A metal bison sculpture created by Native youth in Denver has been stolen, along with the trailer transporting it.

The artwork was in Pueblo for a community education program.

The youth woke up to discover the trailer and sculpture had been stolen overnight from the Springhills Suite at the Marriott parking lot.

The artwork had been traveling through Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs before arriving in Pueblo for a program at the El Pueblo History Museum.

Anyone who has seen the trailer or sculpture is asked to call the Pueblo Police Department's non-emergency number at 719-553-2502.

The stolen trailer carries Colorado license plate EUX-T06. A white shot bed Ford pickup between 2018 and 2022 with a ladder in the back is the suspect vehicle, according to police.

Tipsters may also contact Millue Duran with Casa Milagro Youth Solutions at 720-202-0692.

The "Bison Resilience" sculpture is a youth-led art installation made possible by Casa Milagro Youth Solutions, a Denver-based nonprofit dedicated to helping children and teens heal from abuse and trauma.

The sculpture was created as part of the Bison Resilience Project an educational initiative tied to the Bison Harvest at the TallBull Memorial Grounds.

It carries deep cultural significance, representing the genocide of the bison and its devastating impact on Native communities.

The piece also honors the bison's remarkable resurgence from a historic population of 16 million, to fewer than 1,000, and back to over 500,000 today.

The rear section portrays a full, strong bison symbolizing the thriving era of pre-colonization.

The center features a skeletal design representing hardship, trauma, and historical struggle.

The front represents survival, recovery, and moving forward with resilience

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

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is investigating a crash that left a motorcyclist dead on Friday night.

The crash happened just after 8 p.m. near Barnes Road and Purcell Drive and involved one motorcyclist. The rider was taken to the hospital, where police said the rider was later pronounced dead.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing and being conducted by CSPD's Major Crash Team.

The identity of the motorcyclist has not been released.

Todays Forecast: It will be a much warmer day compared to yesterday. Temperatures will be around 10+ degrees higher than yesterday. We will also be 5-10 degrees above seasonal highs. It will be sunny and dry. A few clouds will be possible in the afternoon, mostly across the high country. High temperatures will top out in the upper 70s to low 80s across the High Plains. They will reach near 80 degrees in Colorado Springs and the lower 80s in Pueblo, with pleasant 70s in the mountain valleys.

Tonight, a weak frontal boundary will move across the region. It will be a dry cold front with no precipitation expected. There could be slightly stronger winds as it passes through. Expect clear skies overnight.

Extended outlook forecast: Tomorrow will be slightly cooler as the boundary moves through. Temperatures will drop back into the 70s across the region under mostly sunny skies. An isolated shower over the high country will be possible. The best chance of rain should remain further west over the continental divide. Temperatures will rebound for the rest of the week. An isolated shower will be possible Tuesday afternoon/evening. The best chance will be over the higher terrain. High pressure will dominate for the rest of the week, keeping temperatures warm with mostly sunny skies!

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KOAA News5 is the proud southern Colorado home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks!

KOAA will stream all non-nationally exclusive Switchbacks FC matches on our mobile app, connected TV apps, and website for Southern Coloradans to enjoy.

Saturday night, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks will be hosting the Oakland Roots Soccer Club at 7:00 p.m. at Weidner Field. For more information about the match and tickets, click here.

Watch the match live below, or use these instructions:

WATCH: Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs Oakland Roots SC Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs Detroit FC

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Disclaimer:

This is sponsored content. All opinions and views are of Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group and does not reflect the same of KOAA.

TCAs Kelsey Peterson made history as the first player in CHSAA history to throw for 10,000 passing yards in flag football.

The senior quarterback has led the Titans to the state championship twice, winning it last season and earning Player of the Year honors. Despite all she has accomplished, Peterson said she had no idea she was on the brink of making history.

News5's Dante Williams has the story in the video below:

AOTW KELSEY PETERSON

"It was honestly crazy. I didn't really even know that was happening. I had no idea that's where my stats are at, but it's such an honor honestly to get that accomplishment. It's not something I ever thought I'd get to do and so, getting that was so cool and I'm so glad I got to do it and have that time to share with my team," Kelsey Peterson said.

A mid-game celebration recognized her historic achievement, but Peterson said the record belongs to more than just her.

