AVONDALE, Colo. A shelter-in-place has been issued for some residents in Avondale as Pueblo County deputies search for a wanted suspect.

The Pueblo County Sheriffs Office said in a post on X Thursday just before noon that there was a large law enforcement presence along US 50 near the intersection with Avondale Boulevard as deputies searched for the suspect.

Deputies warned residents to avoid the area.

It was not immediately clear what the suspect was wanted for, but deputies said the suspect could be armed.

Please stay in your homes for safety and stay away from doors and windows, a spokesperson for the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

___

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal is retiring next year on the day he marks 40 years with the department.

The fire department announced Wednesday that Royal will retire March 9, 2027, exactly 40 years after his first day with CSFD.

With nearly five decades in fire and emergency medical services, Royal will have served six years by the time he retires and has served more than two decades in chief officer roles. He was named a battalion chief in 2005.

According to the fire department, he was a paramedic for 28 years and helped deliver 24 babies, including one that was named after him.

He was also involved in several other programs, and helped establish CSFD's Tactical Emergency Medical Services.

Royal has earned numerous awards and distinctions throughout his career, including two Medals of Distinguished Service and the Firefighter of the Year award. In 2023, he was named George Mazzotti Fire Chief of the Year by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. In 2024, he was named International Career Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

He said one of his proudest accomplishments is the department's response efforts to the significant events in the Colorado Springs area, including the 1997 blizzard, Cattle West Apartment Fire in 2007, Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012 and Black Forest Fire in 2013.

Its hard to believe this time has come. I have loved my career and the wonderful men and women that I have been able to work with over the years, Royal said in a statement. It has truly been an honor and the most rewarding opportunity to serve our citizens and visitors within the community of Colorado Springs, as well as having a front seat to seeing how the members of the CSFD have been able to influence the fire and medical services across our region and even nationwide through their pursuit of excellence and innovation. I am more than confident that the department is in good hands as they move into the future based on the caliber of our staff and their desire to positively impact our citys public safety each and every day.

Chief Randy Royal has given 40 years of extraordinary service to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, and his impact will be felt for generations. He has led with courage, humility, and a deep commitment to mission first, people always. From advancing emergency medical care to leading through some of our communitys most difficult moments, to embracing innovation that has made our city safer, Randy has dedicated his career to protecting others and preparing CSFD for the future, said Mayor Yemi Mobolade.

___

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

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.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. A bear was euthanized by state wildlife officials earlier this week after a homeowner in Steamboat Springs shot at it in self-defense, a spokesperson for the wildlife agency confirmed with Denver7 Wednesday.

The bear entered the home Monday and the resident tried to get the bear to leave before it charged toward them, according to a spokesperson with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Officials said the resident then shot the bear in self-defense and the bear left alive but injured. CPW officers euthanized the bear when they arrived at the scene, the spokesperson said.

It is important for people to keep all food sources secured from bears by keeping doors and windows locked, especially this year due to drought limiting natural food sources and bears preparing for winter by trying to eat as much as possible, the CPW official said.

Colorado bear conflicts have reached high numbers this year

CPW reports that Colorado has reported more than 6,000 bear sightings so far across the state nearly double last years numbers.

As bears begin to enter hyperphagia an instinctive, metabolic change resulting in an almost constant feeding frenzy as the bears prepare for winter hibernation bear activity is expected to increase while they search for 20,000 calories per day before denning, a CPW spokesperson said.

Those bear sightings have led to 12 other attacks so far this year which have prompted CPW to launch a new education campaign to raise awareness about the record bear activity and how people can prepare to reduce the number of bear conflicts that could potentially lead to more dangerous encounters.

Watch Denver7 reporter Claire Lavezzorio's report in the video below:

Colorado wildlife officials ramp up bear safety outreach as record activity continues

Wildlife officials remind the community that preventing conflicts requires a collective effort. CPW recommends the following BearWise tips to keep bears wild:

Never feed or approach bears. Intentionally feeding wildlife or letting them find accessible food is illegal. It teaches them to approach homes and lose their natural fear of humans. Safely store trash, animal feed and other attractants. Lock up trash receptacles and food scraps to eliminate the powerful odors that attract wildlife to residential properties. Never leave pet food outdoors. Feed domestic pets indoors or thoroughly clean up bowls immediately after any outdoor feeding. Clean and store outdoor grills. Burn off grease and food particles after every use, and store grills inside a secure garage or shed. Secure windows and doors. Keep all bear-accessible windows and doors closed and locked, including garage doors. Bears are excellent climbers, so this includes any top story exterior windows or doors. Know what to do if a bear does enter your home. If a bear is in your house, leave immediately if you can safely do so. Leave all exit doors open to give the bear a clear escape route, do not block its path, and never try to shoo or corner the animal out of your home. Call 911 immediately and remain outside until wildlife officers have confirmed the bear is out of the home. Know what to do if you encounter a black bear: If you see a bear before it notices you, don't approach. Stop and quietly move away, while giving the bear a clear escape route. If a bear sees you, back away slowly. Never run; running may trigger a chase response. If a bear approaches, hold your ground, wave your arms and yell, "Hey, bear!" until it leaves. If a black bear makes contact with you, do NOT play dead; fight back aggressively.

