Indy - July 12, 2023 Vol 31. No. 27

Extreme risk protection law leads to 15 orders to remove firearms from those deemed a threat

BY PAM ZUBECK

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COVER DESIGN BY Zk Bradley

EL PASO COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS submitted a near record 33,724 property value appeals this reappraisal cycle, El Paso County Assessor Mark Flutcher reports. The deadline was in early June.

While the precise record high isn’t available, Flutcher says a recently retired longtime employee recalls the number of appeals reaching 35,000 in 1987 amid the savings and loan crisis that sent property values tumbling.

This year’s number certainly is the highest in recent times — 3,976 appeals were filed in 2021 and 5,578 in 2019, Flutcher says.

The flurry of appeals this cycle stems from the constitutionally mandated biennial reappraisal that set values for 2024 and 2025 property taxes. The reappraisal is based on property values as of June 30, 2022 — at the peak of the local market. New value notices were sent May 1.

Rising mortgage interest rates drove down values during the second half of last year — after the reappraisal — leaving many property owners with property values lower than those set by the assessor, which are now a year old.

Of this year’s appeals, nearly 49 percent (or 16,467) of the parcels were granted an adjustment, Flutcher says.

GREAT FLOOD THE

BY PAM ZUBECK | zubeck@csindy.com

That’s comparable to past years: In 2021, 52 percent were adjusted; in 2019, 55 percent; in 2017, 56 percent; and in 2015, 47 percent.

Flutcher notes that an independent audit of the reappraisal data indicates the reappraisal numbers are sound.

Property owners can still pursue an adjustment even if their appeal was denied, but they must act soon. Appeals of their “notices of determination” must be postmarked, transmitted or delivered on or before July 15 to the County Board of Equalization. The taxpayer must mail or deliver a form (tinyurl.com/second-appeal) to the County Board of Equalization, 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, Suite 2201, P.O. Box 2007, Colorado Springs, CO 80907. For more information, call 719-520-6430.

ACCORDING TO COLORADO POLITICS, OTHER counties have also seen soaring property values that led to tens of thousands of appeals.

Although the Board of Equalization consists of the county commissioners, counties may hire outside real estate professionals to serve as hearings referees, Flutcher tells the Indy via email.

“Large counties such as ours have done this for decades due to the number of hearings that must be conducted,” he says. “Referees give their recommendation for each hearing to the Clerk to the Board. Commissioners typically approve all recommendations. Commissioners rarely deny a referee’s decision. Denial requests usually come from the County Attorney after discovering a gross legal error or violation of statute.”

Flutcher advises those wishing to appeal to the Board of Equalization to provide comparable home sales and information about the condition of their house, such as foundation problems or mold that may be present. Lastly, classification issues can arise, such as whether a property

El Paso County Assessor hit with 33,000+ property value appeals

The reappraisal is based on property values as of June 30, 2022 — AT THE PEAK OF THE LOCAL MARKET.

should be classified as a farm or ranch (agriculture). Ag land is valued based on income, usually resulting in very low land value assessments.

But hobby farming and pleasure horses don’t qualify as ag use. “One must raise a crop and sell it, or a livestock owner must raise their livestock for human or animal consumption,” Flutcher says.

Claims that “the value increase is too high” without having evidence, or “the taxes went up too much” won’t fly with the Equalization Board, he says.

THE TAXPAYER’S BILL OF Rights, adopted by voters statewide in 1992, caps the amount of new revenue an entity can collect after accounting for new construction and growth.

TABOR forces taxing agencies to lower their mill levies to avoid collecting too much, or ask voters’ permission to keep excess revenue. One problem that could arise for some property owners is if they live in a taxing jurisdiction that’s previously “de-TABORed,” meaning the cap has been removed by voters.

Actions to set mill levies by the various jurisdictions, such as the city, county, school districts and special districts, will take place this fall.

Another possibility: a change to assessment rates, essentially on the upcoming November ballot in the form of Proposition HH.

WHEN YOU’RE SERIOUS ABOUT REAL ESTATE

To moderate rising property tax bills that stem from higher values, the Colorado General Assembly adopted Senate Bill 303, which sent Proposition HH to the ballot, as the Indy previously reported.

If passed, the measure would cap assessment rates for 10 years and exempt $50,000 in value from taxation the first year and $40,000 in years thereafter. It also would lower assessment rates.

For example, a house valued at $260,000 located in the central part of the city (with a mill rate of 60) would pay $1,055 a year in taxes.

But in the last reappraisal, that home’s value went up to $365,000. Applying provisions of Proposition HH, the tax bill would be $1,266 the first tax year under the voter-adopted measure. Without Proposition HH, that $260,000 home, now valued at $365,000 in the reappraisal, would see the tax bill increase to $1,481.

Those computations are based on an assumption that no taxing agencies will reduce their mill levies in response to the spike in values.

Also be aware that there are hundreds of special districts in El Paso County that levy up to 60 mills or more each. Some of them were exempted from TABOR by either voters in the districts or by the developers who served as the districts’ boards and voters upon their creation.

The skyrocketing values in districts not subject to TABOR tax limitation will translate to windfall revenues,

unless the boards voluntarily lower their mill rates.

But here’s the rub: Some of those districts have incurred debt that might require the mill levy be maintained, not lowered.

Kevin Walker, president of WSDM District Managers, which provides management services to special districts, says in an email that special districts must adhere to state laws, their locally approved service plan, and to covenants that affect the mill levy requirements for debt service.

“Each District has its own set of circumstances so there is no one answer for all Districts, but generally, the covenants make it less likely for the District Boards to reduce the mill levy and keep the debt service income revenue neutral to offset the increased assessed valuation,” he says. “Each District will deal with this question in their budget process in the fall.”

PROPOSITION HH, MEANWHILE, WOULD BE funded from the state’s TABOR refund pool, which otherwise would be refunded to all taxpayers. The state would instead use the money to backfill lost property tax money for certain taxing districts. The ballot measure would be used to enable property owners to see a moderation of taxes; those who don’t own property would get smaller TABOR refunds.

Michael Fields, president of the conservative Advance Colorado Institute, opposes Proposition HH because, he says, it would “simultaneously still cause the largest tax increase in history and end TABOR refunds for Coloradans in the next few years.”

Advance Colorado Institute says the Legislature should cap property taxes without using TABOR money.

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BY PAM ZUBECK | zubeck@csindy.com

LAST YEAR, A 28-YEAR-OLD COLORAdo Springs man had intentions to carry out a mass shooting at Territory Days on the city’s Westside. Only the large number of law enforcement officers he saw at the event changed his mind.

He sought help, and later that day he confided his desire to a therapist, as well as to caregivers at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central, where he was placed on a psychiatric hold.

When officers responded to Memorial that day, a staffer told them the man “made numerous threats to shoot people at Territory Days and ‘queer clubs.’”

He wanted to shoot people “because he is a ‘White heterosexual male,’’ the man told Memorial staff.

He also told hospital personnel he wanted to carry out a mass shooting at “gay and queer” clubs, “because he stated he doesn’t care if they suffer” and because his sister is a lesbian.

Those and other details can be found in a petition seeking an extreme risk protection order filed by the Colorado Springs Police Department.

An ERPO ultimately was issued, disarming the man for 364 days under House Bill 19-1177, the state’s so-called “red flag” law.

That law, effective as of Jan. 1, 2020, empowers family and household members and peace officers to seek to remove weapons from those deemed a danger to themselves or others.

Senate Bill 23-107, signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis on April 28, expands petitioning authority to include educators, health care and mental health professionals, and district attorneys. Thus, the state Legislative Council Staff predicted a 50 percent increase in filings statewide.

Gun-rights groups warned the law would lead to frequent firearms confiscation; however, a review by the Indy of the 63 cases filed in El Paso County since the red flag law went into effect found that fewer than a quarter of those led to ERPOs being issued. None of the petitions were filed by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

In fact, the number of filings in El Paso County actually dropped from a high of 27 in 2021 to 15 in 2022. This year, 10 petitions had been submitted as of early June.

The percentage of petitions granted in El Paso County, though, has gone up, from 9 percent of those filed in 2020 to 70 percent granted this year through early June.

Also, the Indy found that none was renewed after an ERPO’s 364-day period lapsed.

But while more people are empowered to file petitions now, it appears they have received little training in how to do so.

COLORADO HAS HAD ITS SHARE OF MASS shootings, and some cases have become entangled in questions over whether the shooters signaled their intent prior to taking action. UC Davis Health, a division of the University of California, reported in June 2022 that its Violence Prevention Research Program found that mass shooters often share their plans, creating opportunities to intervene.

The research also found that ERPOs can prevent mass shootings and suicides.

Victims of the Nov. 10, 2022, Club Q shooting contend in notice-of-claim letters that had the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office obtained an ERPO against Anderson Aldrich for a bomb threat incident and standoff involving multiple firearms 17 months before the Club Q shooting, the massacre might have been thwarted.

A criminal case against Aldrich for the bomb-threat incident was dismissed in mid-2022, and though the Sheriff’s Office refused to return his weapons to him, it didn’t seek an ERPO. Aldrich pleaded guilty on June 26 to five murder counts and other charges over the massacre, and he’ll spend his life in prison.

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners opposed Colorado’s red flag laws, calling them “gun confiscations” that represent “an insane violation of your rights.” (RMGO didn’t respond to a request for comment for this story.)

But Everytown for Gun Safety says “extreme risk” laws have been upheld as constitutional, because they provide due process protections that comply with standards set by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Colorado requires a hearing where respondents can challenge evidence and can petition to have an order lifted. (See sidebar.)

All that said, the Colorado law hasn’t led to as many orders as the Legislative Council Staff predicted. Its fiscal note for HB19-1177 forecast 81 protection orders would be granted statewide in the law’s first six months of 2020. Data from the state shows that 66 were granted during that time — 39 temporary orders and 27 ERPOs.

The state’s most recent annual report — for the full year from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022 — shows 77

temporary orders and 56 ERPOs were issued, so there wasn’t a surge in orders within two years.

In El Paso County, 15 petitions out of 63 filed have been granted — one of 11 filed in 2020; three of 27 in 2021; four of 15 in 2022, and seven of 10 filed through early June this year, court records show.

The fiscal note for SB23-107 predicted filings would increase by 50 percent going forward, based on other states’ data. For example, after New York adopted a similar expansion of its law, the number of ERPOs issued more than doubled.

IN 48 OF THE 63 EL PASO COUNTY CASES reviewed by the Indy, family or household members failed to persuade a judge to issue a protection order. Some petitions were denied because they were filed against a person who doesn’t live in El Paso County; others failed to cite a specific incident involving firearms; they contained only vague allegations; or the petitioner wasn’t authorized by the statute to file. Here’s a glimpse at a few of those cases. (The Indy is not naming the individuals due to the sensitive nature of the allegations.)

