Rocky Mountain Voice

Menu

Tag: El Paso county

El Paso commissioners give 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen $50k pay raise
No Comments
Approved, gazette.com, Local

El Paso commissioners give 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen $50k pay raise

By Savannah Eller | The Gazette Last week the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners approved a requested $50,000 raise for newly reelected Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen.  Allen is the only county elected official whose salary is set by commissioners and not state statute. The raise came recommended by the county budget office, which presented commissioners with a high and low end of cost-of-living increases based on a consumer price index and market data. Allen's salary will factor into the District Attorney's Office's 2025 budget and cannot be changed for the rest of his four-year term.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Read More
Sheriff requests $600k budget increase for ‘grossly underpaid’ El Paso County deputies
No Comments
Approved, gazette.com, Local

Sheriff requests $600k budget increase for ‘grossly underpaid’ El Paso County deputies

By Savannah Eller | The Gazette El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal packed a meeting with deputies on Tuesday to ask the Board of County Commissioners for funds to bridge the gap for what he called "a massive, unacceptable pay disparity" between his and other regional law enforcement agencies. Roybal asked commissioners for a $600,000 increase in funds for 2025 in the county's preliminary balanced budget, to be matched with funds from the Sheriff's Office public-safety sales-tax revenue pool.  An El Paso County deputy is paid less overall than other Front Range sheriff's deputies, according to statistics Roybal showed from the National Fraternal Order of Police. Roybal claimed El Paso County, with a starting salary of $72,696 and a maximum salary of $92,664, was "dead last" amo...
Read More
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrests two in human trafficking investigation
No Comments
Approved, gazette.com, Local

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrests two in human trafficking investigation

By Mackenzie Bodell  | The Gazette The El Paso County Sheriff's Office arrested two individuals on human trafficking charges Wednesday following a 911 call from Colorado Ped Patrol. Patrol deputies responded to the call at the 600 block of Hathaway Drive in the Cimarron Hills neighborhood of unincorporated El Paso County and made contact with the reporting party, according to a news release sent out Thursday. Based on the initial information gathered, detectives from the sheriff’s office responded and assumed the investigation. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Read More
El Paso County Board of Health takes a stance on recreational marijuana ballot measures
No Comments
Approved, gazette.com, Local

El Paso County Board of Health takes a stance on recreational marijuana ballot measures

By Savannah Eller | The Gazette The El Paso County Board of Public Health has officially come out against a ballot question that will ask Colorado Springs citizens to vote on allowing existing medical marijuana shops to sell recreational marijuana in city limits.  "This is a public health issue, and I think this is a stance we should be taking," said El Paso County Commissioner and Board of Health member Longinos Gonzalez.  The Board of Health oversees the county's public health department and is in charge of developing public health policies.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Read More
Gonzalez: Needle exchange site in Colorado Springs lacks transparency
No Comments
Approved, Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Gonzalez: Needle exchange site in Colorado Springs lacks transparency

By Longinos Gonzalez, Jr. | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Needle exchange programs and drug injection sites, described by proponents as “safe injection sites” or “overdose prevention centers,” are ideas that radicals throughout the state continue to push upon our communities, even where they are largely opposed by the public and previously rejected by local institutions.   Luckily, at least for one more year, the legislature rejected the most recent supervised drug injection site bill proposal.  Unfortunately, this bill is likely to find renewed advocacy in 2025 by numerous Democrats.  However, the push for needle exchanges, or syringe access programs, under the guise of “harm reduction” continues and has come to Colorado Springs without ever having compl...
Read More
Inmate found unconscious in El Paso County jail cell has died, sheriff’s office says
No Comments
Approved, Fox21, Local

Inmate found unconscious in El Paso County jail cell has died, sheriff’s office says

By Brett Yager | Fox 21 News The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) said a man who was found unresponsive in his cell has passed away at the hospital. On Wednesday, Sept. 11 at around 8:15 p.m. during a routine welfare check at the El Paso County Jail, deputies found a man unresponsive in his cell. EPSO said evidence found suggested the man attempted to take his own life. Deputies and medical staff began lifesaving measures until first responders from American Medical Response and the Colorado Springs Fire Department arrived at around 8:32 p.m., and at 9:22 p.m. the man was taken to the hospital. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 21 NEWS
Read More
Sorensen: From barn to ballot, Young Republicans stoke the fire at ‘Teddy Roastavelt’
No Comments
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Sorensen: From barn to ballot, Young Republicans stoke the fire at ‘Teddy Roastavelt’

By Joel Sorenson, commentary | Rocky Mountain Voice On Saturday, August 17th , one of the newest grassroots organizations, the ElPaso County Young Republicans, revived an old GOP tradition called the “TeddyRoastavelt,” as a call back to the more successful days of the party and a promise towrite a new energetic chapter in local Republican politics. Steve and Lisa Brandt generously hosted the Young Republicans at their barn in BlackForest, and the event was attended by many of the group’s over-100 engaged youngconservatives as well as many local elected officials, including CD5 Republicannominee Jeff Crank. The event was designed to officially launch the campaign efforts of the organization,which had been building momentum throughout the summer at a slate of socialsincluding a trek...
Read More
El Paso County commissioner candidate accused of violating fair campaign practices
No Comments
Approved, Colorado Springs Gazette, Southern Colorado

El Paso County commissioner candidate accused of violating fair campaign practices

By Breeanna Jent | Colorado Springs Gazette El Paso County commissioner candidate David Leinweber faces accusations he has violated Colorado fair campaign practices in his bid for county office. Colorado Springs-based resident group Integrity Matters filed two complaints in under two weeks with Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office, alleging Leinweber has used his current position as an at-large Colorado Springs councilman to campaign for his election as the county’s District 3 commissioner. The group filed the complaints on May 21 and on Wednesday. In its complaint filed Wednesday, Integrity Matters stated there have been numerous times when Leinweber has promoted city events on the Facebook page dedicated to his county commissioner campaign while serving in his capacity as a...
Read More
El Paso, Teller counties to get $66 million in grants to address opioid epidemic
No Comments
Approved, Colorado Springs Gazette, Local

El Paso, Teller counties to get $66 million in grants to address opioid epidemic

By Mary Shinn | Colorado Springs Gazette El Paso and Teller counties are expected to receive $66 million through 2038 to address the opioid epidemic, a scourge that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives nationally.  A regional council awarded the first round of that funding, about $3.8 million, in April. The council left about $1.1 million in reserve to fund additional youth prevention programs, said Amanda Grant, an El Paso County finance employee who works with the council. She said the region is currently expected to receive $66 million, although the number will fluctuate depending on settlement outcomes.  The board is composed of 15 officials from El Paso and Teller counties, including county commissioners, city and town council members and law enforcement repre...
Read More