Venu Holding Corp. said Thursday it is in active discussions with several northern Colorado cities about developing a $350 million-plus entertainment destination designed to host concerts, festivals and corporate events year-round. The company is behind the Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs.

The proposed venue would have a capacity of about 12,500 and target the growing northern Colorado market, as the cities of Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and Boulder were mentioned in the news release. The news release did not mention the specific municipalities with which the company's been communicating.

VENU said the project would feature multi-seasonal programming, immersive entertainment technology and premium hospitality offerings, including private luxury suites and owners clubs.

Founder and CEO J.W. Roth said the company sees strong potential in the region as it continues expanding its Colorado footprint.

The company said the development would aim to become a major entertainment hub for the Front Range and part of its broader national expansion strategy.

"We have long believed in the potential of the Northern Colorado market, and I am excited to share our progress as we continue to scale our Colorado footprint," Founder, Chairman and CEO of VENU JW Roth said. "We are encouraged by the interest we have received across the region and can't wait to share more on this world-class development in the future."

VENU, based in Colorado Springs, owns and operates entertainment venues in Colorado, Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  A fatal accident at a Colorado Springs construction site claimed the life of a crane operator, the Colorado Springs Fire Department reported.

After the incident at around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, crews spent six hours recovering the operators body, which was trapped in equipment.

CSFD says the crane did not collapse and that no one else was injured in the incident at the Peak Innovation Business Park near the Colorado Springs Airport.

Fire officials would not disclose how the incident happened, saying only that arriving OSHA investigators would reveal those details later.

His name will be released by the El Paso County Coroner's Office at a later time.

No other details were available.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The Colorado State Patrol says two teens were injured, one critically, after crashing their car into a Security-Widefield church Saturday night.

An 18-year-old male driver and a 14-year-old male passenger, both from Colorado Springs, were in a Subaru WRX when it went off Main Street, hit a boulder, went airborne, and crashed into the second story of a church, according to CSP.

Troopers said the driver sustained critical, life-threatening injuries, while the passenger suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Both were transported to area hospitals.

No one was inside the church at the time of the crash. The extent of damage to the building is not known.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

CSPs Vehicular Crimes Unit asks anyone with information to contact Colorado State Patrol Dispatch at 719-544-2424 and reference case number VC260123.

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. The woman who was found guilty by a jury in 2023 for killing her 11-year-old stepson Gannon Stauch had her convictions overturned after the Colorado Court of Appeals determined a juror in the trial had a connection to the prosecutor's office.

As a result, a retrial has been ordered, but the Fourth Judicial District can ask the Colorado Supreme Court to reverse the lower court's decision.

The state appellate court issued their findings in Letecia Stauch's case on Thursday. The juror in question is considered "biased" due to the connection to the district attorney, the court ruled.

Letecia Stauch is currently serving life in prison without the possibility of parole after she was previously convicted of killing Gannon Stauch and moving his body. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but a jury determined she was sane when she stabbed Gannon Stauch 18 times, hit him four times over the head and shot at him three times.

The opinion, released Thursday, concluded "a biased juror deliberated," and "accordingly, Stauchs convictions must be reversed."

It reads that the juror during jury selection indicated his son-in-law worked as a deputy district attorney in the same office as El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen. Allen was the lead prosecutor on Letecia Stauch's case. The juror was questioned further about if he had discussed the case with his son-in-law and if he might be influenced outside of the evidence presented in court. Based on his answers, the court did not dismiss the juror, the opinion reads.

"Our supreme court has consistently recognized the type of error implicated here a violation of the defendants right to an unbiased jury as so harmful that it warrants automatic reversal," the document continues.

Al Stauch, Gannons father, told Denver7 that he is "truly torn" about potentially needing to repeat this process, but his resolve "has never been greater."

"The end result will be the same and although we do not wish to journey this path again, we stand with those who will handle this case and believe wholeheartedly in their ability to finish this once and for all," his statement reads.

Denver7 contacted the Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office about an interview on Thursday and they sent the following statement:

The 4th Judicial District has 42 days to file a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the Colorado Supreme Court asking for their review of this case. What happens in that process will determine if and when a retrial is scheduled.

Letecia Stauch's attorney, Eric Samler, said he would be surprised if the higher court does not review the case next. Samler told Denver7 his client will "likely" be retried.

Prosecutors and trial judges have long been aware of the law regarding juror qualifications," Samler said. "Common sense tells us a prospective juror whose son-in-law works for the prosecuting attorney should be disqualified from service on a criminal jury."

On Jan. 27, 2020, Letecia Stauch reported 11-year-old Gannon Stauch missing, saying he had gone to a friend's house and had not returned home. Letecia Stauch was his stepmother. Investigators believe that was the day Letecia Stauch killed the boy.

A few weeks later, on March 2, 2020, Letecia Stauch was arrested in connection with his disappearance. She was ultimately charged and convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree murder of a child under 12 by one in a position of trust, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.

Shortly after her arrest, on March 18, Gannon Stauch's body was found inside of a suitcase in Pace, Florida. An autopsy report listed that he had died of a gunshot wound and skull fracture. Prosecutors alleged that Letecia Stauch had shot and stabbed Gannon Stauch, then drove his body to an area off Colorado Highway 105 and South Perry Park Road before ultimately driving the body to Florida.

She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in February 2022, claiming she had suffered from a psychotic break. Her defense lawyer told the court that his client had killed Gannon Stauch, but was suffering from a major psychotic crack as a result of childhood trauma when the murder occurred. The defenses main witness, Dr. Dorothy Lewis, told the courtroom during the trial that Letecia Stauch suffered from dissociative identity disorder and was not sane at the time.

Prosecutors argued that she took steps to cover up her actions, which served as proof she knew that what she had done was wrong and was therefore sane. They contended in court that she stabbed the boy 18 times, hit him four times on the head, shot at him three times, and then hid the evidence and changed her story multiple times.

The jury rejected the claim of insanity and found Letecia Stauch guilty on all charges on May 8, 2023. This came after five weeks of testimony from law enforcement, mental health experts and others.

