A Colorado resident infected with measles could have exposed thousands of people to the illness after flying in and out of Denver International Airport earlier this month, state health officials said Friday.

The individual a Jefferson County adult with unknown vaccination status against the highly transmissible virus traveled in and out of the airport at least three times during the first week of October, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

State health officials say its likely the patient was exposed during travel outside of Colorado.

Sixth measles-related death reported as Pennsylvania battles widespread outbreak

The CDPHE says people could have been exposed to measles at the following locations and times listed below:

Denver International Airport: Between 12:25 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. The individual arrived at Gate C50, rode the airport train to Concourse B, then took an employee shuttle bus to an employee parking lot. Denver International Airport: Between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4. The individual rode an employee shuttle bus from an employee parking lot to Concourse B, then left from Gate B48 at 10:57 a.m. Denver International Airport: Between 11:25 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4 and 2 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 5. The individual arrived at Gate A18 in Concourse A, rode the train to Concourse B, then took an employee shuttle bus to an employee parking lot. CareNow Urgent Care, located at 6413 Fig St. in Arvada: Between 11:35 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air and can remain airborne for up to two hours meaning people may have been exposed even if they were nowhere near the infected person at the time.

State health officials said those who were potentially exposed to the virus may develop symptoms through Wednesday, Oct. 28.

What to do if you believe you were exposed

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed especially those who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine should monitor for symptoms for 21 days and avoid public gatherings or high-risk settings, health officials said in a news release.

Symptoms to watch out for include anything from a fever, a cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes that develop into a rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body about three to five days after symptoms first start. A person with measles is contagious four days before and four days after the rash appears.

State health officials urge people who develop symptoms to call the CDPHE at 720-653-3369 or their local public health agency immediately by phone before trying to seek treatment to avoid other people from becoming potentially infected with the virus. The CDPHE urges people to call an urgent care center or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to measles if you do not have a health care provider.

While most people recover within two or three weeks after contracting the virus, unvaccinated people run the risk of complications from the disease, including ear infections, seizures, pneumonia, immune amnesia, brain damage and ultimately, death.

Measles only spreads from people who show symptoms; it does not spread from people who arent feeling sick, state health officials said.

Unvaccinated people exposed to the virus can get the MMR vaccine 72 hours after exposure (but before symptoms are present) to prevent an infection, according to health officials. If vaccination is not possible, antibody treatment can help in some cases if its given within six days of exposure, state health officials said.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community, the CDPHE spokesperson said.

While the two-dose series of the MMR vaccine has a 97% efficacy rate against infection, about 3 in every 100 people can still get infected if exposed to the virus for a prolonged period of time, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccinated individuals will usually develop milder symptoms and are less likely to spread it to others, according to state health officials.

People who got vaccinated against measles before 1968 should talk to their health care provider about possibly getting a booster as the vaccine used before that year wasn't as effective.

Colorado measles cases have slowed, but numbers are still high

Colorado experienced a reprieve in measles activity this summer following several outbreaks in the northeastern part of the state at the beginning of the year, but the highly contagious disease started making headlines again after the CDPHE announced an international visitor who was later confirmed to have measles traveled to areas northwest of Denver in mid-September.

As of Friday, Colorado had reported 26 cases of the virus across 9 counties: Adams (5), Arapahoe (1), Broomfield (5), Delta (1), Jefferson (1), Lake (6), Larimer (1), Saguache (1), and Weld (5), according to statewide data. For context, that's about 72% of all cases the state reported all of last year. Up until 2014, Colorado saw between zero and two cases each year.

Most of the state's measles cases have occurred in unvaccinated individuals who traveled to areas of the U.S. with active outbreaks, per state data.

Across the nation, the number of confirmed measles infections this year has so far reached 4,410 numbers not seen in 35 years, according to CDC data with the majority of cases happening among unvaccinated children.

At least five measles-related deaths have been reported across the U.S. so far in 2026. The last time the U.S. reported four measles deaths was 35 years ago, in 1991.

This story was originally published by scar Contreras with the Scripps News Group in Denver.

The National Football League on Friday removed Jonathon Cooper of the Denver Broncos from the Commissioner Exempt List. He will be eligible to play in the Broncos Week 7 game on Oct. 25 after missing six games.

Watch Denver7's most recent story on Cooper in the video below:

Broncos' linebacker Jonathon Cooper arrested for second time in a week

The NFL initiated an investigation under the Personal Conduct Policy following Coopers arrests in June in connection with multiple charges stemming from altercations with his then-girlfriend in June.

Cooper pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and three misdemeanors, including violating a protection order a week after his first arrest on June 4. The strangulation charge stemmed from his first arrest after a forensic nurse examined his then-girlfriend.

