Air Force General Gene Renuart Jr. at a press conference at Northern Command, Tuesday.
Photo by: Jaimie Stevenson




Lt. Col. Dave Condit is on the flight crew of a Peterson Field-based C-130 fighting fires in California.
Photo courtesy: US Air Force




A C-130 leaves for California.
Photo courtesy: US Air Force

The nationwide military response to the California wildfires is being coordinated out of U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base. We hear from the top general there, Gene Renuart. Part of the response is sending half-a-dozen Air Force C-130 cargo planes specially outfitted to drop fire retardant. Two of those planes are from the Colorado Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing based at Peterson. We talk to a navigator from the 302nd, Lt. Col. Dave Condit.

[LISTEN]

An auditor hired by the Reverend Don Armstrong’s attorney has found no evidence the pastor committed fraud or theft. Armstrong is the pastor of Grace Episcopal Church and St. Stephen’s Parish in Colorado Springs. Last December, he was suspended by the Episcopal diocese of Colorado on suspicion of financial misconduct. In August, that body found him guilty of misappropriating nearly $400,000, lying to the IRS, illegally encumbering church property and other crimes. Armstrong has denied any wrongdoing, and says the diocese has no jurisdiction over him. But he remains under investigation by the Colorado Springs police department’s financial crimes unit.

[LISTEN]

(L-R) Jan Tanner, Charlie Bobbitt
Chyrese Exline and Willie H. Breazell, Sr.

(L-R) Delia B. Armstrong-Busby, Tom Strand
and Robert (Bob) Null

On Tue., Oct. 16, 2007 Citizens Project hosted a forum for the candidates for Colorado Springs District 11 School Board. Co-sponsors included KRCC, The Colorado Springs Independent, Colorado Springs Black/Latino Coalition, League of Women Voters, Pikes Peak Equality Coalition, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, Freethinkers.

To listen to the debate in its entirety [CLICK HERE]
[ SLIDESHOW ]

Photo by: Don Goede

Despite a couple of local grassfires this week, and small flare-up in Manitou in September, Colorado has been relatively wildfire-free this year. The 14,000 total acres that burned here is about four times fewer acres than burned in New Mexico, and far smaller than the 615,000 acres that torched in Utah. But one good year doesn’t mean fire danger has gone away. On Friday, Oct. 19, a bi-partisan group of Congressional reps and Senators sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service urging full funding of hazardous fuels reduction projects in the Rocky Mountain Region. Colorado’s delegation was joined by counterparts in Wyoming and South Dakota. Colorado College Student Jaimie Stevenson reports that locally, the Pike San Isabel National Forest is looking at a 12% cut in its fuels reduction budget from last year, and that fuels reduction projects probably didn’t have much impact on the mild fire season this year.

[LISTEN]

State Senator Ron May

Springs Senator Ron May Resigns – Bruce to Statehouse?

Accused Springs Cop Killer Asks for Venue Change

State Unemployment Rate Ticks Up Slightly

Bones From Pueblo Frontier Days Found in Vermont

Sewage Spill at Camp for Gas Workers

CU President Brown’s “Ghetto” Comment Criticized

[LISTEN]

A new report from the state says it’s too soon to tell if air pollution controls for the oil and gas industry are improving air quality. Last year Colorado created statewide emission standards for the industry for the first time. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.

[LISTEN]

Homeless veterans in Colorado Springs were able to get a hot meal, a hot shower, free clothes and help getting other services Thursday, Oct. 18th, at the ninth annual El Paso County Homeless Veterans Coalition Stand Down. We stopped by the event at the City Auditorium and talked to Debbie Fowler with the Colorado Springs office of the Veterans Administration, she helped coordinate the event.

[LISTEN]

Colorado Delegation Splits on SCHIP Vote

States Top Oil and Gas Regulator Resigns

Greeley’s Reputation Hurts Recruiting at UNC

Springs Woman Convicted of Perjury in Arson Deaths

[LISTEN]

Photo courtesy of Colorado Environmental Coalition

Industry Says Roan Platau Gas Worth $1 Billion

Ranchers: Army Hardly Uses Pinon Canyon

2nd Bear Attack in Aspen

Teacher at Christian High School Arrested on Sex Charges

[LISTEN]

Thursday, Oct. 18 is showdown day in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thats when lawmakers will vote on whether to override President Bushs veto of the State Childrens Health Insurance Program, or S-CHIP. Democrats say they can beat the veto if they can find about 15 more Republicans to vote with them.

But they’re not going to get Rep. Doug Lamborn to change his mind. [LISTEN]

For a brief overview of the SCHIP bill vetoed by President Bush CLICK HERE

To see an NPR poll reflects Republican divisions on SCHIP CLICK HERE

New Analysis Reveals Nearly Half of Increase in Uninsured Children in 2006 Occurred in Middle Income Families CLICK HERE