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• NORAD scrambles F-16s to intercept planes near Pres. Obama

  February 17, 2013 12:55 PM

  NORAD has intercepted multiple airplanes over the weekend that have entered a no-fly-zone near President Obama. President Obama is vacationing along Florida's Treasure Coast for the President's Day weekend; he's spending the weekend with some friends at the Floridian, a secluded yacht and golf club. Sunday morning an... more »

• NORAD takes record number of calls for Santa

  December 28, 2012 1:36 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS - Christmas Eve was a particularly busy time for volunteers with the NORAD Tracks Santa Program. During a 23 hour period, the operations center answered over 114,000 calls from children looking for Santa Claus, an increase of more than 12,000 from last year. The group also received... more »

• Get ready for "Norad Tracks Santa"

  December 23, 2012 5:29 PM

  "Norad Tracks Santa" is now officially trade marked. Last year almost 19 million people visited Norad's website to view their Santa tracker, and now their name is official. They've also licensed a private company to sell official T-shirts and other gear. The goal they say isn't to make money, but... more »

• NORAD Santa trackers have record holiday

  December 25, 2011 10:28 AM

  COLORADO SPRINGS (AP) - Santa Claus set records Christmas Eve he raced across the globe on his traditional holiday mission. Volunteers at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs say they fielded about 102,000 telephone queries beginning early Saturday on his progress. That broke the previous mark of 80,000. And... more »

• NORAD to teach kids how to track Santa

  December 20, 2011 11:26 PM

  NORAD Santa tracking team members will be at the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs Wednesday, to teach kids how to track Santa themselves. It's going on from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Santa Tracking Station. They'll have iPhones and iPads on hand to demonstrate how to follow... more »

• Santa Tracker: There's an APP for that

  December 1, 2011 7:47 PM

  Want to keep track of Santa this Christmas? There's an app for that. NORAD is the military organization responsible for the aerospace defense of the U.S. and Canada. The North American Aerospace Defense Command tracks Santa on Christmas Eve. This year, it's counting down to Santa's takeoff with... more »

• Colorado Springs marks 9-11 anniversary with morning ceremony

  September 11, 2011 5:42 PM

  The Colorado Springs community observed the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks with a solemn and respectful ceremony at America the Beautiful Park Sunday. Serving as master of ceremonies, former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter called on the audience to remember not the horror of the attacks... more »

• NORAD has a new deputy commander

  August 16, 2011 1:27 PM

  PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) - NORAD has a new deputy commander, Canadian Lt. Gen. Tom Lawson. Lawson formally stepped into the job during a change-of-command ceremony on Monday at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., the headquarters of the command. He replaces Canadian Lt. Gen. Marcel Duval, who is... more »

• Guard group unhappy over choice of new NORAD chief

  August 3, 2011 3:51 PM

  DENVER (AP) - An association of National Guard officers is criticizing the Pentagon for passing over two National Guard generals in choosing a new commander for NORAD and Northern Command. The National Guard Association of the U.S. said Wednesday it has nothing against the officer who got the job,... more »

• Army general tapped to lead NORAD, Northcom

  July 26, 2011 7:21 PM

  PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) - The Army general who was tasked to investigate whether Afghan detainees were mistreated has been nominated for promotion to a fourth star and chosen to lead the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command. The Pentagon announced Lt. Gen. Charles... more »

• NORAD scrambles fighters to Camp David

  July 10, 2011 1:11 PM

  The pilot of a small personal airplane came too close to the President and First Family this weekend and was intercepted by a pair of F-15E fighters. According to news release from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the jets were scrambled shortly after 8:30 a.m. Sunday when... more »

• NORAD-controlled helicopters intercept aircraft in D.C.-area

  June 18, 2011 3:13 PM

  Two helicopters under command from NORAD were called in to intercept a small aircraft in restricted airspace around the Washington D.C.-area. It happened just before noon (EDT). The two U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 "Dolphin" helicopters diverted the aircraft to Annapolis, MD where the pilot was met by law enforcement.... more »