CPW encourages Coloradans to report bear activity and conflicts by clicking here.

Just before the start of the regular season, the Colorado Avalanche announced they have extended head coach jared Bednar through the 2030-31 season.

The 54-year-old is entering his 11th season as head coach of the Avs, and is the winningest coach in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history with a 445-262-75 record in 782 regular season games.

top-stories.mp4

In the playoffs, Bedhard has a 60-40-1 record, which is the sixth-best winning percentage of all time.

The Avs have made the postseason in all but one of Bednar's seasons which was his first in 2016-17.

Jared has done an outstanding job over the last decade, and theres no doubt in my mind hes the best coach for this group, said Avalanche President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Joe Sakic. He commands the room and has complete confidence of the players. Were excited to continue to have him in charge, and we believe that his presence maximizes the teams potential while this core group is intact.

Im extremely happy and grateful to continue leading this group, said Bednar. My family and I have loved being a part of this organization from the beginning, and I cant thank the Kroenke family and Joe Sakic enough for their support. I look forward to working hard each day this season and beyond to accomplish our goal of winning another Stanley Cup.

Todays Forecast:

A high-impact storm will bring periods of rain and gusty wind to Southern Colorado on Wednesday, with a few isolated thunderstorms possible over the eastern Plains. This morning, we have seen a subtle shift in the evolution of the storm and the track of the incoming low and main moisture swath associated with the remnants of Hurricane Polo. While confidence is high for the highest totals to fall south of Highway 50, there's less confidence for beneficial moisture north of the Palmer Divide. In the Pikes Peak Region, rain totals over the next 12-24 hours look to fall within the 0.5"-1.5" range.

FLOOD WATCHES will remain in effect until early tomorrow for the entire News5 coverage area, including the ever so delicate Aspen Acres burn scar. Flooding is likely to occur in this area today, so stay tuned and please make sure that you have a way to receive updates.

That's just one component to this multi-faceted storm. We're also tracking mountain snow, with several inches of accumulation above 11,000 to 12,000 feet.

Lastly, the storm will bring 30-45 mph wind gusts to Southern Colorado and cool highs this afternoon. Temperatures today will only top out in the 50s and 60s.

Colorado Springs forecast: High: 59; Low: 46. Cool, unsettled and windy on Wednesday. Rain totals for the next 12-24 will range between 0.5"-1.5". A FLOOD WATCH will remain in effect until noon Thursday.

Pueblo forecast: High: 63; Low: 50. FLOOD WATCHES are now in effect in Pueblo County and what we've seen so far today is just the beginning of what's to come over the next 12-24 hours. Rain totals look to range between 1-2" for the incoming storm.

Canon City forecast: High: 61; Low: 50. A FLOOD WATCH will continue until noon Thursday, with periods of rain and gusty wind in our forecast for the next 12-24 hours. Rain totals around 1-2".

Woodland Park forecast: High: 50; Low: 37. Wet, cool and windy weather can be expected on Wednesday, with as much as 0.5" to 1.5" of rain on the way over the next 12-24 hours. This will mainly be a rain event for areas below 11,000 feet, but into the overnight hours, it's possible that we could see our first flakes of the season.

Tri-Lakes forecast: High: 50s; Low: 40s. Today's weather will be the coolest that we've seen since the end of May. Clouds and showers, heavy at times, can be expected throughout the day, along with gusty winds. Rain totals around 0.5" to 1".

Plains forecast: High: 60s; Low: 40s/50s. Our well advertised storm will bring rain and gusty winds to the southeastern Plains today, with areas south of Highway 50 seeing as much as 2-3" of rain through Thursday morning.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: High: 50s/60s; Low: 40s. Windy, with periods of moderate to heavy rain on Wednesday as our well advertised storm moves closer to Southern Colorado. Rain totals around 2-3" through Thursday morning, with flooding possible.

Mountains forecast: High: 40s/50s; Low: 30s. It will be wet and unsettled on Wednesday in the mountains and any outdoor plans you have for today should be moved! As much as 2-4" of rain can be expected in the Sangres and Wet Mountains. Snow level today and tonight will be at or above 11,000 feet.

Extended outlook forecast:

On the backside of the storm, it will remain gusty and unsettled into Thursday morning. A few showers and thunderstorms will linger into Thursday morning on the eastern Plains before clearing out from west to east by the afternoon. Highs on Thursday will warm into the mid 60s in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, with upper 50s in Woodland Park.

Sunshine and upper 60s on Friday will be followed by dry skies and highs in the 70s this weekend.

____

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

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

The last weekend in September marked the start of the 100th season for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic; according to the organization, it's a time to look back at the past century of performances and also, more importantly, look forward to the plans, opportunities, and music to come.

"This centennial season is not just a history lesson," stated Nathan Newbrough, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, "it's not just a birthday party, we're looking forward to the next 100 years."

That "looking forward" mentality is taking several forms this season; one exciting, new development is the introduction of the Philharmonic's first composer-in-residence, Eunike Tanzil.