The judge in the case, Gregory Werner, called Letecia Stauch's actions "the most horrific I have ever seen." He gave her two life sentences without parole on the murder charges, plus 12 years for the tampering with a body charge and 18 months for the tampering with evidence charge.

During the sentencing, Gannon's parents addressed the court to explain how their loss will impact them for the rest of their lives.

Two days after the verdict and sentencing, Gannon's mother, Landen Bullard, welcomed Denver7 inside of the short-term rental in Colorado Springs where she had stayed through the trial.

Today is a weird day," she said. "I still feel like a weight is lifted, but also feel some emptiness. I just guess it's peace and freedom that's kind of instilling inside me... Guilty is a word that I've been waiting to hear. It was a whole bunch of emotions all at once. But the main thing was finally, like finally, after three years which to me is way too long finally, my son has justice.

Timed-entry permits and shuttle tickets for Pikes Peak go on sale Wednesday for the 2026 season. Timed-entry permits are required for vehicles traveling past mile seven on the Pikes Peak Highway.

They are available between May 22 and September 30 and cost $2. This is in addition to general admission, which is $18 for adults and $8 for children.

Shuttle service also begins May 22 and runs daily through August 9. This allows you and your family to get a ride up to the summit, with stops to Glen Cove and Devil's Playground before reaching the summit.

Shuttles are at mile marker seven every 30 minutes. Those cost $40 for adults and $12 for children ages six to 15. Tickets are free for children 5 years old and under.

To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit the City of Colorado Springs website.

The Colorado Renaissance Festival in Larkspur is entering its 49th year, but a staple of the event will not be returning. Celtic Legacy, a band that has performed at the festival for 38 years, was not asked back to this summer's lineup.

The decision has sparked frustration among fans on social media, with an article published weeks ago generating more than 150 comments and thousands of views.

Ben Holmes, owner of Celtic Legacy, said he is looking for clarity.

"I'm mostly just confused about the decision," Holmes said.

Holmes said a series of events from last year may have led to the band being kicked out. During the first show of the first day of the festival, there was an issue with the fire bagpipes.

ALSO READ | Colorado Renaissance Festival facing social media backlash after not bringing back popular music group

"The fire bagpipes are a unique instrument and the first show of the first run day of the Renaissance Festival, there was an issue with it," Holmes said, "I decided that I would hang back to provide safety and the owner was quite upset with that, although it really wasn't in my control."

Holmes also said the band began packing up their equipment 15 minutes before the festival closed.

"Definitely our fault, but I don't think it was as egregious because at that time of day, nobody but workers are up in that particular area. But it was something we did. Again, that angered the owner and he wanted us off of the property," Holmes said.

Holmes said the owner gave them a small amount of time to leave, forcing the band to abandon some of their equipment. He said members have yet to get those instruments back.

"He gave us a small amount of time to get off the property and we weren't able to get all of our equipment off, so we had to abandon some of that," Holmes said.

Holmes said he made a few calls to the owner to resolve the issue and get clarity.

"He's blocked me on there," Holmes said.

The Renaissance Festival send the following comment in response to the band's departure and fans disappointment.

Holmes said he does not know the exact reason behind the decision to release the band from the entertainment lineup.

"I'd like to know the reasoning underneath the reasoning because it seems they were sort of minor infractions for people that have been loyal for almost 4 decades," Holmes said. "We don't hold any animosity, just curiosity."

The now-former Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colorado Springs is now the Archbishop of Denver. Bishop James Golka was installed on Wednesday at the CoBank Arena in Denver.

Pope Leo XIV appointed him to lead the largest diocese in Colorado.

Golka was originally ordained as a priest in Nebraska in 1994. He then served in Colorado Springs for nearly five years. Golka said he is excited for his new role, but sad to leave his former parishioners.

On Wednesday, Golka talked about how important it is to stay focused on faith.

"The enemy continues to talk and tempt in our world today," Archbishop Golka said. "Believe me, I know it. I have felt it. I'm not afraid of Satan. I'm afraid of not looking at Jesus."

Golka is asking people to pray for whoever will replace him in Colorado Springs. The Vatican has not yet named its successor.

Click here for the latest information on the 24 Fire.

UPDATE: TUESDAY AT 8:30 P.M.

The fire was caused by a vehicle malfunction along Highway 115 and ignited the grass, which spread quickly. It is now 30% contained.

Highway 115 remains closed Tuesday evening.

UPDATE: TUESDAY AT 11:30 A.M.

A Fort Carson spokesperson released the following statement regarding the fire:

UPDATE: MONDAY AT 8:00 P.M.

The fire is now 24% contained.

UPDATE: MONDAY AT 2:15 P.M.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says that the pre-evacuation warning for the area of Highway 115 and Sandy Creek Ranch Heights has been lifted.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office says that residents who were evacuated can now return to their homes, as all evacuation orders have now been downgraded to pre-evacuation orders.

The area under evacuation in Fremont County was within a two-mile radius around County Road F45 and Highway 115, which remains in effect, as does a three-mile pre-evacuation order.

UPDATE: MONDAY AT 9:50 A.M.

As of Monday morning, the Colorado Office of Emergency Management says that the result of fire crews conducting back-burning operations has pushed the fire to an estimated 7,385 acres in size.

A Fort Carson Official confirmed Monday morning that back-burning operations have been successful in getting all control lines connected. The fire remains 0% contained. For those impacted by the Highway 115 closure, expect it to remain closed at least through Friday, but this will be evaluated daily according to Fort Carson.

The fire, which has been burning on Fort Carson land, has caused mandatory evacuations within a two-mile radius around County Road F45 and Highway 115, which remain in effect, as does a three-mile pre-evacuation order. Highway 115 remains closed until further notice.

In El Paso County, the pre-evacuation warning issued Saturday evening remains in effect for Highway 115 and Sandy Creek Ranch Heights.

Many of you shared your images and videos with us. Check out the Time-lapse Video Viewer, Holly Lymon from Caon City shared of the fire on Thursday

Have an image or video you want to share? Put it in the gallery below.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

UPDATE: SUNDAY AT 6:45 P.M.

