The Gazette

Monument's Town Council approved a six-month moratorium on data center applications, making it the first community in El Paso County to do so. Councilman Steve King expressed doubts about data centers' benefits, as the town proactively sets boundaries despite no current applications. Nearby, the Project Taurus Data Center remains under debate.

Colorado's attorney general has appealed a decision overturning Letecia Stauch's first-degree murder conviction for the 2023 death of her 11-year-old stepson, Gannon. The Colorado Court of Appeals overturned the conviction in April due to a juror's son-in-law working for the Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office. The Colorado Supreme Court will decide whether to take the case in September, with a new trial possible if it declines.

Colorado Springs Utilities is proposing new billing options for solar customers, which would raise monthly electric bills by about $30. The utility claims the changes are necessary to cover peak demand costs, but some solar owners argue the higher rates undermine the financial benefits of solar investments. Current solar customers will retain their existing rates until 2032, with a city council hearing scheduled for August and a final vote in September.