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• District reports 1 in 6 students opted out of vaccines Play Video

  April 30, 2013 7:46 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Immunization records shows one in six students in Academy District 20 opted out of at least one of their scheduled vaccines this school year. The district's exemption rate increased from 11 percent, or roughly one in nine students, the previous year. While official immunization rates are... more »

• Free breakfast bill clears State Senate

  April 19, 2013 8:43 PM

  DENVER - Certain public schools in Colorado could soon be required to serve free breakfast to students during the start of the school day. House Bill 1006 , the Breakfast after the Bell bill, passed the State Senate Friday after clearing the House last month. Beginning in the fall... more »

• Stratton Home celebrates a century of sanctuary

  April 18, 2013 9:15 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - The Myron Stratton Home in Colorado Springs is celebrated its 100th anniversary with an open house of their newest expansion. The Centennial at Myron Stratton is a new building that will house nearly two dozen low income seniors in the community. The building hold the administrative offices... more »

• Community policing program grows Play Video

  March 11, 2013 6:51 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - In the mid-morning hours Monday, Vanessa Jones is driving her patrol car through the Garden of the Gods taking a careful look at all of the vehicles in the parking lot. "This in an area that we patrol quite frequently," Jones said. She is one... more »

• Cadet's research makes it easier to spot Spice Play Video

  February 25, 2013 7:57 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - The synthetic drug Spice is supposed to mimic the high that comes from using marijuana. It's legal in most places except the military. Thanks to the work of Air Force Academy cadet Alexa Gingras, it's now easier for commanders to test whether a member of their ranks... more »

• Your vote could change utilities future Play Video

  January 21, 2013 7:45 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Big changes could be store for Colorado Springs Utilities. City Council is expected to vote on a ballot measure Tuesday that would turnover control of the public utility to a independently elected board of directors. The ballot proposal calls for a 7 member board to be... more »

• Man burned by fire in Peyton

  January 18, 2013 5:52 AM

  PEYTON - A man was burned after a fire broke out in a workshop on his property in the 12200 block of Smith Road early Friday morning. Firefighters from the Falcon Fire Department were called to the property at around 1:30 a.m. The man reportedly suffered minor burns to... more »

• Budget cuts increased fire risk in parks and open space

  January 16, 2013 10:52 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - At roughly 14,000 total acres, the City of Colorado Springs parks and opens spaces are big part of the community's identity. But without the right stewardship, they can also be dangerous, especially to homeowners who live at the boundaries. City forester Paul Smith explains when the... more »

• Academy encourages local kids to ask an astronaut

  January 16, 2013 4:42 PM

  US AIR FORCE ACADEMY - Hey kids, have you ever wondered what it's like in space? Why not ask an astronaut about it? This week the US Air Force Academy is collecting questions from local students from kindergarten through 12th grade to be asked of former astronaut and retired Air... more »

• Firefighters hold drills at Peterson Air Force Base

  January 16, 2013 4:19 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - The fire department at Peterson Air Force Base conducted live training exercises Wednesday afternoon on the west side of the installation. While the training is routine, smoke and flames were visible from the Powers Boulevard corridor. The base issued a news release Wednesday to calm any... more »

• City fracking ban unlikely

  January 16, 2013 1:04 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Energy companies may soon be drilling for oil and natural gas near Colorado Springs neighborhoods. City Council held a work session Tuesday hear from members of the state oil and gas commission about new environmental restrictions on drilling. Oil companies have expressed interest in drilling wells... more »

• Hundreds crowd emergency preparation meeting

  January 16, 2013 1:00 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - There weren't many empty seats at the Cheyenne Mountain High School auditorium as hundreds of people came out to the city's first wildfire safety information meeting. City leaders from the police and fire departments spoke about the importance of preparing for an evacuation and how to... more »

• Styrofoam robots plan invasion of university art gallery

  January 15, 2013 4:12 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - An invading force of styrofoam robots are planning their attack on the Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The art exhibit "Styroboto: nothing comes from nothing" by contemporary artist Michael Salter will open next Thursday with a public reception from... more »

• Mayor mulls in-sourcing ambulance service Play Video

  January 10, 2013 12:38 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - American Medical Response has a government-endorsed monopoly for the ambulance service in Colorado Springs and El Paso County. Their contract is up for renewal at the end of the year and Mayor Steve Bach wants to see if the city's really getting the best deal. "More... more »

• Council discusses options in panhandling fight

  January 7, 2013 8:17 PM

  Colorado Springs City Council members met with the city attorney Monday to decide what their next step will be in the legal fight over the downtown panhandling ban. Last month, as part of a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, a federal judge issued an emergency injunction stopping... more »

