Author: Mary Shinn
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Space Force’s 5th birthday brings new training, challenges and growing threats from China
As Space Force celebrated its fifth birthday Friday, the youngest military branch is embarking on new training, a new way to manage part-time service members and facing growing threats. With a little more than two-thirds of the Space Force stationed along the Front Range, many of the initiatives are happening locally, including new classes for…
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Senate approves bill that moves space-focused National Guard units, Polis says Air Force refused to negotiate
The Senate approved the annual defense bill Wednesday that moves National Guard units into the active-duty Space Force after facing opposition from every governor in the country. The Senate-approved National Defense Authorization Act moves two of the seven space-focused National Guard units in Colorado, the 137th Space Warning Squadron, based in Greeley, and the 138th Electromagnetic…
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Requirement that could protect jets at Buckley makes must-pass defense bill
A requirement to replace Air National Guard fighter planes is headed to the president and could protect the future of aging F-16s at Aurora’s Buckley Space Force Base. The National Defense Authorization Act would require the secretary of the Air Force to work with the National Guard on a plan to replace guard planes at…
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Fort Carson master sergeant gets confinement in marijuana-related case
A master sergeant at Fort Carson received 42 days confinement after pleading guilty to marijuana charges and attempting to engage in a relationship with a soldier of a different rank. The senior noncommissioned officer pleaded guilty to all three charges he was facing in mid-November during a special court-martial, according to a statement from Fort…
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The beaver effect: How nature’s engineers restore wetlands, control floods, and protect rivers
Colorado Springs Utilities hopes to draw beavers to the region to help with riparian restoration on Pikes Peak
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Congressman-elect Jeff Crank talks military priorities, securing Space Command, improving food and housing for Fort Carson soldiers
The future of Space Command, the ongoing war in Ukraine and quality of life issues for service members are all among the tough military issues newly elected Congressman-elect Jeff Crank will face when he takes office in January. Crank is replacing Congressman Doug Lamborn, who is retiring after 18 years of representing Congressional District 5,…
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Could the military be on a path to fully embracing beards?
While a beard pilot study was cut from the National Defense Authorization Act, one lawmaker promises to fight on
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‘Very problematic’: Colorado-based guard units could be transferred into active duty
Space-focused National Guard units could be transferred to the active duty without their support units under a recent congressional proposal. The National Defense Authorization Act, still in draft form, proposes moving National Guard space operators into the Space Force, but not their support units — a move akin to moving pilots into a different branch from…
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Update: Fountain Creek stabilization underway, public meeting moved online
The Fountain Creek Watershed District has moved their public meeting on bank stabilization online. The district asks attendees log-in by 5:50 p.m. tonight at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86124461814. South of Colorado Springs, Fountain Creek has cut into deeply into the sandy soil, leaving a soaring bank about 50 feet high, so unstable an adjacent road has been closed…
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Judge sides with resident over developers in Hay Creek fire evacuation lawsuit
A 4th Judicial District judge recently sided with a resident when the judge dismissed the separate lawsuit filed against the resident by the property owners and the developer. Hay Creek Valley resident Mike Cloutier sued the El Paso County commissioners earlier this year because they approved a proposal making way for 20 more high-end homes…