The announcement coincides with the Philharmonics milestone 100th season, for which Tanzil has been commissioned to write a new orchestral work. This marks a fitting collaboration between one of classical musics most compelling compositional voices and an orchestra entering its second century.

While the Philharmonic will perform a number of the Tanzil's compositions throughout the season, they are planning a world premiere of her new orchestra work for mid-April, 2027.

Another, significant effort being made by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic is focused around providing educational opportunities for students across the region; these efforts are being led by a division of the Philharmonic, which was got its start about 18 months ago, known as the Center for Future Audiences, "...and that is a collection of projects and programs starting with grade kindergarten and going into high school," said Newbrough, "and even college students can take part."

Programs run the gamut from sending conductors to local classrooms, tailoring concerts to students, hosting clinics and a masterclass series, to even providing professional development opportunities for teachers.

"We're in the schools, we're working with kids, and we're talking about that next generation of citizen," stated Newbrough, "not just listener, not just audience member, that citizen who is going to come next and who is going to be leading this community in 50 years."

The Colorado Springs Philharmonic's season runs through late May, for additional information and to find out more about programming and other opportunities throughout the season, click here.

___

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates is working on a new trail that will connect a neighborhood south of Monument to the nearby, well-used Mount Herman trail network; the work has involved years of planning, reviews, assessments, and this summer the group was able to initiate construction.

Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates is a nonprofit dedicated to building trails, advocating for trail access, and preserving public lands; in 2022, the group began collaboration with the Forest Lake Metro District (FLMD) and the housing development company working to build along Mesa Top Drive in Northern El Paso County to construct a trail dubbed Forest Lakes #7 (FL7) that would serve the neighborhood and surrounding areas.

Following approvals from the groups listed above, Medicine Wheel set about building FL7 in 2023 and opened their initial 1.5-mile-long trail in 2024. The group says that another phase of FL7 trail construction is still underway.

Learn More About the Project in the Player Below

Following the approvals and initial construction work on FL7, Medicine Wheel then determined that due to the trail's (and the community's) proximity to the nearby Mount Herman trail network, a connector trail should be built to join FL7 with the nearby United States Forest Service (USFS) Trail 715, which connects into the Mount Herman trail system.

This proposed 1.5-mile-long trail would not only serve to connect the community to a larger trail network, but help to mitigate the appearance of detrimental 'social trails' that can crop up when people find their own ways across a piece of land.

Medicine Wheel says that social trails can damage local wildlife and cause increased erosion in an area.

The major hurdle is that this new, connector trail would need to cross USFS land; the work to get that done involves a federal, environmental review and planning process for the proposed trail that can often be long and costly.

With the assistance of partners, Medicine Wheel was able to secure a $45,000 state grant in order to hire a natural resource firm to complete the necessary environmental review and assessments.

Medicine Wheel reports that the findings from their assessments indicate that their proposed connector trail would not only generally alleviate erosion and wildlife habitat degradation, but would specifically assist in maintaining the habitat of a local, threatened species known as the Preble's meadow jumping mouse.

Following the completion of the necessary environmental review and assessments, Medicine Wheel reports that USFS approved their trail connector; the nonprofit began marking and clearing the new trail in spring of 2026 and hosted its first volunteer workday to assist in the effort on September 26, National Public Lands Day.

Medicine Wheel hopes, weather permitting, to complete construction on this trail, dubbed the 715 Connector by the USFS, in late Spring of 2027.

Click the following links for additional information regarding Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates or the ongoing efforts being made to construct the 715 Connector.

___

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

The last Saturday of September saw around a dozen volunteers show up in Palmer Lake to clear out debris from North Monument Creek and remove noxious weeds from Centennial Park as part of larger Creek Week efforts taking place across the Fountain Creek Watershed District.

Sponsored by the Fountain Creek Watershed District, Creek Week runs from late September through early October and annually sees hundreds of residents volunteering their time to clean up creeks, parks, trails, and public spaces throughout the watershed district.

The district encompasses 927 square miles and is largely situated in El Paso and Pueblo Counties with a smaller portion located in Teller County. The primary municipalities that fall within the district are listed below:

Palmer Lake Monument Woodland Park Manitou Springs Green Mountain Falls Fountain Pueblo Colorado Springs

According to the Fountain Creek Watershed, in 2025 more than 1,500 volunteers participated across the region and were able to collect approximately 16.5 tons of trash over a period of nine days.

This year, volunteers in Palmer Lake split into two groups, one dedicated their efforts towards learning about and removing noxious weeds found around Centennial Park while the other team removed trash and debris from North Monument Creek.

"I mean, we want people to enjoy the Creek and the Lake," commented Reid Wiecks, chair for the Palmer Lake Parks and Trails Commission, "and if we can make it a better experience for them by making it prettier for them and making the water flow unimpeded for them through the canyon, we feel we're doing our part."

Creek Week started in 2014, for additional information, click here, to sign up to participate, click here.

___

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

Tonight's Forecast:

Tonight, rain will move in from the south. It may become heavy at times, especially towards the wet mountains. Overnight lows will dip into the 40s and 50s.

