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5 things you need to know - December 13, 2019

Posted at 5:46 AM, Dec 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-13 09:13:29-05

Good morning southern Colorado and here's what you need to know on your Friday morning.

If you'd like to read the full story, be sure to click on the story headline.

Snow on the way to Southern Colorado

Southern Colorado is under a winter storm watch in preparation for heavy snow on Sunday, especially in the high elevation areas. Today will be dry and cool with highs above average for this time of year. Wind gusts between 30 to 50 mph will be common today through the mountains but also into the I-25 corridor and adjacent plains. Overnight we'll get calm but with heavy cloud cover and the chance for late night/early Saturday morning flurries to light snow showers.

House Judicial Committee vote on articles of impeachment expected today

Impeachment hearings resume today at 8:00 a.m. (Mountain) as the House Judiciary Committee appears ready to vote on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The vote was scheduled to take place Thursday night at the conclusion of a 14 hour debate, but the chairman delayed the vote, a move that enraged Republican members of the committee. They accuse Rep. Jerry Nadler of stalling in order to allow the hearings to be seen by more people on live television in the morning, rather than concluding business when committee members were ready. We will cover the hearings on KOAA-TV via an NBC Special Report.

Robert Dear due in court today to hear federal charges

Robert Dear, the man accused of shooting and killing three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs in November 2015, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 68 counts recently. He was arrested at the State Mental Hospital in Pueblo and transferred to Denver. He'll make his first appearance before a federal judge today. Earlier this week he told a magistrate, "I am not crazy. I am just a religious zealot."

Dear has undergone mental evaluations ever since his arrest for the shootings. He has not been deemed competent to stand trial in state court. Today's hearing is expected to include a discussion of how to handle mental competency questions in the federal system.

Investigation underway into stabbing and shooting in Old Colorado City

Colorado Springs Police are investigating both a stabbing and a shooting incident on the west side of the city. Before 10 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a reported disturbance at 13th St and Colorado Avenue where they found two people in need of medical treatment. Both patients were taken to UCHealth Memorial Hospital near downtown.

CDOT closing one lane on southbound I-25 near Greenland overnight

A single lane will be closed on southbound I-25 until 7:00 a.m. Friday between County Line and Greenland roads. The southbound closure will delay Friday morning commutes, so be cautious and aware of your surroundings.