LINCOLN COUNTY, Colo. A two-vehicle crash on Highway 71 in Lincoln County ended with one person dead and another one seriously injured early Thursday morning, according to troopers with the Colorado State Patrol.

The crash was reported just before 6 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 71 and Highway 94, south of Limon.

A preliminary investigation into the crash revealed that a 2022 Volvo semi hauling a trail was going east on Highway 94 at the same time a 2014 brown Buick Enclave was going south on Highway 71. Investigators said the Volvo semi failed to stop at the intersections stop sign and struck the Buicks passenger side, according to a news release.

Both vehicles went off the roadway and did not block any lane. Emergency vehicles blocked the westbound lane of Highway 94, troopers said.

The driver of the Buick, a 45-year-old man of Model, Colorado, was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger of the Buick, a 17-year-old woman, was airlifted to a metro area hospital with serious injuries.

CSP troopers said the driver of the semi, a 39-year-old man from Washington state, was taken to a nearby hospital with an unknown extent of injuries.

The road was not shut down but traffic was alternating during the investigation, according to the CSP. The road has since reopened.

The CSP Vehicular Crimes Unit is the lead agency investigating this crash.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Temperatures may be a bit warmer than usual for this time of year, but winter is coming and with it, high energy costs.

Luckily, Coloradans struggling to pay their energy bill can receive a bit of help through the Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, also known as LEAP. The even better news? The program will accept applications starting next month.

LEAP, a federally funded program that helps eligible hard-working Colorado families, seniors and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs, according to the programs website, will open applications from Nov. 1 through April 30, 2027.

If your income is up to 60% of the state median income level, you may qualify for heating assistance through LEAP, according to the state's website.

Officials say the amount of the energy assistance benefit varies depending on a variety of factors, including the primary heating fuel costs and income.

If youre looking to apply, click here.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. A federal civil rights lawsuit alleges leadership at a Lakewood school did not adequately address racial harassment experienced by a Black student.

Jaylen Davis, who attended Addenbrooke Classical Academy, filed the lawsuit on Wednesday against the school, the principal, and the former executive director.

Denver7 political reporter Colette Bordelon breaks down the lawsuit in the video below:

Lawsuit: Lakewood school leaders did not protect student from racial harassment

The filing says Davis was a 16-year-old sophomore when he began experiencing racial remarks and mockery during the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year. According to the lawsuit, Davis and his mother complained to the principal and then-executive director more than once, but "neither took action to investigate, stop, or prevent the harassment from recurring."

When the school is aware that a Black student is being subjected to vile racist language, unwanted touching, racist jokes they should move heaven and earth to stop it," said attorney Steven Murray, who represents Davis. Just imagine if if the scenario was flipped, that you had Black students harassing a white student. I think the result would have been different.

In May of 2025, the lawsuit claims racist and sexually threatening graffiti appeared on a wall within the boys' restroom.

The lawsuit alleges that one phrase discovered in the bathroom read "Black's for sale" and underneath it were the names of five students, including Davis.

Another portion of the graffiti said "slave auction," according to the filing.

The lawsuit claims the defendants locked the restroom due to the graffiti, and did not tell Davis or his mother about the writing. Davis allegedly learned about the graffiti through a photograph from a classmate.

Davis was not told who wrote the graffiti, what their punishment was, or what action was taken to prevent something similar from happening again, according to the filing.

This is one of the most outrageous cases I've ever seen," said Murray. I think it's a community-wide problem, and I think in the culture we live in today, it's even more important to address this.

Davis finished his sophomore year at the school but completed his junior year "online at home, without classmates, live instruction, sports, clubs, activities, or a social life," the lawsuit reads.

Murray said the goal of the lawsuit is to compensate Davis for his emotional distress and hold the school accountable.

Denver7 reached out to Addenbrooke Classical Academy and the current executive director said all communication about the lawsuit will be coordinated through JeffCo Public Schools. JeffCo Public Schools responded to Denver7's request for comment with the following statement:

<i>Addenbrooke Classical Academy (ACA) is aware of a press release regarding potential legal action against the school. While we have not received formal service of a lawsuit, our policy is not to comment on any potential or pending legal matters.&nbsp;</i> <i>We can affirm that ACA, in partnership with Jeffco Public Schools, adheres strictly to all federal and state anti-discrimination laws and to district policies aligned with those legal standards. The ACA community is guided by upholding the equal dignity and rights of all individuals, and educating students with integrity and virtue to become exemplary citizens.</i> <i>Addenbrooke Classical Academy remains focused on maintaining a safe, supportive, and virtuous learning environment where every student can thrive. We will address this legal matter through the appropriate judicial channels.</i>

The CSU Pueblo football team has climbed to fourth in the national rankings, sitting at a perfect 5-0 on the season and remaining a clear favorite to win the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title.

