ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. Colorado State Patrol crime investigators are looking into the circumstances that led to a deadly crash on Interstate 70 east of Byers Wednesday morning.

The fatal crash happened while CSP troopers were investigating a single-vehicle, property-damage-only semi crash on westbound I-70 near milepost 321 at around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.

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As troopers were working the scene, one of their patrol cars was struck by a Ford F-150, according to a news release.

Initial reports show the trooper was partially blocking the left lane of travel while tow trucks were removing the semi from the center median when the Ford F-150, driven by an 18-year-old man, lost control, striking the patrol vehicle and sideswiping the passenger side. The F-150 continued westbound, entering the center median, striking the guardrail, and then striking the rear driver's side of the semi-trailer.

The 18-year-old driver of the F-150 was taken to an area hospital for serious injuries. The passenger of the pickup, a 19-year-old man, was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died, according to the release.

The trooper involved was taken to an area hospital for a precautionary medical evaluation; no injuries were reported at the scene.

The name of the 19-year-old will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner once family has been notified.

The Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit is investigating this crash.

DENVER Ice Castles, the family-friendly winter wonderland experience that drove thousands to Cripple Creek and Silverthorne each year, will not be returning to Colorado for the 2026-2027 winter season after the state experienced one of its worst winters on record.

While Wednesdays announcement does not explicitly state that Colorados record-low snowpack was a reason for cancelling the event this year, Cripple Creek officials said earlier this month that organizers cited operational and business considerations as the reason behind the decision.

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ice Castles will not return to Cripple Creek for 2026 - 27 Season

Mild weather last season throughout the country were challenges for the organization, Cripple Creek officials said. As a result, they will be scaling back on the number of sites they will be opening this coming season.

City officials also cited significant water issues in Teller County as another contributing factor for cancelling Ice Castles in Colorado this winter.

We're deeply grateful to the Town of Silverthorne and the Outlets at Silverthorne, and to the City of Cripple Creek and the property owners who hosted us there, along with the guests and communities across Summit and Teller counties and the greater Front Range who made Ice Castles part of their winter tradition, said Andrew Child, a spokesperson for the Ice Castles in a statement.

Though Ice Castles is canceled this winter, organizers said they hope to return in the future to the Centennial State.

Ice Castles first made its debut in Colorado in 2017 and has been a staple for thousands of people each winter. The last time the massive frozen tourist attraction canceled its season in Colorado was in 2021.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is praising deputies for helping stop a wrong-way driver on I-25 early Tuesday morning.

According to the sheriff's office, dispatch received reports of a car traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-25 in Castle Rock around 4:45 a.m. Tuesday.

See the dashcam video bleow Video shows DougCo deputies stop wrong-way driver on I-25 who had 7 prior DUI convictions

Deputies attempted to stop the car, but it fled at speeds exceeding 80 mph while continuing to travel in the wrong direction.

The Lone Tree Police Department worked with the sheriff's office to close the highway ahead of the suspect.

Deputies continued a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) to bring the vehicle to a stop, but the suspect initially refused to exit before the suspect was taken into custody.

According to the sheriff's office, there were multiple indicators of possible impairment, and the suspect refused testing at the hospital to determine his blood alcohol level.

Deputies also determined the suspect has a long criminal record in Colorado, with seven prior DUI convictions across several decades. The suspect also had a suspended license

"Wrong-way drivers create an immediate and potentially catastrophic danger for everyone on the roadway, Sheriff Darren Weekly said in a statement. I'm proud of the quick decisions, teamwork, and professionalism demonstrated by our deputies and our partners at the Lone Tree Police Department. Their actions helped prevent what could have been a tragic outcome and kept our community safe. Let me be clear: we will not tolerate impaired driving in Douglas County. Time and again, impaired drivers put innocent lives at risk, and our deputies remain committed to holding those who make that dangerous choice accountable while doing everything possible to protect the public."

Colorado diesel prices have climbed to a record $6.31 per gallon on average, as refinery maintenance and global supply disruptions push fuel costs higher, according to GasBuddy.

On Tuesday, News5 saw several stations with diesel prices more than $6.50 in the Colorado Springs area, including one priced at $6.79.

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddys head of petroleum analysis, said the states average diesel price has surpassed previous records, including a high of $5.66 set earlier this year and $5.53 in 2022. The latest spike comes as diesel supplies remain tight both in the United States and overseas. De Haan said seasonal refinery maintenance following the summer driving season is contributing to price volatility in Colorado, where the market is particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.

Colorado has only one oil refinery, meaning maintenance or other disruptions can have an outsized impact on the states fuel supply and prices.

It's just all about refineries right now and not enough diesel supply, De Haan explained.

Global conflicts are adding to the pressure. Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have affected diesel supplies, while disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz and reduced exports from Chinese refineries have further constrained the global market, De Haan said.

Although President Donald Trump recently announced a potential deal involving Russian fuel supplies, De Haan said it is unclear whether Russia can provide additional diesel. He noted that Russia has restricted diesel exports since July amid supply challenges.