The fire continues to grow and is at 4,605 acres and is 0% contained according to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. Fire crews have been focused on ensuring the western fire line holds so the fire does not jump Highway 115.

The Fremont County Sheriff's office says that the mandatory evacuations within a two-mile radius around County Road F45 and Highway 115 remain in effect, as does a three-mile pre-evacuation order. Highway 115 remains closed until further notice.

Sunday, Fort Carson crews worked to conduct a back burn in an effort to help contain the blaze.

UPDATE: SUNDAY AT 12:00 P.M.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office says the fire has grown to 4,595 acres, but did not mention any changes in containment.

Fort Carson officials say that the weather looks favorable for the fire conditions; however, there's still the risk that high winds threaten response operations.

There are currently two heavy aircraft, two super scoopers, and 170 firefighters from local, state, and regional agencies assisting with firefighting efforts.

Ground crews continue to strengthen control lines while working to monitor/extinguish hot spots.

Fort Carson officials say no donations are needed at this time.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has issued new pre-evacuation notices for the 24 Fire on Saturday.

Anyone in the Sandy Creek Ranch Heights area along Highway 115 should be prepared to leave. This is north of the fire, near Southwest Highway 115 Fire Protection's station.

If you or your home are in danger now, evacuate immediately.

EVACUATION ORDERS

A 2-mile evacuation order had been issued on Friday around County Road F45 and State Highway 115 via Everbridge.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office has posted an updated evacuation map as of Saturday at 11:35 a.m. That remains in effect.

PRE-EVACUATION ORDERS

A 3-mile pre-evacuation notice has also been issued for the surrounding area.

Officials said on Friday morning that an evacuation center has been established at Pathfinder Park in Florence.

People who need assistance, including animal support, are encouraged to go there and speak with the Red Cross or Community Animal Response Team.

Road Closures

Saturday at 10:00 a.m.: Highway 115 is closed at K Street. All other closures are still in effect.

Friday at 2:45 p.m.: Highway 115 closure remains in place between Mile Point 18 and Mile Point 39.

Friday at 5:30 a.m.: Highway 115 closure remains in place between County F45 (3 miles north of the Penrose area) and Cherokee Drive (near Fort Carson) from Mile Point 21 to Mile Point 39.

Thursday at 5:45 p.m.: The Hwy 115 closure has expanded, and now includes both directions between County Road F45 (3 miles north of the Penrose area) and Cherokee Drive (near Fort Carson) from Mile Point 21 to Mile Point 39.

Thursday at 4:45 p.m.: The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) says that northbound and southbound Highway 115 between County Road F45 and Barrett Road is closed due to fire activity. Drivers in the area should expect slower speeds.

UPDATE: SATURDAY AT 6:15 P.M.

Crews continue to battle a wildfire along Highway 115 throughout the weekend. As of a 5:00 p.m. briefing on Saturday, the fire had grown to 1,923 acres and is 0% contained according to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said the fire remains on the east side of Highway 115. There will be no updates from the sheriff's office until Sunday morning, unless something changes significantly.

The fire began to put up large amounts of smoke across much of the Pikes Peak region on Saturday as temperatures climbed.

There are 125 personnel from local, state, and federal agencies assisting in the fight as of the last update.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office says the fire is continuing to grow into their area and has issued mandatory evacuation orders in the Salt Canyon area.

Fort Carson officials said on Friday afternoon that crews had a good handle on the fire until the humidity caused the fire to jump the crews' fire line.

However, the fire is still located on the east side of Hwy 115, but high winds are supposed to begin around 2:00 p.m. Saturday.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

In the latest update from Friday morning, Fort Carson says the fire had grown to approximately 1,067 acres, with no containment still. They say that approximately 120 personnel from six agencies are working to keep the fire on the east side of the highway.

In a statement from Saturday morning, Fort Carson officials said that the fire line held well throughout the night, and the acreage and containment have had little change. There's no official update on the fire's size or containment percentage.

While the night operations to contain the fire along the southside proved to be effective, officials say that increasing wind, rising temperatures today and throughout the weekend will cause smoke plumes to be visible still.

There haven't been any injuries or damages reported.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) says that Brush Hollow State Wildlife Area near Penrose is closed to motorized boats, as firefighting helicopters are using the water to assist in containing the fire.

It's still open to hand-launched boats and recreation.

Fort Carson officials said late Thursday afternoon that the fire had traveled further onto Fort Carson land.

They say that the combination of dry, overgrown vegetation and unseasonably warm and windy weather has caused challenges for the crews working to contain the blaze.

The fire burned approximately 80 acres with 0% containment as of Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) estimated the fire perimeter had grown to 670 acres.

Multiple Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) units are assisting with containment efforts.

The fire began to put up a smoke plume on Thursday that could be seen from communities across Southern Colorado.

The fire, which started along Highway 115, was reported to have burned a total of 65 acres with 50% containment as of earlier Thursday, according to a Fort Carson official.

The Fremont County Office of Emergency Management was the first to report the fire on Wednesday and said it was burning on Fort Carson land.

The fire continues to burn southeast onto Fort Carson land. The following statement was sent to our newsroom on Wednesday

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office says Fort Carson is officially the lead on this fire. Deputies were on scene on Wednesday, conducting traffic control when the fire first broke out.

Crews are actively battling the fire and ask you not to call 911 if you see smoke in the area.

Many of you shared your images with us. Have an image or video you want to share? Put it in the gallery below.

Custer, El Paso, Fremont, and Teller Counties use Everbridge to reach community members during an emergency. To sign up in Custer and Fremont Counties, click here. To sign up in El Paso and Teller Counties, click here.

The 911 authority says that a new partnership with the ReachWell app will allow Peak Alerts to integrate seamlessly and allow for 130 different language translations. Reachwell does not require users to make an additional account or provide personal information to receive the alerts.

