“El Paso County’s sheriff is renewing his deal to jail suspected undocumented immigrants for federal officials, despite the high-profile legal battle prompted by that pact,” reports The Gazette in Colorado Springs. “County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a one-year extension of that agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It allows the Sheriff’s Office to detain people solely on a request by ICE, though a judge has ordered that practice be suspended pending a lawsuit that the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado filed Feb. 27. The ACLU sued Sheriff Bill Elder on behalf of two inmates. The suit says the Sheriff’s Office has jailed people illegally “for days, weeks, even months” after they posted bond or resolved their cases, because ICE asked that they be detained without providing a warrant signed by a judge.” “Two men with experience on city or town councils will face off in the Republican … [Read more...] about The Home Front: El Paso County sheriff renewed a jail deal with ICE despite a ‘high-profile legal battle’ with ACLU
El paso
Sheriff Bill Elder delivers a strong message with latest warrants on illegal pot grows in El Paso County
0 View Gallery El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder, who vowed to crack down on black-market marijuana this year, announced Tuesday that his office is serving more warrants on illegal pot grows than all other crimes combined. It has executed 64 such warrants over the past five months, seizing 5,200 marijuana plants, Elder said. In all of 2017, the deputies raided 73 grows and seized 2,560 plants, the office reported in March. Elder predicted that marijuana warrants will outnumber other warrants by 2-to-1 by the end of the year. "That is an incredible tempo," he said. "It completely obliterates anything that we've done in past years, and this is just the tip of the iceberg." Related: Did Colorado's legalization of weed lead to a bigger black market? The answer: A state of confusion Deputies had spent the morning destroying hundreds of plants seized during May raids. The plants were stored in Conex containers to dry out before they could be shredded. A change in state law … [Read more...] about Sheriff Bill Elder delivers a strong message with latest warrants on illegal pot grows in El Paso County
Abrupt closure of El Paso Cantina, landmark Torrance restaurant for 42 years, stuns community
The El Paso Cantina restaurant on Sepulveda Blvd. in Torrance is closing. (Chuck Bennett / Staff Photographer) A sign at the El Paso Cantina Restaurant on Sepulveda Blvd. in Torrance indicates that the eatery is closing. (Chuck Bennett / Staff Photographer) Sound The gallery will resume inseconds Show Caption of Expand By Nick Green | [email protected] | Daily Breeze PUBLISHED: August 30, 2016 at 10:02 pm | UPDATED: September 6, 2017 at 5:04 am El Paso Cantina, a Torrance landmark popular with families and well-known for its tasty salsa recipe and 99-cent happy-hour margaritas, has abruptly shut its doors after more than four decades in business. After losing its lease, the parent company that owns the Sepulveda Boulevard restaurant gave its landlord, clientele and employees no advance warning when it closed its doors for the final time on Sunday. “To my surprise and all employees, El Paso Cantina closed its doors permanently,” wrote customer Heidi … [Read more...] about Abrupt closure of El Paso Cantina, landmark Torrance restaurant for 42 years, stuns community
El Paso County renews contested jail pact with federal immigration agency
0 View Comments El Paso County's sheriff is renewing his deal to jail suspected undocumented immigrants for federal officials, despite the high-profile legal battle prompted by that pact. County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a one-year extension of that agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It allows the Sheriff's Office to detain people solely on a request by ICE, though a judge has ordered that practice be suspended pending a lawsuit that the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado filed Feb. 27. The ACLU sued Sheriff Bill Elder on behalf of two inmates. The suit says the Sheriff's Office has jailed people illegally "for days, weeks, even months" after they posted bond or resolved their cases, because ICE asked that they be detained without providing a warrant signed by a judge. Related: Would you donate money to build the border wall? On March 20, 4th Judicial District Judge Eric Bentley granted a preliminary injunction, ordering the Sheriff's … [Read more...] about El Paso County renews contested jail pact with federal immigration agency
El Paso County plans public test of vote counting ahead of primaries
0 View Comments El Paso County officials will make sure next week that the county's ballot counting equipment is tuned up for the June 26 primary. The Clerk and Recorder's Office will conduct its "Logic and Accuracy" testing on devices that will be used to tally the primary results, including ballot scanners and electronic voting machines. The procedure ensures that the equipment can properly display ballots, record votes and calculate results of the Democratic and Republican primaries. The test, which is open to the public, will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and is expected to continue until Thursday. Anyone interested in observing may visit the Clerk and Recorder's Office on the second floor of the Citizens Service Center at 1675 West Garden of the Gods Road. Related: Poll shows Lamborn, Glenn leading GOP primary field in 5th congressional district Ballots will be mailed to county voters June 4, according to Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman. Those registered with a political … [Read more...] about El Paso County plans public test of vote counting ahead of primaries