THE NEWS

TODAY

WEDNESDayJune 8, 2011

deal of the dayCanyon Marine Whitewater Expeditions

50% OFF — ONLY $30 for an Extended Half-Day Brown’s Canyon Rafting Trip ($60 Value). Buy today at gazette.com/dealofthe day.

localJudge refuses to reduce bond

Police officer Joshua Carrier, who is accused of sexually assaulting as many as 10 children, will continue to be held on $500,000 bond. A3

Tow truck driver bill becomes law

The measure stemming from the death of driver Allen Rose was among those signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper in Colorado Springs on Tuesday. A3

Cold front helps clear the air

Smoke from fires in Arizona was brushed away Tuesday by one of two fronts headed to the region. Air quality dropped in recent days, but relief is in sight. A3

businessArea home sales, prices fall again

A recent slide in the Pikes Peak region’s single-family home market continued last month. B8

Regulators OK tax cut for casinos

The tax rate on Colorado casinos will be reduced by 5 percent. As a result, millions of dollars will be returned to the industry, and organizations that receive gaming tax revenue estimate they may lose nearly $3 million a year. B8

sportsDallas does it again in finals

Dirk Nowitzki scored 10 of his 21 points in the final quarter as the Mavericks outscored the Heat by 12 points over the final 10:12 for an 86-83 victory in the NBA Finals. The series is tied 2-2. Miami’s LeBron James finished with only 8 points. B1

militaryPeterson hosts diversity fair

More than 400 people showed up to the event on Peterson Air Force Base, which featured ethnic foods, cultural entertain-ment and booths. A9

fresh inkBargain hunter shares advice

Warning: Coupon-clipping can be habit-forming, what with so many ways to find deals. Fresh Ink 1

Vol. 140 • No. 77Copyright © 2011Freedom ColoradoInformation, Inc. Daily

SprINgS mIlItary lIFE > a9 buSINESS > b8, IN SportS obItuarIES > a14-15 opINIoN > a16 aDvICE > b4 ComICS > b5-6

75 cents ❘ Informing the Pikes Peak region since 1872 ❘ gazette.com

weather, b8

High 82 • Low 48Slightly cooler today with a chance of an afternoon rain shower.

< gazette preps

peak performersInside today’s paper, The Gazette honors the area’s top high school athletes from the spring sports season in a special pullout section.

PEAK PERFORMERS • SPRING 2011WEdNESdAy, juNE 8, 2011

Revisiting the region’s

mining roots

as we scour

the area for

the top prep

athletes from the spring sports

season

A flag suspended between two fire engine ladders provides the backdrop as Steve Bach is sworn in as the first strong mayor of Colorado Springs on Tuesday at the Pioneers Museum.

PhoToS By MARK REIS, ThE GAZETTE

bach heralds ‘fresh start for our city’

Calling it a landmark day, an optimistic Steve Bach took the oath of office as Colo-rado Springs’ first strong mayor during a swearing-in ceremony that drew hundreds

of people on a sunny Tues-day morning.

“Today marks a new begin-ning — a fresh start for our city,” Bach told the crowd gathered outside the Colo-rado Springs Pioneers Mu-

seum downtown.“I’m optimistic about our future. I’m en-

thusiastic, in fact,” he said. “I know how great this city can be — I’ve lived here a

by Daniel j. ChaCóndaniel.chacon@gazette.com—

mayor sworn in

New leader vows to create diversified economy with plenty of quality jobs

—

see bach • Page 2

insideColumnist Barry Noreen wishes Bach luck. Page 3

Suzi Bach watches as her husband, Steve Bach, is sworn in by City Clerk Kathryn young as Colorado Springs mayor.

task force take two: a new look

The new City Council’s task force on Memorial Health System promised on Tuesday to take a fresh look at the city-owned hospital’s future.

The task force’s work will include re-examining whether Memorial should be sold to a for-profit company, weighing potential payments the city would receive if the hospital is spun off as an independent nonprofit and looking at what would happen if Memorial simply stays as-is.

A citizens commission spent most of 2010 weighing options for Memorial’s

by anDrew winekeawineke@gazette.com—

memorial health system

Future in hands of new council

—

see memorial • Page 2

online > in depth

See previous

stories about Memorial Health System at gazette.com

●

obama voices concern over lag

WASHINGTON • With few options at hand and his poll numbers sagging, President Barack Obama expressed concern Tuesday about the sudden slowdown in the economy but said he is not worried about a second recession and the nation should “not panic.”

The president spoke about the new economic trouble in detail for the first time since a report late last week showed job growth had slowed sharply in May. He tried to reassure Americans worried about high unem-ployment and expensive gas that the nation is on a slow, if not steady, path to recov-ery.

“I am concerned about the fact that the recovery that we’re on is not producing jobs as quickly as I want it to happen,” Obama said at an appearance with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “We don’t yet know whether this is a one-month episode or a longer trend.”

Either way, there appears to be little Washington can do about it.

By MARTIN CRUTSINGERANd CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER

The Associated Press—

u.s. economy

But says he isn’t worried about another recession

—

See ecONOmy • PAGe 10

election omen?Seventeen months before the

election, unemployment is 9.1 percent.

When Obama took office, it was 7.8 percent. Most economists think the rate will be above 8 percent at election time next year.

Since World War II, no president has been re-elected with unem-ployment higher than 7.2 percent.

Visit Vietnam wall without D.C. trip

fort carson

Bob Gobek, who travels with “The Wall That Heals,” and members of the 52nd Engineer Battalion helped put up a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., near Fort Carson’s main gate Wednesday. The public is invited to visit the wall, which was designed to travel throughout the United States, on Fort Carson through Sunday. Educational displays accompany the replica wall at the Army base.

jErilEE BEnnETT, THE GAzETTE

pressure for u.s. troop withdrawal is growingBAGHDAD • Ahmed Cha-

labi, the Iraqi politician who played a key role in persuad-ing the administration of President George W. Bush to invade Iraq and overthrow

dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, said Tuesday that it’s time for U.S. forces to go home.

“Are Iraqis ready to carry the responsibility for their country?” he asked rhe-torically during a panel

discussion held with politi-cal supporters at his fam-ily compound in Baghdad. “Is Iraq ready to be its own master? We want to be the masters of ourselves and to

By Laith hammoudiMcClatchy Newspapers—

iraq

—

see irAq • PAGe 17

insidePeterson Air Force Base diversity fair celebrates differentcultures. Page 9

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