After repurposing the old Ivywild Elementary on the southwest side of Colorado Springs just over a decade ago, Bristol Brewing has taken over the rest of the building this month with a plan to expand community connection in the area.

The building, once a hub of the Ivywild community as a school, now houses a brewery, pub, and eating areas, along with some retail and space to gather.

"The idea of being a Colorado brand and even more so being a Southern Colorado brand has always been really important to us," owner Mike Bristol said.

Bristol is one of the partners who had a vision for the building.

Bristol Brewing occupies the north end. Now his partners are focusing on other ventures, and a month ago he took over the rest of the building with a business plan that goes beyond beer.

"There's no reason to have it sit empty from 7 a.m. to 11, you know, let's, let's make this a vibrant thing all day long," Bristol said.

The evolution includes what's called the Morning Program. The space welcomes socializing and business meetings, and there's strong Wi-Fi for those who need a change from working at home.

"I mean remote workers like to get out and be somewhere," Bristol said.

Evening brews come cold from the tap, while morning brews are hot and pair with pastries or breakfast. Both maintain the Colorado community connection at the heart of the business.

"Layering in the, the community aspect of it and, and being able to, to do something with this incredible building," Bristol said.

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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Tonight's Forecast:

A dense fog advisory is active tonight starting at 10 p.m. on Thursday and into Friday morning until 10 a.m. Lows are expected to be in the 30s for the high country and 40s closer to I-25 and the plains. A bit of cloud cover will stick around overnight too.

Colorado Springs forecast: Low: 40; High: 64;

Friday will remain above seasonal averages with highs in the 60s for most. A little more cloud cover is expected by Friday afternoon. Saturday will be great with mild highs and dry time. The trick-or-treating forecast stays nice and dry too.

Pueblo forecast: Low: 45; High: 68;

A similar trend to what we've been seeing all week is expected for Friday and Halloween. Dry time, sunshine and highs in the 60s are expected over the next few days. Some more clouds are expected for the next few days too.

Canon City forecast: Low: 44; High: 67;

60s with more dry time is expected for Friday and Saturday in Fremont county. The Halloween holiday will stay above averages with a nice trick-or-treating forecast too. Then, changes arrive into Sunday and Monday.

Woodland Park forecast: Low: 39; High: 57;

Woodland Park will be slightly cooler in the 50s for the next two days. Sunday and Monday will be cooler with more rain and snow chances returning to the forecast.

Tri-Lakes forecast: Low: 40; High: 64;

The next few days stay mild with dry time. Sunday and Monday will bring in much cooler temperatures with even a few snowflakes back in the forecast for Sunday night and Monday morning when temperatures drop.

Plains forecast: Low: 50; High: 68;

The plains will be in the upper 60s and low 70s for some over the next few days. Dry time continues at least until Sunday when shower chances arrive.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: Low: 47; High: 64;

60s are expected over the next few days as we wrap up the month of October. More chances for rain move into the area Sunday afternoon and into Monday.

Mountains forecast: Low: 35; High: 52;

Cooler high country temperatures are expected in the 40s and 50s for afternoon highs to wrap up the month. By Sunday and Monday central and southern mountain snow is expected... total to come soon.

Extended outlook forecast:

After the next few days of mild and dry weather, expect changes to arrive into Sunday and early next week. More atmospheric moisture shifts in for some rain around the Pikes Peak Region, Pueblo and plains Sunday afternoon. The mountains will see snow and Teller county and the gap may see some snow flakes too. Monday brings in a similar story with below average temperatures and more rain and snow. The high country and ski resorts will likely see several inches of snow. The middle of the week will dry out and slightly warm up.

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Curious about the First Alert 5 Weather Storm Impact Scale? Check out our cheatsheet explainer.

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Colorado's Department of Transportation (CDOT), AAA Colorado, and Uber are coming together to offer a $10 statewide credit to riders for Halloween weekend.

CDOT, Colorado State Patrol (CSP), and other Colorado law enforcement agencies are conducting Halloween enforcement and will be patrolling Colorado.

They are offering an Uber code RRRTJMYYVVH for $10 off your ride home. You can also click here.

CDOT is also recommending the following alternatives:

Designate a sober driver Call a sober friend Use ride or transit services Use ride-hailing services

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Neighborhoods along North Nevada Avenue could look very different within a decade, and the people who live there are already weighing in on what they want to see.

The Urban Renewal Authority and the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority are collaborating to revitalize the North Nevada Corridor roughly from Fillmore Street to Garden of the Gods Road.

This plan has been in the works since 2013. Some funding has already been collected to go towards upgrades.

Get a Look at the Plan Below

"PPRTA put in $1.2 million into this project, and then the URA put $500,000 into the design of this project too, so we're vested in it," said Jariah Walker, executive director of the Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority.

Now, designers and engineers are figuring out what comes next, and they want to hear from the community. People at a Tuesday night town hall shared what concerns they have and how upcoming projects would impact their neighborhoods.

The meeting drew such a large crowd that many attendees had to sit on the floor, stand, or make their own chairs with whatever they could find around them.

"It sounds like I'm going to be dead before all of this happens!" one attendee said.

Alex Quiroz, a Papeton resident whose neighborhood is among those that could see significant changes, said the turnout was a sign of how much the community cares.

"This is just another great example of our community coming together to show out, show that we care," Quiroz said.

Attendees raised questions about what kinds of businesses and amenities could come to the corridor, including ideas for family-friendly options.

"Somebody had mentioned a grocery store. I thought that was a great idea. We don't have a lot of stuff for kids to do in the neighborhood at all. The parks are getting fixed up, so that's a great thing, but it'd be nice to have some more stuff catered towards families and the kids in the neighborhood," Quiroz said.

While many are enthusiastic about the possibilities, Quiroz noted that some businesses are approaching the redevelopment cautiously. Some neighbors say they do not want to see anymore chains.

"We did have one person come out to the Charette, who was pretty concerned, so I'd be interested to see how some of the other businesses may, uh, see this sort of redevelopment process," Quiroz said.

One project is already underway: a complex with 120 multifamily units expected to be completed by late 2029. It would be called the Odyssey at North Weber. It is targeted towards middle-income families.

Walker says there is a lot of room to work with along the corridor.

"This area is well over 700 acres, so there's plenty of stuff to work with," Walker said.

Also on the to-do list: creating sidewalks and bike lanes to improve street safety and connecting greenways and trails throughout the area. Walker says the goal is to bring the neighborhood to life with new amenities.

"More restaurants, they need more coffee shops, they need more walkability and really connecting the neighborhood to these beautiful resources that are around us. I actually think it could be even more successful than University Village if we do it right," Walker said.

Quiroz says he is eager and a bit anxious to see how the community is included in shaping what gets built.