• Local job market still lags national trend

  January 4, 2013 7:22 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Even with the national unemployment rate holding steady at 7.8 percent in December, those who are out of work in Southern Colorado face a more challenging job market. In November, the most recent month available, there were 25,765 people unemployed in El Paso County, or roughly... more »

• CSPD officers assaulted more than 100 times since 2010 Play Video

  January 3, 2013 8:43 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - There have been at least 102 assaults on officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department during the past three years. The highest year for assaults was 2010 in which there were 41. The number dropped to 28 in 2011 but then climbed to at least 33... more »

• City to host wildfire awareness meeting

  January 2, 2013 1:36 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS -Emergency managers in the City of Colorado Springs will host an informational meeting later this month to increase awareness about the danger of wildfires and the need for emergency preparedness. Fire Chief Rich Brown, Fire Marshall Bret Lacey and Emergency Manager Bret Waters will discuss evacuation planning... more »

• City council wants a raise

  December 28, 2012 9:05 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Members of the Colorado City Council may ask voters next April for a substantial raise. News 5 obtained a copy of a draft ballot issued that would amend the City Charter to increase the pay of council members by the equivalent of 44 percent of the mayor's... more »

• Gift wrapped can of ribbons causes bomb scare

  December 28, 2012 8:02 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - The bomb squad was called on Friday afternoon to investigate a suspicious package found outside of a Colorado Springs bank. The incident happened at around 12:30 p.m. at the Wells Fargo branch at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. Customer Joe Quintana spotted the red gift... more »

• Springs police search for robbery suspect

  December 28, 2012 2:04 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Investigators with the Colorado Springs Police Department are asking for help identifying a man they believe robbed a pair of convenience stores last week. This photo was taken from a surveillance camera at the Circle K at 3805 Maizeland Road. The police believe the man forced... more »

• Colorado laws protect gun owner privacy Play Video

  December 27, 2012 8:00 PM

  A newspaper in New York state sparked a nationwide controversy this week by published a map of households where handgun owners live. The ordeal raised our curiosity as to what kind of public records exist for gun owners in Colorado. As it turn out, there's not much. Susan Medina,... more »

• Emergency managers urge preparation before storms

  December 27, 2012 7:09 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - In light of the recent winter storms, emergency managers in Colorado Springs are encouraging everyone to take the necessary steps to stay safe. Ken Hughlett, the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management says blizzards and snow storms can be life threatening... more »

• Record crowds fill Telmosse Giveaway

  December 21, 2012 8:36 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Thousands of people flooded into the Freedom Financial Expo Center Friday morning for the 30th Annual Bob Telmosse Christmas Giveaway. The event is local tradition started by the late businessman Bob Telmosse to help families in need during the holidays. Each person is given free toys... more »

• Local Globetrotter to bring anti-bullying message to students

  December 14, 2012 10:48 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Years before she joined the Harlem Globetrotters, shot hoops with President Obama or was a standout player at Temple University, Fatima "TNT" Maddox was as student at Monterey Elementary in Harrison School District 2. The Globetrotter rookie is returning home next week to speak with students... more »

• Student faces felony charge for bringing pot brownie to school

  December 12, 2012 6:45 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - A 14-year old student at Air Academy High School was taken into custody and released to his parents Wednesday after he allegedly brought a marijuana laced brownie to school. He shared the dessert to a female classmate whom administrators say became violently ill and had to... more »

• Sheriff to hire up to 105 new deputies in 2013

  December 12, 2012 6:36 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is hiring. Thanks to the passage of Ballot Issue 1A, Sheriff Terry Maketa is now preparing to hire up to 105 new sworn deputies. There will also be a number of civilian support jobs opening as well. The first of... more »

• Air Force Academy contractor arrested for arson

  December 5, 2012 5:27 PM

  US AIR FORCE ACADEMY - A female contractor has been arrested on arson charges in connection with a series of small fires at an Air Force Academy dormitory. Michelle Smith, 38, was booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center Wednesday on four counts of arson. Smith was... more »

• Fires force evacuation at Academy dormitory

  December 5, 2012 12:27 PM

  US AIR FORCE ACADEMY- Hundreds of cadets were evacuated from a US Air Force Academy dormitory Tuesday after two small fires were found and extinguished. The fires happened inside Sijan Hall, one of the Academy's two dormitories. It's unclear how many cadets were part of the evacuation. However, the... more »

• Sheriff's office moving to new building

  December 4, 2012 10:02 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - The moving trucks have arrived at the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff is relocating most of his operations under one roof at the newly remodeled county building downtown on Vermijo Street. Early Wednesday morning the non emergency county dispatch number 719-390-5555 will be briefly... more »

