The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is warning vehicle owners of a rising "title theft" scam.

According to the Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit (MVIU), third-party "helpers" are illegally seizing vehicle ownership under the guide of assistance.

Our investigators are seeing a troubling trend where scammers exploit the title and registration process to take legal control of a persons vehicle, said MVIU Investigations Chief Dana Chavez. There is no reason a third-party needs to help you title your car.

The MVIU says fraudsters often target people who don't have a driver's license, offering to either act as a "Power of Attorney," or asking to be added to the title to "facilitate" registration.

Once their name is on the document, the MVIU says they become the legal owner and can sell, tow or seize the vehicle, even without your permission.

We urge all residents to always use official channels rather than third-party helpers, said Chavez. This is the best way to ensure their vehicle stays in their name.

The following methods are the safest and most official ways to register your vehicle:

To learn more about motor vehicle scams and fraud impacting Coloradans, visit the DMV's website.

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Home sales across the Pikes Peak region picked up in May as buyers became more active and homes sold faster, while prices remained relatively stable compared with a year ago, according to new data from the Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS.

Single-family home sales increased 10% in El Paso County compared with April, signaling a stronger spring market despite inventory levels remaining relatively flat.

In El Paso County, the median sales price for a single-family home was $549,000 in May, down slightly from $554,000 a year earlier.

Homes also sold more quickly in May. The average number of days on market in El Paso County dropped to 39 days, down from 51 in April. In Teller County, homes spent an average of 58 days on the market, compared with 78 days the previous month.

Scott Sufak, president-elect of the Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS board of directors, said the latest numbers largely reflect normal seasonal trends rather than a major market shift.

"I think we're in a steady market," explained Sufak. "We haven't seen a lot of changes. We are seeing some seasonal changes as we go from last month to this month, seeing the inventory levels increase a little bit. The transaction numbers have increased a little bit. The days on market have gone down a little bit, so all the good signs that we would hope to see during this time of year."

Sufak cautioned buyers and sellers against trying to predict market swings.

"If somebody's looking to wait to time the market for when to buy or sell, probably not going to be many indicators to tell you what's going to do," he added. "So better just to follow your own personal needs rather than to try to time the market."

While homes are selling faster, Sufak said many sellers are still entering the market with unrealistic price expectations.

"The days on market have gone down, but really the reason that these prices are dropping is because they're priced too high to begin with," stated Sufak. "People are getting a little bit too ambitious on what they expect to get for the sale price of their home."

According to the Colorado Association of REALTORS, 44.2% of active listings in El Paso County and 37.6% in Teller County saw price reductions in May. Sufak added that sellers must work harder to stand out in a market with more inventory and more choices for buyers.

"We're still in a price war and we're still in a beauty contest with the number of properties that are out there on the market," said Sufak. "You really have to be competitive and stand out against them, and the way to do that is to be priced appropriately."

Sufak also noted that today's market looks much different than the highly competitive environment buyers and sellers experienced several years ago.

"We used to see 15, 20 showings per property every week," he said. "Market-wide, we're seeing more like one showing per property per week or even less in some cases."

Despite slower showing activity, Sufak said he remains optimistic about long-term home values in the region.

"We still expect appreciation over the next few years, and I don't think that we're going to see any dip in single-family prices," he said. "So if it is something that you want to get into the market, now is as good a time as any to do it."

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Monday is the deadline for property owners in El Paso County to submit the second half of their property tax payment.

The first half was due February 28.

This only applies to property owners who chose to split their 2025 tax bill into two equal installments. Those who paid in full were required to do so by April 30.

If you miss Monday's deadline, the payment will become delinquent starting Tuesday and will begin accruing interest as required under Colorado law.

You can make a payment online, or in person at the El Paso County Treasurer's Office, which is located off of West Garden of the Gods Road.

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Black Hills Energy has proposed an 8.8% increase to electric base rates and is requesting approval from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

The company says that residential customers would see an average monthly bill increase of $10.90 a month, or 8.8%, based on an average usage of 600 kilowatt-hours a month.

If the rate increase is approved, it would go into effect in March ,2027.

Black Hills says one component of the proposal is a $38 million customer refund, which they claim would reduce the bill impact on customers.

The refund money was previously collected to fund new renewable energy projects under the companys Renewable Energy Standard Plan and Clean Energy Plan.

The points that Black Hills Energy says are key to the rate proposal are listed below:

To learn more about the proposal, visit Black Hills Energy's website.

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As students graduate and seasonal workers begin searching for summer employment, cybersecurity experts are warning of a sharp increase in job scams designed to steal money and personal information from job seekers.

According to a 2026 BBB study update, reports of employment scams doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year, with nearly 50,000 victims reporting losses over the past three years. The BBB said scammers increasingly contact targets through unsolicited text messages, then move conversations to platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram.

"We have job scams, huge spike right now," explained Dr. Michael Skiba, who also goes by Doctor Fraud. "You have kids graduating. You have the summer help. So what you're doing is seeing, I've seen an average of this time of year, probably a spike about 2 to 300%, even more than last month."

Dr. Skiba said scammers are increasingly targeting people who are eager to earn money, including recent graduates facing student loan payments.

"They're targeting individuals that are looking to fulfill their college loans and they're hungry for money basically," he said.

According to Dr. Skiba, many scams begin with an unsolicited job offer that appears unusually attractive.

"Firstly, they usually approach you," he added. "This would be a potential employer that's going to send unsolicited to you, 'Hey, here's a job.'"

The offers often include benefits and salaries that seem unusually generous.

"It sounds too good to be true, to be honest," he explained. "They're going to offer you maybe a laptop, a corporate expense account, a salary that's a lot higher than the norm."

The expert said job seekers should be wary when an opportunity appears to hit multiple warning signs at once.

"If they solicit you, if it seems too good to be true, if it's 20, 30% more than average, if they're offering tons of extras with it," he said, those are often indicators of fraud.

He recommends researching any company before moving forward.

"What you want to do is hop out of those sites and try to verify the legitimacy of that organization," he said. "Usually, what you can do is just do a basic Google search again."

He suggested searching a company's name alongside words such as "fraud" or "scam" and reviewing online discussions.

"Go on Reddit and just see if there's any traffic at all," he said. "Then you know that there's something awry about this company."

The expert said scammers have evolved beyond simply charging application fees and are now employing longer-term tactics to gain victims' trust.

"What they're doing this year, this is the new wave, is they're playing more of a long game," he said.

In some cases, scammers provide small incentives upfront.

"They'll actually get you in and they'll give you something first," he said. "'Hey, here's $50 just for you to fill out the application, as a little incentive.' Everyone's guard gets let down at that point."

Once trust is established, scammers may request larger payments for supposed onboarding expenses.

"They'll put you in an onboarding process, but then before you know it, they're going to ask you for, let's say, $2,000 just to pay for shipping for a full package of your laptop and to cover the background expense," he said. "Well, guess what happens after you send them $2,000? They disappear."

Dr. Skiba identified several red flags job seekers should watch for the following:

The BBB also offered tips to help job seekers protect themselves from employment scams, which you can view below:

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Rising airfare and gas prices are putting pressure on summer travel budgets, but most travelers at Colorado Springs Airport say they are not canceling their plans; they are just getting creative.

Despite the higher costs, travelers say they are finding ways to make their summer getaways work, from planning further in advance to combining multiple destinations into a single trip.

Jeremy Mathews said he is not letting the expense stop him from traveling.

"Money is gonna be what money is. I mean, you can't stop living just because things get more expensive. You might have to work more, but do a little more work and get a little more fun," said Mathews.

Instead of taking several shorter trips throughout the year, Mathews is combining everything into one vacation with multiple stops.

Other travelers say planning is key to keeping costs manageable.

"Prices are so up and down right now with everything going on in the world. So, we usually try to plan way in advance, you know, if we're gonna do something as much as possible," said Sheila Fortier.

Despite inflated prices, travelers say they are still planning to hit the road this summer, even if it means waiting a bit longer to book or combining multiple destinations into one trip.

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

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Drivers in Colorado Springs have noticed gas prices coming down, but many say it is not enough to ease sticker shock at the pump.

At the Shell station at Austin Bluffs and Academy, regular unleaded is selling for $3.54 a gallon. Gas Buddy shows prices hovering between $3.50 - $3.80 across the Colorado Springs area as of Tuesday.