"I think that it's a neat idea, but I also am really anxious to learn how they're gonna incorporate the community into actually building around it," Quiroz said.

For those who were not able to attend the town hall, here is a link to the presentation.

More town halls will be popping up as time goes on. News5 will be keeping an eye on all updates related to the North Nevada Avenue Revitalization.

With Election Day right around the corner, Denver7 is working to highlight a number of races appearing on ballots throughout Colorado.

All voters have the chance to make their voice heard in the race to become Colorado's next governor, where one of their options is Republican nominee Victor Marx. Marx sat down for an interview with Denver7 on Wednesday and discussed a number of topics.

Denver7 conducted a similar conversation with Attorney General Phil Weiser, the Democratic candidate, last week.

Election day is Nov. 3.

Check out Denver7's voter guide for the 2026 midterm election here Watch the full interview with Victor Marx below: Note: The following transcript was edited for clarity Denver7 interviews Victor Marx, Republican Governor Nominee

Colette Bordelon: Let's start with a question that I've asked several other Republicans throughout this entire election cycle, but it'll be specific to your race. Colorado has not elected a Republican governor for more than two decades now. What makes you believe the state is ready for one now?

Victor Marx: Well, it's time. We're at a place in Colorado's history that actually, it's more than an election; it's a crisis point. The pain point people feel from the Western Slope to inner city I've traveled the state, over 600 events related to the campaign, closer to 700 now I've heard the pain point of people; they're done with politics as normal, and they're done with the one-party rule. Look, I don't hate Democrats. That's where some people in the Republican Party, they're like, you need to hate them more. I go out. I tend to try not to hate anybody, but a one-party rule has brought us to this place where the state is not affordable, and it's certainly not safe. It's time to hold people accountable. So, the timing is just right for me to win.

Colette Bordelon: Your past includes some ministry work.

Victor Marx: Yep.

Colette Bordelon: What is your stance on the separation of church and state?

Victor Marx: Great question. Well, if you look at it in the context of why it's such an issue, I think people misunderstand it. The separation of church and state is not to keep people of faith out of the public domain, politics. It's to keep the government out of people's faith. That's what it was intended for. I had an atheist walk up to me. I have two good little stories about atheists. One walked up to me. He goes, "You need to stop talking about God so much." I said, "Well, sir, that's my First Amendment. I choose to believe." He goes, "Well, you need keep it out of politics," and he was a Republican. And I go, "Well," I said, "Do you know what our state motto is?" And he goes, "No." I said, "In Latin, it's Nil Sine Numine, which means nothing without the providence of God." So, I said "it's on our seal." I said, "so I choose to exercise my right to uphold our motto and bring God into this." But yet, I'm not someone that is running to be a minister. I'm running to uphold our constitution, to be here for the people, and protect all faiths. But it was interesting. I had a guy catch me at a Walmart. Go, "Hey, I saw you on the the debate." I said, "You did." He goes, "Look, I'm an atheist. I don't have belief like you." He goes, "But I want to tell you why I'm voting for you." I said "Why?" He goes, "In the last one minute of the debate, you actually prayed. You could do anything you want in the closing argument, attack your opponents." He said, "You actually prayed for them and the moderators and for the state to be healed." He said, "That's why." I said, "But why?" He goes, "Any man that holds to his conviction like that on his faith, it's real." And he goes, "That's the character we need in a governor to rule and help people of Colorado. Thank you."

Colette Bordelon: Colorado's last governor, the one who will be leaving office, Governor Jared Polis, will have held that seat for eight years. Curious, what would you give his time in office if you had to give it a letter grade?

Victor Marx: Well, I think it speaks for itself. The state is not better from when he first came in. I think he did a couple of good things, but I look at it at the sum total. Our state is not more affordable. Businesses have left. People are considering moving, and you know, over 70% of the people have said they're not sure they can continue to live here. So, I think he did a horrible job in where the state should be compared to where it is, as is my opponent, who is part of that administration, the top cop, Weiser. He is our state's not safer. We're in the bottom tier of safety, so I do not think they did a great job. Homelessness has increased, fentanyl deaths, you name it, so I'm sure Governor Polis is actually ready to leave office and kind of get on with his life.

Colette Bordelon: Would you say like a D if you gave him a letter grade? F?

Victor Marx: It would be an F.

Colette Bordelon: Okay. If you had to classify yourself on the scale of a Republican, would you consider yourself falling more in the "Make America Great" ideology, more of a Reagan Republican? How would voters know what kind of Republican you are?

Victor Marx: I'm a Western conservative centrist. So, they've tried to place me in MAGA. I'm like, "I've never worn a hat." I appreciate Trump as a president, I like his leadership in some areas. Others, I don't agree with. That was one of the things that was brought up. "He hasn't endorsed you." I said, "No, he hasn't," and I'm not looking for it. I'm here to help the people of Colorado, and I've seen the dysfunction as an outsider. As an outsider, the dysfunction in politics is beyond what people can imagine, including the Republican Party. To this day, I'm now becoming their choice, even though I want it. But it took people adjusting, and some who just still can't stand me because I'm not MAGA enough... they're leaving the party. They're resigning, or getting out. I think that's a good choice on their behalf. But I'm here to be, not a Republican governor, but a governor for Coloradans.

Colette Bordelon: You mentioned President Donald Trump not listing your name in those endorsements, and you also mentioned I've heard in response to that you said "Well, yes, I'm an outsider." If elected to governor, can you afford to be an outsider if then you have to work with both chambers and with lawmakers who might be considered the insiders or the establishment?

Victor Marx: Yeah, well, they're working very hard to keep me out, which I think is why I'm the people's choice, because this is out of control. Again, I say: It's not just an election; it's a movement. But I look forward to working with people who maybe don't agree with me right now because once I'm governor, everything changes, and I will hold people accountable. I'll be very public about those who don't want to help Coloradans. And I believe we can all work together. My life has proved it. I've developed teams. I've worked in many countries. Didn't matter religion, race. It it didn't matter. It's just, "Are you a good person? Are you a naughty person? Do you really want to help folks?" And as a humanitarian, a business leader, that's kind of what I base it on. So, I'm looking forward to working with people who maybe, perhaps right now, don't want me in office or don't agree with me. But if the people elect me, I think folks will be surprised because I tell folks, I go, "I'm not a debater. I'm a negotiator," and that's real world experience right there.

Colette Bordelon: That leads nicely into my next question. Before the primaries, Denver7, The Denver Post, and Colorado Public Radio, we teamed up for a debate where we hosted your primary opponents, State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and State Rep. Scott Bottoms. I believe you declined our invitation to debate.

Victor Marx: Yes.

Colette Bordelon: Why is that?

