Every February, Americans observe Black History Month – a time to highlight the history, achievements, and voices of Black Americans whose stories are often overlooked in traditional textbooks. It is a chance for communities to learn, reflect, and discover authors and perspectives that deepen our understanding of the country we share. That is why it […]
Colorado Republicans in the state legislature would like to think that constraints on surveillance technology could be that rare bipartisan topic that wins them support from Democrats. SB-071, sponsored by Sen. Lynda Zamora Wilson (R-Colorado Springs), certainly moves in the right direction, placing limits on police use of surveillance technology such as facial recognition software […]
By and large, the media is blowing it on their coverage of Iran. Every report about these ongoing Israel and U.S. strikes on Iran should clearly state the reason for this reckless war. Oh, after the Israel and U.S. strikes on Iran on Saturday, we’ve been getting lots of background on the competing factions in […]
We have seen this before. In 2003, under Operation Iraqi Freedom, the United States launched what was branded as “shock and awe.” Overwhelming force. Rapid dominance. Swift victory. That was the plan. What followed was years of instability, insurgency, trauma, and long-term consequences that were nowhere near as easy to manage as the opening air […]
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is asking the CPW Commission at its next meeting on March 4 and 5 for permission to charge out-of-state visitors 50% more for a state parks day pass. It is doing so with no real effort to gather public input and with little justification, other than because the agency seeks […]
Last week, I got the email that had been a long time coming: Colorado Springs was killing its Citizens Transportation Advisory Board (CTAB), one of the many boards and commissions that allow regular people to advise City Council on legislation and policy. This was a group of 11 volunteers from across town, plus alternates like […]
Editor’s Note: The Military Times reported Feb. 19 that “The Department of Veterans Affairs has retreated from enforcing a controversial regulation it rolled out Tuesday that required medical examiners to factor in the effects of medication when weighing disability ratings decisions.” Every veteran knows the phrase. It gets said in grocery stores, at ball games, […]
I posted a meme last month on my personal Facebook page and a right-wing Facebook friend said it promoted lies (it didn’t, it was an opinion based on facts) and that posts like mine are why people have lost faith in journalism. I responded that in normal times I would not feel the need to […]
This was not just another event on the calendar. The 13th Annual Multi-Cultural Black History Program on Feb. 15 filled a top-tier venue – the Ent Center for the Arts – with a packed house, standing as a reminder that Black culture in Colorado Springs is not something waiting to be discovered. It is organized, […]
The Pikes Peak Bulletin received more than a half-dozen letters to the editor in favor of the original Ray Nixon Power Plant closure date. For background, read Colorado Springs seeks bill to keep Ray Nixon coal plant open past 2029 closure deadline in The Colorado Sun and Colorado Springs Utilities enlists state lawmakers to keep […]
Two new restaurants worthy of attention and praise opened recently. Thai comes to Manitou Springs Manitou Thai & Ramen marks what may be the first Thai place this town has ever seen. For a village rife with burgers and beef jerky, this humble Asian eatery in the space inside the Baker House formerly occupied by […]
A conservative Facebook friend recently posted this on his page: “Gee, I wonder why Bad Bunny got so much exposure at the Grammy’s last night??” The first response to that post: “Politics?” Behind those comments lurks an interesting assumption. It assumes, of course, that Bad Bunny (who will be playing at this year’s Super Bowl […]
Editor’s note Feb. 6: After this piece was published, a Black History Month proclamation was added to the Colorado Springs City Council’s Feb. 10 agenda. Read about it here. For generations, the stories of black Americans and other marginalized communities have been filtered through systems that benefited from their exclusion. People were told to take […]
As a freelance writer and podcaster, I get emails every week asking me to review a product (NO), or write about some poll or survey about the “best trails” in Colorado, or promoting some vacation resort (still NO), but my favorites are from publishers asking me to look at a new book. Sometimes, the book […]
As some Republican governors, and even some members of Congress, start to criticize federal agents killing citizens, and Trump looks for which of his lackeys to throw under the bus, I see signs of hope. Not just that Trump is TACOing again, but that maybe this means the Republican party might be reassessing their crooked, […]
Another American citizen killed by ICE in Minneapolis. How many more will it take? How many more will it take before Congress grows a spine and defunds these brutal, deadly raids on our people? How many more will it take before our own local officials stand up and call this what it is? I cheered […]
Colorado Springs, especially the South Side, needs to pay attention to what just happened at City Hall. Councilmember Kimberly Gold was issued a formal reprimand for speaking plainly about what the public witnessed during the MLK proclamation discussion. She did not make up facts. She did not disrupt the meeting. She described the moment clearly […]
The 25th Amendment gave Congress the ability to remove a president who is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” covering physical or mental incapacitation. But this Greenland thing should be the breaking point. He wrote a message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre making it clear that the primary reason […]
The Colorado Springs City Council dais is not supposed to be a stage. It is not supposed to be a place where personal beliefs get turned into official statements, as if one man’s worldview represents thousands of people who live, work, and raise families in District 1. And yet, year after year, council member Dave […]
Letter to the Editor: Show up to make an impact
As an active member of the Colorado Springs community I am enraged. Graduating from Harrison School District 2 is probably the most significantly positive foundation my life could have stood on. Maybe I didn’t read all of the classic novels, or learn advanced calculus (the District was in a deep time of transition and let’s […]