Regular gas is below $4 a gallon in many places across Colorado Springs, but several stations are still charging well over $4 a gallon, including the Maverik and Circle K on North Carefree Circle east of Powers.

Hear what some drivers we spoke with on Tuesday had to say

About a month after some drivers described adjusting their schedules and raising rates because of fuel prices, commuters say prices are down but still not enough.

Michele Kissam, who has been driving cross-county on Highway 24 for 9 years, capped her tank fill-up at $20 on Tuesday, saying prices are still too steep to justify a full tank.

"I live an hour east out here in Ramah," Kissam said. "There's not really a ton of jobs where I live, so I have to come into town. It's all I can afford right now, with the prices. It's so expensive right now."

Josh Aguilar commutes in the opposite direction, filling up once or twice a week to visit family, go to the grocery store and see friends.

"My family lives an hour away so I have to commute there. Go to friends' houses as well, the grocery store, so it adds up."

Even with gas prices dropping, Aguilar said he is still reducing unnecessary time on the road.

"I've definitely had to cut down on trips here and there."

Simon Luna said the price at one location stood out compared to others he had seen.

"They're still too high I would say This spot in particular is the only place that I've seen that's getting to a reasonable price."

Leonard Harper said he would welcome a continued decline.

"I'd like it to go down, I don't drive very much, but I'd like it to go down."

One driver who preferred to stay off camera said people's gas budgets probably won't change much until prices drop back to where they were at the start of the year.

Not all drivers shared the same frustration. Retiree Don Anderson said he does not take trips unless he has to.

"I believe gas prices are gonna go down," Anderson said. "The gas prices, I ain't worried about, cause I know they'll drop."

One driver who preferred to stay off camera said people's gas budgets probably won't change much until prices drop back to where they were at the start of the year.

According to AAA, across Colorado, the average is $4.17, while the National Average sits at $4.16. That's down roughly 20 cents since last week, according to AAA.

As crude oil sits at roughly $88 a barrel as of June 9, that is helping prices cool off compared to the nearly $100 prices seen in late May.

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

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Two sets of tenants in Pueblo allege they were poisoned by carbon monoxide in the same apartment unit, and their attorney believes the landlord is to blame.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly.

Carbon monoxide detectors are required in dwelling units with fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage or parking structure, as these are potential sources of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide deprives the brain of oxygen, and at high levels or with prolonged exposure, it causes irreversible brain damage.

Attorney Sam Cannon represents two Pueblo brothers who filed a lawsuit last year claiming their landlords negligence left them with permanent brain damage after carbon monoxide poisoning in their apartment.

Watch Colette Bordelon's report in the player below:

There are two primary clear laws that we often run into: The first is the carbon monoxide detector law, which says that in any rental unit, the landlord has to ensure there are functional carbon monoxide detectors when a new tenant moves in. Second, under the sort of landlord-tenant laws, we call it the warranty of habitability, landlords have a responsibility to make sure their heat and hot water systems are installed to code, that they're in good working order," explained Cannon.

The complaint was filed in Pueblo County Court on April 7 against C & S Grand Investments, LLC, and its managing member, Jason Scott Berrier.

According to the lawsuit, the two brothers were hospitalized with life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning in April 2024 from a malfunctioning furnace, which the landlord allegedly tried to fix himself without a required license.

The property is located at 2805 N. Grand Avenue in Pueblo.

It was this case of a furnace that had been installed improperly and had been serviced by someone who wasn't licensed, wasn't qualified, and a landlord who hadn't placed carbon monoxide detectors in the unit," said Cannon. "It very fortunately did not result in any deaths, but it's about as close as you can come.

Cannon said his office was contacted by another tenant of that same apartment complex in Pueblo, who said she believed she also experienced carbon monoxide poisoning. His office filed a counterclaim in response to the landlord's lawsuit against the tenant for unpaid rent.

The tenant told us that the same thing had happened to her that the furnace was still only being worked on by an unqualified technician, and that she was also exposed to carbon monoxide in the same unit," said Cannon.

Cannon said he is actively working on a handful of carbon monoxide-related cases, which he said are rare. He believes the rental market in Colorado is one reason why he has seen so many similar cases.

People are unable to afford their own homes. People who are in unstable housing situations are at a disadvantage when dealing with their landlords, and that allows landlords to get away with, you know, not repairing furnaces, not checking carbon monoxide detectors, and that sort of thing," said Cannon.

The tenant in the second case, Rachelle Clementi, sent the following statement to Denver7:

Clients want, obviously, they want to be made whole to the extent that's even possible, but more than that, they really want other people to know that this can happen," said Cannon. "The more people know, the more they can protect themselves and make sure this doesn't happen to them either.

Denver7 reached out to the defendant named in this case and did not receive a response before publication.

Rental prices across the United States are beginning to climb again as the busy spring leasing season gains momentum, but Colorado Springs one-bedroom rentals remained steady month over month.

According to Zumper's latest National Rent Report, the median national rent for a one-bedroom apartment increased 0.7% from April to May, reaching $1,519. Two-bedroom rents rose 0.4% to $1,903, marking the strongest spring increase in more than a year and signaling a return to more typical seasonal rental patterns after two years of relatively flat growth.

"Spring leasing season is pulling prices up the way it historically has, after two years of unusually muted seasonal demand," the report said.

In Colorado Springs, however, one-bedroom rents remained unchanged over the past month at a median price of $1,100. Two-bedroom apartments saw a larger increase, climbing 4.3% to $1,470. But what really sticks out is the year-over-year data, as one-bedrooms in Colorado Springs saw a 4.8 percent increase compared to May of 2025, while two-bedrooms experienced a five percent increase.

Colorado Springs ranked as the 71st most expensive rental market among the 100 cities tracked by Zumper. Denver ranked 26. Denver saw a 7.6 percent decrease in May compared to May of 2025. The median price to rent a one-bedroom in Denver last month was $1,580, according to the report.

Nationally, rental prices have nearly returned to year-ago levels after a prolonged period of cooling. Zumper reported that annual rent declines have steadily narrowed for five consecutive months, with one-bedroom rents now down just 0.1% from a year ago and two-bedroom rents down 0.2%.

Zumper CEO Shawn Mullahy said the national averages reflect different conditions across the country.

"National averages are masking two very different housing markets right now," Mullahy said. "In supply-constrained coastal cities, pricing power has returned quickly. Across much of the Sun Belt, operators are still working through the inventory wave delivered over the last several years."

While rental markets in cities such as New York and San Francisco continue to post record-high rents, Colorado Springs remains well below the national median for one-bedroom apartments, despite the recent increase in two-bedroom prices.

The report suggests that renters nationwide may see additional upward pressure on prices heading into the summer months as seasonal demand continues to strengthen.

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As the summer travel season gets underway, consumers using search engines and artificial intelligence tools to research vacations should take extra precautions before booking flights and hotels, according to cybersecurity expert Dr. Michael Skiba, also known as Dr. Fraud.

Dr. Fraud says online research tools can be helpful, but travelers should always complete reservations through a company's official website.

It's OK to do your research there, but if you're going to book and put your credit card information and some of your PII [personally identifiable information] in there, then definitely go to that legitimate site, explained Dr. Fraud. Go to united.com. Don't even go on Google and put in United because that could also send you somewhere else.

He warned that scammers increasingly create convincing imposter websites that mimic legitimate airlines, hotels and travel companies. Some fraudulent sites can even appear in search engine results or be surfaced through AI-generated recommendations.

Dr. Fraud said travelers should be wary of deals that seem significantly cheaper than competitors.

If it's not within 30 percent of the average price of the other airlines or the other rental bookings, that should be a big flag that something's gone awry, he said.

Fraudsters often rely on pressure tactics to push consumers into making quick decisions, he added.

They use a lot of psychological tricks, added Dr. Fraud. One of them is a sense of urgency. They're going to say, This flight is $300 and it's only good for another 30 seconds.

He also advised travelers to avoid booking sites that request unusual forms of payment, such as cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Dr. Fraud pointed to a case involving an imposter Alaska Airlines website that appeared online several years ago. According to Dr. Fraud, some travelers booked flights through the fraudulent site and did not realize they had been scammed until arriving at the airport.

To verify a website's authenticity, Dr. Fraud recommends returning to the basics by manually typing a company's web address into a browser rather than relying solely on search results. For travelers who remain uncertain, Dr. Fraud said contacting a company directly can provide additional reassurance.

