CSBJ Daily

Some of the nation’s retailers are implementing restrictive return policies.
A few have resorted to consulting a “naughty list” of habitual gift returners before issuing a refund, according to Consumer World, an Internet consumer resource guide.
Many national retailers – Sports Authority, Express, The Limited and KB Toys – use this database to track customer returns. If […]

The 2008 Form 990 is now available on the Internal Revenue Web site.
Organizations will begin using the new Form 990 for the 2008 tax year but must continue to use the current form for the 2007 tax year.
The new Form 990 consists of an 11-page core form that must be completed by each filer. In […]

In view of the 4,800 additional soldiers and new brigade combat team that have been assigned to Fort Carson, an obvious question might be “Will the existing post be able to handle all the new folks?”
While it’s still too early to get a reading from the Department of the Army on specific future plans for […]

Colorado Springs Fire Department has created a new approach to combat the rising volume of calls – a mobile two-person squad based outside a fire station.
Similar plans have been instituted in places such as Seattle and Miami-Dade County, Fla.
The Springs’ first two-man squad responds to the Knob Hill neighborhood, near Platte and Circle. The two-man […]

The number of November foreclosure filings nationwide surged 68 percent compared with the same month a year ago.
Analysts from RealtyTrac say that in all, 201,950 foreclosure filings were reported last month, compared with 120,334 during November 2006.
Still, last month’s filings are down 10 percent from October’s 224,451.
The decline in filings […]

The El Paso County Department of Human Services has applied to receive $492,786 in Community Services Block Grants for 2008 and 2009.
The federal CSBG grants are awarded annually to provide county emergency and self-sufficiency services to low-income families.
The Pikes Peak Community Action Agency and the Salvation Army’s emergency shelter will provide […]

The El Paso County Department of Human Services will be closed an additional day during the week of Dec. 25, when the offices will be closed for Christmas
The closures come as a result of El Paso County’s $4.1 million revenue shortfall.
Despite the office closures, Child and Adult Protection Services will be […]

The U.S. Army has selected Fort Carson to receive an additional brigade combat team of 4,877 soldiers to supplement the four brigades already assigned to the Mountain Post.
The expansion is part of the Army “Grow the Force” initiative, under which it is creating six new brigades during the next five years.
Democratic […]

State
Total Spending
Rank

Texas
$6.6 billion
1

Florida
$4.8 billion
2

California
$3.6 billion
3

Pennsylvania
$3.5 billion
4

Minnesota
$3.4 billion
5

Michigan
$3.4 billion
6

Wisconsin
$3.1 billion
7

Missouri
$2.4 billion
8

Ohio
$1.9 billion
9

New York
$1.8 billion
10

Georgia
$1.8 billion
11

South Carolina
$1.8 billion
12

Alabama
$1.7 billion
13

North Carolina
$1.7 billion
14

Louisiana
$1.6 billion
15

West Virginia
$1.5 billion
16

Washington
$1.4 billion
17

Arkansas
$1.4 billion
18

Arizona
$1.3 billion
19

Virginia
$1.3 billion
20

Kentucky
$1.3 billion
21

Tennessee
$1.3 billion
22

Colorado
$1.2 billion
23

Source: Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Hunting and fishing in Colorado are more than just recreational activities – the two sports bring more than $1.2 billion to the […]

Entrepreneurs drove the U.S. economy during 2006, federal reports show.
The U.S. Small Business Administration released its comprehensive report about small business’ contributions to the national economy during 2006, and small businesses lead economic growth during the year, the report says.
The report reviews the economic environment for small businesses in […]