• Precinct maps highlight political divide in county

  December 4, 2012 9:47 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - We're getting a clearer picture of just how voters in El Paso County felt about certain issues on the November ballot. The Clerk and Recorders Office released a set of maps this week showing precinct-by-precinct voting breakdowns for Amendment 64 (marijuana legalization and Issue 1A (tax increase... more »

• Study considers longer school days for Colorado students Play Video

  December 3, 2012 8:24 PM

  When the school bell rings at Keller Elementary every afternoon, the Kiss-And-Go Lane becomes a very popular place. But should a new approach in teaching catch on locally, the afternoon pickup here might be postponed. A new grant funded initiative called Time for Innovation Matters in Education (TIME) aims... more »

• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo welcomes new rhinoceros

  December 3, 2012 12:02 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - They newest animal to join the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is also one of the heaviest. Jumbe (pronounced Joom-Bay) is a 9-year-old Eastern Black Rhinoceros who weighs in at a whopping 2,658 lbs. He'll have a comfy new home inside the new $13.5 million Encounter Africa exhibit... more »

• Cyber scammers target Southern Colorado Play Video

  November 30, 2012 9:23 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Online shoppers beware, international scam artists seem to be targeting our community this week. They are making cold calls to individual homes and cell phones saying they are from "Microsoft Windows." Scarlett Millsaps recently got that call. "They told me that they are with Microsoft... more »

• Luminaries to light Southwestern celebration at UCCS

  November 29, 2012 7:22 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Students at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will notice luminaries lighting the pathways around the Heller Center for Arts and Humanities next weekend as the campus celebrates the holiday traditions of the San Luis Valley. Stitches and Stories: A San Luis Valley Christmas is... more »

• Canon City cops nab fugitive from Colorado Springs

  November 29, 2012 6:49 PM

  FREMONT COUNTY - Officers with the Canon City Police Department arrested a Colorado Springs man Tuesday who had open warrants from both the Springs and California. The officers were responding to a report of shots being fired at the North 9th Street Storage facility when they found Roger Wayne... more »

• English teacher goes to great lengths to connect with students Play Video

  November 29, 2012 6:01 PM

  FLORENCE, COLORADO - Florence High School's Cathy Wasmuth was a stay-at-home mom for years before she ever thought of becoming a teacher. It was only after her children were grown that she decided to go back to school. "I was terrified," the English and Creative Writing teacher recalled. "I... more »

• Driver in deadly auto-pedestrian accident had clean record Play Video

  November 28, 2012 12:23 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Flowers, balloons and candles mark the area along Pikes Peak Avenue where two young people lost their lives in a car accident Monday afternoon. Neto White, 9, and Leondro Carabajal, 17, were trying to push a stalled minivan out of traffic along with Neto's 10-year-old sister... more »

• Judge increases bond for jailed driver

  November 27, 2012 4:25 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - It will cost a Colorado Springs man who was arrested Monday on charges of Driving Under the Influence and Vehicular Homicide more money to post bail. At the request of the district attorney, the judge increased the bond for Robert Icenogle, 47, from $30,000 to $150,000... more »

• Driver arrested in deadly accident in Colorado Springs

  November 27, 2012 12:39 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Two people have died after they were hit from behind while trying to push a stalled minivan out of the road. The accident happened at around 4:00 p.m. Monday afternoon in the eastbound lanes of Pikes Peak Avenue in near the intersection of Parkside Drive. The... more »

• Two killed & 3 injured by crash on Pikes Peak

  November 26, 2012 9:50 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Two people have died after they were hit from behind while trying to push a stalled minivan out of traffic Monday afternoon. The accident happened at around 4:00 p.m. in the 2500 Block of Pikes Peak Avenue just east of the intersection with Parkside Drive. Police... more »

• Shoppers stuff buggies ahead of Thanksgiving

  November 21, 2012 11:04 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Just hear those registers ringing and money jingling too. Come on, It's a lovely weather for, well, last minute grocery shopping. "Oh my goodness, it's packed in here," said Carolyn Cathey who came to the King Soopers on Centennial Boulevard Wednesday to pick up her last... more »

• Grocery stores busy ahead of holiday weekend

  November 21, 2012 7:12 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - As shopping malls and retailers anxiously wait for the rush of Black Friday shoppers, one of the busiest days for grocery stores is today. At the King Soopers on Centennial Boulevard in Colorado Springs, News 5 found hundreds of shoppers keeping the cashiers and clerks busy.... more »

• Indy GiVE! campaign underway

  November 1, 2012 2:31 AM

  Halloween may have just ended, but the holiday giving season has already begun. Thursday at midnight, the 2012 Indy GiVE! campaign website went online . The project is coordinated by the Pikes Peak Community Foundation and the Colorado Springs Independent. Donors tripled their contributions in the previous three campaigns from... more »