The United States already exports about 1.5 million barrels of excess diesel per day, according to De Haan, raising questions about whether a potential deal with Russia would significantly increase the amount of fuel available globally.

Colorado's efforts to ease prices

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis recently signed an executive order intended to provide relief from high fuel prices by allowing certain changes involving dyed diesel and transportation requirements. Dyed diesel is typically reserved for off-road uses, such as farming and construction, where it receives different tax treatment. Allowing its use on public roads under specified conditions could offer some tax-related relief, De Haan said, but it would not increase the overall supply of diesel. He also cautioned that truckers traveling across state lines could face complications if neighboring states have different rules governing dyed diesel.

The biggest problem here is none of these levers are meaningfully adding diesel supply to the global market, De Haan added.

More price increases possible

De Haan said he does not expect meaningful short-term relief unless global supply conditions improve.

Diesel is also used as heating oil, particularly in parts of the northeastern United States where natural gas is not available. As temperatures drop, increased demand for heating oil could put additional pressure on diesel supplies. If winter weather is especially cold, De Haan said diesel prices could approach $7 per gallon in some areas. He said the outlook will depend largely on refinery operations, global fuel supplies and geopolitical tensions involving Russia, Ukraine and Iran.

Click here for more on fuel rewards programs in Colorado to save at the pump.

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UCHealth broke ground on a major expansion project at Memorial Hospital North on Tuesday. The project will nearly double the hospital's size.

According to UCHealth, the expansion includes a new six-story in-patient tower that will add 36 medical-surgical beds and 14 intensive care unit beds when it opens.

That tower will increase the hospital's capacity from 140 beds to 190 beds with the ability to grow to 320 beds as the demand for care increases.

This groundbreaking represents more than the beginning of a new building, UCHealth President and CEO Elizabeth B. Concordia said in a statement. The Memorial Hospital North expansion is a major investment in our community and our mission, strengthening access to high-quality care and ensuring patients throughout southern Colorado can benefit from the nationally recognized specialists and services offered across UCHealth.

Other aspects of the $463 million expansion include:

Four new operating rooms in phase one, with four more planned for future phases, bringing the eventual total to 18 ORs Parking structure with 875 parking stalls Expanded kitchen and dining space for patients, visitors and staff Renovation of the main lobby to incorporate the new tower Space for more emergency department exam rooms Laboratory expansion

The expansion comes amid a growing demand for healthcare in the Colorado Springs & Pueblo regions. According to officials, hospitalizations at Memorial Hospital North increased 25% from 2020-2025, emergency department visits increased 41% and the number of surgeries grew 59%.

Memorial Hospital North has been operating at or near capacity for several years, and these investments will substantially increase our ability to meet the growing demand for inpatient, surgical and specialty care in northern El Paso County, UCHealths southern Colorado region President and CEO Lonnie Cramer added in a statement.

According to officials, the project spans 308,000 square feet of new construction. About 45% of the space will be built out for immediate use, while the rest will be shell space for future growth.

Construction will take place in phases, and the new parking garage is the first project set to be complete i the spring of 2028.

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Todays Forecast:

Fog will be possible this morning and it will be misty in the Pikes Peak Region. Temperatures won't rise much today with highs in the 40s and 50s. Heavy rain will be possible in the afternoon as this low-pressure system pushes eastward. Overnight lows into Thursday morning will drop into the 30s and 40s.

Colorado Springs forecast: High: 47; Low: 38.

Colorado Springs will have temperatures this morning in the upper 40s. There will be some fog that also sticks around through the morning. Winds will eventually shift out of the south to help push some of that fog out around 5-15mph. Afternoon highs will be on the cooler side getting into the upper 40s. Rain will also move in during the afternoon.

Pueblo forecast: High: 52; Low: 40.

Pueblo is waking up to some fog this morning and that will last until the afternoon. Temperatures won't warm up too much with highs only reaching the lower 50s. This will be the coolest day over the next 7 days. Rain moves in during the afternoon. Winds will be coming out of the south between 5-15mph. Thunderstorms may increase those winds.

Canon City forecast: High: 50; Low: 41.

Canon City will wake up to temperatures in the lower 40s. Fog is already starting to let up, and will clear out by the afternoon. Afternoon temperatures will be on the cooler side today only getting into the lower 50s. Rain will be possible in the afternoon.

Woodland Park forecast: High: 42; Low: 31.

Woodland Park is chilly this morning with temperatures in the lower 40s. We aren't expecting a big jump in temperatures. You will want to make sure you grab a waterproof jacket as you head out the door. Rain will be possible this afternoon. As this moisture continues to move in and temperatures drop, there will be some flurries Thursday morning. Not expecting much for accumulations, and just a dusting over grassy surfaces.

Tri-Lakes forecast: High: 45; Low: 34.

The Monument area will have temperatures in the 40s today. There won't be much of a warm up throughout the day. Rain also moves in during the afternoon hours. Winds will be coming out of the south between 5-10mph. Lows going into Thursday morning will be in the 30s.