See our preview in the video below CSU Pueblo week 6 preview

Head coach Philip Vigil said the team's undefeated record reflects more than just wins it reflects a commitment to daily improvement.

"I mean, the first five opponents that we've played are all teams that were either picked in the top half of the RMAC or receiving votes being ranked," Vigil said. "I definitely know that the teams we've played are very good football teams, and, even though the score sometimes may not show it, there's adversity in every game, and I think that being able to overcome that adversity and continue to progress and execute, I think our team has shown that."

Despite the strong record, Vigil said there is still work to be done.

"From a record results standpoint, of course, I think you can't get any better than it is right now, but from like a finite details and where we need to improve, the beautiful thing about football is there's always areas where you can improve and get better," Vigil said. "That's the thing that we challenge this group on is it's not about the scoreboard, it's not about the opponent. It's about us."

The Thunderwolves face Adams State this week in their final game before the bye week. Adams State has yet to find the win column in its first five games of the season, but Vigil said his team is not taking the matchup lightly.

"Adams, you know, has struggled in the first five games, but it's a new staff, and they've done a good job in recruiting some really talented football players, and I know we can't take anybody lightly," Vigil said. "If you make the opponent the focus, then every week you can go like this you can be ups and downs. Human nature is to be complacent. Human nature is to seek comfort, and if we want to be the best at getting better, then we've got to come out and prove that every single day."

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While education professionals say attendance is important every school day, the first school day of October stands out as a day Colorado public school students shouldnt miss.

Attendance from the first day of school in October known as the October count determines a districts funding for the remainder of the year, which the majority of those funds coming from the States Public School Finance Act.

Denver7 reporter Alex Dowd breaks down how that funding timeline works in the video below:

Colorado school attendance count today determines funding for the rest of the year

Colorado funds schools on a per-pupil basis, but that funding formula is facing a change over the next few years to account for falling enrollment and rising costs of living.

Starting the 2026-2027 school year, a districts per-pupil funding is calculated using either the count this year, or an average of this years count, and the two previous years.

Districts will slowly phase in the rest of the new formula, until the switch is complete for the 2031-2032 school year.

The biggest changes add funding for Special Education, for rural and remote schools and for districts that cover a smaller area of the state.

The new formula starts the same way as the old with a base district funding. That number is determined by the October count minus extended high school students and multi-district online students. That number is multiplied by the state per-pupil rate, which the Colorado Department of Education set as $8,900.40 for the 2026-2027 school year.

Next, that state adds in funding for at-risk students, which is the statewide base multiplied by 25% and a districts at-risk pupil count. For districts with a. Count below 7,000 students and an at-risk percentage larger than 70%, that rate is raised to 32%.

The number of students in English Learning Language and Special Education programs is also multiplied by 25% and then the base state rate.

After counting students, a districts foundation funding is multiplied by a cost of living factor and a locale factor, which is determined using data from the National Center for Education Statistics classification system.

District size is also considered in this new process. The Department of Education includes it to provide more funding for smaller districts to compensate for their small purchasing power. This funding goes to districts with 6,500 or fewer students.

The final step adds back in the funding given to online students and extended high school students, which is a slightly lower rate than the per-pupil base.

While the October count number is crucial for districts, Denver Public Schools officials say its best to keep your student home if theyre sick and contagious.

After first discovering the bears of Alaskas Katmai National Park on social media, Colorado resident Nolene Metzger decided watching them online wasnt enough. Metzger, who has lived in Colorado for 25 years, traveled to Katmai to see the bears in person during the Fat Bear Week season.

Her interest began around 2023 after she started following the bears online. She calls Otis, an older bear known for his patience while fishing, her gateway bear. Otis passed away in 2023.

I just started watching because of him, Metzger said of Otis.

Her fascination grew as she followed other bears, including Grazer and her cubs. Metzger watched the cubs grow and said seeing the bears in person gave her a different perspective on wildlife.

It was amazing just to see them in person and to be in their presence, because we are really in their home, she explained.

That experience also reinforced the importance of respecting wildlife and maintaining a safe distance. One of Metzgers favorite moments came when she and her husband encountered a bear named Marshmallow while walking between viewing platforms.

We had to back off the trail into the trees so that we were out of the way of the bear, she said.

Metzger also captured video of bears swimming and fishing in the river, including cubs trying to keep up with their mother. YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEOS AND PICTURES SHARED WITH KOAA AT THE TOP OF THIS ARTICLE.

You could see their legs paddling, especially the little cubs trying to keep up with mom, she said. They would just dive down a little bit and up came a fish in their mouths.

Metzger said visitors dont necessarily have to travel deep into the wilderness to see bears at Katmai. She said she spotted one shortly after getting off the plane.