Go back to just human-to-human contact, he said. Sometimes that's the best approach with AI.

Several red flags to look out for include the following:

You can read some recommendations below:

If you notice a rental listing scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency and the website where the ad was posted, and report it to the agencies below:

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Colorado is the third most expensive state in the nation, according to the Colorado Chamber of Commerce's "Colorado Scorecard," which ranked the Centennial State 47th in cost of living.

Housing is the primary driver of that ranking, according to data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis price parities shared by University of Colorado Colorado Springs Economic Forum Director Bill Craighead. While Colorado tracks near similar states on costs like utilities and goods, housing costs are well above average.

BEA data shows Colorado ranking 12th in cost of living based on its price parities charts.

"In terms of affordability and someone looking for a home, costs have improved moderately," said Craighead.

Residents in Colorado Springs say they feel the financial pressure.

"Recently it's definitely been gas prices. And groceries too," said resident John Pridgen.

Pridgen lives in eastern Colorado Springs. While his rent stayed flat, he says other costs have gone up.

"I think year over year, it was slightly lower than the offer I had," said Pridgen.

Jason Herbert, who recently moved to Colorado Springs, says the burden falls hardest on working people.

"It's so expensive for so many working-class people like me and the people I work with," said Herbert. "I definitely feel the pinch."

Craighead says Colorado's cost of living situation may be starting to improve, but increasing housing supply remains a central challenge, particularly in eastern Colorado Springs, where two potential solutions are being discussed: building up and building out.

"Thinking about ways to make it easier to increase the supply," said Craighead.

Craighead says the east side of Colorado Springs is one area where supply could grow, but future development faces resistance.

"More supply means more building. A lot of the current homeowners don't want to see stuff changing where they live," said Craighead.

One example of the tension over new development is the Flats at Sand Creek, a housing complex in eastern Colorado Springs near Carefree and Pony Tracks.

Neighbors have contested the project, arguing it could harm traffic safety and overcrowd an otherwise suburban area.

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Sports betting will soon face more regulations in Colorado after state lawmakers passed a bipartisan bill this legislative session.

The bill bans using credit cards for betting accounts, bans push notifications to solicit bets, and bans marketing to anyone under the age of 21.

Watch Micah Smith's report in the player below:

The bill will not ban bets on a specific event, outcome, or statistic in a game, also known as prop bets.

According to lawmakers, a prop bet ban would have lost the state $2.4 million in tax revenue, which helps fund Colorados water projects.

There's a lot that goes into this bill, but specifically what I like about the bill is putting protections in place to prohibit people being able to gamble on credit. That's one of the largest risk factors that we see for individuals, when they start gambling with money they don't have, Jamie Glick, executive director of Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado, said. There's a lot of other aspects of the bill that we're neutral on.

Glick said while he is not in support of marketing to young people, hes neutral on some of the other marketing specifics, like language.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Department of Revenue reported the state collected more than $4 million in sports betting tax revenue in March, and a total of $36 million has been collected this fiscal year.

Once Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs the bill, Colorado will join nine other states that have banned the use of credit cards for deposits for sports betting.

Inventory continued to grow across the El Paso County housing market in April, giving buyers more options while sales activity remained steady compared to a year ago, according to new data from the Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS.

There were 2,533 single-family and patio homes listed for sale in April, a 12 percent increase from March, according to the association. During the month, 933 homes sold, up 1% from March and slightly above the 922 homes sold in April 2025.

The median sales price climbed to $485,000.

Buyers across the Pikes Peak region are continuing to see more choices and less urgency, while sellers are still achieving solid prices when they list competitively, said Andrea Warner, board president of the association and owner of Colorado Peak Real Estate.

Warner said the increase in listings and sales activity suggests buyers are becoming more comfortable with current mortgage rates after months of waiting for rates to fall. According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year mortgage average is 6.37% this week.

What that shows to me is that buyers are starting to have a little bit more faith in our market, explained Warner. Sitting on the sidelines isnt really smart, waiting for interest rates to drop. I think they finally realized that the interest rates that we have right now are good rates, and its time to buy.

The average number of days homes spent on the market fell to 51 days in April, down from 58 days in March, though still above the 44-day average recorded in April 2025.

Warner said the market has become more balanced than in recent years, allowing buyers more time to compare neighborhoods and homes rather than rushing to make offers.

Now they can slow down, take their time so they have a little bit more faith in the market, she said.

She added that increased inventory has also made buyers more selective, forcing sellers to pay closer attention to pricing and presentation.

They cant just put a sign in the front yard and think its going to sell overnight, added Warner. They actually have to make sure that everything is on point, staging, making sure the house looks really top-notch, and the pricing is really important.

While affordability remains a challenge for many first-time buyers, Warner said financing programs and down payment assistance options are helping some buyers enter the market.

Theres so many different types of mortgage options out there for first-time home buyers, she said. A lot of first-time home buyers feel like theres no way I could ever achieve the American dream of homeownership.

Click here for more tips from a local expert on buying your first home.

Warner said she encourages prospective buyers to work with a realtor and lender to better understand available programs and financing options.

Homeownership just continues to be one of the strongest long-term tools of building wealth and financial stability, she said.

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From kitchen remodels to landscaping and even gutter cleaning, Colorado homeowners often use the warmer months to tackle longplanned home projects, but the Better Business Bureau warns the rampup in hiring contractors also marks the start of spring scam season.

We see an influx in people hiring contractors or hiring home service businesses, said Meghan Conradt, director of foundation with the Better Business Bureau. And unfortunately, sometimes well also see an influx in complaints or experiences that arent great with hiring professionals to work on your home.

Jaclyn Allen shares tips on how to avoid these scams.

Scripps New Investigates teams have covered multiple cases where Colorado homeowners lost big to bad contractors, often tens of thousands of dollars, left with gutted interiors or shoddy repairs.

Conradt said the first step in avoiding a scam is doing your homework.

Make sure that you are obtaining the right documentation for businesses. So when you're looking to hire them, make sure that they are licensed, make sure that they have proof of insurance, make sure they've pulled a permit for the work that they're doing, if that's applicable, she said.

Three tips from the BBB to avoid contractor scams:

Scammers can be hard to track down, and recovering your money isnt guaranteed.

Once they take off, it can be really hard to get that money back, Conradt said. You could take them to court. It's just that that process tends to be really long and drawn out, and we often do not see people get restitution through that.

If youve been scammed:

The BBBs Restoring Trust Program lists vetted companies and offers help recovering if a contractor disappears, Conradt said.

It's imperative to do your homework before the project starts, she said. Because once you're in that situation where they've compromised your project or done substandard work on the house, that's where we just see it turning into a really big legal mess.

Our partners at Denver7 Investigates tracked down a viewer tip about a fake Colorado car dealership advertising on TikTok. What we found points to a much larger problem.

The email from Alisha Small, a 22-year-old nursing student in Florida, read: They have ceased communication and are refusing to refund my $2,550 or deliver the vehicle.

Last month, Small agreed to buy what she thought was a 2020 Honda Civic from Drive Cheap USA Cars after spotting it on TikTok.

She sent money for a down payment and shipping through Zelle. Then came other charges including a dealership transportation insurance fee for $1,000 and a standard emission test for $799.

Emission tests in Colorado are generally $35.

Please dont do this. There are scammers on TikTok. There are scammers everywhere, actually, Small told Denver7 Investigates.

Drive Cheap Cars USA did not return our requests for comment, and the Aurora address listed on the companys website led to an apartment complex, not a dealership.

The Colorado Department of Revenues Auto Industry Division confirmed Drive Cheap USA Cars is not licensed to sell vehicles in Colorado.

Watch Jaclyn Allen's report in the player below:

Officials said it is an example of a cloned website scam in which criminals impersonate legitimate dealerships by stealing photos, logos and even street addresses.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said scammers can create convincing fake dealer websites using AI and stolen photos.

Heres the tell: theyre gonna ask you for money first, youre never gonna see a car, and theyre gonna ask you to send it with a cash app or worse, with cryptocurrency or gift cards, Weiser said. If youre not dealing with something you know is legitimate, do not give money.

Weiser said red flags include:

The Colorado Auto Industry Division said cloned website scams are increasingly targeting online car shoppers.

In an recent alert, officials recommended:

The division warns that once money is sent, especially overseas, it is very unlikely to be recovered.

