After two years straight with a loss to Navy, the Falcons host the Midshipmen at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Falcon Stadium. On the line: bragging rights and the first step toward winning the Commander-in-Chiefs Trophy.

The teams first met in 1960, and Air Force leads the all-time series 3424. Navy won their last meeting 3431 in Annapolis.

The trophy competition began in 1972, with Air Force, Navy and Army each playing the other two. Saturdays winner gets an early advantage, but beating Navy alone does not clinch the trophy. Air Force last won it in 2022.

Learn More about the Upcoming Rivalry Game Below

For Scott Koons, a former Air Force cadet and owner of Colorado Mountain Brewery, rivalry week brings back memories of campus chants and cheering from the stands.

The whole week is geared around beat Navy or, you know, beat Army, sink Navy, these kinds of things, Koons said.

Now, he expects fans from both sides to pack his restaurant. His staff is preparing with extra food, beer, and staffing, while the game brings visiting fans into the community.

Koons says the connection extends beyond academy graduates to veterans who identify with their branchs team. And underneath the competition is a shared purpose.

I think both teams respect each other very much simply because we know were all serving the same purpose, and thats for our country, he said.

Before you head to Falcon Stadium:

Arrive early: Parking lots open at 6 a.m.; stadium gates open at 8 a.m. Choose your entrance: Use the Academys South Gate for lots 12 and North Gate for lots 46. Lot 3 fans may use either. Bring identification: Starting at 6 a.m., U.S. citizens do not need a base pass or pre-registration. Visitors over 18 must carry a U.S. government-issued ID or passport. Foreign nationals must register with the Pass and Registration Office. Pack light: Clear bags may be no larger than 12 by 12 by 12 inches. Small clutches or fanny packs may be no larger than 5.5 by 7.5 inches. The stadium is cashless, and reentry is not allowed.

As for Koons prediction, theres no hesitation.

Its not if Air Force wins, its when Air Force wins this weekend, he said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A few hours of your Friday or Saturday could help a local organization tackle work it has struggled to get done.

COSILoveYous Fall CityServe takes place Oct. 23, connecting volunteers with schools, nonprofits, parks and other community spaces across Colorado Springs.

See the full story in the video below CityServe seeks volunteers for projects across Colorado Springs Oct. 23

Executive Director Stu Davis said 107 projects are planned, and he estimates a couple hundred volunteer openings remain across the two days.

The tasks range from painting and landscaping to cleaning and organizing.

You might be organizing a space that hasnt seen a set of volunteer hands in a couple of years, but its really important for the organization to keep moving forward on their daily work of working with families or people in crisis, Davis said.

A starting point for volunteering

Davis said CityServe gives people a chance to try volunteering without making a long-term commitment. Participants can choose an opportunity connected to something they care about, then decide whether they want to stay involved.

Weve seen a lot of people who have been able to walk away from a CityServe Day experience and say it was so great to connect to an organization that cares about the same things that I do, and I wanna find a way to keep going back, he said.

Davis said opportunities include projects suitable for young children and people with limited mobility. Requirements vary by site, so volunteers should read the project description before registering.

How to sign up

To find an available project:

Visit serve.cosiloveyou.com. Choose Friday or Saturday projects. Browse or filter the listings to find an opportunity that fits you. Check the time, location, age requirements and any supplies you need to bring. Complete the signup process and click Confirm Registration.

Volunteers should receive a confirmation email. Adults are encouraged to register individually, while minors can be added under a parent or guardians account.

For Davis, the invitation starts with the belief that everyone can contribute.

Im confident that everybody has something to give and maybe it just takes the right opportunity, the right invitation, he said.

Browse CityServe projects and sign up here.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

After years of construction, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and its partners gathered Tuesday, Sept. 29, to celebrate major completion milestones on three Colorado Springs road projects.

The celebration highlighted improvements on I-25 between Fillmore Street and Garden of the Gods Road, the new Powers Boulevard and Airport Road interchange, and the Military Access, Mobility and Safety Improvement Project, known as MAMSIP.

Together, the projects represent more than $250 million in investment. The work aims to improve safety, traffic flow and access to military installations on roads also used by commuters, families and commercial vehicles.

Watch Jaylen Lee's report in the video player below: CDOT celebrates milestones on three Colorado Springs road projectsI-25: More room to merge, with work still ahead

Between Fillmore and Garden of the Gods, new acceleration and deceleration lanes give drivers more space to enter and exit I-25.

While CDOT celebrated the project's progress, crews still have paving and other finishing work to complete. Shane Ferguson, CDOT's Region 2 transportation director, said barriers and cones will be removed as construction wraps up, followed by the end of construction speed restrictions.

In an interview with News5, Ferguson said he expects the remaining work to be completed in October or November.

He said building roads while keeping traffic moving requires crews to work in stages, shifting vehicles around construction and protecting both workers and drivers.

Powers and Airport: A new way through the interchange

The new diverging diamond carries Airport Road traffic over Powers Boulevard. Airport Road drivers briefly cross to the opposite side of the roadway, allowing left turns onto ramps without crossing opposing traffic.

The interchange serves Peterson Space Force Base's west entrance and is intended to reduce congestion and improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

The interchange is open, but CDOT said periodic lane closures and traffic shifts are expected through October as crews finish remaining work.

MAMSIP: Four corridors, one connected effort

MAMSIP improved I-25, Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard and Charter Oak Ranch Road. The corridors connect Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station.

The approximately $161 million program was completed in July, with South Academy as its final piece, according to CDOT.

On South Academy, the work expanded the southern section from two lanes to three in each direction and included bridge improvements, drainage, lighting and noise walls.

Other components included a passing lane and intersection improvements on Highway 94, a rebuilt Charter Oak Ranch Road and roundabout serving Fort Carson's Gate 19, and bridge and median safety improvements on I-25 south of South Academy.

Although military access helped drive the effort, the improvements also serve civilian drivers traveling those same roads.

Drivers can check COtrip.org for current closures and traffic conditions.