Extreme risk protection law leads to 15 orders to remove firearms from those deemed a threat

An armed man captured on a Ring doorbell

➔ continued from p. 5

• A petition filed in March 2020 accused a man of making “veiled threats on Facebook and pos[ing] with weapons and guns in his possession.” The man allegedly “has a history of mental illness” and named family members or acquaintances on Facebook that he wished to harm. But 4th Judicial District Chief Judge William Bain denied the order, finding the allegation “not specific enough,” and the petition failed to state “what exactly was said.”

• Judge Bain also denied a petition filed in July 2020 because it alleged only that a man “displayed a firearm to family members” but didn’t explain “what that means,” the judge ruled.

• An August 2021 petition filed by a male family member alleged a woman had threatened to take her own life multiple times spanning a decade, physically assaulted her father several months earlier, and sent a photo to others of her buying a firearm. The petition was denied without explanation.

• A petition filed by a man who wasn’t authorized by the statute to seek an order described a man who phoned him “threatening to shoot me” and sent a text “outlining how he [the respondent] ‘gets life’ by watching the eyes of someone he’s killed.” The petitioner also said the respondent claimed to have killed many people.

Judge David Miller denied an ERPO. “While it does appear that the Petitioner has a legitimate reason to be fearful and concerned for his safety, the Petition does not establish the necessary ‘family or household member’ relationship required for this court to have jurisdiction...,” Miller wrote. “The Petitioner may wish to recontact law enforcement and request their assistance....”

While some ERPO court records are protected, they can be released on request after appropriate redactions are made. “For example,” Judge Bain says in an email, “if the petitioning party writes in the petition that she has been a victim of sex assault at the hands of the respondent, that information would be redacted.” Also, addresses of petitioners at risk can be redacted.

FIFTEEN PETITIONS IN EL PASO COUNTY WERE FOUND TO WARrant an ERPO, which suggests some tragedies might have been averted.

Consider these descriptions from petitions that persuaded judges to act:

• A woman alleged in March 2021 that her male roommate had shot her and threatened to break her neck before fleeing the jurisdiction with an arrest warrant pending for attempted murder. The petition alleged he owned two pistols and a long gun. Judge G. David Miller issued an ERPO for the man to surrender the weapons. In January 2022 a notice was sent to the victim stating the ERPO would expire in April 2022. On that date, the ERPO was vacated.

• Colorado Springs Police Department petitioned in December 2022 for an ERPO against a former special forces soldier and submitted multiple photos of his arsenal to the court, which consisted of at least 20 rifles, some equipped with scopes, at least five handguns and a cabinet full of ammunition. When an officer phoned the man about charges from a domestic violence incident, he told the officer to come to his house, adding, “I’m body armored up and I am ready to roll.” Exhibits included photos of the man at a home’s front door holding a large assault-style firearm and wearing body armor captured on a Ring doorbell device. The petition said the man’s wife told officers he planned to “ambush” officers. The man himself told officers on the phone he was “gunned up and ready to defend myself” and said, “You want me to go down and freaking shoot up the freaking police department.”

A temporary order was issued by Judge David Shakes. An ERPO was granted in early January 2023 after a hearing. The order will expire early next year.

• A woman sought a petition in January 2023 against her husband, who pinned her down multiple times, displayed a loaded gun and tried to strangle their son. A temporary order was issued and then was extended multiple times while the petitioner tried to locate the man so he could be served with a notice of hearing for an ERPO. She believed he had fled to another state where family members live. An ERPO was finally issued on June 13.

• CSPD sought a petition in January 2023 against a 22-year-old woman who was reported to officers by a social worker at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central as being “suicidal and homicidal in nature.” The woman owned a pistol and an assault

WE SET UP INTERNAL PROCESSES TO ENSURE WE RESPECT BOTH THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS AND OUR DESIRE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.

— CSPD Lt. Pam Castro

rifle and made statements “regarding mass shootings” and “comments showing admiration towards previous mass shootings and shooters.” The woman had reported to the hospital and was placed on a 72-hour mental health hold. A temporary order was issued the same day the petition was filed, and Judge Eric Bentley imposed an ERPO on Feb. 10.

• CSPD sought petitions in March 2023 against a man and woman who generated 11 calls for service over a few months’ time; in at least two instances a firearm was discharged. Two small children lived with them.

The calls for service stemmed from unfounded burglaries, unfounded disturbances and a drug overdose. The petition spans seven pages and raises questions about the couple’s mental health, such as the woman’s claim that two suspects were locked inside a bedroom, though no one was there. The woman also “was hearing things that officers did not hear,” the petition said.

During another police response, the man said there were three suspects in the kitchen when, in truth, only the two kids and the woman were in the apartment. The man fired a handgun anyway into the kitchen, which bordered the children’s bedroom. A bullet was found lodged in the wall 2 feet above the top bunk.

“The Respondent can currently legally possess a firearm even with all the extreme red flags that have already been addressed,” the petitions said.

Judge Diana May issued ERPOs for both people on March 21. But mental evaluations were not ordered for either, with May noting “no evidence provided” on court documents.

• The most recent petition in El Paso County, filed in May 2023, involved a man who was convinced a married couple in a neighboring city was responsible for the death of his friend. He told his therapist he wanted to kidnap and murder the couple. The man told the therapist he owns a sniper rifle and planned to shoot them from a building across the street from where they work. After the therapist reported details of the session to CSPD, officers sought an ERPO, which was granted on June 14.

AT LEAST 21 STATES HAVE ADOPTED RED FLAG LAWS, ACCORDING to Everytown for Gun Safety.

Everytown cites research from various sources that shows a third of mass shootings with four or more killed were carried out by a shooter who exhibited dangerous warning signs before the shooting took place. Research also has found that one in 10 gun removal cases under Connecticut’s red flag law averted a suicide, and under Indiana’s red flag law the suicide rate with firearms fell by 7.5 percent in the decade after that law was adopted.

The UC Davis study found that professionals who may petition for ERPOs need and want training. Most ERPO petitioners are peace officers, the study said, noting a survey of officers in states with ERPO laws showed that only 55 percent had received training. The study also reported that most health care providers surveyed in Washington and Maryland said they were willing to contact law enforcement to file a petition, or file a petition directly, but wanted additional support and training.

As Colorado’s law changed in April with the addition of more people authorized to petition, the Indy asked John Sarché, the Colorado Judicial Department’s deputy public information officer, what training is provided to judges.

He says in an email there’s no specific training, but that resources are available, such as continuing legal education courses on ERPOs and temporary order procedures, which are recorded by the Colorado Bar Association. In addition, judges have access to written materials on ERPOs and other subjects designed to help court staff understand the law and associated procedures.

Given that the new law authorizes educators, health care professionals and district attorneys to file petitions, the Indy also queried several health care providers and others about their training programs.

The Colorado Hospital Association has posted an advisory on its website outlining the new law, including required components of a petition.

UCHealth Memorial Hospital reports UCHealth is working with the CHA on how “to help inform and guide our staff and providers, and we’ll share an update with you once we’ve finalized those plans.”

Peak Vista Community Health Centers is “assessing the legislation and the kinds of trainings and procedures we may need to put into place.”

Centura Health says, “We are aware of recent changes to Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protections law that apply to health care providers. We are planning to conduct training for our caregivers across our ministries in Colorado....”

Diversus, the region’s largest mental health provider, responded through a public relations firm.

Noting Diversus is “pleased” that behavioral health providers are among those empowered to initiate petitions, the statement said, “We will work closely with

One man’s arsenal that was subject to an extreme risk protection order

Ammunition belonging to the person whose guns are shown above continued on p. 9 ➔

District Court file District Court file

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The basics

Colorado’s red flag laws — House Bill 19-1177 and its successor, Senate Bill 23-107 — allow certain people to seek extreme risk protection orders, or ERPOs, if a person is deemed a danger to himself and/or others and has access to firearms.

The person subject to the order, called the respondent, must surrender their firearms to authorities for 364 days. ERPOs are reported to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to prevent the respondent from buying other firearms in transactions subject to background checks.

The 2019 law limited those who could file petitions to peace officers and family members, defined as those related by blood, marriage or adoption to the respondent; who have a child in common; regularly live with the respondent or have done so within the last six months; are a domestic partner; have a biological or legal parent-child relationship with the respondent or act as that person’s legal guardian; are a spouse or former spouse or are in or have been in an unmarried couple relationship.

The subsequent law, signed by Gov. Jared Polis on April 28 this year, adds educators, health care and mental health care professionals, and district attorneys to those authorized to seek an ERPO.

Here’s an example of how the process works:

In a petition, the petitioner declares they’re authorized to file and attests there’s been a “recent act or credible threat of violence” by the respondent against self or others.

The petitioner must give specific details of those threats and declare that they involved a firearm.

Petitions also must address whether the respondent has violated a civil protection order or a previous ERPO, or has been convicted of a crime involving domestic violence.

The petitioner also must affirm that the respondent owns firearms and describe them and where they’re stored. The petitioner also must provide a history of the respondent’s use of physical force or stalking and state whether the respondent must possess, carry or use a firearm as a condition of employment.

A judge either denies the petition or grants a temporary protection order within days of receiving the petition. A temporary order results in firearms being surrendered by the respondent, pending a hearing on an ERPO. The law provides for appointment of an attorney to represent the respondent.

At a subsequent hearing, the judge rules on whether to issue an ERPO. If an order is granted, it lasts 364 days unless the respondent successfully petitions to have the order lifted early.

The court must notify the petitioner 63 days prior to an ERPO’s expiration that the order is due to expire. A petitioner can seek to have the ERPO extended.

It’s worth noting that the red flag law relieves from liability those who file petitions and those who are empowered to do so but choose not to. That means if a teacher or nurse or other qualified individual is aware of a person who has threatened gun violence and they don’t seek an ERPO to disarm the person, they can’t be held legally liable if the person carries out a shooting.

This provision could become a roadblock to lawsuits contemplated by victims of the Nov. 19, 2022, shooting at Club Q that claimed five lives and injured at least 17 people, as the Indy reported in its cover story, “Long road,” published June 21.

— Pam Zubeck

respective state agencies to understand this new legislation and recommended guidelines for behavioral health providers.... We expect to have more details to share on training and education efforts once we have a chance to evaluate that program.”

A spokesperson for Colorado Springs School District 11 says officials there “determined that it [the red flag law] does not require the district to do anything,” and that “the District does not plan at this time to provide additional guidance.”

Academy School District 20 said the district doesn’t currently provide training, but that district leaders will discuss the matter before the start of the next school year. Officials with educator unions in Colorado didn’t respond to requests for comment.

