When a hard freeze warning hits Colorado Springs, the stakes get especially high for unhoused residents and for the pets they say keep them alive.

Every other Wednesday, a bright blue van parks alongside a row of tents outside the People's Church in downtown Colorado Springs. It's a free mobile vet clinic and resource pickup run by The Pet Cross, built specifically for low-income and unhoused pet owners who have few other places to turn.

I went inside the clinic to meet the people who rely on it and the volunteers who keep it running.

Learn More about the Clinic in the Video Below

For those who show up, their animals are family.

"Everything in the world. She's my best friend," Craig Doty said.

Doty has a seven-year-old dog named Rose. He brought her in to the clinic because he was worried she had ring worm/

"If anything happened to her, I don't know what happened to me. I'd lose it," Corey Haight said.

Haight got his dog, Aurora, spayed. Her recovery has been quick, and he said it is a blessing.

Lisa Thompson, The Pet Cross founder, said those bonds are exactly what the organization was built to support.

"They have this pet and that's their family and they want to take care of them and, you know, there's just, like I said, not a lot of options. So, I do what I can for them," Thompson said.

The Pet Cross partners with Pay It Fur-Ward for the clinic, and they provide dog beds, blankets, food, and vaccines all free of charge. Kimberly Bolding, The Pet Cross director of operations, said her team goes out of their way to gather supplies for both animals and their owners.

"We have people on our team that go out and spend time trying to rile up and get what we can get to get warm clothing for the dogs, cats, and the owners. We've even found that our pet beds have become so valuable because the unhoused could sleep on a pet bed," Bolding said.

The depth of that need, she said, can't be overstated.

"People come and are begging for food for them or they'll feed their animals their food before they would have their pet go without. The same thing with keeping them warm, getting the meds that they can, and they don't have money, so it's pretty tough, but these people look at their animals as the thing that's kept them alive," Bolding said.

Bolding has experience herself. Her son was an animal lover himself before he passed away.

"I had a son that was unhoused on the streets and he was killed 12 days living on the streets. He was an animal lover like big time. I can look at all the people here now and see my son's face, my son's life in there," Bolding said, "They're not just clients, they're people with stories, real struggles, a real life, and I think they deserve to be supported just as much as anyone else. You learn to love these people."

For Doty, traditional vet costs are simply out of reach.

"I'm scared to death of what the vet's ever going to charge. So yes, it's a resource that I can actually use," Doty said.

He said he originally didn't know if what his dog had was contagious. But he said he would rather put his safety at risk than let her be alone and scared.

It's a similar feeling for Haight. He lived on the trails for more than 4 years. He knows what it means to be outside when temperatures drop.

"At night we're looking at close to 30 or below at night when it gets to winter, and that's freezing temperature and if you don't have the right equipment you will freeze to death and die," Haight said.

He credits his pet and the organization, Pay It Fur-Ward, with helping him survive.

"If I didn't have them, I didn't know what I was going to do the next day, to be honest," Haight said.

Now Haight volunteers with Pay It Fur-Ward, heading back out along the trails to hand out supplies to those still living outside.

"We have kennels, we have crates, we have dog food, we have cat food, we have toys, we have a few coats for animals but not much at the moment but during this time of year we kind of hand out most of our inventory because there's dogs and cats out here that need to be warm," Haight said.

Both organizations are always looking for volunteers, donations, and more people to serve.

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.

A program in El Paso County is offering local restaurant owners mentorship, community connections, and a cash boost with no loan required.

Exponential Impact (XI) is now accepting applications for the XI Survive & Thrive 2027 SPICE Program, which is an initiative designed to help restaurants across El Paso County thrive.

Instead of traditional loans, the program buys between $3,000 and $17,500 worth of gift cards from participating restaurants and distributes them to the community through local nonprofits. Those gift cards eventually find their way back to the restaurant, bringing in new customers and new revenue. The restaurants also receive a stipend.