Small said she has learned an important, but expensive lesson about online shopping.

I know that I will never do this again, though. Thats a fact, she said.

Rents in Colorado Springs may be starting to rise again after nearly two years of declines, according to a new report from Zumper, signaling what one analyst says could be a turning point for the citys rental market.

The latest national rent report from Zumper's national rent report found Colorado Springs ranked No. 72 among the nations most expensive rental markets. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city reached $1,100 in April, while two-bedroom units stood at $1,410.

We saw that continuing the trend from last month, rents were up month over month, said Crystal Chen, an analyst with Zumper. Its notable since rents have definitely been kind of down nationwide for at least the last six months or so.

Chen said the companys monthly report analyzes active rental listings in the 100 largest U.S. cities to reflect what renters would currently pay on the market.

We look at active listings every month, so to give a better picture of what a renter would pay if they were to move out tomorrow, explained Chen. We have over a million active listings in the U.S. every month.

Nationally, rents ticked up slightly in April as the spring leasing season began. Chen said seasonal demand is helping drive the increases, though trends vary sharply across the country.

It really feels like a tale of two markets right now in the U.S., stated Chen. There are definitely some markets like San Francisco where rents are up 20 percent annually ... versus markets in the Sun Belt that are still working through a lot of supply.

While Colorado Springs remains more affordable than both Denver and the national median, Chen said the city stands out because rents are beginning to stabilize while many Colorado markets continue to decline.

Colorado Springs definitely is more affordable than both Denver and the national median, added Chen. But whats notable about Colorado Springs right now is that Denver rents are down annually ... so to see a little bit of annual growth in Colorado Springs is definitely notable.

According to Zumpers historical data, one-bedroom rents in Colorado Springs peaked at around $1,270 in May 2023 before steadily declining nearly 17 percent to roughly $1,050 earlier this year.

Chen attributed much of that drop to a construction boom that added thousands of new apartments to the market.

The height of the construction boom in Colorado Springs was in 2022, said Chen. A ton of supply came online in 2024 alone.

Zumpers internal data showed active apartment listings in Colorado Springs increased by 31 percent between 2022 and 2024.

I think that supply really kept downward pressure on rents, said Chen. Thats why they were kind of falling for nearly two years.

Now, however, Chen said the market appears to be turning a corner as new apartment construction slows and demand begins to rebound.

It seems like the market has turned a bit of a corner with two consecutive months of monthly gains, she said. I think a big reason for that is a pullback in new supply.

For renters hoping to save money, Chen said timing can still make a major difference.

If youre a Colorado Springs renter and youre looking for a good deal, the best time of year is toward the holiday months toward the end of the year in the winter, offered Chen as advice. Theres just a lot less competition.

She also encouraged renters to negotiate with landlords, especially at newer apartment complexes.

New buildings typically offer a lot of concessions, said Chen. You can try and negotiate things down or even offer to sign a longer lease if you really want to lock in a rate.

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Reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, were set to kick 9,000 Coloradans off food benefits on Friday, according to Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen.

HR1, or The One Big Beautiful Bill, which was signed into law in July 2025, strips benefits from refugees, asylum seekers, and other non-citizens, even if they have legal immigration status. Those restrictions were then set to take effect Friday.

In Arapahoe County, the county says just over 2,900 residents will lose SNAP benefits, more than any other Colorado county.

This comes as the U.S. House passed the latest Farm Bill on Thursday, cutting $187 billion in SNAP benefits. The bill passed mostly along party lines, 224-220, and now heads to the Senate.

Rep. Pettersen, D-Colo., voted against the bill and spoke out against the large cuts to food assistance for low-income families.

Families are being squeezed while benefits are being stripped away. This is not government efficiency. This is truly the largest wealth transfer from working families to the wealthiest in the history of the United States, said Pettersen.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP participation nationwide has fallen by 3 million people after HR1 was signed into law mostly due to stricter work requirements.

Changes to SNAP have also placed a greater financial burden on states to cover a larger share of administrative costs and benefits, costing Colorado $180 million more every year, according to the Colorado Fiscal Institute.

Republicans will need Democrats' support in the Senate to pass the Farm Bill. They could adopt the House bill or make changes that will need to go through reconciliation.

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If you live in Colorado Springs, the city's yearly Water Wise Rules are now in effect. The rules were put in place by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to help conserve water.

From now until October 15, CSU is asking customers to limit lawn watering to three days a week before 10:00 a.m., or after 6:00 p.m.

The other key factors of the Water Wise Rules are listed below:

The Water Wise Rules are in effect to keep water in the Colorado River, which is where we get about half our water supply. If you break the rules, you can face a $100 fine.

For more information about the Water Wise Rules, visit CSU's website.

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Multiple fruit farms on the Western Slope reported total crop loss after a devastating overnight freeze between April 17 and April 18, leaving local farmers' markets and others who source fruit looking for alternative options.

Earlier in the season, we've been hearing that we could expect fruit up to six weeks in advance because it had been such a warm winter, and unfortunately, we experienced a really cold, long frost and have had some significant impacts for fruit growers in Delta and Mesa County, said Mackenzie Sehlke, the Executive Director of Boulder County Farmers Markets.

One of those farms on the Western Slope was Topp Fruits in Hotchkiss.

Member Owner Harrison Topp said the freezing temperatures were not unusual for April, but because of really warm temperatures in the weeks prior, the fruit was at a later stage of development and did not survive.

We took probably about 3.000 (fruitlet) samples. We checked every zone we had. We checked every variety and every block, Topp said. We cut each one of those little fruitlets open to see what we could find, and there just wasn't anything out there.

Farmers worked through the night to protect their crops using propane heaters, burn barrels, and wind machines, and even applied a calcium-and-amino-acid mixture to strengthen the fruit. But Topp says it wasnt enough, and everything: peaches, apples, cherries, pears, plums, and nectarines were lost.

Topp says they have already started replanting some trees and that crop insurance will cover most of their losses, but the ripple effects will be felt across the supply chain.

The one that we're most worried about is what it means for our workers. We don't have work for the summer. Crop insurance is not enough for us to continue paying salaries throughout the course of the year, so our goal is to bonus them out as best we can and hope that they'll be back next year, Topp said.

Watch Jessica Porter's report in the player below:

Hes confident they will bounce back in 2027 and is partnering with another farm in Palisade, Colorado, to continue selling fruit at farmers' markets.

I think there's no question that there's going to be a fruit shortage in the state this year, Topp said.

Boulder County Farmers Markets are also turning to Palisade to meet the gap.

There are folks who are in Palisade, who escape the freeze, who are wonderful crop stewards and growers, and who don't get to typically come to our farmers markets because we have a pretty set roster of regulars, so our farmers market customers can expect to see the fruit that's available this year, Sehlke said.

One silver lining with this freeze is that it may be easier for those farmers who lost their fruit to maintain their trees through the drought.

Both agree this is the year to support farmers' markets, farm stands, and community-supported agriculture.

If ever you're wondering, does it matter if I spend any of my time or money at these places? It does, and this year, it matters more than ever, Sehlke said.

Colorado Springs residents and business owners will soon see an increase in their natural gas bills to fund federally mandated safety upgrades, according to Colorado Springs Utilities.

On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council approved an $8.54 monthly bill rider charge for residential customers; for commercial and industrial customers, the charge is $18.00 extra monthly. The money will be used to replace old steel gas lines, according to Springs Utilities.

The new rates will take effect on July 1.

According to Colorado Springs Utilities manager of pricing and rates Scott Shirola, the new charge will help fund accelerated work for the utility's Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP).

DIMP is a federal program required for all natural gas utilities, overseen by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Colorado Springs Utilities says the program will net roughly $90 million to help it replace around 39 miles of infrastructure each year through 2029.

Click here to learn more about the natural gas bill rider.

The increase comes a couple of months after Colorado Springs Utilities customers saw a slight decrease in their bills. On April 1, the average residential bill dropped by about $7 for natural gas and an estimated $2 for electricity. That added to a savings of just under $10 a month.

Colorado Springs Utilities said those rates changed because they are tied to the cost of fuel.

"I wish it went down more on electric because we have an AC," said one customer during our interview then. "So in the summer, it really goes up."

Shirola says the new charge is intended to be a "bridge fee" until Colorado Springs Utilities works through the remaining portion of a five-year rate plan that was approved by city council in 2024.