Colorado Springs forecast: Low: 52; High: 59;

Colorado Springs will have overnight lows in the lower 50s. There will be rain that moves in overnight and will last throughout the day on Wednesday. There may be a few breaks in these showers towards the afternoon. Winds will become stronger in the afternoon. Highs will get into the upper 50s.

Pueblo forecast: Low: 55; High: 63;

Pueblo will dip into the mid-50s overnight. Expect rain to start overnight and will last throughout the day on Wednesday. Winds will be gusting closer to 30mph in the afternoon. Highs will get into the lower 60s.

Canon City forecast: Low: 53; High: 61;

Canon City will dip into the lower 50s overnight. Flood watches are in place through Thursday. Rain will start to pick up overnight and into Wednesday. Highs will get into the lower 60s.

Woodland Park forecast: Low: 43; High: 51;

Woodland Park will have lows in the lower 40s. Temperatures won't warm much throughout the day. Rain will be possible throughout most of the day. Highs will be in the lower 50s.

Tri-Lakes forecast: Low: 48; High: 54;

Monument will have lows in the upper 40s. Rain moves in overnight and starts off light. It will become heavy at times. The other impact includes gusty winds. Gusts will approach 30-40mph at times. Highs won;t warm much and will be in the mid-50s.

Plains forecast: Low: 50s; High: 60s & 70s;

The eastern plains will have lows dip into the 50s. Temperatures will eventually warm into the 60s and 70s. Rain and gusty winds will make their way into the area on Wednesday.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: Low: 51; High: 57/61;

The southern portion of I-25 still look like it will receive the bulk of the moisture. Rain totals have backed off slightly, but areas closer to the wet mountains will have the highest totals. Highs will get into the 50s and 60s. Wind gusts will also be on the stronger side with some higher elevated areas getting close to 50mph gusts.

Mountains forecast: Low: 40s; High: 50s;

The mountains will have lows in the 40s. The highest rain totals will be towards the south. Winds will become gusty at times. Highs will be in the 50s.

Extended outlook forecast:

Rain dies down on Thursday as this low pressure system moves off towards the east. We are looking at much calmer conditions on Friday with plenty of sunshine. Depending on how much rain we receive, it will take a few days for trails to dry out. Temperatures will warm going into the weekend.

____

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

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) Longtime Air Force Academy hockey coach Frank Serratore announced Tuesday that the upcoming season will be his last.

The upcoming 2026-27 season will be his 30th at the Air Force Academy. He enters that season with a record of 490-472-106 with the Falcons, according to academy staff. His overall 33-season record as a college head coach is 539-564-115. His teams have won 539 times 490 at the academy and 49 at Denver the second most among active NCAA coaches and the 14th most in NCAA hockey history. Staff also said his wins at the academy are the most in school history.

Last season, Serratores team enjoyed an 18-15-4 record the first winning season since 2018-19.

Coach Frank Serratore has left an indelible mark on Air Force Hockey and the national hockey community as well, Air Force interim athletic director Nancy Hixson said.

Serratore is also the second-longest tenured coach at the academy. He earned his 500th career victory on Jan. 20, 2024 only the 16th Division I coach in NCAA history to do so.

Most professional coaches are nomadic contractors endlessly wandering the hockey highway from job to job, I was on this track until I came to Colorado Springs, Serratore said. I am deeply indebted to the Air Force Academy, this job has provided me with a home, an identity, and a legacy. After 29 years at the helm, my name is synonymous with Air Force hockey, it defines me, its who and what I am, and Im enormously proud of this.

Hixson said that Jon Doyle has been selected as the head coach in waiting. Doyle, an academy graduate, has coached a total of 22 seasons. Doyle also assists with the academys recruiting efforts, with many of those recruits starting careers in the Air Force.

Doyle is also a member of the academys Hockey Wall of Fame. He was selected as the teams MVP during his junior and senior years, and was part of the first class in academy history to post four consecutive winning seasons.

I have been here on Franks staff for 20 of his 30 years and Ive watched him take Air Force hockey from the bottom of the standings to seven NCAA tournaments and three Elite Eights, Doyle said. That kind of transformation doesnt happen by accident, and most people never imagined it could happen at a service academy.

The academys 2026-27 hockey season begins Friday, Oct. 2 against Omaha at Cadet Ice Arena.

Increased moisture has put parts of Pueblo County under a Flood Watch and Warning Tuesday night.

The area around the Aspen Acres Burn scar is continuing to flood into Beulah.

According to the Buelah Fire Protection District, as of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., flash flooding was happening along Pine Drive and Cascade Avenue.

So far, there have been no injuries reported as a result of this flooding.

The Scripps News Group has crews in Beulah monitoring the situation and will update this story as more information is shared.

For more weather alerts in your area.

___

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

Parent caregivers in Colorado say they are alarmed by discussions of potential cuts or reductions to a Medicaid program called Community First Choice, or CFC a program they say is essential to keeping their families stable and their children healthy.

The concerns surfaced after a Medicaid Commission meeting earlier this month, where parents said they heard two senators on the Joint Budget Committee raise the possibility of changes to the program.