Cooper, who has started 52 consecutive games for the Broncos, is a key member of a defense that has led the league in sacks each of the past two seasons. He was told to stay away from the Broncos mandatory minicamp in June following his second arrest in the span of a week.

The Broncos decided not to release Cooper, whos due $12 million this season. He was allowed to participate in training camp after attending an inpatient clinic near Vail for more than a month.

The leagues review remains ongoing and is not affected by this change to Coopers roster status. Cooper was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List on Aug. 30. He could face a lengthy suspension under the NFLs domestic violence policy.

Cooper has had 31 and a half sacks with the Broncos since 2021.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A Colorado Springs woman accused of burning down her home with her children inside in 2003 will not be allowed to bond out of jail.

A judge ruled Friday shortly after noon that Deborah Nicholls will remain in jail while her case is retried.

Watch below: Colorado Springs mother's conviction overturned, DA's Office appealing order Colorado Springs mother's conviction overturned, DA's Office appealing order

Her conviction was overturned earlier this year for murder in the death of her three kids after a judge found evidence in her 2008 trial was not disclosed.

Nicholls has maintained her innocence since the case began. The district attorneys office has appealed the decision to overturn her conviction.

This is a developing story and this article will be updated.

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President Donald Trump's new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, is "transitioning out of the role" after he told her to reconsider the job just five days in, according to a White House official.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday he was leaving the decision up to her, claiming that she's been treated "very badly" by the media. However, CNN and other sources reported that Zacharia had been fired from the role.

"I said 'Katie, is this for you?' because she's been treated very rough," Trump said he told Zacharia earlier Friday morning. "Honestly, if I were you, Id reconsider."

He added that he felt Fox News host Sean Hannity was "a little bit tough" on her in a recent interview and "she's a nice person."

Trump claimed Zacharia said, "this is a lot tougher" and that he told her, "welcome to the world of Trump."

He told reporters they would speak about her role when he returned to the White House. The president is headed to Georgia for a campaign event.

Katie Zacharia defends lawyer title, explains short first White House briefing

"Maybe it's not for her," the president added.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. The man suspected of killing one person after driving his pickup truck onto a sidewalk in Old Town Fort Collins in late August was charged Friday with several counts, including vehicular homicide, the Larimer County District Attorneys Office announced Friday.

Van Lemaster, 88, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was charged with one count of vehicular homicide, two counts of reckless endangerment and four counts of vehicular assault. He was booked Friday into the Larimer County Jail on those charges, according to a news release.

Watch Denver7's previous report on this story in the video below:

One person dead after driver hits pedestrians on sidewalk in Old Town Fort Collins, police say

The fatal crash along Mountain Avenue on Aug. 29 happened at the height of the city's Tour de Fat celebration, an annual costume bicycle festival that brings thousands of bicyclists to Old Town.

Police said Lemaster drove onto the sidewalk and struck multiple people as the event was underway. Six people, including Lemaster, were taken to the hospital.

A preliminary investigation into the deadly crash shows Lemaster reversed from a parking spot along Mountain Avenue, hitting another vehicle. It then drove forward onto the sidewalk, hitting pedestrians before colliding with a tree and coming to a stop.

Investigators ruled out impairment as a factor in the crash, according to Fridays news release.

"This was an incredibly tragic crash that affected many in our community. Our entire agency will continue to be there for all who were impacted and support them as this case progresses through the criminal justice system, said Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda in a statement. Im grateful for the diligence, professionalism, and thoroughness that our agency displayed while both responding to this incident and the subsequent investigation."

Lemaster is being held on a $75,000 cash/surety bond.

Banana Ball is returning to Denver next spring with two games at Coors Field in May.

The Party Animals and the Loco Beach Coconuts will face off on May 29 and May 30.

Watch below: 'Sea of Yellow' to take over downtown Denver as Savannah Bananas return to the Mile High City 'Sea of Yellow' to take over downtown Denver as Savannah Bananas return to the Mile High City

Fans can join the lottery for a chance to purchase tickets. The lottery is open through Oct. 31, and a random drawing will take place before the event to purchase tickets. You can find the Ticket Lottery List at

www.bananaball.com/tickets.

All Colorado Rockies full season ticket plan holders, as well as MVP and Hall of Fame Passport Mini-Plan holders, will have the chance to buy Banana Ball tickets through an exclusive presale.

On Friday morning, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade delivered his annual State of the City address.

The event was held at the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation.

Mayor Mobolade discussed economic pressures and the citys priorities in the year ahead.

Watch the address in the video player below:

Colorado Springs mayor delivers 2026 State of the City address

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed with News5 the first reported pediatric influenza-associated death of the 2026-27 respiratory virus season in an elementary-aged child from outside the Denver metro area.