IT’S UNCLEAR WHAT TRAINING, IF ANY, HAS

been provided to El Paso County Sheriff’s deputies, but none has filed a red flag petition, records show. That’s likely because the previous sheriff, Bill Elder, and current Sheriff Joe Roybal oppose red flag laws.

County commissioners have said the red flag law lacks due process, forcing gun owners to prove they’re not a threat; thus, commissioners have vowed not to initiate what they call “unconstitutional seizures” of firearms.

In a March 2019 statement while the House bill was under consideration, Elder said he worried that red flag

laws would “cause a judge to issue a court order forcing Law Enforcement into the position of taking someone’s firearms. This could easily escalate, rather than de-escalate, volatile situations. I fear this bill will increase the chances of law enforcement officers getting into dangerous, armed confrontations with citizens who have committed no crimes.”

(It’s worth noting that Elder has said he’s more concerned about dealing with the underlying causes of threatening behavior, notably mental illness. The Indy ’s review of cases found that many, if not a majority, allege the violent person suffers from mental illness or addictions to alcohol and/or drugs.)

Roybal has followed in Elder’s footsteps, saying in a recent statement that SB23-107 “allows non-law enforcement professionals to use stale, likely expired information against citizens and violates their 2nd Amendment, Constitutional rights.”

Roybal called the new law “problematic” and vowed to “do everything in my power to vet ERPOs that come across my desk and ensure El Paso County’s citizens’ rights are preserved with our community’s safety in mind.”

If any petitions did cross his desk, they weren’t filed with the court.

Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen was asked several months ago, as SB23-107 was headed for adoption, for his take and said through a spokesperson that he hadn’t had the chance to “do a deep dive” on the bill.

Asked in recent weeks about how his office will train

personnel to file petitions, now that district attorneys are empowered to do so, and whether his office is open to filing petitions, an Allen spokesman says via email, “We are reviewing and establishing protocols within the DAO. Each case/petition will be reviewed on its own merits with appropriate filing decisions.”

On the state level, training has yet to ramp up.

On Feb. 15, Attorney General Phil Weiser’s Office announced the state had received a $4.5 million grant from the federal Office of Gun Violence Prevention aimed at training peace officers on the red flag law, among other activities. At that time, Weiser said he was “committed to ensuring that our state red flag law saves as many lives as possible” and that the federal money would advance that goal by “improving our training for law enforcement and our outreach to the public.”

Asked recently about that training program, Weiser’s spokesman said, “More info on this training will be announced at a later date.”

As for the public, the state judicial division makes petition forms and instructions available on its website.

NOW CONSIDER

CSPD’S

PROGRAM,

WHICH

has resulted in officers obtaining ERPOs all seven times they’ve filed.

Asked about that success rate, Public Information Officer Lt. Pam Castro outlined CSPD’s procedures and training via email.

She notes that officers are trained on the law itself, because officers are more familiar with operating under criminal law rather than civil law, where ERPOs are handled.

“We set up internal processes to ensure we respect both the constitutional right to bear arms and our desire to protect our community,” Castro says.

CSPD’s procedure begins when an officer identifies a situation that might qualify for an ERPO. The officer then notifies his or her supervisor.

“The situation is then reviewed ... by all levels

➔ continued from p. 7

Former El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder

Current El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal

Public Information Officer Lt. Pam Castro

THE RESPONDENT CAN CURRENTLY LEGALLY POSSESS A FIREARM EVEN WITH ALL THE EXTREME RED FLAGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED.

— CSPD petitions for ERPOs

El Paso County

El Paso County

CSPD

through the chain of command to a Commander,” she says. “If the Commander believes it qualifies, then the City Attorney’s Office is consulted and if they believe the situation qualifies, they provide assistance to the officer as the legal paperwork is drafted.” City attorneys, she adds, are present as the case is subsequently presented to a judge.

But the protocols don’t stop there. If an ERPO is issued, officers lay out a plan to serve the court order “based on our knowledge of the situation and individual, coupled with checking computer systems for any identifiable additional risks, to develop a strategic way to execute the order in a manner that results in the highest likelihood of success through voluntary compliance.

“This doesn’t stop with the planning but continues when on scene from our communications, to tactics, to having personnel with additional training and equipment assist when needed,” Castro says.

It’s impossible to create guidelines for which cases qualify because all situations are different, so “This is why our internal process relies on multiple levels of review, including sworn members with high levels of experience in understanding and applying laws, as well as legal review and involvement from the City Attorney’s Office,” she says.

Weapons seized under an ERPO are stored in a police evidence facility.

ONE OF THOSE SEVEN CASES FILED BY CSPD officers involved the would-be Territory Days shooter.

On May 29, after his trip to the festival, the man returned to a relative’s house and asked that someone call Diversus, which they did.

The man was placed at Memorial on a mental health hold later that day. On June 1, 2022, he was released from the hospital but again made threats, including “to shoot children at a school” and “cut his sister’s head off.” He also cut his own wrists, and called police saying he wanted to kill himself and was ready to fight officers if they showed up, according to the ERPO petition. But he was taken into custody without incident and again placed at Memorial on a mental health hold.

Believing the man could access firearms, a CSPD detective asked a judge on June 10, 2022, to impose an ERPO, noting “his behavior is escalating” and the officer could find no other prohibitors to him owning or purchasing a firearm.

A temporary order was issued three days later. A hearing was held on July 18, and District Judge David Prince imposed an ERPO on July 31, 2022. That order will expire on July 30.

Maui Jim, Michael

Nifties, Oakley, Oliver Peoples, Persol, Ray-Ban, Robert Marc, Silhouette, Tiffany & Co., Tom Ford, WOOW,

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center

Guns subject to removal under an extreme risk protection order issued this year

District Court file

Appetizers

TONY’S 326 N. TEJON ST. | 719-228-6566 | TONYSDOWNTOWNBAR.COM

Winners of 70+ Independent “Best of Awards” in 20 yrs. A great Midwestern Tavern with warm beer, lousy food & poor service!!! Pabst, Fried Cheese Curds, Leinenkugle’s, Walleye Fish-fry, cocktails, burgers and more. 11am-2am daily. HH 4-6. GO PACK GO!

FUJIYAMA 22 S. TEJON ST. | 719-630-1167

Beautiful, award-winning downtown restaurant with a full-service bar. Enjoy authentic sushi & creative rolls, teriyaki, tempura, udon & more! See our ad or call for great lunch, Happy Hour, & Ladies night specials! Fri. & Sat. 11am-2:30pm lunch & 5-10pm dinner. Sun. 5-9pm dinner.

SAIGON CAFÉ 20 E. COLORADO AVE. | 719-633-2888 | COLORADOSAIGONCAFE.COM

Open for Lunch and Dinner Mon-Sat. Welcome to the Saigon Café the award winning Vietnamese restaurant in Colorado Springs. Our cuisine is cooked with fresh vegetables, herbs and meats in authentic Vietnamese style. Try our renowned noodle bowl, a lunchtime favorite. M-Th 11AM–3PM; 4PM–8:30PM F-Sat 11AM–3PM; 4PM-9:30PM

AMERICAN ASIAN BBQ

BIRD DOG BBQ 3 LOCATIONS + CATERING | BIRDDOGBBQ.COM | 719-573-7671

Bird Dog now offers online ordering from the location of your choice! Order and pay online, then skip the line when you pick it up! Visit our website at www.BirdDogBBQ.com and click ORDER ONLINE to place your order. We also offer our award-winning catering services in individuallyboxed meals! Call 719-573-7671 for details.

YOUR RESTAURANT HERE

Call your sales rep today to advertise your establishment.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT � 719.577.4545

STORY AND

BY MATTHEW SCHNIPER

Provision Bread & (provisionbread.com) which has Grosso, of Switchback Coffee

YOU’LL PROBABLY RECALL MY earlier preview of Bakery now officially opened at 4 S. Wahsatch Ave. Co-owner Brandon DelGrosso, of Switchback Coffee Roasters and Lakeside Dawgs & Cones, was on hand with co-owner/head baker Trista Heileman for another mini preview on June 23, just ahead of a quiet soft-opening week. This time, the ovens were up and running and I was able to snag small samples of some featured pastries and sandwiches. Everything was delightful as the staff continued to dial in the new equipment and procedures.

In no particular order, I tried: the morning bun; an almond croissant; a croissant sandwich with turkey, havarti and arugula; a ham and butter baguette; mixed berry, rhubarb and cherry Danishes (all three with cream cheese); pain au chocolat; a blueberry muffin; a savory pull-apart bread with dill, green onion and cheese; and an “escargot” pastry made with roasted onions, kale and Grana Padano. As well, sheet trays of focaccia and boules were available along with various baguette sizes and country-style pan loaves.

tinued to dial in the new equipment and the sandwich with turkey, havarti and arugula; back’s drip coffees and some teas, not espresso drinks, sion will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays

As for drinks, Provision is serving Switchback’s drip coffees and some teas, not espresso drinks, as per its quick-service, grab-and-go model. Provision will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays.

PHOTOS

CHICKEN RUN

I’VE ALWAYS FAVORED LOCAL indie outfits over commercial restaurant chains in my reporting, but I do tend to at least acknowledge newbies in our marketplace. It turns out I actually have some personal history with Chicken Salad Chick (chickensaladchick.com), which grand opened June 28 at 5660 Barnes Road.

Why? Because it was launched in Auburn, Alabama, not far from where I grew up in Birmingham. That was in 2008, and the company has since grown to more than 225 locations in 17 states. I didn’t know anything about them until last year, when on a visit home, we drove between B’ham and the Gulf Coast and my dad insisted we stop at a CSC for lunch. Though he has a great food sensibility about him (and properly warned us about a newly opened barbecue spot in B’ham that we tested anyway, indeed finding it to be totally disappointing), I was a little skeptical at this CSC eatery just off the side of a rural highway. A whole brand built around an item I associate with school cafeterias and simple potlucks and backyard cookouts: chicken salad? How good could it be?

Well, not only did we wolf down a meal on-site, but we left with several

to-go tubs of various flavors to stock our cooler for easy snacks on the beach. If I recall correctly, I think we got the lemonbasil, cranberry-almond and a jalapeño salad. Suffice to say, I had to admit they were nicely flavored and a quality product, fit for mass production and a simple enough concept to scale.

According to a press release, the first Colorado CSC location opened this past March in Greeley. The C. Springs location

ROCK ON

ANOTHER ALABAMAbased chain — this time out of Mobile — is coming to the Springs soon. Rock N Roll Sushi (rocknrollsushi.com) looks set for a mid-July opening at 7875 Silicon Heights, off Constitution Avenue and Marksheffel Road. The company launched in 2010 and has since grown to more than 50 locations, mostly located in the Southeast. With the rock ’n’ roll theme, they play up an “amplified dining experience” (get it?) and “big, bold and loud” flavors. Sushi rolls on the menu have names like the Pyro Roll, Axl Roll, Metalhead Roll and … wait for it … Sweet Home Alabama Roll.

