Concerns about the planned decommissioning of the Ray Nixon Power Plant and its potential impact on utility costs are raising questions about how residents will be affected.

In Southeast Colorado Springs, residents say even small increases in utility bills could make a difference, but many are not aware of assistance programs available to help.

"I'm sure it's gonna be a factor, but it's not something we'd want to budget in," said Analilian Sorensen one Southeast resident.

I asked a handful of Southeast Colorado Springs residents if they were familiar with the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, also known as LEAP, and the Citizens Option to Provide Energy, known as Project COPE. They all said no.

"I have not heard about it," said Israel Rivas.

"Uh no, I'm not familiar with them," said Analilian Sorensen.

LEAP is a federal program that helps qualifying households pay heating bills during the winter application period from November through April.

To qualify for LEAP, a person must earn a maximum family household income that does not exceed 60% of the state's median income level, and pay home heating costs either directly to a utility company or to a landlord as part of rent.

If you are approved for LEAP, payments are made directly to your primary heating fuel vendor and a notice will be sent to you informing you of the benefit amount.

Project COPE is a local program where emergency assistance is used only when additional help is needed or when LEAP is not enough.

"I do pay around like $300 already, so if it gets higher, it would... not be good for me and my family," said Rivas.

"I think I would definitely look into it, especially if it's something that's going to assist," added Sorensen.

LEAP applications are currently open with a deadline of April 30.

As utility costs remain uncertain, understanding what assistance is available could be key for families trying to keep up with rising bills.

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For many students in southeast Colorado Springs, frustration is all too familiar when applying for jobs in their field, even as new federal data shows the job market is still growing.

Dove Jagd, a senior at Pikes Peak State College, is set to graduate in May with three degrees in communication, psychology and anthropology.

"It's just been a lot. I feel a little overwhelmed too," said Jagd.

The latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows 178,000 jobs were added in March, mostly in healthcare, transportation and construction.

While federal government employment continued to decline in March since reaching a peak in October 2024, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%.

Despite the job growth, Jagd said the hardest part about applying for jobs is not hearing back.

"I think I've applied to two positions a week," said Jagd.

Jagd said she tries to stand out in her applications.

"I tailor my resume directly for my job. I look into the company actually because I want the company to align with my interests," said Jagd. "I wish I could get some feedback on why I was rejected so that way I can work on it."

She noticed many job descriptions require prior experience, even with an associate degree.

"However, it's hard to get experience when there is no real entry-level jobs in that area," said Jagd.

The Pikes Peak Workforce Center saw more than 150 job seekers at their first job fair on April 1, with around 200 people attending each month.

"Job seekers can still find work, but it may well take longer and require more targeted searching," the Pikes Peak Workforce Center said.

For the new workforce generation, they just want an opportunity.

"Employers should look for people who are ready to grow, and I think college students are the correct population. We are always ready for challenges. We are always ready to grow," said Jagd.

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Former NASA astronaut Duane Carey visited Widefield High School to help students see what is possible.

Carey grew up in a single-parent household in the housing projects of Saint Paul, Minnesota. When speaking to the students, he did not start by talking about space, but rather about his early failures.

"Actually failing ninth grade, a very mediocre, perhaps even a poor student," said Carey.

He said one moment stood out and changed his trajectory.

"The Apollo missions. They inspired a mediocre student to work a little bit harder," said Carey.

That hard work paid off. Carey became an Air Force pilot, a test pilot, and then joined NASA, eventually flying a mission to help repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

"I was a... fighter pilot in the Air Force and then I had the great opportunity to go to test pilot school and then that made me eligible for being a space shuttle pilot and with my education and everything, I applied and got turned down and applied again, you know, I didn't give up and they told me to come on down to Houston and learn how to fly the space shuttle," said Carey.

The Hubble is still up there producing great science.

Some of the instruments that our team put in the telescope are still working," said Carey.

Carey shared a message of perseverance with the high schoolers.

They don't have to be rich and famous, they don't even have to be one of the brains or one of the really smart kids. All they need to do is teach themselves how to learn new things and learn them quickly, said Carey.

Now, as the Artemis program aims to take humans back to the moon, Carey said the mission is about discovering more.

"We are going to learn the skills that we need master in order to take the big leap onto Mars," said Carey.

Widefield High School student Jadalyn McKague is in the school's astronomy class and said the upcoming missions are exciting.

"Artemis in general colonizing the moon, colonizing Mars, is just a wonderful opportunity that our generation's gonna get to see," said McKague.

For the students, having a live example of a former astronaut makes a future in space exploration feel closer. Widefield High School student Cason Miner said he was interested in learning about Carey's experiences.

"I thought it was really interesting, actually seeing and experiencing someone that... was actually there and was spending time in space," said Miner.

Widefield High School student Tanner Greer said he joined astronomy class because he thought it was cool to learn about what is outside of Earth.

"I didn't realize how much hard work it really was... and how much training it was for him and... how much he really had to keep doing the same thing," said Greer. "I've thought it'd be cool to work in NASA, I feel it's kind of almost impossible. Until now."

The visit is already having a direct impact on the students' ambitions, leaving them with one key takeaway.

"It inspired me to actually participate in a contest, have a patch of mine sent to space, which is happening," said McKague. "I think the biggest takeaway is that, no matter where you come from or what you are, you can do anything and be anything that you wanna be."

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