She also hopes her experience encourages people to support national parks and learn more about wildlife conservation. Metzger contributes to the Katmai Conservancy, which raises money for the park, rangers and research.

She said Fat Bear Week has also become an educational tool, with teachers using the bears to teach children about wildlife and conservation.

For Metzger, the trip offered a lesson that extends beyond Alaska.

People just need to stay aware of whats happening at their national parks and public lands and advocate for those, she 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.

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Todays Forecast:

A FLOOD WATCH will remain in effect until noon Thursday, and includes the Arkansas River Valley, Aspen Acres burn scar, southeastern mountains, and southeastern Plains. On the Plains, this is where we expect to see the heaviest rain for the next few hours, with rain ending from west to east this afternoon. In the Pikes Peak Region, all FLOOD WATCHES have been allowed to expire early, and any chances for additional rain today will be low and light.

It has also been windy this morning on the eastern Plains, with gusts in some areas up over 40-50 mph. As the storm moves east, the weather will improve. Region-wide, we will see skies turning partly cloudy this afternoon, and highs will be around 5-10F warmer than yesterday.

Colorado Springs forecast: High: 65; Low: 43. We're already turning the corner in the Pikes Peak Region this morning, and by the afternoon, we should see some blue sky as highs climb into the middle 60s. Tonight will be our coldest night of the season, with lows in the lower 40s.

Pueblo forecast: High: 68; Low: 45. A few lingering and breezy showers this morning will give way to a partly cloudy and mild afternoon. As the storm pulls away from Colorado tonight, it will be chilly, with overnight lows in the middle 40s.

Canon City forecast: High: 67; Low: 46. A few showers will be possible this morning, but as the storm pulls away this afternoon, skies will clear out and temperatures will warm into the upper 60s.

Woodland Park forecast: High: 57; Low: 37. October will be begin chilly, with temperatures this afternoon in the upper 50s and lows this evening falling into the upper 30s.

Tri-Lakes forecast: High: 50s/60s; Low: 30s/40s. We're pretty much done with the rain for today in northern El Paso County, with the best chance for rain this morning east of I-25. The rest of our Thursday will be dry and turning bright, with highs in the upper 50s and lower 60s.

Plains forecast: High: 60s; Low: 40s. Heavy rain will continue to batter the eastern Plains until late this morning, with showers ending from west to east this afternoon. FLOOD WATCHES will remain in effect here until noon. It's also been very windy this morning, with gusts early today in the 40-50 mph range.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: High: 50s/60s; Low: 40s. Windy, with rain showers this morning. The rain should come to an end towards the lunch hour as this week's storm finally pulls away from Southern Colorado.

Mountains forecast: High: 40s/50s; Low: 30s. Rain and high elevation snow will continue in the southeastern mountains until late this morning or early this afternoon, with a FLOOD WATCH in effect until noon. Snow levels this morning will hover around 11,000 feet.

Extended outlook forecast:

Friday will be a transition day to much warmer weather that follows this weekend and early next week. Highs on Friday will rebound into the upper 60s in Colorado Springs, which will still be below the average high of 71F. It will also be breezy on Friday, with southerly wind gusts around 20-25 mph.

Saturday will be much warmer, with our high expected to climb to near 80F. A weak cool front late Saturday will drop highs down a few degrees to the lower 70s on Sunday.

Looking ahead to next week...we're expecting mainly dry skies and highs in the 70s, with just a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm on Tuesday.

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Curious about the First Alert 5 Weather Storm Impact Scale? Check out our cheatsheet explainer.

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Buena Vista police officers used recently completed CPR and first aid training to help save the life of a choking infant this week.

According to a social media post by the Buena Vista Police Department, officers were called to a report of an infant who was choking and not breathing on Sunday. Sgt. Frazer Pomfret and Anitta Wroten were the first officers to arrive, followed by Officer Stephen Caffrey. Chaffee County Fire Protection District and Chaffee County EMS also responded.

The department said its officers had completed CPR and first aid recertification Sept. 16, including training on how to respond to choking infants.

The department specifically thanked Evan Brady with Chaffee County EMS, who taught the recent recertification, as well as Chaffee County Sheriff's Office communications officers for quickly dispatching first responders to the call.

The department said the incident underscored the importance of maintaining first aid and emergency response skills.

You can watch video shared by the Buena Vista Police of the rescue at the top of this article.

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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.

Tonight's Forecast:

Tonight, temperatures will get down into the 40s and 50s for southern Colorado. Rain is still expected in the forecast overnight and tomorrow morning. Winds will also be gusty overnight with I-25 approaching 20-30mph. Further east winds may be stronger.