Once you have downloaded the ReachWell app, follow these steps to get Peak Alerts through the App:

1. Download the ReachWell App wherever you download apps or visit rwell.us/ElPasoCO and accept push notifications

2. Select Preferred Language

3. Add Peak Alerts

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The city's parks system has activated its sprinklers well ahead of schedule this spring, a move driven by abnormally dry winter conditions and low snowpack, Colorado Springs Parks Maintenance and Operations Manager Eric Becker said.

"I've been doing this many, many years. Maybe 3-4 times I can remember getting the water on this early in our parks system," Becker said.

The early activation comes as plants across the city begin emerging from their winter dormancy a period Becker described as critical for their survival.

"This year's been an epic year in terms of dry weather," Becker said.

Typically, the city's irrigation systems don't come online until at least April 1. This year, the dry conditions pushed that timeline significantly earlier.

"Normally it doesn't come on until at least April 1st or later than that," Becker said.

With plants beginning to wake up after winter, Becker said the timing of watering is especially important.

"Plants are coming out of dormancy, so this is a critical time," Becker said.

As for concerns about overall water consumption, Becker said the parks department is allocated 24 inches of water per year from Colorado Springs Utilities. In wetter years, unused water is returned to the general fund. In a drier year like this one, more of that allocation may be drawn upon but Becker said usage will not exceed the 24-inch limit.

"We're taking that water at a critical time right now and deciding to use it to save plants," Becker said.

The city also works to conserve water by planting native grasses in areas that see less foot traffic. Those grasses require less watering and maintenance than traditional turf.

Erika Kirk, the widow of the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was appointed to the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors (USAFA BoV), according to the boards website.

Ms. Kirks official appointment to the BoV appeared to happen quietly over the weekend with no formal announcement.

But it wasn't a sudden decision. In a statement, U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas), who chairs the BoV, said he had encouraged Erika Kirk's appointment months ago and applauded President Trump for it.

"Erika is the right person to fill Charlies place on the Board and continue his work of inspiring the next generation of service members and advancing the Academy," Rep. Pfluger said. "I look forward to working alongside her to carry on Charlies legacy.

The White House has not responded to a request for comment.

Membership in the Congressionally mandated BoV is attained through appointments by the president and through lawmakers designated by Congressional leadership.

Erika Kirks appointment by President Trump comes almost a year after the president first appointed her late husband, Charlie Kirk, a conservative podcaster and co-founder of Turning Point USA, to the board in March 2025.

Mr. Kirk attended his first BoV meeting at the Air Force Academy on August 7 last year, just weeks before his assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10.

After his death, Erika Kirk took over leadership at Turning Point USA. The organization has not returned a request for comment.

The BoV is an oversight committee that monitors the morale, curriculum, academic methods and other issues relating to USAFA. Though it cant force any change, the board does make recommendations to the Secretaries of Air Force and Defense.

The board submitted its semi-annual report to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink last month.

Ms. Kirks appointment occurs just as the Board of Visitors might also be taking up the issue of granting, or recommending, that Charlie Kirk receive an honorary degree from the Air Force Academy.

Following his death, the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates (AOG) considered posthumously granting Charlie Kirk an Association of Graduates membership and an honorary degree from the academy.

The motions stirred up widespread controversy and pushback ahead of the October meeting, leading to both motions being withdrawn for reconsideration in February this year.

A statement from the AOG at the time said hundreds of USAFA graduates, parents and family members reached out ahead of the vote.

Critics of the possible honors said Kirk was too politically divisive and had no military record.

While the AOG doesnt have the authority to grant an honorary degree, it could pass a motion to recommend that the Air Force Academy seek the authority to posthumously award one to Charlie Kirk.

The AOG Board of Directors met on February 19 and, according to an email from a spokesperson, the question of a motion regarding Charlie Kirk came up.

After collecting inputs from some graduates and hearing from our CEO, Director [Rod] Bishop moves and Director [Lee] Krauth seconds that the AOG Board refer to the Board of Visitors, and we defer to their judgment on recognition of Charlie Kirk, the AOG said in an email. The motion passed by a vote of 12-0 with three abstentions.

The minutes with the full discussion surrounding the decision arent expected to be posted until the end of March, an AOG spokesperson said.

Its unclear if and when the USAFA BoV might take up the issue of honoring Charlie Kirk and in what form. A request for comment was sent to BoV Chair Rep. Pflugers office that has not yet been returned.

If the matter comes up, though, new member Erika Kirk would have a say in the issue.

DENVER Gov. Jared Polis on Monday ordered flags to fly at half-staff to honor a Fort Carson soldier who died over the weekend during Operation Epic Fury.

Our hearts are with the family and friends of Sergeant Pennington. The brave members of our military and armed services who put on the uniform in service to our state and country, are our neighbors, friends, and community members. Colorado honors Sergeant Penningtons service and bravery, said Governor Polis in a prepared statement.

The governor's office said flags would be ordered to fly at half-staff "on the day of Sgt. Benjamin Pennington's memorial, "which has yet to be announced."

Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, died Sunday after being wounded during a March 1 retaliatory attack on U.S. troops stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The soldier, who was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, enlisted in the U.S. Army as a unit supply specialist in 2017 and was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade in Fort Carson in June of last year, officials from the U.S. Army said in a statement.

The units mission focused on missile warning, GPS, and long-haul satellite communications, according to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command website.

Described by his superiors as a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and sense of duty, Pennington gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved, said Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, a commanding general at USASMDC. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way.

All seven casualties so far in the war in Iran have been Army soldiers. The other six were Army reservists killed in Kuwait when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port.

FORT CARSON, Colo. The seventh U.S. service member killed in the Iran war was a soldier based out of Fort Carson, Pentagon officials said Monday.

Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, died Sunday after being wounded during a March 1 retaliatory attack on U.S. troops stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense.

It is with a heavy heart that we render a final salute to U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado, in honor of his service to the nation, U.S. Space Command officials in Colorado Springs said Monday. We mourn a life cut short and extend our heartfelt gratitude and sympathies to the family, friends, and community of Sgt. Pennington as we honor his ultimate sacrifice."