COMING SOON

is brought to us by local franchise owners Kirsten and David Garrett and Kirsten’s mother Judy DeVincentis. The trio also founded FirstLight Home Care, a caregiving provider. Apparently they have plans for two more CSC locations around our area. Kirsten, a Colorado native, was an Air Force engineer for almost a decade and was stationed in Alabama, where she became a CSC fan, hence her interest in bringing the franchise here.

• The folks behind Scratch Mobile Kitchen (facebook.com/scratchmk) recently announced they’ll be opening a brick-and-mortar enterprise named Heirloom Bar & Grill. It’ll be at 8029 N. Academy Blvd. (the former Arabian Nights Cafe location) and feature favorite Scratch dishes plus new plates. Follow their social media for updates.

• And the people who operate Carefree Bar and Grill (3535 N. Carefree Circle, continued on p. 14 ➔

Courtesy Chicken Salad Chick

REVIEW TEASER

Want to know the story behind these sweet piggy buns? Search “Cuttlefish balls and piggy buns” at sidedishschnip.substack.com to find my recent writeup on Bubbles N’ Bites at 4537 Austin Bluffs Parkway.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT � 719.577.4545

CRAFT PUB

ODYSSEY GASTROPUB

311 N. TEJON ST. | 719-999-5127 | ODYSS EYGASTROPUB.COM

Voted Best New Restaurant 2015 by Indy readers. Specializing in an eclectic mix of craft food, craft beer, and craft cocktails. Odyssey Gastropub is a downtown gem with a warm, intimate atmosphere and awesome staff. Start your adventure with us! Mon.- Fri. 11am - 10pm, Sat. & Sun. 10am - 10pm

GERMAN

EDELWEISS RESTAURANT

34 E. RAMONA AVE. | (SOUTH NEVADA & TEJON) | 719-633-2220

For 50 Years Edelweiss has brought Bavaria to Colorado Springs. Using fresh ingredients, the menu invites you to visit Germany. Support local business! We’re open and doing drive-thru and takeout with a limited menu that can be found on our website! www. edelweissrest.com.

SOUTHWESTERN/MEXICAN STEAKHOUSE

JOSÉ MULDOON’S

222 N. TEJON ST. | 719-636-2311 | 5710 S. CAREFREE CR @ POWERS | 719-574-5673

Since 1974. Features authentic Tex-Mex & Mexican fare in contemporary Sante Fe-styled establishment. Across from Acacia Park, and west of Powers & Carefree. Josemuldoons.com. Support local restaurants! We are open for delivery, carry out, and dine-in at both locations! Please check our Facebook page for hours daily, as they are subject to change.

THE FAMOUS

31 N. TEJON ST. | DOWNTOWN | 719-227-7333

Colorado Springs’ finest upscale steak house and lounge located in the center of downtown. Dine in an elegant and classic steak house environment. Award winning prime steaks, fresh seafood, premium wines, craft brews and piano bar provide a provocative mix of atmosphere and entertainment. Reservations suggested.

MACKENZIE’S CHOP HOUSE

128 S. TEJON ST. HISTORIC ALAMO BUILDING | DOWNTOWN | 719-635-3536

Offering half off all bottles of wine under $100! Voted Best Power Lunch, Steakhouse and Martini! Downtown’s choice for quality meats and mixed drinks. Mackenzieschophouse.com. Open Mon.-Fri. 11:30am-3pm for lunch, and 5pm- close every day for dinner!

YOUR RESTAURANT HERE

Call your sales rep today to advertise your establishment.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT � 719.577.4545

carefreebarandgrillco.com) plan to open Circle Back Tap sometime this fall at 1106 N. Circle Drive, in the spot formerly known as Bernie’s Place. Carefree Bar and Grill, as I wrote in my prior Indy review, is proudly Indigenous-owned — Cynthia Bickal hails from Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

JOIN ME (AT UPCOMING EVENTS)

• My July 21 “Cooking with the Critic” class at Gather Food Studio (2011 W. Colorado Ave., gatherfoodstudio.com) is sold out already, though you can hop on the wait list to show interest for future classes like it. BUT you can definitely attend my next Sip with Schnip at The Carter Payne (320 S. Weber St., thecarterpayne.com) with special guest Distillery 291 (distillery291.com) on Thursday, July 20, from 5 to 9 p.m. They’ll be pouring cocktail specials, the house chefs are planning special bites and my Side Dish subscribers get drink deals.

• I’ll be judging for Best Taste and Best Booth at Taste of Pikes Peak (tasteofpike-

speak.com) from 5 to 9 p.m. on July 27. The event’s set outside the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum on a closed-totraffic South Sierra Madre Street and will feature more than 60 local vendors plus live music.

Matthew Schniper is the former Food & Drink editor and critic at the Indy. You can find expanded food and drink news and reviews at sidedishschnip. substack.com.

➔ continued from p. 13

Your guide to events in the Pikes Peak region CALENDAR

ART EXHIBITS

45º Gallery, 2528 W. Colorado Ave., Suite B, 719-434-1214, 45degreegallery.com. Works by wood artisan Thomas Conter and painter Lorraine Danzo.

Art 1eleven Gallery, 111 E. Bijou St., 719493-5084, facebook.com/Art1elevenGallery. Large abstract acrylic paintings by Jesse Stockwell.

Bella Art & Frame, 251 Front St., #11, Monument, 719-487-7691, bellaartandframe.com. An Ode to Colorado, work by fine art photographer Andrew Bailey. Reception Thursday, July 20, 5-8 p.m.; through July 28.

The Bridge Gallery, 218 W. Colorado Ave., #104, 719-629-7055, thebridgeartgallery. com. Earth Works, featuring Deena Bennett’s porcelain clay works and her daughter, Logan’s, photos of the landscape around Crested Butte. Through July 29.

Citizens Art Gallery at City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave. (second floor in the northwest section of the building; enter through the southeast ADA door). Featuring works by abstract painter Becca Day: “When I paint, I tread a path between design and spontaneity; intention and accident. Each painting is its own experiment. I create non-objective abstraction that allows room for interpretation.”

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., fac. coloradocollege.edu. Eiko Otake: I Invited Myself, vol. II: “Movement is fundamental to the artist Eiko Otake, who uses her body to explore themes of mortality, time, and place.” Through July 29. Museum free day, Friday, July 21.

Commonwheel Artists Co-op, 719-6851008, 102 Cañon Ave., Manitou Springs, commonwheel.com. Cheers! Drink Up!

— clay drinking vessels in four categories: beer, coffee, tea and spirits. “More than 20 potters from all over the state of Colorado contributing to this celebration of the drinking vessel.” Through July.

Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., 719-520-1899, cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com. Forgive My Pop Heart, for it hides such vacuous sorrow, by poet and artist Jacqueline Viola Moulton. A solo “pop art show exploring that deep and still place underneath the shiny and palpable veneer of the exterior face that we present to the world.” Through July 29.

Gallery 113, 125½ N. Tejon St., gallery113cos.com, 719-634-5299. July’s show features Irv Middlemist’s mixed-media paintings and Mary Gorman’s paintings on silk

The Garfield Gallery, 332 E. Willamette Ave., 719-227-8836, garfieldgallery.com.

July’s show features works by Pikes Peak

EL PASO COUNTY FAIR

That family-friendly mix of funnel cakes, cornhole tournaments, rodeo action, demolition derby and carnival rides kicks off Saturday, July 15, and runs through the following Saturday, July 22 at the fairgrounds in Calhan, 366 10th St. See elpasocountyfair. com for this year’s lineup and ticket info.

Arts Council members in multiple mediums.

Kreuser Gallery, 125 E. Boulder St., 719464-5880, kreusergallery.com. Playful

Resistance: Play and Beauty as Acts of Creative Resistance — the batik work of Beth and Jonathan Evans and sculpture

by Maria Battista. Murmurations, new work by April Dawes , “acknowledges the human need for connection and confronts the haunting loneliness, loss and longing for community in my life, over the last several years.” La Soma, works by Foster and Daniel Romano. Artist talks:

continued on p. 16

Courtesy El Paso County Fair

CALENDAR

➔ continued from p. 15

July 19, 5:30 p.m., Maria Battista, Beth and Jonathan Evans; July 27, 5:30 p.m., April Dawes and Daniel and Foster Romano. Through July 28.

The Look Up Gallery, 11 E. Bijou St. (inside Yobel), thelookupgallery.com. New works by Rachel Dinda, “a multidisciplinary artist who draws inspiration from graffiti, art nouveau and marine biodiversity.”

Manitou Art Center, 513/515 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-1861, manitouartcenter.org. Monument, a new show by Manitou artist Larry Kledzik in the Hagnauer Gallery, through July 29.

ART EXHIBIT

G44 Gallery, 121 E. Boulder St., 720-9510573, g44gallery.com. Windows by Shannon Mello: “Negative space is so often overlooked. The spaces between people in this room, ... spaces between trees and their branches. There are perfect little frames all around us creating these small viewfinders of a whole new world of composition.” Bird Brain by Robert Lococo: “The phrase came to being because it was assumed birds lacked intelligence. But there is beauty to being a cuckoo or a boob.” Through July.

Portraits of Manitou by C.H. Rockey, features original town views and significant historical buildings. Manitou Springs Heritage Center, 517 Manitou Ave.; manitouspringsheritagecenter.org; through November.

Through Our Eyes, art from the frontlines of the foster care system, featuring artwork from Kids Crossing foster youths, foster families/parents, caseworkers, therapists and home coordinators. Runs through July 31; PPLD’s Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave., 719-531-6333, kidscrossing.com.

True North Art Gallery, 31 E. Bijou St., 210842-2476, truenorthartgallery.com. True

North After Dark, “all new work by 16 member artists.”

UCCS Downtown, 102 S. Tejon St., downtown.uccs.edu/our-space. Pikes Peak Arts Council member show with tattoo artist/ painter Sole Junkie.

ZoneFIVE, 1902 E. Boulder St., zonefivecs.com. Idiom: Works by Warren Arcila, “a collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures created throughout the years.” Through August.

KIDS & FAMILIES

Pond Safari, “[e]xplore the underwater world of the pond to see who lives there! Hands-on and fun for kids! Learn about ecosystems, water quality, and aquatic creepy crawlies. Learn about the trout vs. carp dichotomy and some brief words about the water quality of Dragonfly Pond and the life therein.” Sunday, July 16, 10 a.m.; free but park entry fee required; Mueller State Park, 21045 Highway 67 South, Divide; 719-687-2366, Mueller.Park@State. Co.Us.

