentary, Local, National, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

El Paso Commissioner Applegate: America’s space advantage depends on keeping command in Colorado

By El Paso Commissioner Cory Applegate | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As El Paso County’s Commissioner for District 4, I am committed to advancing our community’s interests, security, and prosperity. Among our top priorities is ensuring that U.S. Space Command remains headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. This is not just a local issue—it’s a matter of national security and global leadership in space. Peterson Space Force Base, located right here in our district, has long been at the forefront of military space operations. Its proximity to critical defense assets like Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and the Air Force Academy creates an unparalleled synergy. The integrated infrastructure and expertise in th...
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El Paso Co. Coroner confirms fatal animal attack in southern Colorado, canine suspected
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

El Paso Co. Coroner confirms fatal animal attack in southern Colorado, canine suspected

By Brooke Williams | Fox31 News DENVER (KDVR) — A woman was found dead in Costilla County in January and the autopsy revealed that she had injuries consistent with an animal attack. The El Paso County Coroner determined the manner of 68-year-old Cindy Denholm’s death to be an accident. The autopsy report obtained by FOX31 said that it is the coroner’s opinion that she “died as a result of multiple injuries from an animal attack.” According to the autopsy report, those injuries were consistent with those inflicted by a canine. It was undetermined whether the animal was a dog or a wild animal. The autopsy found that Denholm sustained numerous bite and scratch marks on her body, including lacerations and puncture wounds to the face, torso and legs, as well as “extensi...
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In a shifting of chairs, Republican parties have new leadership in many Colorado counties
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In a shifting of chairs, Republican parties have new leadership in many Colorado counties

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The only constant in life is said to be change. That certainly is the way it may feel for those in a number of county Republican parties around Colorado. From El Paso to Weld to Washington counties and other places dotting the map, new party leadership has been put in place during biennial reorganization, and more could be. In Adams County, both U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Gabe Evans spoke before Laura Garcia-Pascoe was elected as the new county Republican chairwoman. "Let’s win big together this cycle," wrote Boebert in a Facebook post and photo with Garcia-Pascoe, after her election. On Monday, during his weekly grassroots call, former Sen. Kevin Lundberg noted Sandra Aste had been named the Larimer County chair. "I am really exc...
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