"Those gift cards will then go out into the community and the various nonprofits, which is helpful to the community. In any case, those gift cards will end up back in the restaurant, so they're getting new customers, getting a cash injection. That's like a perfect thing. I think it's a win," Eric Brenner said.

Owners also must attend a six week cohort of other local restaurant owners. But Brenner says it is worth it.

Brenner is the chef and owner of Red Gravy restaurant and a mentor for the SPICE Program. He says the goal is to help restaurant owners identify their own gaps or "blind spots" before they become costly problems.

"People might be really good at their job and think they can open a restaurant and they do and they have some success, but they may have a blind spot in say accounting or marketing or even creating a menu," Brenner said.

He says there is one key factor to having a successful business: consistency.

"It's just a matter of listening to your guests at that point and giving them what they want, and just doing it consistently. Consistency is really rewarded in the city and I think a lot of businesses aren't set up necessarily for that," Brenner said.

The program also includes coaching on negotiating leases and finding the right location.

Samantha Lang knows firsthand what it feels like to watch restaurants come and go. The owner of Cacao Chemistry was part of the first cohort of the SPICE Program.

"I have seen so much turnover, people coming and going all the time and it's a shame too, because I see some of them suffering from pain points that, I'm like, I know what you could do about that! I wish I could jump in and help you but you're not asking me. More programs like this would be really beneficial," Lang said.

Lang says the struggle of running a small business in a competitive city is very real.

"I know it's a mid-sized city, but it can feel really big. Sometimes you feel a little bit like a number, you see competition popping up all around you, and you just sometimes you can feel like you're drowning," Lang said.

But the program helped change that perspective. Lang says she didn't just receive guidance on how to keep growing her chocolate shop she also made community connections with other downtown restaurants.

"To be in a room with a lot of the movers and shakers who have been in this for a really long time was transformative."

Lang said.

Businesses can apply now to participate in the SPICE Program. Applications close Nov. 1.

The Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District's Big Fall Book Sale is offering book lovers the chance to fill their shelves for under $3 a book and every dollar spent goes directly back to funding the library programs and initiatives that make reading accessible to everyone.

Watch Liv Wood's report in the video player below: Friends of PPLD book sale supports literacy programs

Last year, more than $160,000 was given back to the library, with some of that funding coming from the book sale. The other funds came from three regional library bookstores, online sales, branch bookstores, donations, membership fees, and the spring book sale.

Children's books, mystery novels and cookbooks are among the many genres on display at the four-day event. Purchasing a book doesn't just score shoppers a great deal it also fuels the programs that bring more people to the page.

Tracia and Edward Bell had been anticipating the event for months, marking it on their calendar at home and bringing their three children along for a family outing.

"I literally had it on the refrigerator, marking this day on the calendar like, 'We're gonna be there,'" Tracia Bell said.

"She was talking about it for months," said Edward Bell.

For the Bell family, reading is at the center of their home life.

"This is probably one of the first PPLD libraries that they've got exposed to because they love the children area, so we come, and they have fun and do their thing," Tracia Bell said. "At home we literally have bookshelves everywhere. We're not big TV people, and so we just dive in all genres, really."

Every purchase made at the sale and at branch library book sales throughout the district is funneled back to the Pikes Peak Library District. Rita Jordan, president of the Friends of PPLD, explained why that sustained funding is so critical.

"It's great to have programs, but you don't know if next year are we going to be able to have money to continue these programs?" Rita Jordan said.

The Friends of PPLD supports programs including:

Summer Adventure All Pikes Peak Reads Mountain of Authors Regional History Symposium Adult Winter Reading Program BookBrowse, a digital resource for readers and book clubs

"Because of the low cost, they are accessible, these books are accessible to everybody," Jordan said. "We want to be able to say you can get books here so that you have them on your shelf. You do not have to return them; they are yours, especially for kids, which is so important for literacy."

The Big Fall Book Sale is just one chapter of many that make reading more accessible to families like the Bells.