Summer of Discovery: Astrodynamics, for ages 7-12. Another Saturday exploration in the Back to the Moon series (through Aug. 5): “We will discover new facets of space travel, examine the importance of returning to the moon, learn how to use robotic technology, test our creative skills in

engineering design challenges, and much more!” Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with gravity simulator workshops at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Space Foundation Discovery Center, 4425 Arrowswest Drive; see discoverspace.org for more fees and more info.

Archery class: “Our goal is to give basic, beginner instruction to introduce participants to the sport of archery, encouraging them to come back and make use of the CMSP archery range. All equipment is provided. Ages 8+.” Saturday, July 15, two sessions — 9-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — free but park entry fee required; find the event listing and sign up at cpw. state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Calendar.aspx; Cheyenne Mountain State Park, 410 JL Ranch Heights Road.

PPLD Summer Adventure, Pikes Peak Library District offers a truly massive list of activities for young people ages 0 to 18. Runs through July 31; register an individual, family, class or group for free at ppld.org/ summerkids or download the app.

LEARNING & LECTURES

Mush Ado About Mushrooms, “Join Nature Center staff and Microvora to learn how they grow, why they are so important to our environment and how to grow your own. Participants will bring home a starter kit for growing your own edible mushrooms.” Saturday, July 22, 10 a.m.; $5, $4/

ART EXHIBIT

Surface Gallery, 2752 W. Colorado Ave., surfacegallerycos.com. 4D Vision: A capsule exhibit by Claire Swinford: “Her current bodies of work explore, respectively, feminist world-building and liminality through the trope of textiles; and deconstructing the concept of a shared past through the nostalgic visual cues of Kodachrome slide decks.” Fear & Fortitude: A Journey in Geometric Abstraction by Rachel Espenlaub (artist talk July 18): “a collection of paintings about determination and overcoming fear.” Through July 28.

member, prepaid; Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Peppergrass Lane, Fountain; tinyurl.com/epco-fun.

“From Concrete Dump to Community Park: A Shooks Run Riparian Zone Restoration,” presented by Dr. Jorge Estevez, program director at Concrete Couch, who will talk about “the massive restoration effort that converted Shooks Run from an abandoned dump site into an innovative neighborhood park.” It’s July’s Liquid Lecture for the Fountain Creek Watershed, Flood Control and Greenway District. Wednesday, July 19, 6 p.m.; Atrevida Beer Co., 204 Mount View Lane, #3; RSVP at fcwdaa@gmail.com; facebook.com/FountainCreekWatershedDistrict/events.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Cement Stage Series, with family-friendly activities, vendors, film and live “homegrown” music (this week, The Reminders and Lady Los). Friday, July 21, 6-10 p.m., with films by the IFSOC at 6 and music starting at 8; outdoors at City Auditorium, 221 E. Kiowa St.; tinyurl.com/cityaud-cement.

Rocky Mountain State Games, “Colorado’s largest multi-sport festival for athletes of all ages and athletic abilities, including those with physical disabilities, visual impairments, and intellectual and/ or developmental disabilities (IDD).” July 21-23; various locations; register at coloradospringssports.org.

Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Days, contestants from the U.S., Canada and Mexico will test their skills. Through July 15; Norris Penrose Event Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road; see pikespeakorbust.org for tickets, schedule and more info.

2023 World Jump Rope Champion-

Sports & Events

ships, with “3,000 athletes, coaches and officials participating from more than 30 countries,” the event combines the World Championships, the International Open Tournament and the Junior World Championships. July 16-23; Ed Robson Arena, 849 N. Tejon St.; see ijru.sport/ events for more information

STAGE & THEATER

Blind Injustice, a co-production of Opera Theatre of the Rockies and Chamber Orchestra of the Springs: “a timely and poignant opera telling the story of the East Cleveland Five and others who were wrongfully tried, convicted, imprisoned and then later released thanks to the work of the Ohio Innocence Project.”

One performance only, Friday, July 14, 7 p.m.; Cornerstone Arts Center at CC, 825 N. Cascade Ave.; see tinyurl.com/OTR-injustice for tickets and more info.

Taming of the Shrew, “Will’s original battle of wills, staged in an Elizabethan England every bit as stylized and strict as we always imagine it, with one key difference: This society is a matriarchy.” Brought to you by Theatreworks, through July 30; outdoors on the Ent Center lawn, 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; indoors on Fridays, 7 p.m.; $10; Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater, 5225 N. Nevada Ave.; see entarts.org/tamingoftheshrew for tickets and more info.

Circus of the Night: Angels of Elvis, “with an all-star cast of singers, aerial acrobats, jugglers, and laugh-makers. There will be a lot of swiveling hips as Circus of the Night presents ... a tribute to all the Elvis Imitators that have ever aspired to play Vegas.” Fridays-Saturdays, July 14-29, 9 p.m.; Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 S. Tejon St., see themat.org for tickets and more info.

“Mourning Doves #1 (Blue Iowa August ‘61)” by Claire Swinford

PLAYING AROUND

WEDNESDAY, 7/12

Acoustic Hour, local musicians; 6 p.m., Buffalo Lodge, bicycleresort.com.

Delbert Anderson Trio, “Indigenous musical traditions, Latin X, Southwest, Jazz, Funk and Hip-Hop”; 6 p.m., Lakeview Terrace Theater, Green Box Arts, Green Mountain Falls, greenboxarts.org.

Al Chesis, blues; 7 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns.

Balanced Rock, rock; 6 p.m., Broadmoor Community Church, broadmoorchurch.org/music-ministry.

Civvie, with Astrid, Germ Theory; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Manitou Library Lawn Concert: Crystal and the Curious, “whimsically sophisticated lounge music”; 6 p.m., Manitou Carnegie Library, ppld.org/ library-lawn-concerts.

Hot Boots Band, pop/country/jazz/ rock; 6:30 p.m., Limbach Park, townofmonument.org.

New Horizons Kicks Jazz Band, jazz; 6 p.m., Bear Creek Regional Park, tinyurl. com/elpasoparkconcerts.

Soapdish, cover band; John Wise & Tribe, New Orleans R&B/blues/jazz/ island; A Few Miles South, country/ roots; 6 p.m., Hillside Gardens, hillsidecolorado.com/upcoming-events.

Springs Contemporary Jazz Big Band, jazz; 6 p.m., Bancroft Park, facebook. com/SCJBB/events.

Sunset Patio Session: Dave Mensch, rock-country fusion; 6 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhallco.com.

For the Swifties, Taylor Swift covers; 8 p.m., ICONS, icons-co.com.

THURSDAY, 7/13

Big Back Yard, blues; 5:30 p.m., Bancroft Park, facebook.com/ColoradoSpringsBlues.

Clover’s Curfew, folk punk ; 8 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

Grayson Capps, Americana/blues-rock, with Corky Hughes; 6:30 p.m., Brues Alehouse, bruesalehouse.com.

Front Range Big Band, big band; 6 p.m., Bancroft Park, facebook.com/FrontRangeBigBand.

Joe Johnson, folk/bluegrass/country, Front Range Barbeque, frbbq.com/ events

Kevin McDeviant, Celtic rock; 6:30 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns.

Social Cinema, alternative, with The Cavves, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, Charioteer; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Todd Williams, jazz/pop on drums; 7:30 p.m., Summa, dizzycharlies.com

An Evening with Trey Taylor, country/ pop/Children’s Literacy Center benefit; 7 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhallco.com.

FRIDAY, 7/14

Antivirus, surf punk ; 6 p.m., Buffalo Lodge, bicycleresort.com/calendar.

Bikini Trill, surf-pop, with A-Mac & The Height; 7 p.m., Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, bruesalehouse.com.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy, alt-country, with Faun Fables; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Eddie 9V (hear him at tinyurl.com/ indy-eddie) plays Lulu’s Sunday, July 16.

Cody Cozz, country, with Braydon Zink; 7 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhallco. com.

Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, sounds of summer; 7 p.m., Sallie Bush Community Building, Green Box Arts, Green Mountain Falls, greenboxarts. org.

William Clark Green, country ; 6 p.m., Whiskey Baron Dance Hall & Saloon, tinyurl.com/whisk-dh.

ID’S Only Volume II, metal/rock/punk; 7 p.m., Sunshine Studios, sunshinestudioslive.com.

The Doctor Fine Rhythm and Blues Revue, ’50s/’60s/’70s soul; 7 p.m., Stargazers Theatre, stargazerstheatre.com.

Get Some, hardcore punk , with Gatehouse, Get the Axe; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Hot Boots Dance Band, rock/country/pop/jazz/Latin; 8 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/ events.

The James Hunter Six, soul/blues; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks. com.

Playing with Smoke, rock/blues/pop/ country; 5 p.m., First & Main Town Center, firstandmaintowncenter.com.

Kayla Ruby, Americana/pop/country; 7 p.m., University Village Colorado, uvcshopping.com/concert-series.html.

Grant Sabin, blues ; 6 p.m., Buffalo Lodge, bicycleresort.com/calendar.

A School of Rock, acoustic; 7:30 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns.

Volores, “mountain goth,” with Aughter; 7 p.m., Oskar Blues, coloradosprings. oskarbluesfooderies.com.

The Wildwoods, folk/Americana; 7 p.m., Black Rose Acoustic Society, Black

Forest Community Center, blackroseacoustic.org.

SATURDAY, 7/15

Beach Baby Rave, local DJs; 8 p.m., Sunshine Studios, sunshinestudioslive.com.

Bus Band, CSNY tribute; 7 p.m., Stargazers Theatre, stargazerstheatre.com.

Cody Canada and the Departed, rock, with Bison Bone; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Every Avenue, pop-punk, with Makeout, SayWeCanFly; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Heavy Diamond Ring, folk-rock; 7 p.m., Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, bruesalehouse.com.

Keep Britain Irish, Celtic; 7:30 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns.

Kirk Larson Trio, “danceable grooves”; 9 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

The Long Run, Eagles tribute/Shield 616 benefit ; 7 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhallco.com.

ORYX, death metal, with Clarion Void, 908, Ulnar; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Westrock, country/bluegrass/originals; 6 p.m., Whiskey Baron Dance Hall, tinyurl.com/whisk-dh.

SUNDAY, 7/16

Blue Frog Sunday, with Katie Champlin & Kelly Hagerman, Americana/jam; 6 p.m., Front Range Barbeque, frbbq. com/events.

Eddie 9V, blues; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Interrobang Unplugged, “intricate melodies and powerful lyrics”; 5 p.m., Goat Patch Brewing Company, goatpatchbrewing.com/events.