Victor Marx: Well, I've said it from the beginning: Debates don't win elections, and the fact that I'm sitting here as the nominee proves my point. The strategy was different, but I did study all the other candidates, and I really realized none of them had a chance to win the general. And when I looked at the debates and even the forums, that's the Republicans' old playbook, and I just said, "We've only had one Republican governor in 50 years, so I'm not going to do what y'all have done." And it also showed my leadership to take a stand, to think outside of the box, to develop an army of people versus a small group. That's why we did the rallies instead. I've always wanted to reach the people of Colorado to find out what their pain is, and to start putting solutions together and run a campaign differently in order to win. So, the fact that we're sitting here proves that our strategy was correct.

Colette Bordelon: As part of that debate we hosted, we did make Kirkmeyer and Bottoms answer a series of yes or no questions. I hope you oblige me if I ask a few of those to you right now, so we can get your take on these too.

Victor Marx: Well, I'm not a yes and no...

Colette Bordelon: Let's see how you feel about them.

Victor Marx: Okay. All right.

Colette Bordelon: Did Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election?

Victor Marx: He was certified. That's that.

Colette Bordelon: That's a yes?

Victor Marx: Yeah, I am focused on this. Back there, there's nothing we can do about that. But he was certified.

Colette Bordelon: Is Donald Trump eligible for another term?

Victor Marx: I don't no.

Colette Bordelon: No. [

Confirming Marx's response]

Colette Bordelon: Do you support the dismantling of NCAR, the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder?

Victor Marx: I want to do what's best for Colorado. I know the feds have stepped in to block that. I'd like to learn more about that issue when I'm governor.

Colette Bordelon: And then, if you were governor, would you work to bring Space Command back to Colorado?

Victor Marx: Absolutely, and more. We have a strong economic plan to bring businesses back, both those in the defense industry, tech, strengthen ag, ranchers. This matters and support small businesses all through our state in tourism.

Colette Bordelon: So, that sounds like a yes.

Victor Marx: The whole big thing.

Colette Bordelon: All right. Let's talk about Medicaid. Those costs have exploded in recent years. Experts point to three levers to control that cost. Those are cutting eligibility, cutting coverage, or cutting how much healthcare providers are paid. Which lever would you look at for potential cuts?

Victor Marx: Well, what I've said and what I plan to do, and what we've already started, is one: You have to do a complete audit of Medicaid. It's there to serve vulnerable Coloradans, and we need to protect access, reduce the waste. There is fraud going on because we have people coming to us already who are whistleblowers, and they're saying the amount of money being wasted and the fraud going on. So my goal is to, and I'll tell you, I didn't expect this when I entered the race, but hearing from families all over the state, who their services have been cut. Parents who are the primary caregivers for their children with special needs. Those folks under the Golden Dome cut 50% of their eligible hours. So, the key is to audit it, put right people in the places of leadership. Measure outcomes. Go back to zero-based budgeting, and find out where the fraud is, the waste, and take that money. There'll be so much extra money, I'm confident that we'll be able to put money back into TABOR for people to get refunds, and apply a ton of money for those needing the services that have already been cut.

Colette Bordelon: Would that audit be done using artificial intelligence, or is there a plan for such an audit?

Victor Marx: It's both and both. What I would encourage people to do is go to ColoradoWorksBetter.com. Right now, we've downloaded the budget, the Long Bill, and people will be able to see exactly where their money is being spent. You can put in your zip code, annual salary, the vehicles you own. You'll see where your money's going. The lack of transparency and accountability is what's caused this problem. But we'll correct it.

Colette Bordelon: And then, I am not sure if you read this article posted by The Denver Post, it was a candidate feature on yourself. But in that article, a political science professor said AI is already being used across state government, but he did say there's no way to audit the state out of caseload growth. What would be your response to that?

Victor Marx: Well, I think there's a lot of things that people say that can't be done, but we've not stepped into that place of leadership yet. That's what we specialize in. Just like what I told you, ColoradoWorksBetter.com. That's before I'm even governor. How come it's never been done before? So, I would disagree, but I think we're going to use technology and effective, high integrity leaders to make the difference with that.

Colette Bordelon: We were just talking about this just before you got here. The flooding in Pagosa Springs. We're also seeing more destructive fires and floods every year across Colorado. Is human-caused climate change contributing to that? And how does the state work to address that under your leadership?

Victor Marx: I'd say poor management of our forestry system is more to blame than anything. They have failed to thin. They have failed to, after fires, get everything out of there and clean up. This causes problems not only future fires, but our water retention system, and of course, water is such a big issue. So I'm confident that putting people in the right places. I just got a text this morning from a dear friend. There's a plan already in place to affect all of this, which I believe will affect positively our insurance rates here, mitigation, forestry threading, the conservation aspect that is based on science, not just kind of wild ideologies. When we are able to do that, and as my friend said, who he's a subject matter expert, Travis, shout out to you, brother but you know what? He said all we need is a governor that will be our overwatch to allow us to take care of our state. The problem is, you have people who really don't understand forestry. I went out when one of the fires was happening recently, and met with firefighters that were ready to hop on the helos and bring more. It breaks my heart how much damage, the level of anxiety. Every year people are just going 'Ah!' So again, better leadership in these areas will make a difference.

Colette Bordelon: Would you ever accept mandatory cuts to our allocation of the Colorado River in dry years?

Victor Marx: You know, we've studied the water issue. I'm definitely, I'm actually a water rights holder, and I believe what we should be doing right now is repairing reservoirs while we've been in this drought. I look forward to putting a water liaison in my office, and then looking at where we can actually make the biggest change for the future. And as governor, I'm going to fight for our water rights and protect ranchers and ag folks. I was just down in San Luis Valley. They're terrified, and I think again, it boils down to leadership. So, we'll address everything when it's there, at each point.

Colette Bordelon: It sounds like the fight to ensure that we would not take on mandatory cuts as Coloradans.

Victor Marx: Well, we shouldn't have to. Yeah, from our basin and who we are, we're the headwaters, Colorado. We deserve the water, and we'll continue to work. But you know, I get concerned when the feds step in, start making decisions that could negatively affect us. So, yeah, fighting for our water rights is key with me.

Colette Bordelon: Let's move on to a different kind of policy topic. Your choice for lieutenant governor on Fox31 had said that he would work to rescind the protections for abortion that are codified in the Colorado Constitution. Previous Republican gubernatorial nominees in the last two cycles, those include Walker Stapleton and Heidi Ganahl, they had said that they were anti-abortion, but with exceptions for things like rape or incest. Would you support exceptions on an abortion ban in cases of rape or incest?