"City council, at that time, approved annual rate increases for the years 2025 through 2029," said Shirola. "This Natural Gas Integrity Federal Compliance Charge is really intended to bridge that gap until 2030, at which time, the cost of this program will be evaluated and potentially rolled into our base rates."

News5 asked why customers have to absorb the cost instead of the utility company.

"Since Colorado Springs Utilities is a municipal utility, we really pass along really only the cost that is required to provide service to utility customers," said Shirola. "There's really no profit margin in our rates or anything of that nature. When there's additional work to be done, as required by the federal agency, we have to pass along that additional cost to our customers to fund that work."

Shirola adds that Colorado Springs Utilities understands that any additional rate increase can be a burden for customers.

"We really would like to urge customers that may be struggling to pay their utility bill to reach out to Colorado Springs Utilities, theres bill payment options and things of that nature that we can work with them with," said Shirola. "We also encourage them to reach out to [Pikes Peak] United Way and call 211 and they can really be directed to resources in the community that best fit their need for their particular situation.

News5 is speaking with residents and business owners about how this will impact them. If you would like to speak with us or share how it impacts you, send us an email.

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Saving money doesnt have to mean having less. Meritrust Credit Union said changing your mindset from traditional savings accounts to freedom funds can help motivate you to invest in the future.

The new approach focuses on opportunity rather than restrictions.

When we reframe it in a freedom fund, what it does is it makes us change our mindset from something I have to give up to save, to actually something that I get to invest in my future and explore new opportunities, Ashley Manning, AVP of financial well-being at Meritrust, said.

The best part of the freedom fund is tailoring to whatever needs or goals you have. It could be annual vacations to concerts or even simple things like covering grocery costs. It depends on your overall budget, but Meritrust said its all about starting small. Start with $200 to $500 annually and as you continue to hit different milestones, you can strive for having three to six months worth of expenses saved.

Financial experts also advise treating this account like a bill that benefits you rather than someone else.

There's like this different emotional connection to savings and having to work hard and it's a chore to Freedom Fund where it's like exciting, it is opportunity based and so it just feels a lot better, Manning said.

Fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles are targeting residents with threats of unpaid parking fines and severe consequences.

The statewide DMV is aware of the issue and has a full page on its website dedicated to the fraudulent texts. The agency states it will not text or email individuals demanding payment for tickets or threatening prosecution.

Mark Fetterhoff with AAPRP Elder Watch said they have seen an uptick in these fraudulent text messages.

"I've seen very sophisticated examples of these and I've received some of them myself," Fetterhoff said.

Several of the texts claim to be from the Colorado DMV, saying people need to pay an unpaid parking fine and could face consequences if they did not pay soon. The message listed threats including a damaged credit score, increases in insurance premiums, and frozen bank accounts.

Take a look at the text News5's Eleanor Sheahan received and what a fraud expert said in the video player below.

"In this instance, they're trying to convince you that your driver's license might be revoked in certain instances or you're going to owe a much larger fine if you don't pay right then," Fetterhoff said. "They tempt you as well to get you to react."

He said with the use of AI, the fake texts are starting to look more realistic.

"There's less grammatical errors, there's less spelling errors," Fetterhoff said.

No matter how official the message looks, Fetterhoff advises against clicking on any links.

"Don't click on any links. Don't call any phone numbers that are on these messages because they're likely going to connect you with the scammer who's going to ask for personal and financial information," Fetterhoff said.

"Important to know that the DMV is not sending out these messages," Fetterhoff said.

If you did engage or answer these text messages, you should contact your bank right away.

"So whether that's your credit card company or your bank, and just again, let them know that happened. They'll probably want to reissue you a new credit or debit card in that situation," Fetterhoff said.

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Losing electricity is inconvenient for everyone, but it can be dangerous for Coloradans living with medical devices.

When extreme wildfire conditions force a preemptive power shutoff, Xcel Energy will provide customers who depend on electricity for medical needs with a full 72 hour-advance notice.

Its extremely important for them to make alternative accommodations or plan for a power outage, particularly when we know we are going to do a power outage, Hollie Velasquez Horvath, a regional vice president for Xcel Energy, said.

Melina Tayah is a policy advocate at the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, a nonprofit that focuses on food, health, housing and income for Coloradans. She said advanced shutoff notifications can save lives, but many Coloradans will not receive them.

Xcel is definitely setting the bar for the rest of the state to follow through, Tayah said. As of this year, January 2026, roughly 35 of the 52 energy providers do not provide a way for people to receive a notice, whether it's planned or unplanned.

In addition to notifications, Xcel will give up to $10,000 in rebates toward backup battery systems for those who qualify medically.

Its a larger backup battery system that requires a battery installer with a battery company to come and install it, Velasquez Horvath said. It automatically is connected to the electric grid and their meter, so it automatically will turn on once their power goes out.

To receive the rebate, individuals need to be an Xcel customer, signed up for the companys Medical Certification Program or the Colorado Medical Exemption Program, and live in a risk 2 or 3 wildfire risk zone. Tayah said the program is a great start, but the rebate may only go so far.

$10,000 covers maybe a generator that will charge up to two to four hours when these outages occur for a day or multiple days, Tayah said.

Still, she said that Xcel is at least addressing the issue.

The rest of Colorado does not have anything like that,Tayah said. We went through our own research and we looked through every single municipality and utility entity, and no one provides them a backup battery program.

If an Xcel customer needs electricity for a medical reason, the number one thing they can do is let the company know.

Please call, opt in, Velasquez Horvath said. So that we know that we have customers that have a medical device in their home, and then they will get additional marketing for the backup battery program and also those advanced notifications if we are to do a planned outage.

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

The City of Manitou Springs and the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) are warning community members about individuals going through neighborhoods impersonating the city's fire department, claiming that there have been changes to state or county wildfire codes.

They're attempting to sell "fire mitigation work" under false pretenses.

City officials in Manitou Springs say that wildfire mitigation is something that the city strongly supports and encourages for residents, but it is not "required" or "mandatory." Anyone claiming that residents will be fined or penalized for not doing so is misleading them.

Community members are encouraged to call the city at (719)685-5481 or the fire department at (719)685-1444 with any questions or concerns.

City officials will help provide real answers about fire mitigation and will work to help residents get it done as safely and affordably as possible.

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Colorado is set to receive tens of millions of dollars as a national grocery chain settles litigation related to the opioid epidemic.

Albertsons, which operates nearly 100 Safeways and Albertsons in Colorado, is set to pay out nearly $774 million nationally under a planned opioid settlement, the company and Colorado's attorney general announced Tuesday. Colorado is set to receive at least $32 million as part of the planned agreement, the release from the attorney general's office said.

WATCH: Albertsons set to pay out nearly $774 million in planned opioid settlement

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the settlement stems from the company's "wrongful conduct."

"They were pushing out opioids, fueling an addiction crisis, when they could and should have been asking an important question, why are all these people getting so many opioids?" Weiser told Denver7. "They didn't ask those questions. Many people were not asking questions. They were just cashing checks. Now these companies are being held to account. Now we have money to invest in treatment recovery to address this crisis."

An Albertsons statement said the settlement is a "step toward resolving opioid-related litigation" and is "not an admission of wrongdoing or liability."

"For years, Albertsons Cos. has invested in strong pharmacy practices designed to promote the safe and appropriate use of prescription medications," the statement said. "The Company is proud of its pharmacists and their long-standing role in promoting responsible medication use."

Certain aspects of the agreement remain under negotiation.

According to the attorney general's office, "important negotiations with respect to injunctive relief continue."

The latest agreement is set to bring the total of opioid settlement money Colorado has received to more than $912 million, according to the attorney general's office. Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Kroger (which owns King Soopers) are among the other companies the state is receiving opioid settlement money from.

The majority of funds, 60%, are distributed to regional councils that decide how to distribute and manage the funds with oversight from the state's opioid abatement council. Local governments receive a 20% share, and the state and infrastructure projects each receive a 10% share.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the 10-year prison term given to Avi Schwalb, a man convicted in an elaborate contracting scheme, should stand as a warning to those who exploit homeowners.

"This is a very important case with a very serious message. You rip people off, you take peoples money, leave them out of their homes, harm them by exposing them to asbestos, youre going to be held to account," Weiser said. "Ten years. That is a serious sentence for a very serious crime."