719 Band, blues; 1 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

Total Cult, punk/rock, with Audio Visceral, SPELLS; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Traditional Irish Session, Irish/Celtic; 3 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns.

MONDAY, 7/17

Jazz Jam Session: Rick Mraz, jazz; 5:30 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

Little London Winds: Disney Magic, wind ensemble; 7 p.m., Soda Springs Park, Manitou, littlelondonwinds.org/ concerts/2023/summer.html.

Powerman 5000, rock, with Priest, Julien-K; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Tribe with John Wise, blues/reggae/ New Orleans R&B; 6:30 p.m., Monument Valley Park, fmvp.net/musicalmondays.

The Way Down Wanderers, folk; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

TUESDAY, 7/18

Hot Boots, pop/country/jazz/rock ; 6 p.m., Bancroft Park, occpartnership. org.

Paul Cauthen, country ; 8 p.m., Pikes Peak Center, pikespeakcenter.com.

Manitou Chamber Music Festival, Enescu to Liszt to Ives; 7:30 p.m., Chapel of Our Saviour, manitouchambermusicfestival.com.

Countywyde, bluegrass; 6:30 p.m., Front Range Barbeque, frbbq.com/events.

Cari Dell, variety ; John Wise & Tribe, New Orleans R&B/blues/jazz/island; The Barefoot Family Caravan, psychedelic rock ; 6 p.m., Hillside Gardens, hillsidecolorado.com/upcomingevents.

Krash Karma, metal, with Sabbatar, Hellscircus, HRZN, Sin on Six; 6 p.m., Sunshine Studios Live, sunshinestudioslive.com.

LOOK’EE HERE!, blues/jazz ; 6 p.m., Broadmoor Community Church, broadmoorchurch.org/music-ministry.

Dom Martin, Irish blues/rock ; 7 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns.

Narrow Gauge, rock/country; 6:30 p.m.,

Limbach Park, townofmonument.org.

Springs Contemporary Jazz Band, jazz; 6 p.m., Bear Creek Regional Park, communityservices.elpasoco.com.

THURSDAY, 7/20

PLAYING AROUND BIG GIGS

Blackthorn, Celtic; 7 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/jackquinns.

Cowboy Dave Band, “high-elevation honky-tonk”; 6 p.m., Creekwalk, creekwalkcos.com.

Joelton Mayfield, rock, with Red Moon Rounder, Benjamin Morse and the Sensations; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Lethal Lisa McCall, blues; 5:30 p.m., Thorndale Park, facebook.com/ColoradoSpringsBlues.

Out The Shadows: A Free Hip-Hop Showcase, local hip-hop; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Riding Carpets, psych rock; 8 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

Upcoming music events

Al Green and the Colorado Symphony, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 12

Paramore, Ball Arena, Denver, July 13

The Linda Lindas, Ball Arena, Denver, July 13

Trampled by Turtles, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 13

The String Cheese Incident, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 14-16

Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Lulu’s, Manitou Springs, July 14

Gogol Bordello, Ogden Theatre, Denver, July 14

Taylor Swift, Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, July 15

Tori Amos, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 17

Paul Cauthen, Pikes Peak Center, July 18

Tears for Fears, Ball Arena, Denver, July 20

Alastair Greene, Stargazers, July 21

Arlo McKinley, Fox Theatre, Boulder, July 21

STS9, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 21-22

Buscabulla, Bluebird Theater, Denver, July 23

Caitlin Krisko & the Broadcast, Lulu’s, July 23

Portugal. the Man with The Colorado Symphony, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, July 23

Brent Faiyaz, Mission Ballroom, Denver, July 25

Continued at csindy.com

Courtesy Clutch Art classes for all ages and skill levels. Explore and register online.

JOIN US THIS SUMMER BEMIS SCHOOL OF ART IN THE MUSEUM I Invited Myself, vol. II On view in the museum until July 29

WEDNESDAY, 7/19

A Carpenter’s Daughter, mountain folk rock/Americana; 6 p.m., Manitou Carnegie Library, ppld.org/librarylawn-concerts.

WHO’S TAMING WHO?

Theatreworks’ new production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the

BY NICK RAVEN | nick@csindy.com

SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS AND SUMMERTIME go well together, but how do you present a fresh take on one of The Bard’s standards after 430 years and countless productions? With their new gender-swapped, time-warping Taming of the Shrew, Theatreworks is looking to give audiences something to take home and think about.

“Just imagine a world in the 1590s where women were in control and had all the power,” says Caitlin Lowans, Theatreworks’ artistic director and the director of this new production. “[This] allows us to fully embody the language, the world and the difficult questions that the play poses.”

Just months before the pandemic seized the world, Theatreworks’ annual trip to London in January 2020 brought them to the Royal Shakespeare Company, whose production of inspired their new show. While the London performance was faithful to the original text, it inverted the genders and roles of its players in wildly creative ways.

“I think a lot of Americans have this idea that [the RSC] is Shakespeare the way that Shakespeare would have wanted it to be,” says Lowans. “When I saw this production, it was a multiracial cast. They had an actor who used a wheelchair. They had a deaf actor in it and big old Elizabethan costumes. [It was] a production that very much said, ‘This is contemporary Britain and our vision of Shakespeare can have pumpkin pants and room for everyone who lives in our country to see themselves onstage.’”

[It was] a production that very much said, ‘This is contempofor

At the core of the play, Petruchio must “tame” Kate, an independent, free-thinking woman who is unsuitable for marriage in Elizabethan high society — a shrew. Lowans talks about how the play was progressive for its time in acknowledging partnership and mutual respect between men and women while also uncovering societal misogyny and casual gaslighting, things that stand out in the gender swap.

“It’s a world in which men had all of this power and women were sort of traded off in order to reinforce that power. If you didn’t fit into the world, it was harder for you to move through it and there wasn’t as much space for you,” Lowans says. “All of that is still just as true.”

and mutual respect between men and women while and says. “All of that is still just as true.”

go well together, but how do you present a fresh take on 1590s inspired their new show. While the London performance was the Shakespeare the way that Shakespeare would have wanted costume became “ma’ams,” the outdoor staging gave lighting changing progresses.

Not only did the gender-fluid nature of 16th century Elizabethan attire give costume designer Pheobe Boynton plenty to work with as “sirs” became “ma’ams,” the outdoor staging gave their lighting designers the bright idea of changing the era of the wardrobe as the play progresses.

Isaiah Downing

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

By Heather Cox Richardson heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

The never-ending struggle FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

ON JULY 9, 1868, AMERICANS changed the U.S. Constitution for the 14th time, adapting our foundational document to construct a new nation without systematic Black enslavement.

In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution had prohibited enslavement on the basis of race, but it did not prevent the establishment of a system in which Black Americans continued to be unequal. Backed by President Andrew Johnson, who had taken over the presidency after an actor had murdered President Abraham Lincoln, white Southern Democrats had done their best to push their Black neighbors back into subservience. So long as Southern states had abolished enslavement, repudi-

ated Confederate debts, and nullified the ordinances of secession, Johnson was happy to readmit them to full standing in the Union, still led by the very men who had organized the Confederacy and made war on the United States.

Northern Republican lawmakers refused. There was no way they were going to rebuild Southern society on the same blueprint as existed before the Civil War, especially since the upcoming 1870 census would count Black Americans as whole persons for the first time in the nation’s history, giving Southern states more power in Congress and the Electoral College after the war than they had had before it. Having just fought a war to destroy the South’s ideology, they were not

going to let it regrow in peacetime.

Congress rejected Johnson’s plan for Reconstruction. But then congressmen had to come up with their own. After months of hearings and debate, they proposed amending the Constitution to settle the outstanding questions of the war. Chief among these was how to protect the rights of Black Americans in states where they could neither vote nor testify in court or sit on a jury to protect their own interests.

Congress’s solution was the 14th Amendment. It took on the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision, declaring that Black men “are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word ‘citizens’ in the Constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens.”

The 14th Amendment provides that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

The amendment also addressed the Dred Scott decision in another profound way. In 1857, Southerners and Democrats who were adamantly opposed to federal power controlled the Supreme Court. They backed states’ rights. So the Dred Scott decision did more than read Black Americans out of our history; it dramatically circumscribed Congress’ power.

The Dred Scott decision declared that democracy was created at the state level, by those people in a state who were allowed to vote. In 1857 this meant white men, almost exclusively. If those people voted to do something widely unpopular — like adopting human enslavement, for example — they had the right to do so. People like Abraham Lincoln pointed out that such domination by states would eventually mean that an unpopular minor-

Robert Bork’s America is a land in which women would be forced into backalley abortions, ... rogue police could break down citizens’ doors in midnight raids....

— Sen. Ted Kennedy

ity could take over the national government, forcing their ideas on everyone else, but defenders of states’ rights stood firm.

And so the 14th Amendment gave the federal government the power to protect individuals even if their state legislatures had passed discriminatory laws. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws,” it said. And then it went on to say that “Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.”

The principles behind the 14th Amendment were behind the 1870 creation of the Department of Justice, whose first job was to bring down the Ku Klux Klan terrorists in the South.

Those same principles took on profound national significance in the post-World War II era, when the Supreme Court began to use the equal protection clause and the due process clause of the 14th Amendment aggressively to apply the protections in the Bill of Rights to the states. The civil rights decisions of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, including the Brown v. Board of Education decision outlawing segregation in public schools, come from this doctrine. Under it, the federal government took up the mantle of protecting the rights of individual Americans in the states from the whims of state legislatures.

Opponents of these new civil rights protections quickly began to object that such decisions were “legislating from the bench,” rather than permitting state legislatures to make their own laws. They began to call for “originalism,” the idea that the Constitution should be interpreted

only as the Framers had intended when they wrote it, an argument that focused on the creation of law at the state level. Famously, in 1987, President Ronald Reagan nominated Robert Bork, an originalist who had called for the rollback of the Supreme Court’s civil rights decisions, for a seat on that court.

Reacting to that nomination, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) recognized the importance of the 14th Amendment to equality: “Robert Bork’s America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens’ doors in midnight raids, schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution, writers and artists could be censored at the whim of the Government, and the doors of the Federal courts would be shut on the fingers of millions of citizens for whom the judiciary is — and is often the only — protector of the individual rights that are the heart of our democracy….”

Heather Cox Richardson is professor of history at Boston College and an expert on American political and economic history. She writes widely on American politics, and her upcoming book, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America , will be published in the fall. She is also the author of the widely read Letters from an American , a nightly chronicle of American politics.

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Mr.Guffaw’s Bubble Orama!