Pennington, who was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, enlisted in the U.S. Army as a unit supply specialist in 2017 and was assigned to the Fort Carson unit in June of last year, officials from the U.S. Army said in a statement.

The units mission focused on missile warning, GPS, and long-haul satellite communications, according to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command website.

Penningtons awards and decorations include three Army commendation medals, an Army achievement medal, two Army good conduct medals, a national defense service medal, a global war on terrorism service medal, a Korea defense service medal, an overseas service ribbon, a noncommissioned officer professional development ribbon, and an Army service ribbon.

Described by his superiors as a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and sense of duty, Pennington gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved, said Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, a commanding general at USASMDC. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way.

In a statement to Scripps News Group Colorado Springs, Rep. Jeff Crank said Pennington answered the call to serve and defend our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice.

This is a grave and sobering reminder of the dangers our men and women in uniform face in the Middle East and across the globe to defend our nation and freedom, Crank said. Sergeant Penningtons courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and may God bless our troops as they continue their mission.

All seven casualties so far in the war in Iran have been Army soldiers. The other six were Army reservists killed in Kuwait when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) USA Basketball announced a new program Tuesday to bring the international version of 3x3 to young players, programs and gyms around the country.

The timing of announcing what's called 3X Play was not coincidental: unveiling a 3x3 program nationally, on March 3, was by design. The program's mission is to grow the 3x3 game particularly among young players, with framework for tournaments, leagues, skill development and rules based on age and skill level.

USA Basketball is excited to introduce 3X Play, a framework designed to equip coaches, program directors and team administrators with the tools to make 3x3 basketball available to developing athletes nationwide, USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said.

The 3x3 game is played on the halfcourt, with a 10-minute maximum game clock and a 12-second shot clock. The first team to 21 points, or the team leading when time expires, wins.

It is typically played with four-person teams, so there's only one sub at a time, and players coach themselves during games. Baskets inside the arc count for one point, outside the arc count for two points.

The 3x3 game was added to the Olympic program starting with the Tokyo Games that were played in 2021. The U.S. has medaled twice in 3x3 on the Olympic stage, winning the women's gold in Tokyo and the women's bronze in Paris in 2024.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Two officers with the Pueblo Police Department were injured after an explosive detonated while technicians were working to collect evidence.

Both of the officers are with the department's Pueblo Metro Bomb Squad Explosive Ordinance Disposal (PMBS EOD) team.

According to the city, around 10:35 a.m. on Thursday, PMBS EOD technicians and para-technicians were in the evidence-processing phase of an ongoing criminal investigation in the department's bomb range.

During this investigation, an explosive that was seized by police for the criminal investigation detonated while the technicians were attempting to make the device safe and collect evidence for the case.

One officer suffered first- and second-degree burns, and the second officer suffered first-, second-, and third-degree burns. They were immediately transported to receive medical care.

While the injuries are not life-threatening, the officer with third-degree burns was transported to a Denver burn unit and remains in the hospital.

The other officer has been treated and released, and there were no additional injuries.

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A student was bit by a K-9 with the Custer County Sheriff's Office during a basketball game earlier this month.

The incident happened at Custer County Schools on February 5 while deputies were providing routine security during a basketball game. The sheriff's office said K-9 Zara was accompanied by a deputy as part of standard presence.

During the event, the sheriff's office said several students ran outside the gym near the K-9 team, startling Zara. At that time, the sheriff's office said Zara bit a student, causing minor injuries.

Neither the student nor the deputy realized the injury until a couple of minutes after the incident, according to the sheriff's office. The student was evaluated at a medical center, and the sheriff's office has offered to cover the medical expenses.

You can watch a video of the incident from the sheriff's office below:

According to the sheriff's office, Zara's vaccines are up to date. The incident was reported to the Custer County Public Health Department, and Zara is under quarantine, which is required by state policy.

Zara doesn't have any history of aggression and is not trained to bite, according to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office said it's reviewing the policy of having K-9s at school events.

A Colorado Springs family is battling Evergreen Cemetery over a headstone that has stood for five years, after the cemetery manager deemed images on the monument inappropriate and demanded its removal.

The Geschke family discovered black tape covering parts of their brothers' headstone at Evergreen Cemetery. The cemetery's manager said the headstone contains "inappropriate images" that violate cemetery rules.

"This is a symbol of love and Geschke blood through and through," Holly Geschke said.

In video provided by the family, the Geschkes are shown removing black tape from the headstone, which features images of middle fingers. The monument has been in place for five years without previous complaints.

"But to have a family come in after so many years and tell them that we have to redo this. Over again. Nobody wants to do it in the first place," Holly Geschke said.

Cemetery Manager Cheryl Godbout said the headstone must be removed because cemetery rules prohibit monuments that are profane or offensive to the general public.

When asked how many people complained about the headstone, Godbout said the number of complaints was irrelevant.

"Once I was made aware of it, then I had to do something. It would not have been right of me to know about it, knowing it violates our rules and to ignore our rules," Godbout said.

The Geschke sisters disagree with the cemetery's assessment, arguing the images are not inappropriate given their context and meaning.

"This was created with so much love, respect, and loyalty to our brothers. This is speaking to the character of not who they were but who we are as a family," Holly Geschke said.

Godbout said the cemetery will remove the headstone for the family but will keep it intact. However, the family finds the situation deeply troubling.

"They're in a resting place and now here we are being asked to disturb their resting place. It's mind boggling," Holly Geschke said.

The Geschke family said they do not plan to remove or redo the headstone.

Dana Peters knows what community means.

"Ten years ago, my husband asked, 'How you going to do it?' I said, 'One day at a time," Peters explained, as she started rolling out the dough.

The winter season is slow for Peters. On this particular day when we caught up with her, she told Denver7 she would be making a grand total of six cinnamon rolls. And she hoped that one or two customers come in.

"Thats when our locals support us", she said, adding her baked good keep the lights on at The Bakery, in Guffey population 32.

