Boulder-Springs, "It's about damned time," a surly consumer stated as he walked out the front door of a local Banco de Puerco branch this morning. Earlier today, the Journal learned that legislation has been proposed to freeze credit card interest at 18%. Bankers around the country are in arms, stating that it's impossible for them to make any money at only 18 percent on the total $2.6 trillion (Federal Reserve information April 7, 2009) in total American credit card debt. Banks have stated that they can barely get by on the $624 billion they are currently collecting in annual interest charges.

"We need to be able to raise rates when fuel costs and other items increase," said a Banco de Puerco spokeswoman who declined to be identified.

"How do fuel costs effect banking?" The question came from local television reporter Marly Reese.

"In a number of ways," the bank spokeswoman responded. "Fuel costs for corporate jets, limousines, the yachts we use to entertain congressional staffers."

We'll have more on this story as it develops.

Boulder-Springs, special to the Journal  Last night, it an eight to one decision, the Boulder-Springs county commissioners fired the county's entire internal audit staff of five people.

"They were digging into things that were none of their business," said an unnamed commissioner (who by the way is under indictment for real estate fraud involving land around the new airport.) "They were looking at policies and procedures. We hired them to look for people who were stealing from us, not to dig around in management affairs."

When asked what expectations the commission had of the audit staff, the same source replied, "They were supposed to look into stuff like employees stealing pens, and using county vehicles for personal business. They didn't find any of that, and what they did find is much better kept under the rug."

When asked for clarification, our source simply replied, "no comment."

The Journal has not been allowed to talk to any of the fired staff members under the guise of "county security," but we have unearthed allegations of a number of improprieties by commissioners and staff.

This reporter was contacted this morning at 3 am by a gruff voiced woman (whom we immediately recognized as a long-term commissioner) who stated, "I don't care what they think they've got on paper, that trip to the Cayman Islands last December was county business."

We think she might be referring to $100,000 in federal grant money that never seemed to hit the county coffers.

More on this story as it develops.