"We're thankful. This is here and that we can pull different topics and keep expanding our minds," Edward Bell said.

If you couldn't make it to the Saturday sale, the bargain bag sale begins at 11:00 am on Sunday. It is $6 per bag of books for members and $7 for non-members.

More than 53,000 people across Colorado are facing homelessness, according to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. In El Paso County alone, more than 1,400 people have experienced homelessness this year according to the 2026 Point In Time survey.

See more about the 2026 Point In Time survey: El Paso County Point in Time Count tallies more than 1,400 experiencing homelessness

But I had the chance to sit down with Springs Rescue Mission CEO Travis Williams, who spent 24 hours on a bench raising awareness about the issue. It marks the second year he has taken on the challenge.

Williams said the experience was far from easy and that the first hour was the hardest.

"It also was a reminder to me, almost a metaphor for what our guests go through, is that you hit those hard times and it's that initial start that's often the hardest," Williams said.

I spent 30 minutes on the bench during our conversation a fraction of the 24 hours Williams committed to the cause.

Working as a reporter in downtown Colorado Springs, I've seen the reality of homelessness firsthand from people resting in Acacia Park to conversations that have been truly eye-opening.

Williams said the conversations happening on the bench have resonated with those who were watching nearby, not just the two of us.

"There's a space where we've had different guests and particularly last night after we wrapped up a little bit, I was talking with some of the guests and they were, they were saying how these conversations have unlocked something new for them," Williams said.

One of those people is Danie Delice, who says what she witnessed hit close to home.

"When I see everybody moving around, it is not just about themselves, it's about someone else and it's that selfless behavior and character that I love and I really resonate with that because I am a servant at heart," Delice said.

Delice says she experienced homelessness for months.

"I've experienced what it feels like to not have a support system and to not have a way to get out of that," Delice said.

She didn't just share her story with me she also shared it with Williams on the bench. She said through programs at the Rescue Mission, Delice gained skills she didn't have before.

"There was a program here going into the educational opportunities that is offered. Before I came here, I didn't know how to drive a forklift, but I know how to drive a forklift. So that's one of the positions I would be looking for when I'm ready to apply," Delice said.

Now, she hopes to continue giving back to the community that helped her.

"I would like to continue to create impact in the community that has helped me previously and continues to help others, and give them a sense of purpose, because we all have a purpose," Delice said.

Williams says many people have a narrow picture of what homelessness looks like and people who are served at Springs Rescue Mission tell him they want to change that perspective.

"They go that's not me. Like I could be your sister, I could be your brother, I could be your grandmother, and I want you to see me," Williams said.

And I agree. Through many stories I've covered about Springs Rescue Mission, I think of the people who have moved past homelessness and are now thriving.

Watch the stories of people who have grown since getting out of homelessness: 'Look at Where You Are Now': The Stories Behind These Powerful Portraits

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs has two new additions to campus and they're not buildings or classes.

They're humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence.

UCCS received the robots as a donation this year. They are both named Ami, and they are stationed at the campus library as an interactive resource for students. They are also taken to classes and events to interact with the community.

Watch the Full Story Below

When powered on, Ami can help students flesh out ideas for projects and receive feedback. It also tells a dad joke or two.

"Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field," Ami said.

But its role on campus goes well beyond humor. Ami has already been put to work in innovation classes, where students explore cutting-edge technology and brainstorm ideas.

"It's all about inspiring students to think about how AI can be part of the future," Ami said.

To interact with Ami, students first have to create an "agent" a set of natural language instructions that gives the robot a specific goal and purpose.

Those instructions can define Ami's tone, personality and purpose. The robot can even be directed on how to carry itself emotionally.

"It feels no nerves. It has no emotion. If I tell it to be confident, it's going to be confident," Joel Tonyan, UCCS' Direcrtor of User Experience, said.

One of the most sophisticated classroom applications so far has been programming Ami to act as a business idea coach.