Jo Remund, a parent caregiver, said she attended the entire nine-hour meeting.

Watch Jo Remund's Story in the Video Player Below Colorado parents fear cuts to Medicaid's Community First Choice program

"I was absolutely just floored. I was floored. They said the quiet thing out loud. That families like mine don't matter," Remund said.

CFC allows the state to provide certain home and community-based services to eligible Medicaid members, including personal care services and homemaker services. For families like Remund's, those services are woven into the fabric of daily life.

"I mean it sounds like that's a normal thing for parents to do, but when it comes to my 8-year-old, it's just so much more and it is a consistent reminder, it is a consistent hands-on for 2 hours before we go to school," Remund said.

She said she has to help her son tie his shoes, button his shirts, brush his teeth, and many other tasks.

Krystal Edwards said the program has been critical to the development of her 10-year-old son, Jude, who receives speech therapy and occupational therapy at home twice a week.

"When we look at our life and him as an individual in our family. We weigh very heavy on the fact that he does have these services. It's the amount of therapy and the growth that we are seeing in him as an individual? Just watching him blossom is incredible," Edwards said.

The family also relies on the CFC program to keep Jude integrated into the community.

"We are always out in the community with him we are out doing concerts, we went to the CU Boulder game. It's constant because you want them to feel normal, or as normal as they can. You don't want them to see that disability," Edwards said.

But community connector hours have already been reduced. Edwards said her family went from receiving 10 to 12 hours to just 5.

And Remund said she also faced cuts to her hours for protective oversight. Her daughter has severe mental health issues and needs attention to ensure her safety.

"I used to have 7 hours a day of protective oversight for my 15-year-old, which was so needed because it wasn't just the morning, it was also after school. It was also during school. It was also overnight. The amount of times where I had to lay next to her door to make sure that she was not getting up in the middle of the night to go and find something to harm herself is insane," Remund said, "When we had our reevaluation, they said, listen, I'm so sorry, but you are only going to get 1 hour a day of protective oversight. One hour a day? Are you kidding me?"

For Jinny Arrington, who lives on the Western Slope four hours from the nearest children's hospital the services are a lifeline.

"I don't know how we would stay out of the hospital in all honesty. I would see us having to need higher level of care, and it's really difficult because here on the western slope, we're so far," Arrington said.

At the Medicaid Commission meeting, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, known as HCPF, shared a document about the growth of the CFC program. The document states that when CFC was implemented in 2025, the department projected $45 million in general fund savings, but that "actual experience has differed from those assumptions. As a result, the addition federal funding available through CFC has not been sufficient to offset the increased spending."

As we work to address the growth in expenditures and bring spending in line with the budget the legislature has appropriated to HCPF, we will be guided by the core commitment to protect the health and safety of members. The Department is focusing its work in four areas: <ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="list-style-type: disc"><li>Driving administrative efficiencies</li><li>Aligning benefits and services to maximize impact and value</li><li>Ensuring program integrity and fiscal accountability</li><li>Maximizing federal and non-general fund resources</li></ul>

The department said no cuts have been finalized for the upcoming fiscal year. Governor Polis' 2027/2028 proposed budget for the state will be released November 1, 2026.

But parent caregivers say the uncertainty alone is frightening. Remund said if the program were eliminated entirely, the consequences for her family would be severe.

"I will be making $0. That literally will leave me and my two children homeless because I will not have money. I will not have money because I cannot go and get a normal 9 to 5 like anybody else," Remund said.

She said she is always on call if something were to happen to either her daughter or son while they are at school.

"How in the world am I going to manage that? Because the need is still there. It doesn't go away," Remund said.

Edwards said the stakes extend beyond her own family.

"You've got people like me who are like, oh no, I've got to go back to work in order to support the family. Where does that leave Jude? Where does that leave him? Where does that leave all these individuals who are in these needs?" Edwards said.

Edwards said she often gets calls to pick up her son, Jude, early from school. He has sleep apnea, and she said he is almost always in the red or yellow zone.

Arrington said she hopes decision-makers will see the human cost of any reductions.

"I think there's a lot of work that needs done. I personally don't even know where to start. I just hope that they can see us as people, rather than a budget item," Arrington said.

The Defense Department will no longer appoint civilians as tenured college faculty at the United States military service academies, according to a memo signed Tuesday by Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The memo describes the decision to stop granting tenure to civilian faculty as part of an effort to refocus the military academies on warfighting.

To ensure our educational institutions remain firmly focused on this warfighting mission, we must address the structural mechanisms that have allowed civilian academic norms to dilute our focus on lethality, the memo said.

The tenure designation generally comes with a career-long academic appointment at a college. Advocates say the job security is a crucial component of academic freedom. Hegseths directive apparently would not remove the designation from faculty members who are currently tenured.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy all did not immediately respond to questions, and officials at the Pentagon did not offer further details on the plan when reached for comment.

The percentage of faculty who are civilians varies by military academy. It is highest at the United States Naval Academy, where roughly half of the 600 faculty members are civilians. The academies hire civilian faculty to offer expertise in topics and disciplines that military officers dont study as part of their careers, such as English and the humanities.