She said people come from all over for the cinnamon rolls, even if they didnt mean to.

"One lady, she was in a tizzy. She came in and asked where she was? I said, "It's OK, you're not lost.' Three hours later, she drove in again and I said, 'Oh no,' thinking she was going in circles."

As it turns out, the woman went to Cripple Creek, picked up her brother and brought him with her and said, "You gotta see this place!" Peters said.

For people who've never ventured out to this part of Park County, it might seem like you're lost driving on your way to Guffey. From a Y in the road where it pointed one way to Caon City and the other to Guffey Denver7 didnt pass a single car for 14 miles.

The road into town doesnt even have a center stripe.

"It's just a road, but its paved!" Peters said.

The owner of the town's bakery has more on her plate than just pastries and lunch.

"My husband has been raising cattle for 50 years; Ive been at the ranch for 20, off the grid, 8 miles from here, 5 miles from a maintained road," said Peters. "Ive recently sold a third of the herd because Im doing it myself. Since he was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, he hasn't been at the ranch much. He's on the mend though," she said.

While Peters' husband recovers from cancer, she raises cattle from the top of a mountain, and makes sure the cinnamon rolls rise down in town.

"Im not going to make my millions in Guffey", Peters said.

But the payoff here, she said, is the community she knows, which makes her as rich as her cinnamon rolls.

"We get a lot of, 'Wow, theres a town.' Thats the part I like, having a business here cause were part of the community. Sometimes we are the community," Peters said.

More than 600,000 Catholics in Colorado's largest diocese will soon have a new leader after Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop James R. Golka to become the next Archbishop of Denver.

Archbishop-designate Golka is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs and will succeed Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila.

Archbishop Aquila submitted his request to retire to Pope Leo in September 2025 upon his 75th birthday, which is required under canon law.

Archbishop Aquila served as the leader of the Archdiocese of Denver for 14 years.

During a press conference Saturday morning, Golka outlined his vision for leading Denver's Catholic community and addressed questions about his leadership approach following Pope Leo's election.

"The best thing we can do is to be a happy, involved Catholic, and others are going to see that light and want it. But if we're complaining, divisive, judgmental, nobody's going to want that," said Golka, who is fluent in Spanish.

When asked about the direction he plans to take the church, Golka emphasized faithfulness over political labels.

"Some people see Pope Leo as a rupture from Pope Francis. And again, I think it's faithfulness, like God provides for the church what the church needs at the time. I'm going to trust that," Golka said.

The bishop also took questions about immigration, calling it "a very difficult time right now for our country."

"Our faith teaches us some basic beginning points. Every country has a right to guard their border. Every people have a right to seek safer, better land if they're not receiving it in their homeland. And as Catholics, what is charity? If someone's at my door in need, I help them," Golka said.

Catholics attending Saturday Mass at Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver expressed support for the appointment. Chandra Schubert, who went to Mass with her family, said Golka is what the church needs right now.

"He's very big on stewardship. He's very big on the Latino community," said Schubert. "Really just jovial, light-hearted, kind, gentle, and just really on track for what the church needs."

Rachel Martinez, who attended Mass on Saturday, said she admired Archbishop Aquila as a leader of Denver Catholics.

"He did a lot of our confirmations for my kids," she said. "He was always pleasant. He was always nice. Like, you know, I was almost afraid to talk to him because I thought, you know, he was too holy."

She said she hopes Golka will prioritize people over politics, while Schubert said she wants him to focus on bringing back traditional Catholic values.

"I think you're seeing more and more young Catholics come back to the church and come back to the church in more traditional manner, which is beautiful. And we've lost tradition a little bit," said Schubert. "We always say, if there aren't any babies in the church crying, the church is dying, right? So you know, the younger the people coming in, the more our church is growing."

DENVER On Saturday, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV accepted the retirement of the Archbishop of Denver, Samuel J. Aquila.

Archbishop Aquila offered his retirement to the pope on his 75th birthday on Sept. 24, 2025, as required by canon law, according to the Archdiocese of Denver.

The Archdiocese also announced Bishop James R. Golka will be the next Archbishop of Denver.

Archbishop-designate Golka is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

A press conference is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. to introduce Archbishop-designate Golka officially.

Jon Hallford, co-owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, is set to be sentenced in Southern Colorado on state charges Friday.

Jon and his wife Carie Hallford pleaded guilty to improperly storing nearly 200 bodies.

It's been called a "horrific discovery" by investigators who started to uncover the case in October of 2023.

Jon now faces 30 to 50 years after taking a plea deal, but it took a couple tries.

"In this case, the judge heard from a lot of the families that were very upset. He looked at the plea agreement and said, 'No, this isn't appropriate.' And that's his job. I mean, that's his role," former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said.

That happened in August of last year when Judge Eric Bentley rejected a deal that would have allowed Jon to plead guilty and receive a 20-year prison sentence. Bentley said at the time that he's never granted a request to reject a plea, and that it was "reserved for the most extreme cases."

Both parties came back in December with a new deal the judge ultimately accepted.

Denver7 wanted to know how often something like this happens. That's why we talked to Morrissey.

He has played no part in this case, but Morrissey spent more than three decades in courtrooms, negotiation deals, trying cases and accepting judge's decisions.

In his 33 year career, he said he saw a judge reject a plea deal maybe twice.

"So it's rare, but if you think about it, in Denver, we used to charge 5,000 to 6,000 cases a year, and the judges that were assigned to the criminal division could probably try up close to 100 trials," Morrissey explained. "So plea bargaining is something that you have to do, or otherwise the system would just stop."

Morrissey also highlighted a judge's responsibility to make that final call.

'The judge does have the right to say, No, I'm not accepting this. You can go to trial. And I have a feeling had they gone to trial, they'd be looking at a far more time than the original plea bargain and even the second plea bargain," Morrissey said. "This is just a horrible case, as far as I'm concerned. As a prosecutor, facing it would have just been extremely difficult, just dealing with that number of people and all of that."

Previously, Denver7 spoke to families who said they wanted a trial because they felt there were questions that would not be answered without one. They also argued that the Hallfords should serve one year for each of the bodies discovered.