On Monday, Denver District Court Judge Michael Angel sentenced Schwalb after a jury found him guilty on all 47 felony counts of theft, money laundering, and violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act.

WATCH: AG, victims react to 10-year sentence for contractor

According to the Attorney General's office, Schwalb and business partners operating as Schwalb Builders and Avis Remodeling and Contracting took large customer deposits for home renovation projects between July 2021 and December 2024.

For more than two years, Denver7 Investigates has covered complaints about Schwalb Builders, with customers accusing the company of performing demolition or faulty work, abandoning jobs and leaving homes damaged and uninhabitable.

In Monday's sentencing hearing, Judge Angel told Schwalb: While the court acknowledges that these were not violent acts, they were deliberate. They were calculated. They caused immeasurable harm to the individuals involved.

The judge said many victims experienced significant financial losses and, in some cases, serious health impacts from unsafe construction practices, including asbestos contamination.

Colorado AG, victims react to 10-year sentence for contractor:

The Attorney Generals Office is seeking nearly $1.4 million in restitution for victims, which will be decided at a later hearing.

Several victims spoke during sentencing, describing the toll on their finances, homes and health.

Kevin Collins told the court he paid Schwalb Builders more than $250,000 for a remodel that left his house uninhabitable for two years.

"My wife and I were able to get back home, but the people who werent able to go back home, the people who had to sell their home, the people who were too old to go back to work Thats the real crime, and that weighs on me, Collins said after the sentencing. "I have mixed feelings because there's people who can't recover from this."

Ben Davidson testified that Schwalb Builders caused a massive asbestos spill in his home.

"When Im commuting to work, it hits me that I could be retired if we never hired Schwalb Builders and Avis Remodeling," said Davidson. "Avi Schwalb put money above all else, and believed that money can get you out of anything. I believe this motivation makes Avi Schwalb a dangerous individual who is unlikely to change his ways if he doesnt suffer a significant consequence for his actions."

His wife, Karen Davidson, also gave a victim impact statement in court, describing the ongoing effects on their family's health.

"As for sentencing, theres a real chance that because of the time we spent in the Schwalbs wake, one or both of us will not live to be Avis age," she said. "This is our family sentence imposed by Avi Schwalbs greed. If Avi is allowed to return to the community, he will likely continue the same patterns of greed, avoidance, victimization and blame. I urge you to confine Avi Schwalb to the only place where his generational cycle of harm will be stopped."

Prosecutors said Schwalb preyed on hardworking Coloradans, using their money to fund "an extravagant lifestyle."

Weiser said investigators believe Schwalb spent customer funds on things like international travel while telling victims they could not have unused deposits refunded.

Prosecutors also told the court they do not expect meaningful restitution, citing Schwalbs Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. A trustee is now moving to liquidate more than a dozen properties.

Weiser called Avi Schwalb's conduct "predatory."

"It wasnt like this happened once," said Weiser. "They did the same sort of thing again, again, again and again. Thats why this is such a serious case.

Schwalbs son, Sean Schwalb, is scheduled for a court hearing next month in a related case.

Other defendants are also awaiting trial.

Avi Schwalb's attorney did not reply to a request for comment. After the sentencing was rendered Monday, Avi told the court, in part: "Every business does mistakes, but nothing in purpose. We do not want to hurt any of those people."

Colorado Springs residents could soon see an increase in their natural gas bills to fund federally mandated safety upgrades.

Colorado Springs Utilities is proposing an $8.54 monthly bill rider charge for residential customers; for commercial and industrial customers, the charge is $18.00 extra monthly. The money will be used to replace old steel gas lines.

"Colorado Springs utilities really prioritizes the safety of our natural gas system. By accelerating this work on our natural gas system, we're able to really ensure the safety of our system, really for the decades to come," Colorado Springs Utilities Pricing and Rates Manager Scott Shirola said.

City Council will hold a rate hearing on the proposal on Tuesday. If approved by the City Council on April 28, the new rates will take effect on July 1. CSU says the program will net roughly $90 million to help it replace around 39 miles of infrastructure each year through 2029.

Click here to learn more about the natural gas bill rider.

The proposed increase comes a few weeks after Colorado Springs Utilities customers saw a slight decrease in their bills. On April 1, the average residential bill dropped by about $7 for natural gas and an estimated $2 for electricity. That added to a savings of just under $10 a month.

Colorado Springs Utilities said those rates changed because they are tied to the cost of fuel.

"I wish it went down more on electric because we have an AC," one customer said during our interview then. "So in the summer, it really goes up."

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A Colorado law that keeps landlords and rental companies from charging "junk fees" to tenants took effect on January 1.

Rebekah Boehner lives at the Vue at Spring Creek apartments in Southeast Colorado Springs. She says once the law took effect, about $20 worth of fees were taken off her monthly bill. However, when the complex came to her with a renewal offer, her rent for a nine-month lease went up by $292. Boehner tells News5 that she believes this increase is in response to fees lost from the new state law.

In an emailed response, the Vue at Spring Creek denies this.

Robert Schifferdecker is a real estate attorney with Robinson & Henry. He does not represent Boehner or her property management. Schifferdecker says it would be hard to prove that this increase in rent was not justified.

Rent is going up across the board, its going to go up every year," Schifferdecker said. "Its going to be hard for them [to prove], but if theres a significant increase over similar sized apartments in the area, that may be a good indication that these people are trying to skirt around this new law.

Boehner wonders if a recent lawsuit played a part too, which the Vue at Spring Creek also denies.

The Vue at Spring Creek is owned by Greystar. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in December, Greystar agreed to pay a $24 million settlement.

This includes $23 million to the FTC and $1 million to the State of Colorado. The lawsuit claimed Greystar misrepresented the true cost of renting a Greystar property by displaying deceptively low rental prices and excluding several fees. Greystar is now required to clearly display these totals, which the Vue at Spring Creek does.

News5 asked Greystar if all of its Colorado properties could expect a rent increase and if Boehner's higher renewal offer is in response to money lost from the junk fee law or Greystar's $24 million settlement.

We did not receive a response.

meghan.glova@koaa.com

Meghan Glova KOAA

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Eastern Colorado Springs continues to experience growth with new homes and businesses, and local entrepreneurs are stepping in to fill community needs in the Springs Ranch area.

David and Andrea Kruth opened the first Beans & Brews Coffee House in Colorado Springs in January. The couple saw an opportunity in the eastern part of the city due to its combination of traffic, proximity to schools, and retail options.

"We really wanted to create a sense of community here," said David and Andrea Kruth.

"I have stressed to the baristas, we're doing more than pouring their cup of coffee when they come in," said David and Andrea Kruth. "Having that ability to be in that big a traffic corridor, but also where a lot of people live, is really important. We know there's a love and need for it, so we thought it was a no-brainer."

A few doors down from the coffee shop, Jason and Kaylee Derra celebrated one year of business at Fit Body Boot Camp. They wanted to provide a smaller, local gym environment that caters to people of all ages.

"We saw a need in the fitness space," said Jason Derra.

"We do hold you accountable," said Kaylee Derra.

"All groups of all fitness levels can really work on their health in here," said Jason Derra. "We just started workouts for 60+ folks. It's really hard for that community to have an outlet to work out in."

Both couples acknowledged how much the area has grown, noting that as the eastern side of the city expands, the demand for neighborhood services will continue to rise.

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Skyrocketing diesel prices have put the squeeze on the long-haul trucking industry and threaten to drive up food costs in Colorado.

The price hikes are a direct result of the conflict in Iran, according to Dr. Jack Buffington, director of supply chain at the University of Denver.

Most of the oil and gasoline that we have right now in our cars was what was on the water already once the war started, Buffington said. Now, were getting into a situation where the oil is now a part of whats happening in the war.

Long-haul truckers are already feeling the impact at the pump. Archie Lofton, a trucker bound for Texas, said his fuel costs have nearly doubled.

Usually it takes maybe $565 or $570 to fill up, Lofton said. Now, its 900 some dollars Im just taking it day by day, man.

Roger Gast, who has been trucking since 1978, was also on his way to Texas when Denver7 caught up with him. He had to make an unexpected stop in Colorado to buy two new tires for over $600.

Ive seen prices for diesel in states go from $3.49, $3,69 and [now] theyre up close to $5, Gast said.