State health officials said Friday there is no record that the child received the 2026-27 flu vaccine. The department did not release additional information about the child. The death comes as flu activity increases across Colorado, with hospitals reporting more positive flu tests and flu-related hospitalizations, according to CDPHE.

The state is coming off its most severe pediatric flu season on record. During the 2025-26 season, Colorado recorded 5,931 flu-related hospitalizations, the highest annual total since the state began tracking the data in 2004. Of those hospitalizations, 1,169 involved children, and eight children died from the flu.

Last years record hospitalizations were a sobering reminder of how serious the flu can be, especially for young children, said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorados state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer.

Herlihy urged parents to get their children vaccinated before flu transmission increases further.

CDPHE recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. Officials say it takes about two weeks after vaccination for full protection to develop. Flu vaccines are available at pharmacies, doctors offices, community health centers and local public health agencies. Most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus, cover the cost of vaccination. Free or low-cost vaccines for children without insurance are available at nearly 600 locations statewide.

More information about flu activity and vaccination resources is available through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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Giant pumpkins, professional carving and a chance to break out a Halloween costume are coming to downtown Fountain for the Harvest Games on Saturday.

The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. around Fountain City Hall at 116 S. Main Street, with activities stretching from a giant vegetable weigh-off to an evening costume contest.

What does it cost?

Admission is free, with food trucks and vendors selling food, baked goods, crafts and other items.

There will be places to spend money if you choose to, organizer Joney Carneal said. Otherwise, the event itself to get here and come is completely free.

Watch the video report below: Fountain Harvest Games: What to know before you go

Whats on the schedule?

11 a.m.: Giant vegetable weigh-off featuring the Rocky Mountain Giant Vegetable Growers. Throughout the day: Professional pumpkin carving. 5 p.m.: Live music begins. 7 p.m.: Costume contest. 8 p.m.: Event ends.

Carneal recommends arriving early if seeing the giant pumpkins is your priority. Some will remain on display, but not all will stay for the entire event.

How do you visit the pumpkin patch?

Pumpkinpalooza joins the Harvest Games this year, offering families a free pumpkin and free professional family photos. Families should register for a time slot to help manage space in the patch. You can reserve a spot online.

Carneal recommends signing up online before arriving. On-site registration through a QR code is also planned.

Where can you park?

Part of Main Street in front of city hall will be closed for the event.

Carneal said parking options include nearby side streets, behind city hall and near the library, with overflow parking near Peaks N Pines Brewery.

Parking can be tight, so allow extra time to find a space and follow posted restrictions. Carneal said accessible parking spaces and access ramps will be available in the area.

She also recommends bringing a jacket if you plan to stay into the evening.

Watch the professionals carve

Professional pumpkin carvers Willy Tuz and David Smith are among the artists creating sculptures for the event. Both have appeared on Food Network.

For Tuz, seeing visitors react to the finished work is part of what keeps him carving.

The joy that we get, most of it, its seeing the face of people, seeing the smile that they give us, Tuz said.

Smith said an unusual pumpkin shape can help inspire a creation.

The pumpkin can actually do some of the work for you, he said.

Now in its sixth year, the event began as a street dance to bring families together after COVID. Community participation and sponsorships have helped it grow.

We want to have a place for our community to come to, to just be themselves, she said.

Find additional updates on Fountain Ups Facebook page.

Today's Forecast:

A cold start to the day with subfreezing temperatures for many. Breezy winds at times could pull wind chills down into the 10s! Lots of sunshine and less wind this afternoon with milder temperatures in the 50s.

Colorado Springs Forecast: High: 55; Low: 32

Lots of sunshine after a cold and breezy start. Grab the jacket out the door! But don't forget the sunglasses either.

Pueblo Forecast: High: 59; Low: 29

Above freezing this morning, but still breezy and chilly. Lots of sunshine in the afternoon with temperatures similar to yesterday's, but still well-below average.

Canon City Forecast: High: 59; Low: 34

Cold start this morning with increasing temperatures and lots of sunshine. Less wind this afternoon and highs a bit warmer than yesterday.

Woodland Park Forecast: High: 50; Low: 32

Cold this morning, milder this afternoon with lots of sunshine and decreasing winds.

Mountain Forecast: High: 47; Low: 28

Less wind and cool. Lots of sunshine in the afternoon with slightly milder temperatures.

Extended Forecast:

Another cold start Saturday with more Freeze Warnings expected. Lots of sunshine and much warmer temperatures into the upper 60s and 70s. Even warmer Sunday, but also more clouds returning. Temperatures mostly in the 70s early next week with mostly to partly sunny skies. Monday could see an isolated shower in Teller County. Better mountain shower chances later in the week.