"I have worked really hard for this and I mean, so have my teammates. I've worked a lot in the offseason with my receivers and that kind of stuff, so seeing some of that hard work pay off has been so amazing," Peterson said.

Peterson began her football career during her sophomore year, when flag football became a sanctioned CHSAA sport. She said reaching 10,000 passing yards in just under three seasons has felt unreal, but she hopes her true effect is that she becomes a trailblazer for other girls.

"I hope that other girls, younger girls, are going to gain a love for the game and that they're also going to have a desire to play flag football and that they'll gain a hard work ethic and also want to work towards not necessarily that same goal but also work towards a goal," Peterson said.

With a few regular season games and the playoffs remaining, the state's all-time passing leader will continue adding to her legacy, but she's looking forward to the next person who will further the sport.

"I think it's so cool that I have that right now, but I would love to see other girls break that record and other girls also get to do those cool things and have those goals and also thrive and lead a team well," Peterson said.

When Peterson was asked if she had a goal in mind for how high she would want to set this passing yards record, her answer was two as in the number of state titles she hopes to win by the time her high school career is over, putting her team above her own personal accomplishments.

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About Athlete of the Week

News5 works to honor the high school Athlete of the Week throughout the school year in our Wednesday evening newscasts. Were looking for that special teen who is working hard and playing right all while making parents and coaches proud.

Nominate your Athlete of the Week today! See our current and past athletes of the week, click here.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Friday Football Fever continues this week! The games kick off Thursday night, followed by plenty of action on Friday.

Get the latest scores and highlights in the video player below:

Friday Football Fever 2026: Week 5 Highlights and Scores from across Southern Colorado

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Mahjong, a tile-based game, is building a fast-growing following in Central Springs and for many players, what happens around the table goes far beyond the game itself.

Front Range Mahjong, a local organization, hosts open play events that have expanded dramatically since they first launched. Owner Courtney Schreier says she remembers the group's very first open play event.

News5 reporter Liv Wood has more on the impact mahjong is having in Central Springs in the video below:

Mahjong is bringing people together one round at a time

"We had 4 tables at Kinship Landing, and now we have, we have 11, so it's grown so much in the last year," Courtney Schreier said, "I think mahjong is just a great way to get off your phone and talk to people, and it's a very tactile game, and I think that's something that's really cool about it."

The organization plays at many locations all around Colorado Springs including The Brit Pub, Kinship Landing, Bristol Brewing Comapny, and Carboy Winery to name a few. They have intro classes, tournament practice, and open play sessions for all skill levels. They provide all the equipment including tiles, racks, mats, and beginner guides so people can focus on playing and connecting with others.

The game itself, which involves swapping tiles to achieve the right pattern, has a little bit of everything, according to player Sandy Halby.

"It's a little bit of chance, a little bit of gambling, a little bit of almost poker-like experience," Halby said.

But for many players, it's the social connections the game creates that matter most.

"It just brings all these people together. You get to meet new people," Halby said.

Fellow player Pamela Walsh says there is something especially rewarding about watching a newcomer catch on.

"You can see somebody at the beginning being so confused thinking, 'how am I ever gonna do this?' and then that moment where it clicks for them and then they're like they are off and running," Walsh said.

For Walsh, mahjong offers a kind of connection that can't be found just anywhere.

"It's just a way to connect with other people that is um very magical in my opinion and I've met some wonderful people that I never would have met any other way," Walsh said.

The game's popularity is growing so quickly that Walsh says supplies are struggling to keep up.

"It has experienced a resurgence in popularity. It's really hard to get tiles now," Walsh said.

Halby says the friendships formed over mahjong can last a lifetime.

"It's great for your social interaction and I love the game and I love the friends that I've made through the game," Halby said.

And for those who make it to a winning round, there's one moment that never gets old.

"There's nothing like that first time you get to say, 'mahjong!'" Walsh said.

A new outdoor classroom at Rockrimmon Elementary on Colorado Springs' West Side carries the name of Melissa Joffrion, a mother of four and Parent Teacher Organization president who died following an oral cancer diagnosis.

What began as an idea for a bench or two near the walking path where parents drop off and pick up their children grew into a full outdoor classroom after community donations reached $30,000.