Free Will ASTROLOGY

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): The Simpsons animated show has been on TV for 34 seasons. Ten-year-old Bart Simpson is one of the stars. He is a mischievous rascal who’s ingenious in defying authority. Sometimes teachers catch him in his rebellious acts and punish him by making him write apologetic affirmations on the classroom blackboard. For example: “I will not strut around like I own the place. I will not obey the voices in my head.

I will not express my feelings through chaos. I will not trade pants with others. I will not instigate revolution. I am not deliciously saucy. I cannot absolve sins. Hot dogs are not bookmarks.” In accordance with your unruly astrological omens, Cancerian, I authorize you to do things Bart said he wouldn’t do. You have a license to be deliciously saucy.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Early in her career, Leo actor Lisa Kudrow endured disappointments. She auditioned for the TV show Saturday Night Live but wasn’t chosen. She was cast as a main character in the TV show Frasier but was replaced during the filming of the pilot episode. A few months later, though, she landed a key role in the new TV show Friends. In retrospect, she was glad she got fired from Frasier so she could be available for Friends Frasier was popular, but Friends was a super hit. Kudrow won numerous awards for her work on the show and rode her fame to a successful film career. Will there be a Frasier moment for you in the coming months, dear Leo? That’s what I suspect. So keep the faith.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The coming weeks will be a good time to seek helpful clues and guidance from your nightly dreams. Take steps to remember them — maybe keep a pen and notebook next to your bed. Here are a few possible dream scenes and their meanings. 1) A dream of planting a tree means you’re primed to begin a project that will grow for years. 2) A dream of riding in a spaceship suggests you yearn to make your future come more alive in your life. 3) A dream of taking a long trip or standing on a mountaintop may signify you’re ready to come to new conclusions about your life story. (PS: Even if you don’t have these specific dreams, the interpretations I offered are still apt.)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In reviewing the life work of neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, critic Patricia Holt said he marveled at how “average people not only adapt to injury and disease but also create something transcendent out of a condition others call disability.” Sacks specialized in collaborating with neurological patients who used their seeming debilitations “to uncover otherwise unknown resources and create lives of originality and innovation.” I bring this up, Libra, because I suspect that in the coming months, you will have extra power to turn your apparent weaknesses or liabilities into assets.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It’s a mistake to believe we must ration our love as if we only have so much to offer. The fact is, the more love we give, the more we have available to give. As we tap into our deepest source of generosity, we discover we have greater reserves of it than we imagined. What I’ve just said is always true, but it’s especially apropos for you right now. You

are in a phase when you can dramatically expand your understanding of how many blessings you have to dole out.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Home computers didn’t become common until the 1980s. During the previous decade, small startup companies with adventurous experimenters did the grunt work that made the digital revolution possible. Many early adapters worked out of garages in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California. They preferred to devote their modest resources to the actual work rather than to fancy labs. I suspect the coming months will invite you to do something similar, Sagittarius: to be discerning about how you allocate your resources as you plan and implement your vigorous transformations.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m tempted to call this upcoming chapter of your life story “The Partial Conquest of Loneliness.” Other good titles might be “Restoration of Degraded Treasure” or “Turning a Confusing Triumph into a Gratifying One” or “Replacing a Mediocre Kind of Strength with the Right Kind.” Can you guess that I foresee an exciting and productive time for you in the coming weeks? To best prepare, drop as many expectations and assumptions as you can so you will be fully available for the novel and sometimes surprising opportunities. Life will offer you fresh perspectives.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): By 1582, the inexact old Julian calendar used by the Western world for 13 centuries was out of whack because it had no leap years. The spring equinox was occurring too early, on March 10. Pope Gregory commissioned scientists who devised a more accurate way to account for the passage of time. The problem was that the new calendar needed a modification that required the day after Oct. 4 to be Oct. 15. Eleven days went missing — permanently. People were resentful and resistant, though eventually all of Europe made the conversion. In that spirit, Aquarius, I ask you to consider an adjustment that requires a shift in habits. It may be inconvenient at first, but will ultimately be good for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean novelist Peter De Vries wrote, “Sometimes I write drunk and revise sober, and sometimes I write sober and revise drunk. But you have to have both elements in creation — the Apollonian and the Dionysian, or spontaneity and restraint, emotion and

discipline.” In the coming weeks, you Pisces folks will be skilled at weaving these modes as you practice what you love to do. You’ll be a master of cultivating dynamic balance; a wizard of blending creativity and organization; a productive change-maker who fosters both structure and morale.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Many astrologers enjoy meditating on the heavenly body Chiron. With an orbit between Saturn and Uranus, it is an anomalous object that has qualities of both a comet and a minor planet. Its name is derived from a character in ancient Greek myth: the wisest teacher and healer of all the centaurs. Chiron is now in the sign of Aries and will be there for a while. Let’s invoke its symbolic power to inspire two quests in the coming months: 1) Seek a teacher who excites your love of life. 2) Seek a healer who alleviates any hurts that interfere with your love of life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s high time for some high culture! You are in a phase to get rich benefits from reading Shakespeare, listening to Beethoven and enjoying paintings by Matisse and Picasso. You’d also benefit lavishly from communing with the work of virtuosos like Mozart, Michelangelo and novelist Haruki Murakami. However, I think you would garner even greater emotional treasures from reading Virginia Woolf, listening to Janelle Monáe’s music, and enjoying Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings. For extra credit, get cozy with the books of Simone Weil, listen to Patti Smith’s music and see Frida Kahlo’s art. If you read between the lines here, you understand I’m telling you that the most excellent thing to do for your mental and spiritual health is to commune with brilliant women artists, writers and musicians.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The French phrase j’ajoute (translated as “I adjust”) is a chess term used when a player is about to adjust their pieces but does not yet intend to make a move. J’ajoute might be an apt motto for you to invoke in the coming days. You are not ready to make major shifts in the way you play the games you’re involved in. But it’s an excellent time to meditate on that prospect. You will gain clarity and refine your perspective if you tinker with and rearrange the overall look and feel of things.

HOMEWORK: What’s the best gift you could give yourself right now? Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com.

PUZZLES

All words to be constructed pertain to the topic to the right. To your advantage one word has already been traced. You must trace the three remaining words, using only the letters designated by the darkened circles. Words may begin and end from either column but each letter can only be used once.

Each puzzle has a difficulty rating (right). Four stars signify the highest degree of difficulty.

Given to the right are the point values for each word. Your words must correctly match these point values.

MINI SUDOKU X

SUDOKU X

50 Supporter of the arts?

51 “Changes in ocean conditions allowed the ship to return safely to port. Stay tuned for more ___”

Fix, as code

22 Kind of soda, steak or sandwich

DOWN

1 Follower of super or preceder of Man

2 “Are you telling this story or ___?”

3 Knucklehead

4 Pullover jacket traditionally lined with fur

5 Home furnishings superstore

6 It can be small, smooth or sweet

7 “Invisible Man” author Ralph

8 Will, if all goes well

9 Electronics purchase of the early 2000s

10 Go the distance 11 “One more!”

23 Prefix with dynamic 27 Speak monotonously and at length 28 Followers of mis 29 Nat ___ (nature channel, familiarly) 34 Choice word 35 Common source of protein for opossums 36 Commercial prefix with Pen 37 Biometric identification method 38 A battlefield, per Pat Benatar 39 Genesis brother 41 Dunk 43 Landlocked Balkan country

44 Music genre related to glam rock 45 Chap

46 Like roughly a fifth of the U.S. population

47 “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” band

48 Plot points in “Hamilton”

52 Ladder part

53 Low-lying area

54 Class that might involve investing in a virtual stock market, for short

57 Whichever

58 “I hopped off the plane at ___” (Miley Cyrus lyric)

Find the answers on p. 26

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL

Fuzzy on the concept

When Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois, underwent a cybersecurity audit, TechCrunch reported, the vendor mistakenly reset every student’s password, which prevented students from being able to log into their Google account. Naturally, the school wanted to rectify the situation, so on June 23, they sent parents an email: “To fix this, we have reset your child’s password to Ch@ngeme! so that they can once again access their Google account. We strongly suggest that your child update their password to their own unique password as soon as possible.” What could go wrong? Manning Peterson, an OPRF student’s mom, noted, “This is terribly insecure and you have just invited every single student’s accounts to get hacked.” It took the school a day to realize its mistake, whereupon it promised to send “a special password process that will be unique to your specific student.”

Taste the rainbow

Tristan Stetina, 19, was charged with fifth-degree assault (who knew degrees went to 5!) after an incident at a Mankato, Minnesota, restaurant on June 23, KSTP-TV reported. Police officers were called to the business after Stetina allegedly arrived there and “began yelling and throwing Skittles at employees and customers.” One victim said she experienced stinging on her back after being hit with one of the candies. Officers, who

were familiar with Stetina, found him nearby and placed him under arrest; because he resisted, he was also charged with obstruction of the legal process and disorderly conduct.

Awesome!

Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington, switched things up on June 25 with a Grandparents Race, WMTV reported. It was part of Grandparents Weekend, where nanas and pop-pops received free admittance and could participate in prize drawings. About 25 grandparents competed in the race, charging out of the horse gates toward a finish line about 40 yards away. Two of the racers stumbled and fell during the sprint, but no one was hurt. Steve Butler of Everett, Washington, was declared the winner.

Government in action

Paavo Arhinmaki, 46, the deputy mayor of Helsinki, Finland, was caught in the act on June 23 as he and a friend spraypainted graffiti in a railway tunnel in the capital city, the Associated Press reported. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency said the cost to clean up the graffiti would be about $3,830, but it’s not clear if the deputy mayor will face charges. “I have committed a crime and bear full responsibility for it,” Arhinmaki said, calling his actions “stupid fooling around.” However, he is refusing to resign his position.

GERMAN ARTIST WERNER HÄRTL OF REICHERSBEUERN

paints stunning agriculture and landscape scenes, mostly of cows, Oddity Central reported. What sets Härtl apart is his medium of choice: diluted cow manure. Härtl places a canister beneath a cow’s rear end as it poops, then mixes the dung with water. “I use watered-down dung for the light shades ... I use dung with no water mixed in for the dark shades,” Härtl explained. “When it is wet, the ‘paint’ is a bit funky, but when it’s completely dry, it doesn’t smell anymore,” he said.

Focus Workforce Development

A Q&A with economist Tatiana Bailey

BY KATHERINE ATHERTON

As founder and executive director of Data-Driven Economic Strategies, economist Dr. Tatiana Bailey delves into data to provide rigorous economic reporting and workforce development initiatives. She presents on the national, state, and local economies, and works on economic development initiatives, with a focus on closing the skills gap.

What’s the state of the workforce in the Pikes Peak region?

