Modern day enslavenent?

According to results from a Mar 19, 2026 Google AI search: “…forcing people to work without pay is a form of enslavement, specifically categorized as forced labor or involuntary servitude, and is a central component of what is widely known as modern slavery.” (See Google search: “is forcing people to work without pay a form of enslavement”).

Given the fact that that TSA agents (who are classified as “essential” employees) and others in DHS are now working without pay due at least in part to Senator John Hickenlooper’s and Senator Michael Bennet’s unwillingness to vote to pay them, are our Senators in some way supporting modern day enslavement?

What can we, as citizens of Colorado do to encourage our Senators to vote to ensure essential workers (such as TSA agents, military members, etc.) are paid for the work they perform?

Additionally, how can we encourage our Senators to work to ensure an annual budget is in place at the beginning of a Fiscal Year (last done in 1997) so the country is not held hostage throughout the year by budget fights?

Kevin Daugherty

Colorado Springs

Wolves in Colorado

It is a wonder that range rider Daniel Curry has any time for actually riding on a range. A quick look shows how much time he must spend on interviews, blogs, You tube videos, and fund raising from private and government sources (see the recent kerfuffle over $200,000 from Washington state).

Alas, we will soon need range riders to protect humans. Parks and Wildlife reported a female wolf in Teller County in 2024 and more
recently disclosed the presence of wolves in the Arkansas and South Platte drainages, helpfully noting that no wolves have been sighted east of I-25. How coy. No mention of how many wolves, or where they may have been located in the 148 miles from Leadville to Pueblo, or the 80 some miles between Alma and Deckers (Cheeseman Reservoir if I read the map right). This endangers countless residents, fishermen, hunters, hikers and sightseers, and will only grow.

DPW has never been forthright about details like this because the remaining professionals know a job killer when they see it. Perhaps
sadness is due for all the people, including our governor, who thought, with their heart more than their head, that bringing wolves to Colorado was a good idea.

Dave Vandenberg

Colorado Springs

A day of remembrance

March 29 2026, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day It is a day set aside for remembrance and reflection of a war that ended 51 years
ago. It was an undeclared war, as was the Korean War. For those who are too young to remember, the war started with military advisers
assigned to South Vietnam in 1961. At its end (1975), 58,479 had given their lives in a war that was very unpopular, thousands of miles away, back home in the U.S.A. Of those 58,470, eight were women.

The majority who lost their lives were 19 years old or younger. Approximately 3.5 million served within the Vietnam Theater with
2,594,000 in the boundaries. of South Vietnam. 17,671 of the dead were dafted. It was a hot,wet miserable, scary place to be.
When we returned home, there weren’t any welcome signs. To the contrary, many of our countrymen had nothing but contempt for
us. Baby Killers was a popular name for returning soldiers at that time. Even the Vietrans Clubs shunned us, referring to our service
as the Kids War.

That was then. So it is that we are grateful that today’s returning military receives the acknowledgment and respect
that they deserve. Vietnam Vets always greet each other with a Welcome Home, Brother acknowledgment. We welcome ourselves
home. We are grateful for the appreciation now accorded us. after all these years. To all Vietnam Veterans -a very sincere ‘Welcome
Home. Be proud that once upon a time you raised your hand and took an oath, and did your duty with honor. .March 29 is your day.
Make an effort to participate in one of the events on March 29 th. Do it for our 59,479 brothers that can’t be there!

Len Bentley

Colorado Springs

Consider our water resources

Here we are in extreme on-going drought conditions here in Colorado and elsewhere. Already this season numerous fires are burning.

In discussing Buc-ee’s pros and cons in addition to the ongoing development throughout the region in general, please soberly consider our water resources, the stress on our depleting aquifers and the water we require to fight fires!

Jeanne Sharp

Elbert