Buffington warned that if prices do not go down, smaller trucking companies and truck owner-operators could go out of business. He also noted that while Colorado gets oil from within the state and from Wyoming, it imports nearly everything else, which will impact consumers at the grocery store.

That will definitely translate into higher food prices, because the only thing that was holding inflation down, to some extent in the United States, were energy costs. Now, this happened, Buffington said.

Even if the conflict in Iran ends, Buffington said prices may not return to what they once were. Gast is also pessimistic about the future, blaming the president for the economic strain.

Hes got three years left, Gast said. This is going to go on as long as hes in office. Until somebody gets in and actually looks at the big pictures and sees how its affecting the economy and 370 million instead of himself.

Despite the financial challenges and a struggling trucking industry, Gast still loves his job.

Its fun to see the country and get paid to do that, Gast said. You get to eat in different places. You get to see different cultures. The mountains in Colorado are really beautiful.

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

DENVER  Colorado breweries, squeezed by tariffs, now face soaring aluminum costs as global conflict drives prices to record highs.

Alyssa Hoberer, the co-owner of Full Frame Beer and Coffee at the intersection of 20th and Lawrence streets in Denver, said her one-year-old business has seen inventory costs surge.

"Just the cost of pretty much everything that we buy at the moment has just skyrocketed in the past few years," said Hoberer. "It's definitely more, way more expensive than we imagined it when we were even coming up with our business plan."

This struggle to manage costs affects both new and established businesses alike.

Barrels and Bottles in Golden has been open for 13 years, six of which have been at its Orchard Street location. Co-Owner Abby George said rising costs have forced them to reconsider hop suppliers.

"There's a certain hops that come maybe from Germany, that are harder to get, so we're having to kind of pivot to go, 'Okay, well, let's find a comparable hop that we might be able to use that's from the states,'" said George.

Both Hoberer and George work hard to keep prices steady for customers, though it's increasingly difficult.

"We do a lot of things ourselves," said George. "We do all of our landscaping; we do all of our own weddings."

University of Denver director of supply chain management Jack Buffington explained that, due to tariffs and the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the cost of aluminum has surpassed $1 per pound, a level never before seen.

"It's a very difficult commodity market right now," said Buffington. "I used to work at Coors, and [the cost of aluminum] has gone up probably fourfold since I've been there."

And Buffington says the effect on Colorado's roughly 400 craft breweries is even greater. Hoberer, for example, says that while they don't can their beer on site, they want to begin canning and expand distribution outside the taproom.

"But I think the cost of all of that is really preventing us from doing it," he said.

So what will it take for aluminum prices to improve? Buffington says the answer is threefold.

"We need to produce critical minerals and metals here in the United States, number one," said Buffington. "Number two, energy costs have to go down. Number three, we need to recycle a valuable commodity like aluminum."

Nearly 4,000 workers at the JBS meat-processing plant in Greeley have now gone nearly a week and a half without pay as they remain on the picket lines, demanding better pay and fair labor practices.

On Wednesday, the union representing the workers, UFCW Local 7, told Denver7 JBS has not reached out with a new deal.

When workers did not show up to work starting on March 16, the union said it was aiming for a two-week strike, telling Denver7 it hoped it would last shorter.

We're not at impasse, UFCW Local 7 president, Kim Cordova, said in an interview Wednesday. The companies come back, and they have an obligation under the law to negotiate with us.

In an email, JBS spokesperson, Hailey Fishel, told Denver7 the company provided our last, best and final offer to the UFCW Local 7 before they walked away from bargaining and decided to initiate a strike.

That deal is in alignment with the historic agreement reached with UFCW International in 2025, which has been ratified at our other major facilities across the country, Fishel said in the email.

According to the company, more JBS workers are returning to the plant each day. It claims that since 2019, base hourly wages at the Greeley plant have increased by approximately 46%.

This outpaces Northern Colorado/Front Range inflation of roughly 25% over the same period," the company says. "This reflects real wage growth of about 16% for team members.

The union refutes the company's claims.

They didn't pay workers for the last week that they worked, and then there was some issues where they were threatening to take healthcare away, Cordova said. Our members can't even afford to buy the meat that they produce here because of JBS low wages.

The strike comes as beef prices are at record highs.

The JBS Greeley plant is one of the the country's largest, accounting for roughly 5% of our countrys beef-processing, according to the agriculture publication Pro Farmer.

According to JBS, it has moved production to its other facilities to keep impacts on production low, but there is concern the supply-chain impacts from the strike could push those prices higher.

It's been tough, said Deborah Rodarte, a three-year employee at JBS who is striking. You know, we're still out here every day, but everybody's here fighting together, and it's amazing to see that.

The USDAs report showing the latest beef prices is set to be released April 10.

Colorado Springs City Councilmembers voted to decrease monthly utility bills. Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) proposed a rate decrease for both electricity and natural gas.

City Councilmembers voted to approve their proposal on Tuesday.

CSU has provided the average cost decrease for each customer type, which you can view below:

The new rates take effect on April 1.

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Every week, we release our Price Tracker, bringing you the most recent prices on some staple items you might be buying at the grocery store - items like eggs, milk, and bread.

But we want to know, what items do you want to see on our Price Tracker?

Send us your feedback, and we'll start diving into the prices for the items that you keep in your home!

From fruits, veggies, dairy, and meat to snacks and desserts, we want to make sure that the Price Tracker helps make your grocery store runs a breeze!

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Over the weekend, several people started posting to social media asking if a notice they received via text was real. Colorado State Patrol says it is a scam.

The text included a document with the words "NOTICE OF DEFAULT" and "ENFORCEMENT ACTION INITIATED." The document states immediate action is required, telling people they need to "remit full payment" or appear before the court. The document looks official as it has the Seal of Colorado at the top and even includes fake court hearing information.

"Do NOT click any links or send any money. Courts will not contact you by text message demanding payment," Colorado State Patrol wrote on social media. "If you ever receive something like this and arent sure if its real: Look up the courts official phone number online. Call them directly during normal business hours to verify. When in doubt, dont trust the text. Verify it."

Click here for the original post from CSP.

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Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) has proposed to decrease both electric and natural gas rates, which would lower the cost of monthly bills.

If the decrease is approved, new rates would take effect on April 1.

CSU has provided the average cost decrease for each customer type.

Monthly bill changes are dependent on individual household/commercial usage.

The proposal was presented on Wednesday at the Utilities Board meeting, and City Council members will vote on it at their meeting on March 24.

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As around 3,800 workers walked off the job at one of the nation's largest meatpacking plants in Greeley on Monday, a Colorado cattle rancher says the market is steady for now but the industry is watching developments closely.

Ninety-nine percent of unionized workers at the plant voted in favor of the strike when it was authorized in early February. The employees, represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, are calling for better pay, improved safety measures, and fair labor practices.

Dallas Vaughn runs a cattle ranch with his family in Seibert, a rural town in the Eastern Plains about two hours from Denver. He raises cattle for sale to feedlots, which prepare the livestock for meatpacking plants, such as the JBS facility in Greeley.

While he said uncertainty and labor strikes are never good for the market, it would take him a while to feel the strike's impact on the supply chain.

"Did it have an effect on the market today? It does not appear it did. But it's a long time between now and October or even December, when we will sell these cattle," Vaughn said.

Vaughn said the market for sellers like him remains favorable.

"I wasn't really concerned, just because I do think that it takes a long time, and this was highly expected that they weren't going to reach an agreement, so for them to actually go on strike, I don't think it was a surprise," he said.

Vaughn said it can take more than two years from when he makes breeding decisions to when cattle actually enter a meat processing facility. He said a 75-year low of cattle supply due to drought and higher costs has minimized the potential impacts of the strike on the supply chain.

"That's because the head count's not there. The feedlots aren't full, and so therefore the packing isn't full," Vaughn said. "These feedlots will be shipping cattle on their contracts, and JBS will be honoring those, so they'll just simply go to another JBS plant that's not on strike. JBS appears to be covering the extra freight on that to get those cattle there. So right now, the impact is not being seen in today's cattle that are shipping."

Ashley House, a spokesperson for the Colorado Farm Bureau, said in a statement that the organization is hoping for a speedy resolution.

"Were hoping this gets resolved quickly and in the best interest of all stakeholders. We dont expect any disruptions in service for our members that may sell cattle to JBS or for consumers to realize higher prices, etc. JBS is continuing to be a good partner honoring contracts and covering any strike incurred costs appropriately," House said.