• NORAD Rd.: all clear, no threat

  February 10, 2011 5:53 PM

  Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station says there was no threat from a truck that triggered an explosives detection system earlier this afternoon. We are awaiting a statement with more information. We were told initially that there was no threat by the El Paso County Sheriff's office, but that explosives experts... more »

• UPDATE: NORAD Rd. closed; explosives team on the way

  February 10, 2011 5:08 PM

  We're learning that what appeared to be a false alarm is being taken more seriously than we previously reported out at NORAD. We were told by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office that a bad battery set off an explosives detector. At this point there are still NO evacuations,... more »

• False alarm at NORAD gate

  February 10, 2011 4:47 PM

  A truck pulled up to the NORAD gate in El Paso County Thursday afternoon and set off an explosives alarm. We're told it appears to be a bad battery in the alarm. No threat was found. Officers were prepared to ask neighbors to evacuate if the threat was real. more »

• NORAD boss: Russian attack could've happened in US

  January 25, 2011 5:08 PM

  PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP)-The commander of NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command says a suicide bombing at Moscow's busiest airport is a tragedy "that could have just as easily happened here." Adm. James Winnefeld told The Associated Press on Tuesday the attack that killed 35 people shows... more »

• NORAD Tracks Santa sets records for calls, e-mails

  January 12, 2011 8:19 AM

  PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE (AP)- NORAD says its Santa-tracking program logged a record number of phone calls and e-mails on Christmas Eve. The North American Aerospace Defense Command said Tuesday that volunteers answered more than 80,000 phone calls and more than 7,000 e-mails. In 2009, the program answered... more »

• Michelle Obama helps track Santa

  December 24, 2010 6:00 PM

  HONOLULU (AP) - Want to know where Santa is? Just ask Michelle Obama. The first lady is answering calls from children checking in with the "Tracks Santa" program of the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs. With the help of NORAD's Santa Route Schedule, Mrs. Obama is telling... more »

• NORAD prepares to track Santa

  December 17, 2010 12:35 PM

  For the 55th consecutive year, the men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command are ready to track Santa! The NORAD Tracks Santa website , features holiday games and activities that change daily. The website is available in seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese.... more »

• NORAD jets to train over California, Alaska, Alberta

  August 18, 2010 8:32 AM

  The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will send planes on training flights over Northern California, northern Alberta and southwestern Alaska on Thursday. NORAD said the planes will practice interception and identification procedures as well as responding to multiple threats. Officials say most residents won't see or hear... more »

• Peterson tests tracking capability with Russian help

  August 9, 2010 5:30 PM

  (AP) - In a historic first for Cold War adversaries, U.S., Canadian and Russian military officers directed fighter jets and ground controllers to test how well they could track an international terrorist hijacking over the Pacific Ocean. The exercise began Sunday over the Pacific Ocean and involved commanders at the... more »

• NORAD, Russia to test hijack response

  August 3, 2010 8:19 AM

  The U.S. and Russia are planning a joint exercise to see how well they can coordinate their efforts in the event of an international hijacking. Military aircraft from Russia and the North American Aerospace Defense Command - based at Colorado Springs' Peterson Air Force Base - will track a... more »

• NORAD plans joint exercise with Russia

  June 15, 2010 3:58 PM

  The Colorado Springs-based North America Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Russian Air Force plan to conduct a joint air defense exercise in August. The focus will be combating terrorism. This exercise will take place in both Russian and U.S. airspace, over Alaska and Russia. more »

• Change of Command at NORAD, NORTHCOM

  May 19, 2010 12:50 PM

  The top military and civilian commanders of the United States and Canada are in Colorado Springs to oversee the transfer of power at NORAD and US Northern Command. Gen. Victor E. Renuart relinquished command to his successor Admiral James A. Winnefield, Jr. during a ceremony at Peterson Air Force... more »