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A civil lawsuit against Cornell University and seven of its fraternity members over allegations of sexual assault and Title IX violations is sparking conversations on college campuses nationwide including at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

The suit claims a woman was sexually assaulted by the students in 2024 after being pressured into taking drugs and drinking alcohol. She reported the alleged assault to campus police. Prosecutors have since reopened the investigation into the allegations.

Watch previous reporting about the lawsuit: Prosecutor reopens probe into 2024 Cornell gang rape allegations

Title IX is the federal law that prohibits sexual discrimination in education.

The case widely referred to as the "Cornell 7" has dominated headlines on social media and in news outlets. UCCS's Title IX coordinator says there are many resources available for students locally.

Keison Morales, president of the UCCS Interfraternity Council, said the case immediately struck a chord with students on campus.

"When we saw it, we're all just wondering like, how could this happen," Morales said.

Cornell University is more than 1,000 miles away from UCCS. But students here are having the hard conversations.

"We talked during our chapter, we're just disgusted by it because especially how can a chapter do this to people," Morales said.

Morales is a member of a fraternity on campus and he also oversees all of the fraternities. He says the Cornell case has led to criticism of Greek Life across the country, but argues there is some misrepresentation.

"Here on a small campus, it's not happening on that level. Everyone thinks, oh, you're a fraternity, you're like Cornell so I'm like, no, we are not. We take strides to make sure we aren't like that. We make strides with the school to follow their policy," Morales said.

Protections are in place at fraternity events both on and off campus.

"We have DD's, we have sober monitors. We have everything. So if anything were to go wrong, we're happy with that. We'll be able to get you to the hospital, get you the resources you need, and all of our fraternity guys are Narcan trained," Morales said.

Morales said there is also a "violet program" in place.

"We have sisters in our fraternities who basically look after girls that say they don't feel comfortable with a guy, and then we have our little sisters take care of them, make sure they'll get then the resources you need during an event," said Morales.

Those safety measures extend beyond Greek Life. The university's Office of Institutional Equity works to spread the word about what resources are available to students.

Laura Emmot, UCCS associate vice chancellor of Institutional Equity and Title VI and Title IX coordinator, described those outreach efforts.

"We do a lot of tabling events at pre-orientation in the summertime, during the fall and spring, and prevention and education awareness. We have training for all incoming freshmen that's called our gateway Program seminar," Emmot said.

Between July 2025 and June 2026, UCCS received 191 sexual misconduct allegations. Emmot said Title IX investigations take time and for good reason.

"Title IX process investigations and resolution can take a long time, and that is because we honor due process. We need to make sure that we do a thorough review and evaluation of all of the information, talk to as many parties as we can," Emmot said.

Emmot said there is something that she thinks hasn't been reported on as much as it can be: the distinction and separation between a Title IX investigation and a criminal investigation.

"I've seen some coverage about that, but generally speaking, our standard is to address whether the policy is violated and to try to remove barriers for students' access to their education or employees' access to their employment," Emmot said, "Understanding that the Title IX office also has very specific federal regulations that are prescribed and describe exactly how what we have to do is different from the police investigation process entirely. We have some crossover at times there may be some similarities in process, but the outcomes can be completely different. The standard of evidence is different, and we are really focused on adhering to university policy."

Ultimately, Morales said he feels safe at UCCS and wants every student to feel the same way.

"We make sure everyone's safe and everyone feels safe when they either come to an event of ours or when they come to anything in our organization they feel safe and they feel welcomed," Morales said.

Harrison School District 2 is preparing for major school changes next fall, including the closure of Turman Elementary and the transition of Bricker and Oak Creek elementary students to K8 campuses.

Superintendent Dr. Wendy Birhanzel said the district spent years monitoring enrollment trends and initially expected student numbers to increase. However, those projections did not match what the district experienced.

It was the state demographer, it was the demographer from the Department of Education, it was the national demographer who all projected that we would increase in enrollment, Birhanzel said.

Instead, the district experienced a steady decline in student enrollment. District figures show enrollment fell from 12,410 students in 2025 to 11,444 in 2026.

Birhanzel said the district had been losing about 100 students annually, creating difficult financial decisions as it works to align resources with the number of students it serves.

Turman Elementary to Close as Enrollment Declines

Turman Elementary will close, with students split between Giberson Elementary and Soaring Eagles Elementary.

Birhanzel said Turman currently serves fewer than 150 students, making it difficult to provide the range of educational opportunities the district wants to offer.

Turman Elementary is under 150 students. That is not a smart move to keep a school open because you can't offer a full-time art teacher, Birhanzel said.