Workforce is very interesting in the

entire state of Colorado, and that’s even more true in some ways, for this region, for Colorado Springs. The state as a whole has more — and has had more — of its population growth from inmigration than from people having children and staying here for decades and decades. And when you think about it, that makes sense. It’s a beautiful state. It’s been an asset, and the majority of people who have moved here are highly educated. That’s part of the reason that economic momentum has been what it’s been. You have more educated people, more businesses, that are willing to locate or relocate

here because they have the workforce that they need and so forth. So that’s a huge plus we do have — we are the second most educated in the nation, just behind Massachusetts.

The paradox, if you will — and it’s literally called the Colorado paradox — is if you talk to educators, like the Colorado Department of Education, our K-12 outcomes are not very good. We haven’t invested as much in public education over the years as some other states have. I do think that over time, that’s going to get a little better, because typically more educated people invest more time with their kids and ensure better outcomes and so forth.

... As the state and as a region we need to do more [about education]. And it’s not because Colorado is doing anything wrong, or Colorado Springs is doing anything wrong. It’s just that the trends have moved too quickly and education has not kept pace.

What challenges are employers facing?

Just about every survey [has] been saying we don’t have enough workers. We don’t have enough of them and a lot of times when we find them, they don’t have the right skill set. I know these workforce shortages have been an issue for a long time, but they are a bit worse since the pandemic because the labor participation rate is a little bit lower. Something else that isn’t talked about ... is that the aging population is coming to roost. We have fewer working age people. Some of those younger retirees came back, but it’s not back to the levels where it was before, and realistically, it’s not going to happen because we just everyday have more and more people are aging. The pandemic has made all of this worse, but it was the trend that was already happening.

What challenges are job seekers facing?

It’s interesting because, having kids that are in their teens and 20s, I talk to them. Especially as we started to come out of the pandemic a little bit and the job openings soared, and people started talking more and more about labor shortages, my kids said to me, ‘You know, it’s kind of weird that that’s so much in the press, and yet I have so many friends who’ve just graduated with good degrees, who say they send out 50 CVs [curriculum vitae] a day,

and they get crickets.’

I think that part of it is employers. They’ll complain about their labor shortages, but they’re not always necessarily willing to take the risk of a recent graduate. And I think also you have especially some older managers and employers who say that they just really don’t like the young talent right now — they think that they don’t work very hard. So they have a bias — maybe overt or covert, conscious or subconscious — against hiring younger people.

Also there’s a little bit of a chaos component too, because I talk to a lot of business owners who say, ‘Every day I’m just trying to get through the day with the five workers that I have, and I should have 10. I’m stepping in and doing the cooking or the financial management. I didn’t used to do as many things as I do now.’

I think there are more barriers for young people, even though there really shouldn’t be, given how tight the labor market is. I think another barrier unfortunately, for a lot of job seekers, is that the skill sets have gotten very specific. If you don’t have a specific niche that fits in — either through a certification or some type of training that you’ve done or a previous job — it becomes more difficult because employers often have much more specific needs.

What kinds of jobs will immediately be impacted by AI?

... All the experts say we don’t know what we don’t know. There’s so much right that is still to be determined. However, a lot of the experts say that this new generation of technology is probably going to impact higher skilled workers more than it’s going to impact lower skilled — which is, of course, the opposite of [the impact of] industrialization.

So, I do think it intuitively makes sense that we probably will see a bit more of an impact on some of the middle- and higherlevel positions, the robotics and automation, than impacts on lower skill workers.

The other interesting thing that I’ve heard is that generative AI — which is more of what we’re talking about where you can ask a computer a question and it’ll write you a story or whatever — is much further along and that that will be in front of us a lot sooner, while some of the other continued on p.

Courtesy Catalyst Campus

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WHEN YOU’RE SERIOUS ABOUT REAL ESTATE

Aug. 9 4:30 - 6 p.m. ALMAGRE 2460 Montebello Square Drive

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Greg will share how he leads those whose mission is to heal others and give insights into cutting edge leadership practices.

aspects of AI are still probably a good 10 to 15 years away. By that I mean some of the sci-fi stuff where the computers are teaching themselves and they are really supplanting a lot of the work that’s already done. I’m a Star Trek fan, I’m a nerd, and it’s interesting because I think about this too — and this would be probably beyond my lifetime — but maybe people will just work less. Maybe the average person will just be overseeing a lot of the sort of quality assurance, ethical assurance, if you will. I think it’s going to be pretty transformational in education. And you think, ‘Oh, how can that be? It’s an eight-hour workday.’ Well, three years ago we were all chained to a desk for eight or nine hours a day — that’s changed a lot in three years. So isn’t it possible that maybe there’ll be so much more mechanization — both intellectually, like on a computer, and even physically for manual labor — that the average person won’t work as many hours? Maybe that’s a possibility. Who knows?

Aside from AI, are there other disruptors impacting the workforce — like remote work?

My hope is that we can get childcare figured out better. I think hybrid work does help. I know when I went from full time to part time when I had my second kid, I probably would have stayed full time if I had been able to work from home two or three days a week.

The only group that has a higher labor participation rate now than prepandemic is actually women. [It] went way down when the pandemic happened because kids were at home and [women] weren’t going in [to work] and then it came back to this same level and now it’s even a little bit higher [than before the pandemic]. And I do think that some of that is probably because more women can work hybrid, but I also think that some of it is due to the simple fact that more women are graduating college than men now.

So that’s another sort of disruptor, if you will: that fewer men are participating in the labor force, proportionately speaking, and more women are participating in the labor force. So again, if we can get childcare figured out, that will only increase.

What partnerships are constructive for broader workforce development — like public and private organizations partnering to expand local workforce?

I think public/private is a perfect example. For instance, with UCHealth, the state

of Colorado granted a coalition of health care workforce people within Colorado — a lot of them here in Colorado Springs — with this thing called the Opportunity Now Grant. That’s government money, but they are partnering with places like Centura Health and UCHealth, so that some of the public funds are being augmented by some of the programs like UCHealth has with tuition reimbursement. So I think that that’s a really good example, and I think it’s going to happen more and more.

...

You also see really good things like more internships and apprenticeships. Locally, we have an organization called PPBEA — Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance — and they are like the liaison between K-12 and employers who are looking for high schoolers, as an example, to come in and do some summer work or maybe one or two days a week after school. That’s a fantastic way for not only businesses to get cheap labor but also for a kid to figure out if they like a specific industry and field. Internship opportunities — it’s awesome.

What else should we be thinking about when it comes to workforce issues right now?

I’m biased because I’m a data person — I mean, look at the name of the nonprofit: Data-Driven Economic Strategies. But there’s economic data and so much more I wish that that would be used by decision makers — city government, county government. That’s not to say that they don’t, but I’m such a data driven person that I think ‘Wow, we should really be tracking all metrics.’ How are policies impacting those metrics? What’s the end game? Where do you want to get to? I think data can more strategically be used with respect to workforce....

[Often] we don’t really use data to our advantage. Part of the reason that I even started this nonprofit is, in my little sphere, in my little community, my little contribution — besides the economic reporting — can be here. Here’s the information. Let’s use it to at least steer the boat, change course a little bit — actually kind of a lot — in order to prepare the next workforce, the next generation of workers in the United States. Not only does it benefit the worker, it benefits the household and their income, because high-demand positions pay better by definition. And it helps businesses and global competitiveness, because if you’ve got an educated workforce with the right skill set, businesses are more able to grow — and then we’re more able to compete globally. n CSBJ

I think there are more barriers for young people

Front The

Opening doors

BY TED ROBERTSON

As a military spouse, one of Sue Hoppin’s most frustrating challenges was not being able to hold down a job. That wasn’t because she lacked schooling or qualifications. She holds multiple degrees. It was — and for many in Hoppin’s position still is — because a lot of employers are reluctant to hire people they aren’t confident they can keep.

In Hoppin’s case, she and her husband moved to a new duty station every three years during his 22 years in the Air Force. “Our son was young,” she recalls, “and by the time he was ready to be in school full time I found myself overseas without any career prospects...” For Hoppin, that was a last-straw moment.

She didn’t want other military spouses to go through what she had experienced.

In a recent appearance on the Colorado Springs-based Veterans Voice podcast, Hoppin explains what she did in response and how those efforts have contributed to new executive actions coming from the Biden-Harris administration.

In 2010, she founded the National Military Spouse Network. She says that, at the time it, “...was just a way for us to kind of mitigate ... concerns for other military spouses so that they had an existing

network whenever they PCSed to different locations to help them with the landing.” Recognizing the need to do more, five years ago she began to release white papers that included research, surveys and any writing available addressing military spouse employment.

military spouse unemployment is over 20 percent, I’m going to lose my mind.

“Well, we know,” she said. “What are we going to do about it?”

It became apparent later that Hoppin was already doing her part — and to greater effect than she realized. The white papers she’d been releasing contained recommendations made by NMSN. Those ideas were backed up by Hoppin’s meticulous research. And the White House was watching and listening.

“When this executive order came out, it was such a breath fresh air,” Hoppin says, “and we were so thrilled to find that many of the recommendations in the executive order pointed back to many recommendations we made in the white paper.”

Hoppin notes that, “This to me is one of the most exciting times for military spouse employment!”

The executive order Hoppin is referenc-

ing was signed by President Joe Biden at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, and, according to a White House briefing room statement, “...includes nearly 20 actions aimed at enhancing career stability and expanding employment resources and support for this community.”

Among those 20 actions, the government, seeking to become the employer of choice for military spouses, according to Hoppin, will improve teleworking overseas. She noted that with that action in place, there will be complete continuity of employment through the PCS process when that involves leaving the United States for a foreign duty station.

Hoppin also discussed how another action under President Biden’s executive order will expand training on the hiring and employment of military and veteran’s spouses. Federal agencies are now under direction to provide annual training for human resources personnel and hiring managers to help equip them with best practices where military spouses will benefit much more from the employment support they need.

Hoppin noted a significant difference in this action from others.

“This executive order has teeth,” Hoppin says of its enforceability, “because there is a timeline attached to it.”

The full interview with Hoppin, links to the executive order and other resources are available at veteransvoice.us.

Visit NMSN online at nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org for more.

But what she saw didn’t go quite far enough. “We found that [the research and surveys] stopped just short of making recommendations,” Hoppin says. “And I sat back and thought, we can do that. We’re really good at that, the analysis.”

Along the way, Hoppin says, “If I have to hear someone tell me once more that

The Veterans Voice News Service, presented by The Veterans Voice Project and Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, provides weekly, military and business-themed news, analysis and commentary for The Front in partnership with the Colorado Springs Business Journal

Executive actions aim to make more opportunities for military spouses

Sue Hoppin

This to me is one of the most exciting times for military spouse employment.

— Sue Hoppin

Courtesy Sue Hoppin

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