Melissa's son Jake Joffrion is a student at Rockrimmon Elementary. The outdoor classroom is a reminder of his mother when he passes it on his way to and from school.

"Yes, every day I usually cry," Jake said.

"I also really like it. I'm glad they made it. I mean, I love how they're putting grass around it. I feel like they're really respecting it," Jake said.

Melissa was deeply involved at Rockrimmon Elementary. She served as PTO president, led fundraisers, and helped teachers apply for grants.

"She just wanted to do everything she could to, to help the teachers be successful and be involved with the school," Justin Joffrion, Melissa's husband and Jake's father, said.

Melissa's cancer was discovered after a persistent sore on her tongue. Her diagnosis was unexpected.

"She was young and didn't have the, the sort of lifestyle that might contribute to a diagnosis of oral cancer," Justin said.

Even as she faced her illness, Melissa focused on the school community. When she died, she asked that memorials take the form of donations to Rockrimmon Elementary.

"Even in her time of passing, she wanted people to donate money to the school instead of to expenses that they had, or flowers, and that was really important to us to make sure that she was honored in that way," current PTO President Chelsey Tyndall said.

"Her husband and family wanted something to both honor her and really bring the school community together," Rockrimmon Elementary Principal Amber Izzo said.

Justin said the location of the outdoor classroom reflects how Melissa chose to bring her children to school and connect with other families.

"She didn't like to kick them out of the car. She liked to walk them down and gave her a chance to meet people and visit, and so we thought it would be nice to have a space where people could gather and socialize before and after school," Justin said.

Justin reflected on the level of support from the community.

"When someone is gone, you learn what the scale of the impact that they had on others and so that was very touching to us because we miss her tremendously, of course," Justin said.

"We really decided we wanted to think outside the box and what could we do that would create more community," Tyndall said.

The outdoor classroom also serves the school's educational mission. Rockrimmon Elementary is an IB school, and teachers had been considering an outdoor teaching space.

"There are so many reasons for an outdoor classroom. I feel like it gives our students the opportunity to really put their learning into action," Izzo said.

"Any time we can find a way to, you know, change the scenery for the students and get engagement levels back up in a new way is always, you know, something a teacher's looking for," 3rd-grade teacher Makena Wims said.

"Being in IB school we really consider the whole child and being outside and the positives of nature and its effect on children we know how positive that is," Izzo said.

3rd-grade teacher Briona Dice described one planned use of the space.

"An example is our upcoming weather unit we're studying the types of clouds and we can come out here and get students to actually look at the clouds and be truly engaged in their learning," Dice said.

Jake turned to his father.

"She was amazing," Jake said.

"She was amazing," Justin said.

The PTO continues to raise money to add landscaping around the outdoor classroom space.

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

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Tonight and tomorrow's forecast: Quiet conditions tonight under mostly clear skies. Overnight lows will be slightly warmer than Thursday night, reaching the upper-40s and low-50s for the I-25 corridor and Plains, and the upper-30s and low 40s across the high country. Tomorrow well see another mostly sunny day, with temperatures noticeably warmer. Well climb above seasonal averages to highs around 80 degrees in the Pikes Peak Region and through the Plains.

Extended forecast: As a weak system passes through the region this weekend, Sunday will be cooler. Well see the chance for a stray shower or storm developing over the high country, but overall our weather will stay mostly quiet. Another day in the low-80s Monday kicks off a warmer-than-average week. Theres another chance of seeing a few isolated showers and storms develop late Monday into Tuesday.

Sunny and warmer to kick off first weekend of October

Colorado Springs forecast: High: 80; Low: 48. Clear overnight with lows in the upper-40s. Saturday brings a warm-up, with highs jumping about 10 degrees to around 80 degrees under sunny skies.

Pueblo forecast: High: 83; Low: 47. Cool and clear overnight, with warming temperatures Saturday. Highs will climb into the 80s. Sunshine continues through the weekend.

Canon City forecast: High: 81; Low: 49. Cool overnight with mostly clear skies. Well see a Saturday warm-up and highs rise back into the low-80s, warmer than average for this time of year.

Woodland Park forecast: High: 72; Low: 42. Clear and chilly overnight, before a mostly quiet forecast this weekend. Highs in the low-70s Sunday under sunny skies.

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

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