She also pointed to broader demographic changes, including rising living costs and declining birth rates, as factors contributing to lower enrollment.

The district estimates the changes could save $4 million to $5 million each year. Birhanzel said those savings could help prevent cuts to other district offerings, including athletics, transportation and Advanced Placement classes.

For families hoping the district would reconsider closing Turman, Birhanzel said the decision is final.

Right now there is not a reconsideration option. This is a final, she said.

Bricker and Oak Creek Students to Transition to K8 Campuses

Students from Bricker Elementary and Panorama Middle School will come together as a K-8 campus at Panorama.

Oak Creek Elementary and Fox Meadow Middle School will come together as a K-8 campus at Fox Meadow beginning next fall.

District leaders say the transition is intended to help match school resources to enrollment while maintaining educational opportunities for students.

Birhanzel said Harrison School District 2 already operates four K8 campuses.

We have four K8s right now, and so we want to offer our families tours of both what we have now and what it will look [like], she said.

The district is also finalizing transportation routes for affected students.

Students who receive special education services or support as multilingual learners will continue receiving those services at their new schools, according to Birhanzel.

The superintendent also said the district's goal is to retain employees who want to continue working for the district.

The goal is to not lay anyone off. The goal is to keep everyone a job if they wanna work here, Birhanzel said.

What Will Happen to the School Buildings?

The buildings will remain closed for a year while the district explores potential future uses.

Birhanzel said the district hopes to find options that benefit the surrounding community and bring additional resources to the southeast side of Colorado Springs.

Something that will uplift our community and add a resource back into our community that sometimes the Southeast might not have, she said.

Changes Planned for Next Fall

The school changes are scheduled to take effect next fall. District leaders say they do not currently plan to close any additional schools, but they will continue monitoring enrollment and state funding.

For families affected by the changes, the district says it plans to provide information and support as students prepare to transition to their new campuses.

Tonight's Forecast:

Freeze warnings are active for the Pikes Peak Region and eastern adjacent plains from midnight until 9 a.m. on Friday. The San Luis Valley will see freeze warnings again too. For Pueblo and the southeastern corner of the state, frost advisories are active from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday. That means overnight lows in the 30s and expected along I-25 and east with some in the mountains see teens and 20s. Winds will calm down for a bit, ahead of heavier gusts in the early morning hours of Friday.

Colorado Springs forecast: Low: 31; High: 56;

Our overnight low will be at 31-degrees for Thursday night with freeze advisories active. Friday will be much cooler than seasonal averages in the 50s with a light afternoon breeze. The weekend will feel much nicer outside.

Pueblo forecast: Low: 34; High: 57;

Frost advisories are active for Pueblo on Thursday evening with colder than seasonal average lows in the forecast. Friday will be much cooler than averages also. Then, by the weekend days seasonal highs return with dry time and sunshine.

Canon City forecast: Low: 34; High: 59;

Another cold evening is ahead for Canon City with 30s in the forecast. Winds calm down overnight too. Friday will be a dash more mild, but still cooler than averages. The weekend will feel much nicer outside.

Woodland Park forecast: Low: 25; High: 50;

A very cold overnight expected for mid-October with lows in the 20s. Friday will be well below averages with less wind. The weekend will bring back sunshine and dry time with warmer temperatures too. Not much change is expected as the work week starts next week too.

Extended outlook forecast:

The weekend will finally feel much more season in the 60s and 70s for most across southern Colorado. There will still be a bit of an afternoon breeze especially for the plains. Early next week won't change much in terms of our forecast though. By the middle of the week there could be some changes. We will continue to track that possibility.

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More than three months after the Aspen Acres fire, a Colorado homeowner says his recovery has been complicated by two companies hired to help him including a packing company that billed his insurance $41,000 and failed to return his mattresses.

Dustin Ross' home survived the fire, but the land surrounding it was burned, he has been working to get his home clean enough to safely move back in.

News5 Investigates previously reported on Ross issues when he hired a cleaning company that said it underestimated how long the job would take, taking weeks instead of three days. The company stopped working with him and said it would bill him for the work completed, but Ross said he still doesn't know exactly what was done.

Just kind of a nightmare," Ross said, in talking about his experience to move back home.

The problems didn't stop there. Ross later had issues with a packing company called Prime Packouts he said was referred to him by the cleaning company that was meant to store and clean his belongings while his house was being cleaned. When he tried to get his items back after cutting ties with the cleaning company, he said he couldn't reachTHE company for days.

"I literally just couldn't get ahold of them, Ross said, so I basically finally got a hold of him, talked to him about just bringing my property back," Ross said.