Jon is set to be sentenced Friday only on state charges. He's already been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.

Prior coverage:

A controversial proposed Bucees location in Palmer Lake is no more after the Texas-based chain withdrew an application to build a supersized store in the El Paso County town, town officials announced Wednesday.

The withdrawal comes after over a year of debates and meetings with the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees and surrounding community members.

The proposed location of the Buc-ee's sparked major debate among community members, who claimed the store would strain area resources, even going so far as to recall Palmer Lake Board of Trustees members for their support of the construction.

The town sent the following statement in an emailed news release:

A Buc-ee's representative says that the company still intends to build a store in the region, but no further details were given.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. An officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department was shot and wounded along with a suspect during a call for service on Monday afternoon.

Police said the shooting occurred at around 1:38 p.m. as officers, conducting an operation to arrest a fugitive, arrived on the scene near E. Bijou Street and Balfour Avenue in east Colorado Springs.

After the operation concluded, officers tried to contact a suspicious man in the same area who reportedly shot at a police officer after running away from law enforcement, according to a news release. Two other officers then returned fire, striking the suspect, the news release states.

The officer and suspect were both transported to area hospitals following the shooting. A firearm was recovered at the scene, officials said.

A department spokesperson described the officers injuries as serious, but non-life-threatening. The suspect was listed in critical condition, a spokesperson for the department said.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office will investigate the shooting and CSPD "will release a significant event briefing video within 21 days," the agency's spokesperson said.

Colorado Springs and El Paso County leaders are pushing back against the State of Colorados lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations decision to move U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.

President Donald Trump announced the relocation last September.

While many local officials and businesses have voiced concerns about the move, city and county leaders believe the states legal challenge could undermine national security interests and strain relationships with federal defense leaders.

One Colorado Springs-based tech company, BlueStaq, said it respects the presidents authority and views the lawsuit as a distraction from the mission.

Since 2018, Bluestaq has supported military space operations in Colorado Springs. The company specializes in enterprise data management.

Bluestaq CEO and co-founder Seth Harvey said the announcement was difficult to hear.

To think that somebody could potentially do portions of it better. I think it hurts your pride a bit, Harvey said. But its not about your feelings or pride.

Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser filed the lawsuit last October, seeking to challenge the relocation decision.

On Wednesday, however, Colorado Springs city and El Paso County leaders announced they are filing an amicus brief opposing the lawsuit and backing the Trump administrations motion to dismiss the case.

President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer said the brief is meant to highlight impacts the state failed to address.

This amicus brief is about ensuring the court understands the local, economic and national security implications of this lawsuit.... Implications that were not considered in this filing, Kleymeyer said.

El Paso County leaders echoed that stance.

We, as the Board of County Commissioners, respect that decision and respect the authority, El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner said. We support the President.

From a contractors perspective, Harvey said the lawsuit risks diverting attention away from ongoing operations.

Its about moving forward, Harvey said. The truth is that Space Command is going to Alabama, and we will still be responsible for a significant portion of the mission.

While Space Command headquarters relocates, Harvey noted that much of the Space Forces operational work will remain in Colorado. He said it still requires continued collaboration between Colorado Springs and Huntsville.

Looking ahead, the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC said the Colorado Aerospace and Economic Council plans to lead a delegation to Alabama this October to explore future partnership opportunities.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says a boy who was kidnapped around 3 p.m. Tuesday was found safe, and the suspect is still at-large.

Police say two-year-old Giovani Salazar-President was in the back seat of a running SUV that was stolen from the King Street Apartments, which are located near the intersection of North 30th Street and Uintah Street.

According to CSPD, they found the SUV around 5 p.m. Tuesday. They say Salazar-President was found safe in the backseat.

During a press conference Tuesday, CSPD reminded the community to not leave your car running by itself. You can watch the press conference in its entirety below:

CSPD says they are still piecing together suspect information. They are asking people who live near the apartment complex to send them any security footage they have.

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A 13-year-old girl went missing Saturday morning near Robinson Street off of Highway 24 and 31st St., the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

Lilli, 13, was last seen wearing a black hoodie, brown plaid Vans shorts, brown and black Vans shoes.

She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Lilli stands 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs approximately 120 pounds.

Anyone who has seen Lilli or has any information about her whereabouts is asked to call 719-390-5555.

As maybe one of the hardest miles in Colorado, the Manitou Incline features 2,768 steps in less than one mile.

And when I say steps, I mean, actual wood steps up at the side of a mountain.

And not just any mountain this is on Pikes Peak, a 14,115-foot mountain that you can drive, ride the cog railway, hike or run during the Pikes Peak Ascent or the Pikes Peak Marathon.

The hike for the Manitou Incline actually starts wherever you park. You can find options on the Manitou Incline website. I suggest the bus, because even in the winter, the $15 parking at the nearby Iron Springs Chateau fills up quickly.

As you get closer to the trailhead, you will see signs directing you to stay on the walkway. Thats to keep you out of traffic from people driving to the parking lot for the car railway. Theres even a set of stairs along the way. Think of it as a warm-up for whats coming.

At the start of the incline, there are signs that warn you that 2,744 (some websites say that is an old number and the correct number is 2,768) steps is not a walk in the park. A sign says that this is comparable to the Empire State building, the Eiffel Tower twice, the Washington Monument three times, and the Statue of Liberty six times.

But if youre ready, make sure your shoes are tied and lets go.

2,768 steps is not easy to count, so there are some numbers along the way. I remember seeing 200, 500, and a few others.

There are a couple of bailout points. Instead of just turning around and going down, you can exit at steps 395, 1300, and 1800 and take the Northern Incline Trail or the Barr Trail back down.

By step 1,600, I was struggling to do math, but I was happy to realize I was more than halfway. And if you think its been easy, dont worry. It will get harder. The stairs start getting steeper and sometimes two and three times as high, with steps stacked on top of other steps.

