Good morning southern Colorado and here's what you need to know on your Friday, September 11, 2020.
If you'd like to read the full story, be sure to click on the story headline.
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19th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
Communities across Colorado are commemorating the 9/11 attacks today. Our Mayo Davison and Jon McMichael will join firefighters making the climb at the Manitou Incline to honor those lost at the World Trade Center.
Local firefighters will climb the Manitou Incline in full gear to pay tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives on that tragic day. Over 300 firefighters lost their lives 18 years ago and our firefighters will climb the Incline steps in about 60 pounds of gear. This is the 5th annual event.
Fort Carson is holding a 9 a.m. wreath-laying this morning at Kit Carson Memorial Park. In Pueblo, there is a memorial at 7:58 a.m. at the WTC Steel Memorial. This is the exact time locally when the first World Trade Center Tower was hit in New York.
Due to COVID precautions, masks are required at all of these events.
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The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has released footage of a deputy responding to a call from Widefield D3's about a student seen with a toy gun in class. Isaiah Elliott was suspended from school for the incident and Grand Mountain School has removed their Facebook page due to a flood of threats.
News5's Colette Bordelon spoke to the family earlier this month about the incident. You can see the complete story on this issue that has gained national attention for the toy gun and questions over what is recorded during these classroom sessions.
Danielle Elliot has dozens of questions about how this incident was handled. "I think that's the school overstepping their jurisdiction into the privacy of our own homes, and I think that's definitely something that needs to be changed as well."
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SHIELD616 Border to Border Ride continues
KOAA viewers have so far donated $21,235 towards our $48,500 goal to fully equip Black Forest Fire and Rescue with protective gear as part of the SHIELD616 Border to Border Ride.
Our Ira Cronin is taking part in the ride from the Wyoming border to New Mexico.
All week long on News5 at 6 p.m., we'll bring you the stories of how your donation can help save lives. You'll hear from the those in the line of fire explain how protective gear has saved their lives, and you'll hear from their wives as they recount their worst fears when learning their husbands were shot in the line of duty.
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Local high school football protests planned for Friday afternoon
It has been a wild week for high school football athletes in Colorado and it will only continue on Friday as a local campaign named 'LetCOPlay' has organized rallies all over the state of Colorado asking for an executive order from Gov. Polis, and allow variances to have a high school football season.
On Monday, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) announced they would reconsider delaying the high school football season, and other fall sports, to the spring.
But after a CHSAA Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to not reconsider any adjustment to the 2020-21 sports calendar, which was approved on Aug. 4 by Gov. Jared Polis & his COVID-19 Response Team.
In Colorado Springs, a peaceful protest is planned at the El Paso County Commissioners' office starting at 3:30 p.m.
Players and coaches from local high schools plan to speak and attend. A full list of protests around Coloradocan be found here.
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Get your latest First Alert 5 Forecast
We are looking at a fantastic forecast once we get through the first part of Friday. An upper-level low-pressure system is going to continue to swirl and spin out of Colorado, but as it departs, we'll still have areas of cloud cover, mainly in the morning. There could be some spotty showers up north of the Palmer Divide later today but most of us look dry and warmer this afternoon.
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