Hegseths decision follows broader conservative attacks on tenured faculty appointments in higher education. Those efforts to rein in tenure are often presented as bids to rein in academics with liberal views.

Civilian faculty members often have more teaching experience and credentials than their military counterparts at the service academies, said Eric Merriam, a legal studies and political science professor at the University of Central Florida and a former professor at the Air Force Academy.

The academies have long served a dual role training the next generation of officers, while providing a traditional, prestigious, four-year college experience, Merriam said. The schools offer a broad, liberal arts education, in recognition that senior leadership must be critical thinkers who can understand different points of view.

Hegseths actions signal a shift toward a narrower focus, Merriam said.

It does seem to me as though its a retrenchment, he said. Its a retreat from what I think was positive progress in ensuring that these elite educational academies actually have elite education as part of the program.

In Hegseths memo Tuesday, tenure was described as a factor that contributed to academic stagnation, faculty complacency, and institutional inability to adapt to emerging needs. Additionally, it contributes to curriculum that drifts from the mission of educating our warfighters to the research priorities of the tenured academics.

Traditionally, tenured professors can be terminated only under extreme circumstances, such as professional misconduct or a financial emergency. Advocates say its especially important to maintain tenure as controversy grows over scholarly discussions about history, race, gender and sexuality.

The decision Tuesday is part of a broader push from Hegseth to remake the militarys education apparatus. Earlier this year, the Pentagon severed longstanding ties with prestigious universities that had been a pipeline for military leadership, forging new relationships with Christian schools and public universities.

The Pentagon has also attempted to reorient the K-12 schools it operates for military families. It introduced a course centered on Western civilization and Christianity, part of an effort to redirect the education system toward patriotic values and classical learning.

___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. A Colorado Springs Krav Maga school will be offering free self-defense classes for the whole family this Saturday.

First Strike Krav Maga will be offering the free classes along a family protection class, a kids anti-bullying class, and a survivors focused class for men and women who have been through an assault, according to a news release.

First Strike will be teaming up with Tessa, a nonprofit that helps victims of domestic violence, to make this event happen.

The women's class is really all for women so they can learn to protect themselves in an environment where they don't have to deal with other guys, said Ben Skee with First Strike Krav Maga. We know that some women have triggers, they have issues where like, you know, I don't want to get in a class with a bunch of sweaty guys or anything, but they want to start testing out self-defense. So, we're offering this as a way for to check classes out, see something in an environment where they feel safe.

The event will be held at First Strike Krav Maga on Academy and Galley. If you're interested in signing up for the class, click here.

___

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

DENVER Colorado voters will make their voices heard in the 2026 midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in what's expected to be an important year for state politics with more than a dozen initiatives on the ballot, a few key district races that will decide control of Congress, and a high-stakes gubernatorial race.

Registered voters will start receiving their ballots in the mail in less than a week and will have until Oct. 26 to mail them back. After that date, Coloradans will have to place them in a drop box, drop them off at a voter center, or vote in person on Election Day. Polling places will open starting at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Before we get into what you're voting on this year, let's highlight the key things and upcoming dates to remember:

Friday, Oct. 2: First day that mail ballots for the 2026 General Election may be mailed to voters, except for military and overseas voters. Monday, Oct. 12: First day drop boxes will begin to accept mail ballots for the 2026 General Election. Tuesday, Oct. 13: Last day to submit an application to register to vote in the 2026 General Election through a voter registration drive. Monday, Oct. 19: Counting of mail ballots may begin and the first day county drop boxes must be open to accept mail ballots for the 2026 General Election. No results may be disclosed until after 7 p.m. on Election Day. Monday, Oct. 26: Last day for Coloradans to submit an application to register to vote through the mail and still receive a ballot in the mail for the 2026 General Election. Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day: Not registered to vote? You can register to vote in person at the closest polling center in your county if you're in line before 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5: Last day for county clerks to send missing signature, signature verification, and missing ID letters and emails. Thursday, Nov. 12: Last day to fix any issue with your ballot before it can be counted (for example, you forgot to sign it or election officials need to confirm your signature), and the last day for ballots cast by military and overseas electors to be received by the county clerk in order to be counted for the 2026 General Election.

Have questions about registering to vote? The Colorado Secretary of State's Office's FAQ is there to help.

If you fill out your ballot but forget to mail it back, the Colorado Secretary of State's website has a ballot drop-off locator you can access here. Denver voters can find their nearest ballot drop-off location (as well as nearest voting center and mobile vote centers) by clicking here.

Now let's look at who's going to be on your ballot this November across the state.

Colorado governor

The big ticket race this year is, of course, the Colorado gubernatorial seat.

Gov. Jared Polis, who was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, is ineligible to run again as the position is limited to two consecutive four-year terms.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who outperformed U.S. Senator Michael Bennet during the June primaries, is hoping to continue riding Colorado's gubernatorial blue wave, but Victor Marx, an evangelical ministry leader, is vying to turn the tide toward Republicans come November.

Denver7 hosted debates for candidates of both parties earlier this year.