At step 1,800, you will come to your last chance bailout option and there are more warning signs. One says its another hour to the summit and 1,000 stairs.

If you havent done the Manitou Incline before, one very important warning: Do not be fooled by the false summit around step 2,200. Youre almost done, but there are still 577 steps to go.

Finally, you make it to the top. There are places to sit and enjoy the moment. And dont forget to take a picture at the top of the incline looking down.

Then, its decision time. While you will see people going down the incline, the official website says not to go back down that day: The path down is peppered with spikes, uneven steps and wobbly and loose blocks. Not only that, but it is much harder on your body, especially your knees, to go down at the angle.

Instead, take the Barr Trail down. Signs point the way. Its three miles down instead of one mile, but its a lot easier on your body.

When you get to the Barr Trail parking lot, head for the road to get back to your vehicle.

DISTANCE: The Incline and Barr Trail loop is about 4 miles with about 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Youll add extra distance depending on where you park.

Learn more about paid parking, the shuttle, free reservations and the bailout options for the incline on this website.

HikingDebbie@gmail.com

Facebook.com/DenverHikingExaminer

DENVER A Minneapolis woman shot and killed by a federal agent during the Trump administrations latest immigration crackdown on a major U.S. city Wednesday was born and raised in Colorado, her family confirmed to Denver7.

The woman, identified by the Minnesota Star Tribune earlier in the day as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, was born in Colorado Springs, according to her uncle, Robert Ganger. He told Denver7 via phone late Wednesday afternoon news of her passing were especially difficult for the family since Good's older sister was celebrating her birthday today.

She leaves behind a 6-year old child, according to the newspaper.

Good was shot in the head in front of a family member in a snowy residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis, just a few blocks from some of the oldest immigrant markets and about a mile from where George Floyd was killed by police in 2020.

Her killing after 9:30 a.m. was recorded on video by witnesses, and the shooting quickly drew a crowd of hundreds of angry protesters. By evening, hundreds were there for a vigil to mourn the death and urge the public to resist immigration enforcers.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, while visiting Texas, described the incident as an act of domestic terrorism carried out against ICE officers by a woman who attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot, to protect himself and the people around him.

In a social media post, President Donald Trump made similar accusations against the woman and defended ICEs work.'

Hours later, at an evening news conference in Minnesota, Noem didn't back down, claiming the woman was part of a mob of agitators. She said the veteran officer who fired his gun had been rammed and dragged by an anti-ICE motorist in June.

Any loss of life is a tragedy, and I think all of us can agree that in this situation, it was preventable, Noem said, adding that the FBI would investigate.

RELATED STORY: Kristi Noem joins DHS raid as Minnesota governor blasts war against Minnesota

But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey blasted Noem's version of what happened as garbage and criticized the federal deployment of more than 2,000 officers to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul as part of the immigration crackdown.

Frey accused immigration agents of causing chaos," and said he had a message for ICE: Get the fk out of Minneapolis.

What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust, Frey said, calling on the immigration agents to leave. Theyre ripping families apart. Theyre sowing chaos on our streets, and in this case, quite literally killing people.

It was a sentiment echoed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who said he was "angry" and accused the Trump administration of instigating unrest.

"From here on, I have a very simple message: We do not need any further help from the federal government," he said. "To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you've done enough."

"Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political fight," Walz added. "We will not take the bait."

Gov. Jared Polis said in a social media post later Wednesday that he was calling for a full investigation into Good's killing, saying her family "deserves answers, transparency and accountability."

What took place in a Minneapolis neighborhood is deeply disturbing, and the loss of Renee Good is tragic. My thoughts are with Renees family, especially her young child, friends, and loved ones including those in Colorado. There must be a full investigation into this incident, and accountability. The American people deserve answers about what happened today, the governor said.

Videos taken by bystanders with different vantage points and posted to social media show an officer approaching an SUV stopped across the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle. The Honda Pilot begins to pull forward and a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle pulls his weapon and immediately fires at least two shots into the vehicle at close range, jumping back as the vehicle moves toward him.

It was not clear from the videos if the vehicle made contact with the officer. The SUV then sped into two cars parked on a curb nearby before crashing to a stop. Witnesses screamed obscenities, expressing shock at what theyd seen. After the shooting, a bystander can be heard imploring with federal agents to let him through to check the woman's pulse, claiming to be a physician. One agent refuses, telling the man "I don't care" as another agent reassures him emergency medical technicians were on their way.

She was driving away and they killed her, said resident Lynette Reini-Grandell, who was outdoors recording video on her phone.

The shooting marked a dramatic escalation of the latest in a series of immigration enforcement operations in major cities under the Trump administration. Goods death was at least the fifth linked to immigration crackdowns.

The latest immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities called for the deployment of roughly 2,000 federal agents and officers, with a focus on targeting Somali immigrants who are unlawfully living in the country.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Police in Colorado Springs are searching for a missing and at-risk 76-year-old man who was last seen on Monday.

Donald Dubois was last known to be along the 1600 block of Medical Center Point on Monday around 5 p.m., according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. At the time, he was wearing a blue shirt.

Dubois is described as a white man standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 185 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes, police said.

Anybody with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the police department at 719-444-7000.

If you wanted to ring in the new year on Pikes Peak, you're out of luck. VIP tickets are sold out for the Pikes Peak fireworks event, which is happening on New Year's Eve.

The AdAmAn Club puts on the display every year. You can watch the history of the AdAmAn climb up Pikes Peak and why they do it below:

The family-friendly celebration offers exclusive nighttime access to the North Slope Recreation Area and Crystal Reservoir.

Guests will watch the New Year's Eve fireworks with the backdrop of the reservoir and sweeping mountain views.

The evening includes the following:

Four Colorado Lottery Powerball players won big this holiday season, in addition to the person in Arkansas who won the $1.82 billion Powerball drawing on Christmas Eve.

Three of those Colorado players were here in Southern Colorado.

The tickets were sold at the following locations;

In Douglas County, one winner went home with a $100,000 ticket, sold at the 7 Eleven in Lone Tree, Colorado.