• NORAD / USNORTHCOM commander talks about challenges for next in charge

  May 13, 2010 6:59 PM

  Thursday morning, U.S. Air Force General Victor "Gene" Renuart, Jr. held what he called, possibly, his last press conference as commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command. Vice Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr. will take over the position that Gen. Renuart has held since... more »

• NORAD/USNORTHCOM commander talks about challenges for next in charge

  May 13, 2010 1:54 PM

  Thursday morning, U.S. Air Force General Victor "Gene" Renuart, Jr. held what he called, possibly, his last press conference as commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command. Vice Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr. will take over the position that Gen. Renuart has held since... more »

• Gen. Renuart pilots final flight before retiring

  May 6, 2010 6:38 PM

  PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) - The general in charge of NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command has piloted his ceremonial last flight before retiring. Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart flew a C-130 on Wednesday on a 3 1/2-hour flight that began and ended at Peterson Air Force... more »

• Flight diverted after man claims explosives

  April 27, 2010 6:20 PM

  An American citizen on a flight from Paris to Atlanta claimed to have a fake passport and said he had explosives in his luggage, forcing federal air marshals to intervene and the plane to land in Maine, U.S. officials said Tuesday. Federal officials identified the passenger as Derek Stansberry,... more »

• NORAD commander concerned about radar

  April 21, 2010 1:32 PM

  A top U.S. general is trying to reassure the public the military supports wind power and other alternative energy, despite his concerns that turbines may block radar that detects threats to North America. Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, head of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense... more »

• CSU-Pueblo: Homeland Security Economic Development

  March 11, 2010 9:53 AM

  Pueblo aims to take a bigger role in Homeland Security, a move that will lead to economic growth and job opportunities. To help get the ball rolling, an Economic Development Forum will be hosted by Colorado State University-Pueblo in April. Representatives from NORAD, NORTHCOM, Homeland Security and a host of... more »

• Domestic Policy Advisor-US Northern Command, NORAD

  March 10, 2010 1:50 PM

  The Air Force is seeking a civilian Domestic Policy Advisor to advise the commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM on homeland issues. This position is in Colorado Springs. Starting salary range: $143,000 - $165,000 Apply by March 29 Click here to apply more »

• NORAD, NORTHCOM commander to retire

  February 11, 2010 8:51 AM

  The general in charge of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command says he will retire. Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart said Wednesday he plans leave the military on July 1 after a 39-year career. NORAD, a joint U.S.-Canada command, monitors air and space... more »

• NORAD dispatches fighters over Colorado Springs

  January 8, 2010 3:17 PM

  NORAD dispatched two F-16 fighter jets to the Colorado Springs Airport Friday, after an Air Tran passenger jet made an emergency landing because of an unruly passenger. No one was hurt. Air Tran Flight 39 was en route from Atlanta to San Francisco when a drunk passenger locked himself... more »

• NORAD tracking Santa

  December 25, 2009 1:06 AM

  Tracking Santa is a big deal to many of the volunteers at NORAD. "I've called ever since I was six or five," SAYS VOLUNTEER Kyle Boss. "It's just a big tradition to do." They take in a lot of the holiday cheer their spreading. "It's very contagious,... more »

• Tracking Santa

  December 24, 2009 4:15 AM

  Want to make sure you are in bed before Santa gets to your house? You can track his location by going to by clicking here. There you can see the exact location of Santa and his eight reindeer. You can also tune in to NewsFirst5 for updates about... more »

• Santa gearing up for the big night

  December 17, 2009 4:49 PM

  "As you (Santa Claus) enter the North American A.O. we're looking for a east to west standard emission flow with a north/south weave tactic," says Jim Collins, a fighter pilot based at NORAD and he briefed Santa on his yearly flight. It sounds like some complex stuff, but it... more »

• Northcom: Small plane down in Indiana

  September 30, 2009 1:14 PM

  U.S. military officials say a small, small single engine plane crashed near Muncie, Indiana, after operating erratically. They said they believe the pilot had been suffering from a lack of oxygen. A spokesman for U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs said that military officials do not believe it is terrorism... more »