Previous coverage

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) As the partial U.S. government shutdown stretches into its fourth week, the impact is being felt at airports across the country.

About 300 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents have quit their jobs during the shutdown, which stems from lawmakers disagreement over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The staffing shortage is causing headaches for travelers nationwide.

Still, travel experts say passengers should plan ahead, especially with spring break travel ramping up.

Im going to Augusta, Georgia for work, said traveler Karlus Hickson. I make a monthly work trip to Augusta.

But recent travel conditions have added stress.

I just don't want him to run into any high traffic, high TSA lines, said Hickson.

Robert Shaw said extra planning helped him avoid problems during his trip back from Las Vegas.

I just did extra planning, thinking about what time I need to get to the airport, what time I need to drop off the rental car, and check out, said Shaw.

Local travel agent Kimberly Shankland with Integrity Destinations LLC says spring break is already one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.

Weve been pretty busy, so its been great, said Shankland.

But with increased demand and TSA staffing concerns, she says conditions could create what she calls the perfect storm. Her advic, arrive earlier than usual.

Earlier than you think you'd probably need, said Shankland. Domestic, about three hours. International, at least four.

For international travelers, she also recommends purchasing travel protection in case of unexpected disruptions.

Air Canada shut down,... I had clients in Portugal, she said. Thank goodness they had travel protection because we were able to book them new flights.

Cruise travel is also picking up during spring break. Shankland recommends arriving at the port a day early to avoid missing your departure.

When you're cruising, you definitely want to show up the day before to the cruise port, she said. You do not want to show up on the day of.

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This month is known for March Madness, but that doesnt have to be the case for your finances.

Now that spring break is here, people want to start enjoying more parts of life that require spending like concerts and events outside. Canvas Credit Union wants to remind you that you can enjoy those things without straying too far from your financial goals.

The first step is to get a clear picture of where your money is going. Knowing what your money is doing and tracking your spending will help spot where the problem is, and from there you can make changes, explained Olivia Orellana of Canvas Credit Union.

Just $5 a day spent on things like coffee can quickly add up to more than $1,800 a year. A smart financial decision could be to instead add a little of that spending money to your savings or put a little extra toward the debt youre trying to pay off.

Another tip for avoiding march madness spending is the 24-hour cart rule. If you find something online, let it sit in your cart for 24 hours. This gives you time to analyze if you need that item.

If you still want that item in 24 hours, great. But the chances are that you've thought about it and may have eliminated your impulse purchase. Anytime you can slow down your spending, you will make smarter financial decisions, said Orellana.

Financial health isnt about cutting out everything you enjoy though. Orellana said to avoid depriving yourself of fun, make those things part of your budget.

Savings can be for the good stuff, not just for the unexpected. When we plan for the things that we enjoy, we can enjoy those things more, knowing that they were planned for, said Orellana.

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GREELEY, Colo. (AP) About 3,800 workers at one of the nation's largest meatpacking plants went on strike Monday in Colorado in what union representatives said is the first walkout at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse in four decades.

The strike at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley began Monday morning, said Claire Poundstone, an attorney representing workers with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7. Poundstone said she expected workers to participate in the strike line through the evening.

We'll be here all day, she said.

The strike follows accusations from union officials that owner JBS USA retaliated against workers and committed other unfair labor practices amid contract negotiations. A previous contract expired Sunday night.

A message was sent early Monday seeking an updated comment from a spokesperson at JBS USA.

The union said in a news release that its workers perform some of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in the country.

They deserve wage increases that keep pace with inflation, ensure they receive healthcare commensurate with the toll this work takes on their bodies, and that allow them to live with dignity and respect."

It said JBS has been charging many workers at least $1,100 to offset the companys expenses for personal protective equipment needed to ensure worker safety.

The strike comes at a 75-year low for the U.S. cattle population, with a Jan. 1 inventory of 86.2 million animals down 1% from the prior year. Rising beef prices have added to economic anxiety in the U.S., while the administration of President Donald Trump has turned to a trade deal with Argentina in efforts to lower prices for food, including beef.

It also follows the January closure of a meatpacking plant in Lexington, Nebraska, which was expected to ripple through the local economy and community. Tyson Foods cited the smaller herd and millions of dollars in expected losses this year.

At the Greeley plant, the company tried to intimidate workers to quit the union in one-on-one meetings, union general counsel Matt Shechter said. A JBA USA statement issued before the strike said the company fully complies with federal and state labor and employment laws.

Kim Cordova, Local 7 president, said 99% of workers voted to authorize the strike. No formal negotiations took place over the weekend after the company refused a union request to negotiate on Saturday, Shechter said.

The company statement said any employee who didnt want to strike would have work and be paid. The company said it would operate two shifts at the plant Monday and would temporarily move production as needed to other JBS facilities.

Our goal is to minimize impact to our customers, our partners, and the broader marketplace while we work toward a fair resolution in Greeley, the company said.

It's the first strike at a U.S. slaughterhouse since workers walked out at a Hormel plant in Minnesota in 1985, Cordova said. That strike lasted more than a year and included violent confrontations between police and protesters, according to the Minnesota Historical Society.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) Gas prices continue to climb as tensions tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran affect global oil markets.

Local businesses in Colorado Springs say the impact is starting to add up.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price for a gallon of gas is $3.57 nationally and across Colorado. In Colorado Springs, the average is $3.61 per gallon, while drivers in Pueblo pay about $3.53 per gallon.

For many drivers, filling up the tank has become more stressful. But for businesses that rely on driving every day, those rising prices can quickly cut into profits.

Scott Clay, owner of Fastlane Towing, said the increase has been noticeable.

Were spending about $40 more per fillup, said Clay.

Because towing often requires long-distance travel, fuel costs add up quickly. Clay said his company sometimes travels across the state.

The furthest we went was Durango, Colorado, he said.

Clay said he typically fills up his truck twice a day.

At the end of the day, were just trying to serve our customers and support the community, said Clay. But when prices jump like this, it makes it very difficult.

At the same gas station, Alex Kosley, CEO of StreamHome Construction, said his company is also seeing rising fuel costs. Kosley estimates the increase is costing his company about $400 more overall.

Casey here in this truck is driving about 400 miles a week, so were definitely seeing an impact from the pretty rapid rise in prices, said Kosley.

Until fuel prices stabilize, many business owners say theyre looking for ways to cut unnecessary travel and reduce fuel use.

Minimize your travel if its not business-related, said Clay. If its not directly serving a customer, you just have to buckle down.

Kosley said he hopes prices will eventually come back down.

Wed hope that the prices would come back down, and hopefully we can save some fuel expense compared to where were at now, he said.

As global tensions continue to influence oil markets, local businesses say they are doing what they can to keep their operations running while managing higher fuel costs.

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The average wage in El Paso County rose to over $68,000 in 2025, up from about $65,000 in 2024, according to a report from the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC. But some residents say the increase hasn't been enough to outpace inflation.

Bonnie Goff, Chamber and EDC's VP of Economic Development, said the wage increase is making a difference for many in the region.

"It's allowing our residents to have a more comfortable lifestyle in the Pikes Peak region," said Goff.

According to the state Office of Economic Development, Colorado's unemployment rate is also low.

"For every one unemployed person, there's one open job," said Goff.

Last December, the state saw a decrease in "separations," meaning people were staying put at their jobs.

"Colorado was only one of two states in the nation that saw this positive impact," said Goff.

I asked residents in Colorado Springs if they're feeling the benefits. Brothers Skylar and Merritt Ogren said the raise hasn't gone far enough.

"My dollar is not going further right now, I don't think that it's helped us surpass the inflation," said Skylar Ogren.

"So, we are actually making more than we made before and we're still feeling like, you know, we're barely able to put anything in savings," said Merritt Ogren.

According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single adult in Colorado Springs would need to earn just over $50,000 to cover basic expenses like food, housing and transportation, meaning the extra $3,000 in average wages does help in that scenario.

However, the picture changes significantly depending on household makeup. For a single parent, the living wage nearly doubles. For a two-adult household where only one person works, the $68,000 average wage comes close to the $70,000 yearly living wage threshold.

If both parents work, that required number drops, though households with three or more children may still need to earn above the county average to get by.

The wage increase offers relief for some Colorado Springs residents, but how far it goes depends heavily on individual household situations.

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