Victor Marx: For me, I tell people simply this: [I'm] for life, and as governor, this issue it's not even really an issue because it's been codified in our constitution. For me, I am for life, and I tell two stories that are reality. One, I was conceived under not great circumstances. I think you read my book, but you know, the night my mom got pregnant, my biological dad shoved rosary beads down her throat, put a pistol to her head. She had three other children, and I suffered as a kid. So, a lot of people would have said, "Wouldn't it have been better that your mother aborted you?" She had that option, but I'm glad she didn't, because the amount of kids and women we've helped over our lifetime, my wife and I, I don't know who would have done it. And in the same token, while being overseas, a young girl she was 10 years old when she was kidnapped by ISIS, and she had been so brutally raped. By 11, she was pregnant, and her body was not couldn't carry the baby, and I remember seeing her, she was swelling, she was dying, and I remember they took her to Germany to save her life. After we saved her, and her life was saved, versus both of them dying. So, I'm just for life, all the way around, best we can. I hate the evil, and what I would hope in our state, those watching, is there would be punishments that fit the crime. Right now, do you know that 70% of child rapists get probation in our state? That's under my opponent Phil Weiser's lack of leadership. So, victims must be protected. Life is a beautiful thing, and we must help mothers, young women who get pregnant. Maybe they don't want to. We've got to help them with options, whether it's adoption or support in many years. That's what I'm for. I wish my mother had more support, but I'm proud of her for keeping me.

Colette Bordelon: So, it sounds like no exceptions for rape or incest.

Victor Marx: I am happy with my answer.

Colette Bordelon: Okay. And would you work to rescind those protections? Or it sounds like the protections in the Constitution you would let lie.

Victor Marx: It is what it is, right now.

Colette Bordelon: Let's talk about campaign finances. So, your campaign team was hit with what state officials believe was one of the largest, if not the largest, fine related to excess campaign finances in history. Court documents say you've taken full responsibility for accepting donations over the legal limit. Your team has said the fine will be appealed. Where are you guys at in that process?

[BACKGROUND: The hearing officer found that the Marx Campaign committed 200 violations of the contribution limits and 10 violations of the cash contribution limits, totaling $83,758.32 in excess contributions. For those violations, the hearing officer imposed a total fine of $57,647.16 on the campaign.]

Victor Marx: We're appealing it, and I tell folks, "Man, what an incredible problem to have." First-time candidate. We brought so many people into this political process who've never given they don't know the rules of giving, and there were so many people that were so generous that they were giving we got overwhelmed. I think we're up to close to 50,000 individual donations, and where the average is 88 bucks, the limit is $1,450. And so, our team member, bless his heart, he was just trying to get them back as fast as he could. There's a 10-day window, and he wasn't able to get all of them back. There was about 200 of them. Now, they've all been returned, but some over. We've been transparent from the beginning. We never hid anything. We didn't spend that money. We held on to it until we could get it back. So, I think this is a great example of how our state, under one-party rule, will weaponize whatever they can to keep people from coming into positions that would ruin what they've had. So yeah, we, not only is it not fair. I mean, did you know that the Secretary of State they have their own lawyers, but they actually brought in one of the most expensive lawyer firms in Denver to help build a case to try to justify this excessive ridiculous fines? And currently, it's what's recommended. It's not mandatory right now. That's why we're appealing it, and we believe we'll win.

[BACKGROUND: As of Wednesday, Oct. 28, a spokesperson with the Colorado Secretary of State's (SOS) Office tells Denver7 no exception has been filed by the Marx campaign. Court documents show that exceptions must be filed within 30 days of the initial decision, which was issued on Oct. 2. Extensions can be granted for "good cause."]

Colette Bordelon: And then, did you guys change the way because I know in the hearing, Gregory Carlson talks about how he knew that some of the checks were over $1,450 but he would deposit them, knowing that he would refund them. Has he changed that strategy?

Victor Marx: Yes. We, because there's no other, there was no other way to do it. We've since brought in some extra help, and it's been very good.

[BACKGROUND: During the Sept. hearing, Carlson identifies himself as the registered agent for the campaign and claims he takes the excess contributions very seriously. Still, Carlson claimed it was exceedingly difficult to catch them all and acknowledged he told his staff to accept the larger donations, saying they would refund the overages.]

Colette Bordelon: And then, we have seen some articles where critics have claimed that money is being used to enrich yourself. What is your response to that?

Victor Marx: Well, who said that? And what are the facts?

Colette Bordelon: In the Colorado Sun, Mario Nicolais made an allegation that says [if true] he enriched himself based on their desire to help win the governor's office.

Victor Marx: Yeah, I love the word allegations. That's all they are. None of it's true, and it's not factual.

Colette Bordelon: In a prior interview with us, you called claims against you, "propaganda," and said they've been proven false. Which specific claim were you talking about, and what proof are you citing?

Victor Marx: Well, which one are you bringing up? Because the lawyer, Grant Van Der Jagt, who was vehemently against me in the primary, when we came into the general, he actually stopped, did his own investigation of all the allegations that were brought on by an individual who we still pray for her, and he's friends with her, and he ended up putting on social media every allegation was just false or misleading. So, we've always known that. We've never felt any compulsion to fight back or defend ourselves because it's just nonsense.

Colette Bordelon: Well, and I guess I should clarify: I was not mentioning anything specific in this direct question, this was just a quote that you gave to us on the 18th, where you said all the allegations they've been proven false. I just wanted to check, what were you referencing?

Victor Marx: All of them.

Colette Bordelon: All of them.

Victor Marx: Yeah.

Colette Bordelon: What does that include?

Victor Marx: If you, if anybody goes online, looks up Grant Van Der Jagt, he's listed allegations, you know, and then he's proven how they're false. There's no merit in them, and that's the thing that surprises most about politics, and even, you know, this was coming from a so-called Republican, which she's now leaving the party here, but you know what? You can't stop people. I follow Winston Churchill's approach. He says, "If you stop to pick up a rock and throw at every dog that's barking, you'll never reach your destination." So I appreciate the lawyer going through all this, and it's always been on those who make these accusations, allegations, to prove that what they're trying to prove is true. They can't. They're just allegations. So, we're it never stopped us in the primary. It won't stop us in the general.

Colette Bordelon: So, that was more of a general statement. That's fair for me to say that was more of a general statement?

Victor Marx: Well, it's factual that every lie and accusation against us he has proven was false, and people can see it online.

Colette Bordelon: And then, this is a topic that has to be difficult to discuss I imagine. You said that as a child, your abusive stepfather forced you to kill a man. How did that affect you?

Victor Marx: Well, how do you think it affected any child?

Colette Bordelon: I'm not sure.

