The Colorado Veterans Alliance recently disbanded after founder Rick Duncan was exposed as fabricating his identity as veteran. Resident Joe Barrera was a member of the Colorado Veterans Alliance, and offers his thoughts on the discovery of the imposter.
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(The “Citizen Report” is a collaboration between the Colorado Springs Gazette and KRCC. More information is available at the YourHub link at ColoradoSprings.com.)
Vice President Joe Biden delivers the commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation, and conservation groups challenge a lawsuit over the the new oil and gas rules.
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Listen to Vice President Biden’s full commencement speech (27 minutes):
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Whooping cough is two- to three-times more common in Colorado than the rest of country. One reason may be the state’s relatively low vaccination rate. Researchers have just published a study linking the high number of whooping cough cases in Colorado to the number of parents who refuse the vaccine against it. KCFR Health Reporter Eric Whitney has more.
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Vice-President Joe Biden touted green jobs as a key to strengthening America’s middle class during a town hall meeting at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Tuesday. The event was the fourth official meeting of the Obama administration’s middle class task force. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Governor Bill Ritter quietly signed a bill into law last Monday that will allow gay and lesbian state employees to share health benefits with their partners in the same way married couples already can. It’s one of a long list of state measures in recent years that grant additional protections and benefits to domestic partners. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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Anyone in Colorado arrested or charged with a felony will soon be required to give a DNA sample to law enforcement. Governor Ritter signed the bill into law on Thursday, saying it’s a tool that will help police solve more crimes. Critics argue it violates protections guaranteed in the 4th amendment against unreasonable searches and seizures. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver.
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This week, Pleasant Valley resident and outdoor enthusiast Caroline Vulgamore tells fear to take a hike.
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(The “Citizen Report” is a collaboration between the Colorado Springs Gazette and KRCC. More information is available at the YourHub link at ColoradoSprings.com.)
Colorado’s senators still back shutting down Guantanamo Bay…and, Governor Bill Ritter vetoes an unemployment bill.
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Colorado Springs sits in the shadow of Pikes Peak. Though rich with recreational activities, faith groups, and cultural activities, there’s another side not many talk about. It’s nationally ranked among metropolitan areas for high suicide rates. Researchers estimate about 100 suicides occur in El Paso County per year, and a new study from the Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group estimates the medical costs for suicide and suicide attempts in the county at four million dollars per year. KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin takes a closer look at the statistics, and the human toll of taking one’s own life.
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Additional Resources:
Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group
Suicide Prevention Partnership
Mental Health America for Colorado
The origins of the “Soap Box Derby” date back to 1933 in Dayton, Ohio. Homemade, engineless cars chase down a hill, pulled only by the force of gravity. In this week’s “Citizen Report,” Ted Ebbink talks about his experiences with the Pike’s Peak Soap Box Derby, and how for his family, it’s about more than just a gravitational pull.
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(The “Citizen Report” is a collaboration between the Colorado Springs Gazette and KRCC. More information is available at the YourHub link at ColoradoSprings.com.)