Ross said Prime Packouts also sent a bill of $41,000 to his insurance company. After going back and forth, Ross agreed to pay the packing company $25,000 in exchange for the return of all his belongings.

Once his items were returned, Ross noticed things were missing.

"I cut him a check and then I started looking around a little bit and I figured, you know, big things that I could find would would be like, you know, my mattresses," Ross said.

Ross said Prime Packouts told him the mattresses had been labeled "not salvageable."

"He basically just said that they were tossed in the landfill," Ross said.

That didn't add up for Ross, because multiple other items Prime Packouts deemed "not salvageable" were returned to him. He put a stop payment on the check.

I looked into Prime Packouts and found it registered in Arizona, but not in Colorado, the same situation as the cleaning company. Prime Packouts did not respond to News5 Investigates request for comment.

In the previous story, I tried to get answers from the cleaning company. Since that story aired, the cleaning company has registered as a business in Colorado.

Ross has since hired a new cleaning company and said things are better.

"I'm doing good, I'm seeing progress on the house. You know, I got majority of my property back," Ross said, "ultimately, we're moving in the right direction."

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The Colorado Springs Police Department says it has arrested a 41-year-old man in connection with an investigation into the alleged exploitation of a child.

Police said Nicholas Madson faces a felony charge of soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer services following a month-long investigation. Madson was taken into custody on Wednesday.

According to police, the department received a tip on Sept. 9 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alleging that a Colorado Springs man had been communicating online with the juvenile girl in Florida.

During the investigation, a detective with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office in Florida contacted the potential victim and learned the child had allegedly sent explicit videos and photos to Madson, according to police.

Detectives later determined that Madson was a teacher at the CIVA Charter High School in Colorado Springs.

In a statement, CIVA Charter High School sent the Scripps News group the following message:

Mr. Madson has been employed with CIVA since 2019. His role was a teaching theatre. He has been placed on leave. The safety and well-being of our students has always been and will always remain, our highest priority. We have cooperated fully with law enforcement and will continue to do so throughout this investigation. We recognize the gravity of these allegations and the concern they understandably create within our school community. As this is an ongoing law enforcement matter involving an employee, we are unable to comment further on the investigation or confidential personnel matters. Mr. Madson has been employed with us since 2019. His role was a theatre teacher. He has been placed on leave. Thank you,

According to police, the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Police said anyone who may have had inappropriate contact with Madson, or who has information that could assist investigators in this investigation, is asked to contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous can contact Pikes Peak Crime Stoppers at 719-634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.

Madson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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The nationally No. 4-ranked CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves return to action this Saturday for their homecoming game against New Mexico Highlands, looking to remain perfect on the season.

Coming off a bye week following a win at Adams State, head coach Philip Vigil said the team chose to practice and improve rather than take an extended break.

Watch Dante Williams' report in the video player below: No. 4 CSU Pueblo enters back half of the season with focus on improvement

First off, you have to lean into what got you to 6-0, and that's just focusing on every single day. So last week, yes, it was a bye week, but we practiced and we made a determination that we're going to find a way to improve and get better over the bye week, and that was really our goal, Vigil said. Give the guys a couple of days off over the weekend, and as you can see this morning they're back at it and energized and ready to rock and roll.

Vigil said physicality is the defining characteristic of this team on both sides of the ball.

"I think first and foremost it's physical, you know? I think you turn on the tape, you're going to see guys that are running to the football on defense hitting people. Then on offense, you're going to see an offensive line, a tight end group, a running back group that is physically imposing their will, Vigil said. Physical football teams win games, and that's the thing that I'm most proud about this group because I think they're very, very physical on both sides of football.

With the season at the halfway point, Vigil acknowledged there are still areas to address particularly eliminating turnovers.

There's little things that we have to fine-tune and get better at. You know, you look at our tackling on defense from the first part of the season to where it's at right now; that's an improvement, but it's always going to be better. You look at offensively, some of the procedural penalties that we're making early in the season; that has improved it tremendously. We haven't had a game yet where we haven't turned the ball over. So there's always going to be areas where we can improve and find ways to get better, and every unit, every position, every player knows what that is, and they got to attack it every day," Vigil said.

CSU Pueblo will host New Mexico Highlands in their homecoming game at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Allegations of racist behavior coming from students and spectators of a private Christian school in Parker at Colorado high school football games could jeopardize the schools athletic programs indefinitely if it fails to implement immediate changes to its culture, officials from the Colorado High School Activities Association warned Thursday.

Lutheran High School, which has been embroiled in controversy over reported racist incidents at football games for nearly a month, is now facing suspension from CHSAA-sponsored games and other activities unless it completes a corrective action plan that addresses game management, spectator conduct, staff training and school culture.