Watch the GOP gubernatorial debate here | Watch the Democratic gubernatorial debate here

Among other Colorado governor contenders are Eric Mulder for the Libertarian Party; Jeff Peckman for the Unity Party; Stephen Hamilton for the American Constitution Party; Erik Underwood for the Approval Voting Party; and Greg Lopez as an unaffiliated gubernatorial candidate.

U.S. SenateJohn Hickenlooper

Democratic U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper is no stranger to Colorado politics. He's a former Colorado governor, Denver mayor and fixture in the craft beer scene.

Mark Baisley

On the Republican side of the race is State Sen. Mark Baisley, who is running unopposed in his primary.

Other candidates

Blake Huber is running for the Libertarian Party; Robert Chew is running for the Colorado Forward Party; and Adam Withrow is running for the Unity Party.

Colorado Attorney General

Weiser's win over Bennet to become the next Colorado Democratic gubernatorial candidate left a gap that will have to be filled for Colorado's top prosecutor seat.

After a crowded race for the AG seat earlier this year, Coloradans chose Secretary of State Jena Griswold to run on the Democratic ticket, while Michael Allen is running for the Republican Party.

Colorado Secretary of State

Since Griswold is vying to become the next state attorney general, the Colorado Secretary of State will need a replacement.

On the Republican side for that seat is James Wiley, a Colorado Springs native who has worked as a political consultant and served as the director of Project Thaler, director of Save Our Suffrage, and secretary of Wave of Hope, according to Ballotpedia.

Amanda Gonzalez beat out Jessie Danielson for the seat on the Democratic Party side following the primaries this summer.

The Libertarian Party candidate for the Secretary of State's office is Alex Astley.

State Treasurer

Jeff Bridges will run for the Colorado Democrat seat for Treasurer in November, while Kevin J. Grantham will vie for the GOP seat.

State Board of EducationDistrict 1 Lisa Escrcega, Democratic Party Frederick Espinoza, Republican PartyDistrict 3 Barb Clementi, Democratic Party Sherri Wright, Republican PartyDistrict 7 Karla Esser, Democratic Party Steve Barton, Republican PartyUniversity of Colorado Board of Regents

Nine people are running for the University of Colorado Board of Regents in Districts 2, 6 and 7.

Learn more about the University of Colorado Board of Regents race here.

Colorado Congressional District racesDistrict 1

Melat Kiros' win this summer over incumbent U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, who held the seat for nearly 30 years, could reshape Democratic politics in Colorado, but Kiros isn't running uncontested.

The Democratic Socialist will face off against Republican Christy Peterson for the Denver district.

Other candidates include Chad Humphrey for the Libertarian Party; Critter Milton for the Unity Party; and Shimon Blau, who will run as an unaffiliated candidate.

District 2

Rep. Joe Neguse, the incumbent Democrat who has held the seat for District 2 since 2019, is running once again to keep the seat representing the north-central part of the state.

He is running against Kelley Dennison for the Republican Party and Gaylon Kent for the Libertarian Party.

District 3

Incumbent Republican Jeff Hurd is fighting to keep a seat he's held since 2025 after beating Adam Frisch, the Democrat who nearly unseated Rep. Lauren Boebert four years ago for the seat in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District.

Hurd is running against Democrat Dwayne Romero; Libertarian Cory Robertson; and unaffiliated candidate Clifton Brown.

District 4

Rep. Lauren Boebert, the firebrand Republican and backer of President Donald Trump, is the incumbent running for the Republican ticket in Colorado's 4th Congressional District.

Hoping to unseat her are Democrat Eileen Laubacher and Libertarian Douglas Mangeris.

District 5

Jeff Crank, the GOP Rep. who has represented Colorado's 5th Congressional District, has been in office since last year and is hoping to remain there as several others vie for the congressional seat.

Among those running against him are Jessica Killin, a Democrat, Libertarian Mark Elworth Jr., and Christopher Mitchell of the American Constitution Party.

District 6

Rep. Jason Crow, who earlier this year made headlines after it was revealed the Trump administration was investigating him and other Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video urging members of the military to resist illegal orders from the administration, is running against several contenders for the seat in Aurora and southeast Denver metro.

The other candidates vying for the 6th Congressional District are Republican Jason Ray Clark; Patty McMahon for the Libertarian Party; Meredith Ryan of the Unity Party; and unaffiliated candidate Samir Witta.

District 7

Incumbent Democrat Brittany Pettersen has represented Colorado's 7th Congressional District since 2023, but there are several candidates trying to unseat her during the midterms.

Among them Republican Timothy Bennett; Libertarian Dan Sallis; Lawrence Clark of the American Constitution Party; Susan Hall of the Unity Party; and unaffiliated candidate Joe Krzeczkowski.  

District 8

The race for Colorado's 8th Congressional District will be one the nation will be watching as the district was drawn in 2021 and stretches from Adams County all the way to Weld County.

The seat is currently held by Republican Congressman Gabe Evans, who won the race against his then-incumbent Democratic challenger, Yadira Caraveo, in 2024.

Evans is the only Republican running in the primary election, with Democratic and Libertarian candidates hoping they will be selected by voters to challenge him on the November General Election ballot.