Victor Marx: It was devastating. That was one incident in my young childhood of many that was horrible, horrific. All childhood abuses, whether you're beaten, whether you're betrayed, whether you're... like recently, a mother left her three children while she went to Vegas. And we've seen a slew of children being killed by one of their primary caregivers. For me, child abuse is one of the worst indicators of how a society is. I suffered, but I've never played a victim, and I'm grateful that God redeemed my life, and I did my part to go through counseling. It was over 123 visits in nine months, and I'm thankful for what I call "soul surgeons" psychologists, psychiatrists that will help people who've suffered childhood abuse, or anything in their life.

Colette Bordelon: And then, in past interviews, we've watched people press you on what it meant when you said that your actions may have led to the deaths of other people in your adult life. Can you provide any context as to when and where you were referencing in those moments?

Victor Marx: Middle East, on humanitarian missions in combat zones to bring relief to women or children, and we were in the thick of it. It's documented. You can go to our YouTube channel and see. There's videos where, I mean, ISIS is shooting at us. We, the work that we did was very leading edge, and there were times that we came under attack. Our rules of engagement as humanitarians that were oftentimes embedded with the Peshmerga, the Rocky forces. If we came under fire, we had a right to defend ourselves. Which there were times, I returned fire, and what I tell people is, I cannot tell you that I ended someone's life because I didn't go and check. We're not kicking doors in. We're not a direct action. It's just our approach to defending ourselves... I'll go back to the one thing, because I've had people say, "I thought you were doing missionary and humanitarian work. Why are you carrying a weapon?" I just go, "Well, I mean, we have a right to carry a weapon here in the U.S. If somebody attacked us or broke into your home, you defend yourself. That's all we did." So yeah, I hate that war does what it does, but I'm grateful of the lives we saved, and are still keeping in contact with, and that's the bigger story. It's not me trying to defend myself or those who have been entrusted to me, killed. It's the lives we save.

Colette Bordelon: I want to give one wrap-up question if I have the time.

Victor Marx: You do.

Colette Bordelon: Would you have three words to describe what kind of governor you would be if sent to that seat by Coloradans?

Victor Marx: Three words.

Colette Bordelon: Yes, people hate this question or they love it.

Victor Marx: Yeah. I would say measured, prayerful, and intentional to help the people of Colorado.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) A deputy sheriff with the El Paso County Sheriffs Office is facing felony charges after allegedly distributing contraband throughout the facility.

The Sheriffs Office said in November 2025, they started a months-long investigation including multiple search warrants.

They say 29-year-old Nicholas Guerrette allegedly transferred contraband and illicit drugs between people incarcerated at the El Paso County jail while he was on duty.

Guerrette was placed on paid administrative leave on August 5, 2026 and he was arrested October 29 and was put on unpaid administrative leave.

According to the sheriffs office, he was transported to the Teller County Jail, and booked on thirteen felony and nine misdemeanor charges, including:

Unlawful Distribution, Manufacturing, Dispensing, or Sale of a Controlled Substance

Possession with Intent to Distribute

Possession of Contraband Official Misconduct

Possession of Contraband (Conspiracy)

As Sheriff, I take our responsibility to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability very seriously, said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. I will not allow the actions of a bad actor to tarnish the badge or undermine the trust of our community. Anyone who violates this trust will be held accountable. Our responsibility is to protect every community member, whether they are incarcerated or living in our neighborhoods.

Hes being held in the Teller County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The man accused of firebombing a group of demonstrators in Boulder in June 2025 pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges Thursday.

Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 46, faced both state and federal charges for throwing Molotov cocktails to attack demonstrators in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza on the Pearl Street Mall last year. In Thursdays hearing, Soliman pleaded guilty to 12 federal charges, including hate crime resulting in death.

As part of a plea deal in court Thursday, Soliman also admitted that in addition to throwing those Molotov cocktails at the group, he did so because of the group's actual or perceived Israeli national origin and Jewish religion.

The attack killed one person and caused permanent and life-threatening injuries to several others.

Watch Denver7's story on his guilty plea to all state charges in the video below:

Boulder firebombing suspect pleads guilty to all state charges

During the investigation, it was discovered the defendant was staying in Colorado Springs at the time of the attack, but was originally from Egypt and had overstayed his visa.

In May, Soliman pleaded guilty to more than 100 state charges, including first-degree murder and 26 accounts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus more than 2,100 additional years in prison.

For nine of his federal hate crimes charges, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. For the three other hate crimes charges, he faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison to run consecutive to any other prison term, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

By his own admissions, Mohamed Solimans hateful attack on our neighbors in Boulder was antisemitic, said U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly in a prepared statement. All Americans should feel free to pursue their faith and way of life without fear that doing so will put their personal safety at risk. Antisemitism erodes the common ties that bind our great nation together and there is no place for it in America. We are grateful for the trust and support of the victims and the Boulder community as we prosecuted this case.

As part of his federal plea agreement, the government and defense are both asking for a life sentence plus 50 years.

Solimans sentencing is set for January 7, 2027.

For the past four years, the Colorado Springs-based Independent Film Society of Colorado (IFSOC) has been creating space for new art to take shape at its October horror film festival.

While the roster of movies is largely filled with well-known classics and lesser-known treasures, one film each year comes together on the spot: a silent movie scored live with new compositions by a local artist.

Watch this story in the video player below: Pianist brings silent film 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' to life with live score at Colorado Springs festival

This year, that film was "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," the 1923 classic, performed at Ivywild.

So, what does it take to score a silent movie from scratch?

"Well, it takes a certain amount of insanity. It takes a lot of familiarity with a lot of different music," said Mark Arnest, a lifelong composer and musician. "It helps that I have a background in jazz, so I'm used to playing off the top of my head and making stuff up."

Arnest's connection to composing and performing music runs deep. One of his earliest memories is crawling onto a piano bench and plunking out tunes.

Over the past few years, his partnership with IFSOC has produced live scores for multiple horror classics.

"We did 'Nosferatu,' the year before that, 'Cabinet of Doctor Caligari,' and then our first year together was, of course, the Lon Chaney classic 'Phantom of the Opera,'" commented Ralph Gioradno, executive director for IFSOC.

For this year's performance, Arnest composed everything he needed for the movie over the course of two weeks, but that preparation only covers a fraction of what audiences actually hear.

"I'm going to go in with about 30 themes that are going to be on several sheets of paper, but those 30 themes, if you play them from beginning to end, are going to last 2 minutes well, 3 minutes," Arnest said.

That means more than 80% of the work the variations and alterations happens the day of the performance.

"You're composing at the speed of the film. There's a kind of spontaneity to it that you can't get any other way," Arnest said.

For Giordano, that spontaneity is part of what draws audiences in.

"This is something brand new for this old classic film, and I think more people come to this particular event because of Mark," Giordano said.

The film society is always aiming to encourage people to watch movies and experience the art of film as a collective.