In the meantime, CHSAA has placed the schools athletic department on probation for at least 12 months after determining that racist and discriminatory language and unacceptable behavior occurred at Lutheran athletic events.

Racism and discrimination have no place in our schools or at our events. CHSAA takes sportsmanship, crowd control and the treatment of every participant at our events seriously, and every member school is responsible for the conduct of its coaches, players and spectators, officials said in a statement Thursday.

Officials from the states governing body for high school athletics said they were forced to consider suspending Lutheran High Schools membership in the Association following a comprehensive review of documentation, official game reports, and first-hand accounts that member schools gathered from their students and communities.

The racist incidents occurred while visiting Lutheran High School played against Sand Creek High on Sept. 24 and Rampart High School on Oct. 2 and 3.

Families who reached out to News5 about the racist incidents said Black cheerleaders from Sand Creek High were subjected to racial slurs during the game and were even called Harriet Tubman by Lutheran High students. The racist harassment was so severe Sand Creek cheerleading coach Sanaa Ford had to escort a group of Black cheerleaders to their cars before the game was even over while students made monkey noises at them, according to The Denver Post.

Watch News5's first story on these allegations in the video below:

School districts respond to racist incidents at high school football games

News5 took those families concerns to Lutheran High School executive director Dan Gehrke, who said he was aware of the allegations and was actively investigating them.

But just three days after another racist incident occurred at Rampart High that reportedly involved the LuHi Lions, Air Academy High School announced it was forfeiting its homecoming football game against the private Christian school. School officials cited a coaching shortage as the reason for the forfeit and said they would instead schedule a flag football game versus TCA for Oct. 9.

In their statement, Air Academy High did not address the controversy over the racist allegations that now plague Lutheran High, only saying the school was committed to a safe and supportive environment for all students.

The lack of clarity forced Academy District 20, the school district under which Air Academy High School operates, to provide a statement of its own.

Academy District 20 believes racism in any form should never be tolerated. Any credible concerns of racist remarks should be taken seriously and fully investigated, district officials said.

In their statement, district officials said that conversations between Lutheran High and Air Academy High had taken place last week and both had agreed to limit fan attendance only to family members of both schools as well as add security enhancements.

Ultimately, individual decisions affected the level of coaching participation available. Given those circumstances, Air Academy was not in a position to safely field and support a varsity football contest, district officials said.

On Monday, School District 11 announced it, too, had decided that Coronado High School would also forfeit its game against Lutheran scheduled for this Thursday after both Lutheran and CHSAA failed to provide a statement to the district denouncing racist behavior ahead of the scheduled game.

Our athletic programs should reflect respect, dignity, and a commitment to equal and fair play, School District 11 officials said. In the absence of the requested statements, we do not believe proceeding with Thursdays game is consistent with those expectations.

CHSAA officials defended their delayed response in implementing disciplinary action against Lutheran in a statement last week, saying any disciplinary action required more than responding to individual reports.

We understand the desire for immediate action. But decisions of this weight must be based on complete information and acting before we have it would not serve student participants or our member schools, officials said. If CHSAA bylaws are determined to have been violated, consequences will be determined according to those bylaws.

If Lutheran fails to meet the requirements set forth by CHSAAs corrective action plan, the states governing body will recommend the Board of Directors suspend Lutherans membership for a length of time determined by the Board.

Gehrke, the LuHi Lions' executive director, said in a statement to families obtained by Denver7 later Thursday that Lutheran High "condemns racism in any form," adding the school will complete "every requirement CHSAA has set."

"We are disappointed that CHSAA reached its determination before our own review is complete and before it could consider our findings," Gehrke said. "In the meantime, I humbly ask that you keep our students, families, coaches and staff in your prayers, along with everyone affected."

This isnt the first time Lutheran High School students have been under the spotlight for alleged racist behavior.

In 2021, an investigation for unsportsmanlike conduct was launched against the LuHi Lions after an Evergreen High School parent alleged Lutheran High football players used racist slurs against Evergreens minority players and said, We will bury you like your dead coach, after a coach on the Jefferson County team had died, according to Denver7.

Montrose High School, which is expected to face Lutheran High on Oct. 23, announced later Thursday their game against the school was still on, but said in a statement that their decision to compete "should not be interpreted as minimizing the seriousness of these allegations or condoning the behavior described."

"Montrose County School District unequivocally condemns racism and discrimination in any form," Montrose High School Principal Heidi Voehringer said in a statement obtained by News5. "We remain committed to representing our school and community with the character, integrity, and respect we expect of all Red Hawks."

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Fans looking to get season tickets to the new Colorado Springs UFL team can do so later this month.

