🌱 Indoor Pickleball Complex + Police Shooting Victim IDed

Rise and shine, Colorado Springs! Here's everything you need to know to get this Friday started off right.

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First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 43 Low: 15.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Colorado Springs today:

1. A man with "very strong ties" to Colorado Springs has been suspected of sexually assaulting seven kids, and investigators are now searching for other potential victims. Allan Richard Long is facing 41 felony counts related to the sexual abuse of children, and has ties to Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and Montana. The sheriff's office is reporting he worked as a volunteer firefighter, tow truck driver, truck dispatcher, and over-the-road truck driver. (KKTV 11 News)
2. An indoor pickleball complex is coming to Colorado Springs in a conversion of vacant retail space. California-based Courtside Superstores plans to open 10 pickleball courts, along with a store, bar, cafe, and seating areas, in the former 30,000-square-foot Stein Mart at University Village Colorado, northwest of Nevada Avenue and Garden of the Gods Road. The Courtside Superstores indoor facility at University Village Colorado will allow year-round play and avoid problems created by wind or bad weather. (Colorado Springs Gazette)
3. The man who was shot dead by Colorado Springs police in the 1700 block of Herd Street on Dec. 8 has been identified as 45-year-old Michael Pantoja. One officer, Jacob Kelly, has been placed on administrative leave per police department policy. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is the lead investigative agency in the ongoing police shooting investigation. (The Denver Post)

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From my notebook:

• Financial adviser and radio host Dave Ramsey is facing a lawsuit from a former employee who alleges that the company was "cult-like" and that he was fired over his unwillingness to adhere to Ramsey's beliefs about COVID-19. (Facebook)
• Despite the strong winds this week, Pueblo Zoo reported that all animals, staff, and ElectriCritters made it through safely. (Facebook)
• Since COVID-19 vaccines became available to Coloradans, uptake has not been uniform. Some areas of the state now have almost full vaccination rates, but more than half of residents are still unvaccinated in others. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.