"You know, anything where there's 100 of you sitting in a room, or even 50, and sometimes 10, that'll do it," Arnest said.

For this musician, that shared experience carries a deeper meaning.

"We are the universe experiencing itself, and when a bunch of us are experiencing the same part of it at one time, it's a great thing," stated Arnest.

IFSOC is currently in talks with different venues around Colorado Springs, working to develop new and separate opportunities to share silent classics scored live.

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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The CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves remained unbeaten on the season after grinding out their closest and dirtiest game of the year, beating Fort Lewis 28-21 on the road in Durango in a mud-soaked matchup.

With the playing surface a mess and the ball slick, the Thunderwolves abandoned their usual explosive passing attack and leaned on their ground game, rushing for about 270 yards to pull out the win.

Head coach Philip Vigil said the conditions were unlike anything his team could have prepared for.

"As a coach, you try to simulate as much as you possibly can in practice, and we did wet ball drills last week and all that kind of stuff, but I don't know if we could have ever simulated the playing surface, the mud, that we got to experience last week," Vigil said.

Watch the full interview in the video below

CSUP Walk and Talk Week 10

The defense set the tone. After Fort Lewis opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown drive, the Thunderwolves clamped down for the rest of the day. They allowed just 135 total yards of offense and 5 first downs in the game.

Backup quarterback Evan Powell proved to be the difference, carrying the ball 11 times for about 140 yards. Vigil said getting Powell into the game was a mid-game adjustment once the team saw the conditions.

Once we got out there and saw that the conditions were the way that they were, that ball was about as slick as all get out, and we knew that our passing game was going to be essentially very, very limited," Vigil said. "Evan's such a great athlete to be able to get the ball in his hands and let him run around and do what he did. It's the same thing we see him do out here at practice all the time. And so I'm really proud of him. He had a great game and we don't win that game without him.

Ball security was a challenge throughout. The Thunderwolves fumbled seven times, losing two, and also had issues with a couple of snaps on special teams. Vigil chalked the miscues up to the field conditions but said it is an area to improve.

The Thunderwolves return home this week to face Black Hills State. Vigil said the focus remains internal.

"This week we talk about earning tomorrow and finding a way for us to be who we want to be in the future. We've got to earn it today, and our guys have had a great week of practice so far and we got to continue that over the next two days," Vigil said.

The Thunderwolves will take on Black Hills State at 1PM on Saturday.

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A former at-home daycare owner facing a misdemeanor child abuse charge is slated to appear in Jefferson County court Thursday morning.

Ruba Sawakid is set to be arraigned in connection with a biting incident that happened at Noony's Daycare in February.

Denver7's Jefferson County reporter Allie Jennerjahn has the story in the video below:

Former Jefferson County daycare owner faces child abuse charge amid investigations into facility

The charge comes after a mother decided to press charges after she said her 15-month-old child came home covered in bruises and bite marks.

The case is one part of a bigger story involving multiple investigations into the daycare.

"It just really left us wondering what happened when we, you know, pressed for some more information. The response that we got is that she just has sensitive skin, and I knew that it was definitely more than sensitive skin," Becky Emerson, the parent of the injured child, said.

"The Department of Human Services got involved and did an investigation. Law enforcement got involved, did an investigation. I know that licensing went out following those investigations, and licensing made some findings for licensing violations," Emerson said.

Even so, Noony's continued to be operational. Other parents Denver7 spoke to said they had no idea that investigation had taken place until September, when parents were told to come pick up their kids because a baby had choked and was unconscious.

Documents obtained by Denver7 said the baby was taken to the hospital in near-fatal condition.

According to the family's support page, that child is still fighting for his life.

Sawakid's license was suspended, and Westminster police have opened a criminal investigation.

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.

Todays Forecast:

Temperatures this morning along I-25 are sitting in the 30s and 40s. The sunrise this morning will be at 7:23AM. Beyond that, temperatures will warm quickly with 50s moving in by 10AM. Afternoon highs will be a few degrees cooler than yesterday reaching the 60s.

Colorado Springs forecast: High: 64; Low: 41.

Colorado Springs this morning is sitting in the 30s. Today will start off with sunny conditions and by the time we get into the afternoon, there will be some upper level cloud cover moving back in. Winds will continue to stay calm between 5-10mph coming out of the southwest.

Pueblo forecast: High: 65; Low: 42.

Pueblo has temperatures in the 30s this morning. Mostly clear conditions are helping temperatures to cool, but later on today highs will reach the 60s. Upper-level cloud cover moves back in later on this morning and mainly in the afternoon. We are expecting dry conditions into the start of the weekend.

Canon City forecast: High: 67; Low: 42.

Canon City this morning is sitting in the 40s. The day will start off mostly sunny and by the afternoon there will be some upper-level cloud cover pushing in. Highs later on today will reach the upper 60s. Winds will stay calm between 5-10mph.

Woodland Park forecast: High: 60; Low: 36.

Woodland Park is off to a chilly start this morning with temperatures in the upper 30s. Mostly sunny conditions will last throughout the morning, and by the time we reach the afternoon there will be more cloud cover. Afternoon highs will reach the lower 60s. Winds will be light between 5-10mph.

Tri-Lakes forecast: High: 62; Low: 38.

Monument will start the day with lows in the 30s. This area has been consistently reaching freezing throughout the week. Afternoon temperatures will warm into the lower 60s. Winds will be coming out of the southwest between 5-10mph.

Plains forecast: High: 60s; Low: 40s.

There is a little bit of fog this morning along the Colorado/Kansas border, but this should move out later on this morning. Temperatures are sitting in the 30s and 40s. Afternoon highs will eventually reach the 60s. Winds will be light coming out of the south at 5-10mph.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: High: 67/71; Low: 43/45.

The southern portion of I-25 will wake up to temperatures this morning in the 40s. We are tracking another warm and dry day today with highs getting into the upper 60s and lower 70s. Winds will be coming out of the south between 5-10mph.

Mountains forecast: High: 50s & 60s; Low: 30s.

The mountains will continue to experience chilly morning temperatures into the weekend. Lows this morning are sitting in the 30s. By the afternoon today, highs will be in the 50s and 60s. Changes arrive over the weekend with heavy rain and some snow towards the taller peaks.

Extended outlook forecast:

Halloween is still looking nice with afternoon highs in the lower 60s and upper 50s. There will be a few more clouds during the evening. Moisture will arrive on Sunday evening with rain pushing onto the I-25 corridor. Breezy conditions will also move in on Monday and last into Tuesday of next week.

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Residents at Circle Drive mobile home park are organizing to push for changes they say are needed to improve living conditions and address rising costs.

The Circle Drive 55+ Tenant Union, a chapter of Colorado Springs Tenants, says it has 126 members representing more than 70% of the park.