• Police investigate peculiar stabbing

  October 9, 2012 5:43 PM

  Colorado Springs Police officers are investigating a unusual stabbing incident that happened just before noon at the Park Meadows Apartments on Mount Werner Circle, near the intersection of Lake Avenue and Southgate Road. According to police department spokesperson Barbara Miller, a 911 call was made from the apartment at... more »

• President Obama creates new national monument in Colorado

  September 20, 2012 4:40 PM

  DENVER (AP) - President Barack Obama's administration is creating a national monument at a dramatic rock formation in southwestern Colorado that is sacred to the Southern Ute tribe. Senator Michael Bennet's office on Wednesday confirmed a report in the Denver Post that said the move to preserve 4,700 acres... more »

• Most local Colorado economies improving

  August 8, 2012 1:40 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado communities say local economies are improving, but some say they are still falling behind. A survey by the Colorado Municipal League shows a majority of the businesses contacted said they are growing, but more than a quarter reported Wednesday that they are flat or below par... more »

• Robbery suspect seems to fit "habitual" definition Play Video

  June 6, 2012 8:34 PM

  It was a disturbing new way of committing a common crime; the suspect allegedly doused his victims in lighter fluid and threatened to set them on fire if they didn't open the cash registers. That suspect, 51 year-old Dwight Davis, was arrested last month on a slew of burglary... more »

• Air Academy lacrosse player is Athlete of the Week Play Video

  May 29, 2012 8:37 PM

  Air Academy High School senior lacrosse player Miranda Beal is our Loaf n Jug Aquafina Athlete of the Week. The Kadets defender helped lead her team to an upset win in the state championship last week over Cherry Creek. Beal actually graduated about a week before the rain... more »

• Holmes Middle School nets three-peat in national award

  April 3, 2012 7:16 PM

  Holmes Middle School in Colorado Springs School District 11 has been designated as a Trailblazer School to Watch for a third consecutive time. The award was launched in 1999 as part of a recognition program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. It is awarded once every... more »

• Local agency aims to curb teen dating violence Play Video

  February 1, 2012 7:01 PM

  As many as a third of all teens have been the victim of some form of physical or emotional abuse and counselors at the domestic violence advocacy group TESSA say the abuse is happening at a very early age. Clinical and Advocacy Manager Charity Richardson says they are finding children... more »

• Father believed murdered daughter could have been saved Play Video

  January 30, 2012 3:51 PM

  The father of a young girl who was beat to death and had her body buried in the crawl space of a Monument home pleaded guilty on Monday to a single charge of child abuse resulting in death. In exchange for his plea, three other charges against 31 year old... more »

• "Occupy" Colorado Springs day after Denver "Occupy" riots Play Video

  October 30, 2011 8:32 PM

  Unlike the riots, tear gas, and police shooting rubber bullets at Occupy participants in Denver, the Occupy scene in Colorado Springs remains the same. In Colorado Springs, it's day 31 of the movement and many, after coming back from Denver, are back out at Acacia Park. The tents are... more »

• Oh the things you will find, at the farmers market

  July 16, 2011 6:13 PM

  Fruits, Jams and Jellies... Carrots Squash and Tomatos... Honey and yes... Whoopie Pies... These are all things you can find and more at the Pikes Peak Farmers Market in Old Colorado City near Bancroft Park. Beyond the typical things you may already know from your local produce counters you... more »

• Private colleges 'act local' with financial aid

  August 31, 2010 9:11 AM

  Many private colleges are sweetening financial aid packages for students from their own backyards. It's an effort by the schools to portray themselves as more affordable and better neighbors. They also want to stay competitive. Among the schools is Northwestern University, which is targeting Chicago-area students in financial need.... more »

• Colorado weatherizes nearly 3,400 homes

  July 8, 2010 8:38 AM

  State and local agencies have weatherized nearly 3,400 homes in Colorado, triggering full access to the state's $79.5 million in stimulus funds for the work. Gov. Bill Ritter and Department of Energy officials noted Colorado's progress in a conference call Wednesday with the media. Annual program funds have paid... more »

• Colorado-based Chipotle expanding to Europe

  May 10, 2010 4:43 PM

  Are you addicted to Chipotle's steak burritos--extra pico de gallo, of-course-I-want-guacamole! Good news--now you can travel to Europe without going through withdrawal. Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first European restaurant, in London. The store opened Monday. The Denver-based fast-casual burrito, taco and salad chain says it's looking for... more »

• Government debt limits on ballot

  December 12, 2009 10:48 AM

  DENVER (AP) - An initiative to limit borrowing by state and local governments in Colorado will appear on the November ballot. Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher said Friday that supporters of the measure had gathered enough signatures to put it before voters November 2. It will appear on... more »