This opinion piece reflects the views of John Hazlehurst only and are not endorsed by the Pikes Peak Bulletin. When addle-brained lawyers, judges and politicians get together to determine our nation’s fate, what happens? Nothing good. Let’s start with birthright citizenship. The words of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States are […]
Murals are part of the soul of Manitou Springs. They’re along the Avenue, at the tops of buildings, on brick walls, in parking lots, in shop windows – and this summer, Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts is offering emerging and established artists the chance to add their brushstrokes of creativity to the city by taking […]
You may silently give thanks for the privilege of living in the 719 area code every day, but for the second year in a row, local public radio station KRCC (91.5 FM) wants you to celebrate out loud to mark what they’ve dubbed 719 Day. 719 Day is like Free Slurpee® Day, in that both […]
This article was first published in The Colorado Sun. Colorado River Basin states are almost, sort of, close to a small compromise in their negotiations that focuses on matching reservoir releases more closely to the river’s actual flow. Colorado water watchers seem to be rolling with it – so far. Top negotiators in Colorado and […]
This week, unhoused youth and families began moving into the newly built Launchpad Apartments. The 50-unit supportive housing project is located on Colorado Springs’ west side, and is the first of its kind for Colorado Springs. “The youth sign a lease when they move in,” explained Wayne Bland, a board member and head of The […]
Chris Sorenson feels his “quality of life has gone down a bit here in northern El Paso County, and I feel that it’s the result of excessive growth,” he said at a meet-and-greet in Monument on June 21 with County Commissioners Holly Williams and Bill Wysong. “It seems that our mission and our vision is […]
Marsha P. Johnson, a prominent activist of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, once said, “No Pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” If a movement is not conscious of this truth, it will not be successful. Human identities and lived experiences are so layered and complex that we cannot ignore any single […]
Forest green walls, chandeliers and bones adorn one side of the room. On the other, you’ll find authentic Afghan rugs and fashionable mannequins. Bridging the gap is a menagerie of vintage clothing and succulents, with a basket offering free “Warm Fuzzies” – cotton balls with googly eyes. This room, located near the front of the […]
Ian Ferguson is a Manitou Springs native who lives out loud and mostly flies under the radar – though he seems unlikely to stay under the radar. While Ferguson spends his days teaching music at Ute Pass Elementary School, outside of the classroom he collaborates with at least seven local bands who perform across a […]
On May 31, 2025, over 100 volunteers of all ages gathered at Vermijo Park in Old Colorado City as part of the City’s inaugural Keep it Clean COS initiative. Members from the Trails and Open Space Coalition, City of Colorado Springs Public Works, Colorado Springs Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team, the Mayor’s Office and several […]
Staunton State Park is a gem of a park that offers something for almost everyone. You can go cycling, horseback riding, hiking, tent camping, rock climbing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, and it is even dog-friendly (leashed, of course). There is history, wildlife, birding, grand views, ponds, and a spectacular waterfall. The park even offers a […]
This year, following 120 years of ministering to Manitou Springs residents, St. Andrews Episcopal Church closed. The historic structure in the center of town is an area landmark. While closing the sanctuary marked a pivotal end to the church’s storied history, the Manitou Springs Food Pantry located on the lower level remains open. Food Pantry […]
Rummaging through a junk-filled closet on the second floor, I came across an enormous bound volume of newspapers from the summer of 1921. How they got there I haven’t a clue, but I suspect that I bought them decades ago at a garage sale, or at Ross Auction, or … who knows? The newspaper was […]
This article was first published by the Colorado Sun. Unaccompanied immigrant children and the Coloradans who offered to house them are at the center of a rift between Gov. Jared Polis and a top official at the state Department of Labor and Employment. In an ongoing lawsuit against the governor, the head of the state’s […]
Lauren Nelson was sworn in to the El Paso County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, replacing Cami Bremer, who resigned earlier this month. Appointed by a vote of the local Republican Party, she fills the District 5 seat vacated by Cami Bremer, who was selected in September last year to serve as CEO of Pikes […]
Late Sunday, Daniel Giffin – 17-year-old son of Torie Jennings Giffin – died. It might seem customary to write something like “Daniel lost his 6.5 year battle with an aggressive brain cancer,” but writing that Daniel lost anything in his unwavering quest for heaven would be untrue. The loved ones left behind have lost a […]
Downtown Colorado Springs saw streets lined with protestors gathered in opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies and the military parade he threw in Washington, D.C., on Saturday – which was Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the Army as well as Trump’s 79th birthday. Organizers estimated the crowd size in the ballpark of 9,000. […]
Council approved the first reading of an amended budget for 2025 during this week’s meeting. “Per the City’s normal practice, City Council appropriates a midyear amended budget,” said Rebecca Davis, Manitou Springs finance director. “On May 3, in an all-day executive session, City Council really examined the impacts of Colorado Springs allowing retail marijuana and […]
Changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, a budget reconciliation bill now in Congress, would rob thousands of Coloradans of health coverage and lead to health care industry layoffs, but do little for the U.S. economy, health professionals and fiscal experts have warned. Around 11 million […]
This article was first published in the Colorado Times Recorder. Colorado Republicans held a town hall Saturday for El Paso County board of education candidates. The candidates for the ostensibly nonpartisan seats in Colorado Springs School District 11, District 49, and Academy School District 20 were joined by Colorado House Minority Leader Rep. Rose Pugliese […]