"They [students] learned all about how to instruct Ami. You could present a business idea to AI and operating under these instructions it would evaluate your business idea, tell you how to improve it, give you further things to think about, so really it can be tailored to all sorts of different situations," Tonyan said.

The guiding principle behind every agent is simple.

"The instructions really are just natural language. It gives AI a goal. It's very explicit. The one rule above all others that you should follow is that when you are asked something, you answer it. That's your entire job and you do it every time," Tonyan said.

Students can also take Ami's programming in a more creative direction including giving it an entirely different personality, like that of a medieval gnome named Bartholomew.

"Greetings, noble scholars. Tis I, Bartholomew, the gnome of whimsical lore. How dost thou fare on this fine day?" Ami said.

Whimsical personas aside, Ami's primary purpose is to help students build efficiency and develop real-world AI skills.

"I'm here to chat and answer questions students might have. It's all about making learning a bit more interactive and fun," Ami said.

A plan to revitalize two of Colorado Springs' major waterways is generating both excitement and anxiety among residents who would be most affected by the changes.

See more about the plan here. Feasibility study underway for Monument and Fountain Creeks revitalization plan

Pikes Peak Waterways, the city of Colorado Springs, and Colorado Springs Utilities are partnering on the COS Creek Plan, a long-term effort to revitalize portions of Monument Creek and Fountain Creek. A feasibility study is currently underway to determine how the vision will come to life. President of Pikes Peak Waterways said the study will be complete in 2027.

"We've received some grant money which has helped us to get to this point where we can have these community meetings and begin to get the public input into the plan," said Martin.

The plan aims to connect community members, increase recreation along the waterways, and improve water quality.

Over 1,000 people have already shared comments online about the project. Pikes Peak Waterways says community members identified the top three priorities as water quality improvements, safety and homelessness, and better connections and transit.

Other priorities include:

Nature and Habitat Restoration Flood Resilience Water Quality Trails and Connectivity Parks and Gathering Spaces Recreation and Safe Creek Access Economic Development Neighborhood Revitalization Public Art and Culture

At the end of a 20-year timeline, the hope is that eight new and revitalized parks will be established.

Martin said the plan has the potential to reshape the city.

"As a native, always wondering why we hadn't done anything with our waterways, I think this plan can be transformational for our city," Martin said.

An open house was held at Roswell Community Church Monday, where more than 30 people turned out to weigh in on the future of their neighborhood.

Susan Alexander, a Roswell neighbor, described the mixed feelings many attendees brought with them.

"This comes with excitement but also anxiety because so that gets people out um because we love our neighborhood," Alexander said.

She said she left with some reassurance after learning the project has not yet solidified into a formal plan.

"We have a creek vision, and I was glad to hear that because when I thought it was more of a plan, and it made me nervous because there were aspects of it that I know would negatively impact Roswell," Alexander said.

Homelessness along the creek is among the most pressing concerns for many neighbors. Carl Anderson, a Roswell neighbor, said living near both the creek and Roswell Park has given him a clear view of what happens there day to day.

"I won't let my kids go down by the creek. We use the trail, yes, but we don't go down by the creek because of all the trash, the drug use, the defecation," Anderson said.

Alexander said she got involved in a creek cleanup over the weekend and described a persistent challenge at a well-known encampment in the area.

"We worked for a little over 3 hours and probably 2 of it was spent at one specific campsite because it wasn't occupied on Saturday. We had the opportunity to do a lot of clean up there. Well lo and behold this morning it's already reoccupied," Alexander said.

She said she is worried about enforcing encampment rules.

For many who showed up to the open house, the stakes are deeply personal.

"This is where we live. This is our homes. And yes, we want to see it improved, but we want to see it improved in the right way," Anderson said.

There are two more open houses happening this month. The next one is at the PPLD Penrose Main Library at 20 N. Cascade Avenue on October 12 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. On October 26, an open house will be held at Gaylord Hall in the Worner Center, 902 N. Cascade Avenue, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

But if people cannot make it in person, they can submit online comments here.