Democratic State Rep. Manny Rutinel is the Democratic challenger. Rutinel, D-District 32, has served in the state legislature since 2023.

David Wood is the challenger for the seat for the Libertarian Party.

Colorado 2026 ballot initiatives

Now let's look at what's going to be on your statewide ballot this November:

Amendment 81: Law Enforcement Reporting Requirements to Federal Authorities

Amendment 82: Right to Natural Gas

Amendment 83: Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish

Amendment 84: Mail Ballot Voter Identification

Amendment 85: Plain Language Ballot Questions

Amendment 86: Congressional Redistricting

Amendment 87: Graduated Income Tax | Watch Denver7's story on that amendment here.

Proposition NN: State Public K-12 Education Funding | Watch Denver7's story on this proposition here.

Proposition 132: Penalties for Fentanyl Crimes | Watch Denver7's story on this proposition here.

Proposition 133: Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor

Proposition 134: Male and Female Participation in School Sports

Proposition 135: Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors | Watch Denver7's story on this proposition here.

Proposition 136: Income Tax Rate Cap

Proposition 137: Designate Sporting Goods Sales Tax Revenue for Conservation | Watch Denver7's story on this proposition here.

Ballot Issue 7A: Front Range Passenger Rail District | Watch Denver7's story on that ballot issue here.

Dates you might want to put in the calendar

We mentioned these dates at the top of this guide, but just to reiterate one more time, here they are:

Friday, Oct. 2: First day that mail ballots for the 2026 General Election may be mailed to voters, except for military and overseas voters. Monday, Oct. 12: First day drop boxes will begin to accept mail ballots for the 2026 General Election. Tuesday, Oct. 13: Last day to submit an application to register to vote in the 2026 General Election through a voter registration drive. Monday, Oct. 19: Counting of mail ballots may begin and the first day county drop moxes must be open to accept mail ballots for the 2026 General Election. No results may be disclosed until after 7 p.m. on Election Day. Monday, Oct. 26: Last day for Coloradans to submit an application to register to vote through the mail and still receive a ballot in the mail for the 2026 General Election. Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day: Not registered to vote? You can register to vote in person at the closest polling center in your county if you're in line before 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5: Last day for county clerks to send missing signature, signature verification, and missing ID letters and emails. Thursday, Nov. 12: Last day to fix any issue with your ballot before it can be counted (for example, you forgot to sign it or election officials need to confirm your signature), and the last day for ballots cast by military and overseas electors to be received by the county clerk in order to be counted for the 2026 General Election.Helpful links you may want to bookmark

Here is the finalized list of ballot initiatives from the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. And here is the finalized Colorado Blue Book for the 2026 General Election.

Read more of Denver7's stories on Colorado politics here

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit to stop plans for an immigration detention center to open at a former state prison in the Denver area.

The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement signed a five-year contract with the GEO group in July to open a detention center at the the former Hudson Correction Facility in Hudson, which is about 30 mile northeast of Denver. Weiser says the contract is valued at over $500 million. The prison operated for about five years before closing in 2014.

Federal officials say they planned to reopen it as a 1,200-bed private immigration detention facility called the Big Horn.

Weiser on Tuesday announced that a lawsuit has been filed in the federal district court in Denver to stop the facility from opening. The lawsuit alleges DHS and ICE ignored their legal duties of considering possible environmental and residential impacts, providing the public with information and ensuring the location was appropriate.

Coloradans are deeply worried about plans to open a new immigrant detention facility in Hudson to carry out the Trump administrations inhumaneand often illegalmass deportation scheme. Despite the fact that the proposed facility would nearly double the size of the towns population, the federal government has failed to prepare the necessary analysis of the facilitys impact on the local community and resources. Were asking the court to stop any further activities to open and operate the Hudson site until DHS and ICE conduct the legal analysis required by law, Weiser said in a statement.

The attorney general is asking the court to cancel the contract between the federal agencies and the GEO group and stop work to open the facility "until the government complies with the law," according to a press release. The press release also says the lawsuit is asking the court to order them "to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under NEPA and document their compliance with federal immigration law."

"Will the underlying infrastructure, roads, drinking water, wastewater treatment, be able to sustain this sort of facility? And is there appropriate infrastructure in place to engage in the humane treatment of over 1,000 people," Weiser said during a press conference Tuesday.

Weiser says the federal government not following legal obligations violates the National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Immigration and Nationality Act. Weiser says the federal agencies did not conduct proper analysis and because of that, the state doesn't have information on the work that's needed to make sure the facility is suitable to house people again.

"We have a sworn statement in this lawsuit from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials or an official that this facility is harmful to the surrounding environment, including the fact that there are nearby deer migration carters that would be affected. There's an aquatic habitat that could be harmed, and protected and sensitive species in the vicinity also subject to harm," Weiser said.

Protesters have rallied against the plans and a nonprofit and Hudson resident filed a lawsuit in July.

Not everyone is against the planned facility. However, residents say with a local population of about 1,650 people, it would not be realistic.

Denver 7 has reached out to ICE and the DHS and is waiting to hear back.