Zianah Griffin, a lead organizer with Colorado Springs Tenants, said residents are coming together to push for better maintenance, safety and affordable rent.

Rents are going up everywhere. Conditions are getting worse everywhere, and tenants are being forced to make harder and harder choices, Griffin said.

New York City-based Castle Park Investments purchased the property earlier this year. Since then, residents say the October rent increase has added to financial pressure for people living on fixed incomes.

Terri Maureaux, who has lived at Circle Drive for more than a decade,

I can't afford anymore. I'm on a fixed income, low income, and I'm disabled. I'm not able to work a full-time job or even part time

Maureaux said she spent eight years renting before becoming a homeowner in the community about five and a half years ago.

Im having to choose between food or medication. Its not easy, Maureaux said.

She said her monthly payment increased after Oct. 1, It's a little over $1,100 a month that was before the increase now it's closer to 1,200

In a statement to News 5, a Castle Park Investments spokesperson said most rent increases were under $60, and no residents rent increased by more than $75.

The company said it is working on overdue maintenance and physical improvements to the property, including renovations to the clubhouse, signage, landscaping and amenities.

During Wednesdays town hall, Castle Park CEO Jason Kwon said some of the problems residents raised began before the company took over the property.

Sue Charles, who has lived at Circle Drive for more than a decade, said the history of those problems does not change what residents need now.

They knew what they were buying themselves into, Charles said, adding that residents want to see more action beyond beautification efforts.

Residents have also raised concerns about water quality, repairs and accessibility around the park.

Castle Park said water is supplied and treated by the local water district and that it is working with the district and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to secure water filters for residents who need them.

Griffin said the union wants the company to follow through on its commitment to meet with residents in the coming week and discuss their concerns.

We hope that he sticks to his word, and if he doesnt, there are 126 tenants who are ready to escalate if they need to, to bring him back to the table, Griffin said.

Many veterans across Pueblo County don't fully understand available services. "I didn't know that was an option" is a common refrain. At Pueblo's Veterans Community Update, change is made through education and connection.

The now-annual event provides service members with information and new avenues for resources, bringing organizations together under one roof to help veterans find the support they need.

It's an opportunity to understand.

"To bring like-minded people together that want to help with the main goal and educate, inform, and motivate," says Bob McLaughlin, Executive Director of Mount Carmel Veterans Service Center.

The event creates space for ongoing dialogue about the community's needs.

"It's good to have that conversation and have a continuing conversation because these things and the dynamics in the community change all the time," adds Jacobo Varela, Director of Veterans Upward Bound.

Here, veterans receive updates on resources available to them.

"A lot of veterans find themselves struggling because they didn't really tap into the resources available to them."

Jacobo Varela knows firsthand.

"It's just really hard to get the communication out that these are here. People are not consuming media in the same way."

So Varela is helping bring it to one informational hub, using the gathering to share his program, Veterans Upward Bound.

"I help veterans go back to school," he says.

Career advancement, grants, and updates to claims services are all provided for veterans to take note of and make their lives a little easier.

"Make sure that nobody falls through the cracks, that our veterans that need assistance can get it, that our veterans that want to give assistance can also do that as well," says McLaughlin.

"I've seen people basically move from homelessness to having six-figure incomes and doing really well, and a lot of it is more about confidence and boosting their lives," adds Varela.

It's valuable information that not only helps veterans get ahead, but it's also befitting their service and is well deserved.

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Halloween is almost here, and Central Springs has plenty of ways to get into the spooky spirit.

From haunted houses to trunk or treats and outdoor movies, Halloween happenings are popping up all around the area.

Jesse Clark, co-owner of HellScream Haunted House, says it is one of the most exciting and hectic times of year.

HellScream has become such a fixture in the community that at least one neighbor measures October by the sounds coming from inside.

"There's actually one neighbor that comes by and says they can't fall asleep at night in October unless they're hearing the screams. I think that's kind of strange, but hey, to each their own," Clark said.

For anyone in search of a scare, Clark says you won't have to go far to find one.

"If you're looking for a haunted house, you don't really need to go far because they're right here ready for you," Clark said.

And if one haunted house isn't enough, there is a second location on East Bijou Street called the Fear Complex Haunted House.

To find the schedule and tickets for both of those, click here.

But if for those who would rather treats over tricks, there are many other events in Central Springs.

In Papeton, neighbors are hosting a trunk or treat at Edison Elementary on Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

In Middle Shooks Run, people can meet their neighbors and watch an outdoor movie on Cedar Street on Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Downtown there will be quite a few frights and delights. On Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. there will be a Halloween Party at Lolley's Ice Cream.

That night, or even on Halloween, people can watch Edward Scissorhands together at the Pikes Peak Center at 7:30 p.m. The tickets for that can be found here.

On Friday and Saturday, people can also go out on the town for Terror On Tejon. The bar crawl is a part of Halloween celebrations and gives people access to multiple bars along Tejon Street.

The Pioneer's Museum is hosting a "Halloween History Detectives" adventure for families. People can pick up a history detectives passport at the front desk and learn some fun facts. There will be animals and artifacts, creepy-crawl crafts, and a prize at the end. The event goes on from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. To register, click here.

There are many other events all across Colorado Springs, but these are just a few in the Central Springs area.

Tonight's Forecast: Quiet weather remains across Southern Colorado tonight with a dry westerly flow in place. There is a low to medium chance of locally dense fog developing across the eastern plains late tonight into early Thursday morning, along with a few isolated showers or a stray storm near the far southeast border by Thursday afternoon. Lows tonight will dip into the 20s across the high mountain valleys and the 30s to lower 40s across the plains.

Colorado Springs forecast: Low: 38; High: 64; Thursday will stay mild and pleasant across the Pikes Peak region with afternoon highs topping out in the mid-60s. Expect partly sunny skies with passing mid-to-high level clouds and light winds.

Pueblo forecast: Low: 39; High: 65; Pueblo will see another warm afternoon on Thursday with highs climbing into the upper 60s. Skies remain mostly clear to partly cloudy with dry conditions holding through the end of the workweek.

Canon City forecast: Low: 40; High: 68; Highs in Canon City reach the mid-60s on Thursday under partly cloudy skies. Expect mild conditions and a light breeze developing through the afternoon hours.

Woodland Park forecast: Low: 37; High: 58; Highs in Woodland Park reach the mid-50s on Thursday. Expect dry conditions and a mix of sunshine and clouds, with a cool breeze over the higher terrain.

Extended Forecast: Quiet weather continues through Thursday before a significant pattern shift brings moisture, cooler temperatures, and mountain snow over the weekend into next week.