Colorado Springs forecast: Low: 47; High: 64;

Colorado Springs will have lows in the upper 40s overnight. A few stronger gusts are still possible tonight and into tomorrow morning. Rain will be light tomorrow morning and eventually end by the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid-60s. There will be more sunshine towards the end of the day.

Pueblo forecast: Low: 50; High: 68;

Pueblo will have overnight lows in the 50s. Rain may become heavy at times overnight, but as we get into early Thursday morning it will become lighter. A few areas may experience some stronger gusts. Highs tomorrow afternoon will be in the upper 60s. Some blue skies will make an appearance by the late afternoon.

Canon City forecast: Low: 50; High: 68;

Canon City will have morning temperatures in the lower 50s. Rain and windy conditions will still be possible Thursday morning. As the day continues, rain will ease and winds will calm. Highs will get into the upper 60s.

Woodland Park forecast: Low: 37; High: 57;

Woodland Park will have overnight lows drop into the upper 30s. A few flurries are possible in the higher elevations, but nothing will accumulate. Rain will continue into the morning and eventually end by the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 50s.

Tri-Lakes forecast: Low: 43; High: 61;

Monument will have overnight lows in the lower 40s. Rain will continue into the morning and some stronger gusts are possible as well. Rain will eventually end by the afternoon. Highs will be in the lower 60s.

Plains forecast: Low: 50s; High: 60s;

The eastern plains will have some heavy rain overnight. Lows will dip into the 50s. Rain will end in the afternoon on Thursday. There will be some stronger winds throughout tonight and into tomorrow morning. Afternoon highs on Thursday will be in the 60s.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: Low: 45; High: 60;

Walsenburg and Trinidad will have lows in the mid-40s. Rain and wind will continue overnight and into tomorrow morning. Highs will get into the 60s.

Mountains forecast: Low: 30s & 40s; High: 60s;

The mountain peaks will pick up a few inches of snow throughout the overnight hours and into tomorrow morning. Lows will get into the 30s and 40s. Afternoon highs on Thursday will be in the 60s.

Extended outlook forecast:

Beyond Thursday, conditions look much nicer. The sun will be out each day and help to dry off trails. Highs will also warm back into the 70s over the weekend. These nicer conditions will last into next week.

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The springs in Manitou Springs are getting an assist from some rain. Water managers say it is the right kind of rain, as opposed to the flash flooding that happened earlier this month. This kind of rain is helping offset the drought conditions from earlier this summer.

Umbrellas and hoodies are the fashion trend of the day in Manitou Springs.

"It just like started just raining at like 4 a.m. just constant since then," said Nichole Saffeels.

Enough rain to wake her, but not so much she is concerned.

"It's just rain, like it's a constant rain, but it's not like storming, it's just like consistent," Saffeels said.

She is also aware it has been a dry summer.

"I think we need it, definitely," Saffeels said.

Ben Schmitt tracks the water supply for Manitou Springs and agrees this storm is dropping rain at a good pace.

"While rain is great, it's great if it's slow, easy moving rain that comes down and doesn't create a lot of turbidity," Schmitt said.

Turbidity is when water is rushing so fast it gets clouded with debris. Rain at a slow to moderate pace seeps into the ground and adds just enough water to put some extra in Manitou's one storage reservoir. It is important for use in homes and businesses and essential to public safety.

"If we have a bigger event like a wildfire or something like that, we need to make sure we have that reserve capacity to be able to bring into the system, so keeping that resource whole is like keeping your bank account topped off in case of an emergency," Schmitt said.

Back in the spring, Manitou put water restrictions in place because snowpack was at 9% of normal, and the city considers snow its second water storage resource. Recent rain has helped bring water levels in the community's one reservoir up to a more comfortable level. Still, water restrictions remain and city leaders believe conservation needs to remain a priority.

"I don't think we are quite out of the woods yet, just based on the patterns growing up here my entire life, and seeing this, there's a noticeable shift in the patterns that we're seeing for storage and snowpack," Schmitt said.

There are no complaints about the water reprieve from the rain. Now what water managers want to see is a much better snowpack year on Pikes Peak.

"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."

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El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal announced that the sheriff's office will discontinue the use of Flock Safety cameras in the county, effective immediately.

In a news release Wednesday, the sheriff's office said it will request that Flock Safety retrieve its equipment after sending a non-renewal notice to the company.

Flock Safety has come under recent scrutiny across the country over concerns of data-sharing practices and what sort of data Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRS) are tracking.

Our responsibility is to protect our community, foster public trust, and serve the people,

said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal.

After careful consideration, I believe discontinuing our use of Flock cameras is the right decision for El Paso County and our citizens.

The sheriff's office says this will not affect its commitment to public safety, but it recognizes concerns about the Flock Safety program amid expected legislative changes across the state.

The Scripps News Group is reaching out to Flock Safety for more information. This is a developing story.

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