Plains forecast: High: 50s; Low: 40s.

The eastern plains has a little bit of fog this morning and that will clear out before noon. Winds will eventually shift out of the south and thunderstorms will move in by the afternoon. Some heavy rain is possible with a few of these storms. Highs will be on the cooler side today in the 50s.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: High: 49/58; Low: 40/38.

The southern portion of I-25 will have some fog this morning, but will clear out before the afternoon. Temperatures won't warm much with this cold front that has moved through. Highs will only reach the upper 40s and lower 50s. Rain will move in during the afternoon.

Mountains forecast: High: 40s; Low: 20s.

The mountains have winter weather advisories in place through Thursday morning. Visibility may be reduced along mountain passes. Highs today will be in the 40s. Snow levels will eventually drop to around 8,000 feet early Thursday morning.

Extended outlook forecast:

These cold temperatures won't stick around because by the time we get into Friday highs will ready be back in the 60s. We aren't stopping there, highs will eventually get into the 70s by Sunday. Early next week looks calm with plenty of sunshine.

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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 Colorado Springs Police Department had issued a shelter-in-place order for homes and businesses along Wood Avenue in Colorado Springs Tuesday night.

According to police, a call first came in from a reported shooting inside a home in the area. Police learned once they arrived that no one was hurt and the threat was not credible.

The department said the order was for a quarter-mile radius around the 3100 block of Wood Avenue due to law enforcement activity. Near the Fillmore and Cascade Avenue intersection.

"The Colorado Springs Police Department has issued a SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER for residents within a 1/4 mile radius of 3100 Wood Ave due to LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY near 3100 Wood Ave. SECURE your home/business and STAY AWAY from doors and windows. SHELTER in a safe place until further notice. You will receive an alert when the order is lifted," read the Peak Alert Tuesday night.

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News 5 received a tip that sources say Harrison School District 2 plans to make changes to several elementary schools like Turman, Bricker, and Oak Creek, potentially taking on new purposes next school year.

Weve been looking into the potential changes since receiving a tip. We called the district last week but did not get a response. After following up by email this week, the district confirmed it plans to announce changes to several schools Wednesday evening.

For parents like Carah Bacus, whose daughter just started second grade at Turman, the news could mean another adjustment for her family.

"I'm actually quite shocked because I didn't know about that." Bacus said.

Bacus said Turman's close location has made the transition to a new school easier for her family.

"What will happen to my kid, and options? When it's gonna start?" Bacus said.

The district will announce its proposed plans to parents and students Wednesday. I've requested an interview with Superintendent Dr. Wendy Birhanzel to get more answers about what the changes could mean for students and families.

Tonight's Forecast:

Tuesday night will see a cold front continue to push across Southern Colorado, bringing increasing cloud cover, gusty winds, and lower temperatures. Moist southwesterly flow will bring rain and mountain snow across the high country overnight. Snow levels dropping around 8,000 feet. Expect overnight lows to drop into the 30s and 40s across the lower elevations and mountain valleys.

Colorado Springs forecast: Low: 45; High: 51;

Wednesday will be much cooler across the Pikes Peak region behind the cold front. Low clouds and easterly upslope flow will keep conditions gray, with rain showers spreading across the area through the day. Highs will only reach the lower 50s.

Pueblo forecast: Low: 48; High: 55;

Pueblo will see a noticeable drop in temperatures on Wednesday with highs topping out in the mid-50s. Low stratus clouds and cool easterly breezes will dominate, with widespread rain showers spreading across the plains through Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Canon City forecast: Low: 49; High: 53;

Highs in Canon City will reach the lower 50s on Wednesday. Expect cloudy skies with widespread rain showers developing during the day. Higher terrain west of town will see snow levels drop through Wednesday night, bringing winter driving conditions to surrounding mountain passes.

Woodland Park forecast: Low: 40; High: 42;

Woodland Park will see a chilly, winter-like day on Wednesday with highs in the lower 40s. Rain and snow showers will build through the afternoon, with snow accumulations expected for Teller County.

Extended Forecast:

Noticeably cooler, wet, and active weather dominates through Thursday morning before dry and warmer conditions return for the weekend.

Wednesday Night Thursday: Showers continue into Wednesday night before gradually tapering off Thursday morning as the upper low moves into the Northern Plains. Thursday stays cool with highs in the 50s to around 60 degrees across the plains under gusty northerly winds of 20 to 40 mph. Friday: Dry and mostly clear skies return as high pressure builds in from the west. Daytime temperatures rebound back into the 60s. Saturday Sunday: Warmer and pleasant fall weather settles across Southern Colorado for the weekend, with afternoon highs climbing into the upper 60s and 70s under mostly sunny skies.

A Freeze Warning has been issued for the San Luis Valley for Wednesday night with sub-freezing lows in the 20s. Portions of the eastern plains and I-25 corridor could see their first frost or freeze of the season Thursday and Friday nights.

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