Good morning southern Colorado and here's what you need to know on your Monday morning.
If you'd like to read the full story, be sure to click on the story headline.
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"Wild Horse Fire" estimated at 150-200 acres, burning south of Colorado Springs
Firefighters worked through the night into Monday morning on hotspots of the Wild Horse Fire burning near Highway 115. The highway was closed in both directions south of Colorado Springs due to fire activity Sunday, but it is back open as of 5 a.m. Monday. Mandatory evacuations were issued Sunday for nearby households, but a state trooper told our News5 crew Monday morning that those evacuations were lifted around the same time the highway was reopened.
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Amy Coney Barrett faces first day of hearings in the Supreme Court nomination process
Judge Amy Coney Barrett will face her first test in the Supreme Court nomination process Monday — her first day of hearings in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The first day of Barrett's confirmation hearing will gavel in at 9 a.m. ET, as Republicans race against the clock to complete her confirmation process in the next 22 days before the 2020 general election.
You can watch the Senate hearings all day on our free streaming channel, just search KOAA News5 on your Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV or Android TV starting at 7 a.m.
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Cooler but with Red Flag Warnings and very high fire danger
A cold front overnight brought a TON of wind through southern Colorado with multiple gusts in and around 60 mph. We're going to feel much cooler today behind the front with highs in the 70s across most of the region. The winds will be strong and gusty this afternoon and the humidity will be very low. Fire danger will remain high through the afternoon and early evening.
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Colorado's mask mandate is sticking around: "It's just common sense and it's smart," Polis says
Before Gov. Jared Polis ever issued a statewide mask mandate, his point was made clear: "Wear a damn mask!" he told Coloradans in a July news conference, as COVID-19 cases were on the rise. Three months later — and nearly as long into the mask mandate — Polis' press conference Friday was a bit of déjà vu. Polis said the mask mandate will be extended for at least another month when it expires Monday.
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The Review & Preview: What southern Coloradans need to know this week
With so much information being announced daily about the COVID-19 pandemic, News5 has put together a review and preview of what is going on in Southern Colorado as it pertains to the virus. Click the link above to read the full recap.
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