The league announced that season tickets for the Colorado Springs team will go on sale at the team launch event on Oct. 25 at Weidner Field. They will then go on sale the following day at www.theufl.com/colorado.

Each team will play five home games during the 2027 season, and season ticket packages start at under $100 per ticket in every market, officials say.

Season ticket members will also get a member gift, 20% discount to merchandise, invitations to events and more.

The UFL season will kick off on March 26 and the full schedule will be released at a later date.

The Loveland Ski Area began snowmaking operations on Wednesday night, becoming the latest resort in the mountains to start making snow amid colder temperatures and the first natural snowfall.

According to officials, snowmaking began at 7:04 p.m. and crews are working to build a base of snow ahead of opening day.

See the operations in the video below Loveland Ski Area begins snowmaking operations for 2026-27 season

Small-scale snowmaking began at Loveland in 1966 and during the 1967-68 season, officials said that Loveland became the first major ski area in Colorado with snowmaking capabilities.

Now, Loveland's snowmaking system covers more than 240 acres of terrain.

"For 60 years, generations of Loveland snowmakers have worked through cold nights, early mornings, high winds, and challenging mountain conditions to prepare the slopes for skiers and snowboarders," they said in a statement. "At Loveland, the start of snowmaking marks the beginning of the ski season. Once temperatures cooperate, crews work around the clock to prepare the mountain for opening day."

The first goal is to establish a top-to-bottom run with tree-to-tree coverage and an approximately 18-inch base of packed snow. Snowmaking usually continues into early to mid December.

Loveland is hoping to open in either late October or early November, depending on conditions. It opened on Nov. 8 last year.

The team's initial goal is to establish a top-to-bottom run with tree-to-tree coverage and an approximately 18-inch base of packed snow. Loveland's high elevation and experienced snowmaking crew have helped establish a long tradition of early-season skiing and snowboarding.

Snowmaking typically continues into early to mid-December as crews expand coverage across the mountain and supplement natural snowfall.

Loveland is targeting an opening between late October and early November, weather and conditions permitting. Last season, Loveland opened on November 8.

Parents at Bricker, Oak Creek and Turman elementary schools were invited to meetings Wednesday evening to hear directly from Harrison School District 2 leaders about major changes planned for their schools.

At Turman Elementary, about 30 parents attended a meeting where district leaders announced plans to close the school beginning in the 2027-28 school year. Students would transition to either Giberson Elementary or Soaring Eagles Community School.

Staff members also learned about the planned closure shortly before the meeting.

The district is also proposing to combine Oak Creek Elementary with Fox Meadow Middle School and Bricker Elementary with Panorama Middle School. Both campuses would become K-8 schools.

For families at Turman, the announcement came as a shock.

Yeah, it is shocking, said Ruben Bet, a Turman Elementary parent.

A little bit scary because we moved to this community because we wanted to go to Turman, Said Israel Riva, another parent at Turman.

Superintendent Dr. Wendy Birhanzel, School Board President Michelle Wills-Hill and Turman Elementary Principal Mickee Witt attended the meeting to explain the proposed changes and answer parents' questions.

During the meeting, district leaders pointed to declining enrollment as a key factor behind the planned changes. Turman currently has fewer than 150 students, according to the district.

Leaders also cited rising living costs and fewer children entering the community as contributing factors.

But parents said they still have questions about how the changes will affect students, teachers and families.

The big question is how will the district accommodate all these students in different schools and also the teachers, Bet said.

Parents also raised concerns about transportation, class sizes and whether schools receiving students will have enough teachers and counselors to support them.

For Riva, the announcement came with little time to process what it could mean for his family.

This is so new that it just hit us like out of nowhere, so, um, we would have to see, but I don't know, we really like the school, Riva said.

District leaders said employees will have an opportunity to apply and interview for positions at the receiving schools as the district works through staffing plans.

The district expects that process to begin January 11, when the interview pool opens.

Parents also asked what will happen to the Turman Elementary building after the school closes. Some said they do not want the property to sit vacant.

One idea raised during the meeting was converting the building into the Deerfield Hills Community Center. District leaders said community input will play a significant role in determining the building's future.

Still, some parents hope the school can be saved.

If there is any way to save the school or to make a petition to save that school because it's a great school and the teachers are great, the principal is a great principal, Riva said.

Harrison School District 2 said it plans to support students and families throughout the transition.

District leaders also reminded parents that the district operates under a school-choice model, meaning families can choose which school their children attend next year.

The proposed changes are planned to take effect in August 2027, at the start of the 2027-28 school year.

For now, questions remain about how students will transition, how staffing will be handled and what will ultimately happen to the Turman Elementary building.