Thursday Friday: Drier and mild conditions persist through Thursday. By Friday, a deepening Pacific trough sends a surge of moisture toward western Colorado, while a weak shortwave passing to our south brings a chance for showers over the far southeast plains and light mountain showers. Saturday: Increasing southwest flow aloft draws moist Pacific air across the region. High elevation mountain showers will build through the day while lower elevations remain mostly mild. Sunday Tuesday: A more impactful storm system takes over as an upper-level trough amplifies into the Four Corners. Heavy mountain snow and rainfall return to the Continental Divide and San Luis Valley, with additional flooding potential. Snow increases on Monday with a chance for a wintry mix or rain/snow showers expanding into the mountain valleys and adjacent plains as temperatures drop. Windy conditions will be around on the backside of this system. Flooding looks to be low with this system!

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Drivers in Colorado Springs are enjoying a smoother ride on nearly 150 lane miles of repaved roads across the city, the result of work funded by the voter-approved 2C tax.

The goal at the start of the summer was 125 lane miles. The city ended up paving 147 across a dozen 2C projects this year.

"Whenever we have an opportunity to move roads up, we take advantage of it. And this season we're here in October. We still got good weather and we were able to pave more roadways before we finished up," Bryan Wilson, public works operations manager, said.

Rio Grande Street on Colorado Springs' West Side was one of this year's 2C paving projects, and neighbors are pleased with the improvement.

"That is nice to see it to actually see it put into place and um it looks so nice," Westside resident Kathleen Eisenbeis said.

The before-and-after on West Rio Grande Street is significant.

"A year ago it was really bumpy, you know, you really had to slow down. There's lots of dips that you, you know, could definitely be hitting your car on if you're going too fast, so it was pretty bad," Eisenbeis said.

"They came in and they actually stripped the road all the way down, um, and repaved, and it looks amazing. It's super smooth and 10 times better," Eisenbeis said.

But neighbors have noticed one issue. With the dips and bumps of the old road gone, traffic that once slowed down now seems to move faster.

"The only thing I would comment on is the speed of the cars that come down here. We have a family, you know, we have kids, we walk our dog down here, so some people just. Go way too fast," Eisenbeis said.

City planners are now looking at the speed issue to see whether more needs to happen on the road to get people to slow down.

Part of the 2C ballot initiative promised accountability to voters. The tax equates to about a half cent on the dollar, which adds up to roughly $70 million annually dedicated to repaving worn-out roads.

"We have to deliver what we promised the voters we're going to do," Wayne Williams, Colorado Springs chief of staff, said.

The program has paved hundreds of miles in just over 10 years, with 190 more lane miles planned for next year. An online interactive map on the city website shows paving from past years, this year's work, and projects planned for the next couple of years.

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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If you want free legal help, Pueblo is providing that on Friday.

The 10th Judicial District is hosting its annual Legal Resource Day at the Dennis Maes Judicial Building in downtown Pueblo.

This includes, free in-person educational sessions and 20-minute Ask-An-Attorney consultations regarding family law, probate, civil money cases, landlord/tenant, small claims, and record sealing.

The court is an incredibly difficult process to navigate. I feel that having a legal resource day, um, helps educate Puebloans. It gives them lots of information to be able to do this on their own, Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator Matthew Gurule said. He is with Pueblo Combined Courts.

If you want more information about this event you can e-mail 10jdselfhelp@judicial.state.co.us or call 719-404-8752.

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Getting your sprinkler system ready for winter takes more than turning it off. Water left inside can freeze, expand and damage pipes, valves and other components.

Tony Hockemeyer, with Castle Rock Lawn and Sprinkler, walked News5 through the process, starting inside before moving outside to clear water from each sprinkler zone.

What can homeowners do themselves?

Start by locating the shutoff for your irrigation water supply. If you know how to operate it, shutting that supply off is a first step, but it does not remove the water already in the system.

Learn More in the Video Player Below

The shutoff may be in a basement, crawlspace, or underground valve box. Do not force a valve that will not turn.

If freezing weather is approaching before a professional can arrive, Hockemeyer says homeowners familiar with their system can use its drain points to release some water.

That can buy time, but it is not a complete winterization. Drain locations and procedures vary by system, so homeowners who are unsure should have a professional identify them.

Hockemeyer also cautions that a leaking shutoff valve can allow a drained line to refill during winter.

What should you leave to a professional?

Hockemeyer recommends having a professional handle the sprinkler blowout, which uses compressed air to push remaining water out of the lines.

Tony first cleared the supply line between the indoor shutoff and the outdoor backflow assembly. Then he worked through the sprinkler zones individually.

Basically, the zones are going to turn on one at a time. And we're going to evacuate all the water, he said.

The equipment needs to match the system. Hockemeyer cautions that an undersized garage compressor can produce mist at the sprinkler heads while leaving water behind.

How long does it take?

Hockemeyer says many residential systems in the area take about 30 to 45 minutes to winterize, though larger systems or those with drip irrigation can take longer.

For homeowners, turning off the water is a start. Clearing what remains helps keep winter weather from turning into a repair bill come spring.

DENVER Deputies with the Larimer County Sheriffs Office are asking for the publics help after a Grand Lake resident went missing earlier this month.

Mark Thiebaut Jr., 28, had rented a vacation home in an Estes Valley residential area in early October but when deputies went to search the area, they only found an abandoned vehicle belonging to the 28-year-old.

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The vacation home he rented had since been occupied by new visitors, according to a news release.

Investigators confirmed that Mark parked his truck in the neighborhood in early October but have found no other indication of where he may have gone, a spokesperson with the Larimer County Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies said investigators also did not find any evidence of foul play. A coordinated search involving multiple agencies found no sign of Thiebaut Jr.

Investigators added that because of the lack of information about his potential whereabouts or intended travel, search efforts were suspended.

However, investigators will resume follow up on any leads should additional information become available, the release stated.

Anyone with information about his location or intended destination should contact Investigator Brent Manley at 970-498-5336.

DENVER Troopers with the Colorado State Patrol are investigating after a suspicious device designed to look like an explosive device was left outside one of the entrances of the Colorado State Capitol on Wednesday.

The CSP responded to the State Capitol at around 10:34 a.m. after the suspicious device was found on a windowsill outside of the east Capitol entrance, according to a news release.

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The Capitol was evacuated at approximately 11:12 a.m. as a precaution and the areas was sealed off. Lincoln Street and 14th Avenue were closed, troopers said.

The Denver Police Department Bomb Squad arrived on scene at approximately 11:14 a.m. After testing, the device was found not to be a threat to the public. The evacuation order was lifted at 11:49 a.m. and both roads were reopened to traffic.

The Colorado State Patrol identified a person of interest who may have information about this device. Later in the day, CSP said they had arrested a 32-year-old suspect and custody was transferred to the Denver Police Department.

There is no ongoing hazard at the Capitol.