For residents in Southeast Colorado Springs, getting from point A to point B can be a challenge without reliable transportation.

Now, a new transportation option is rolling into the community.

PikeRide, a local nonprofit electric bike-share organization, has expanded its service into Southeast Colorado Springs after more than three years of planning. The expansion is aimed at making transportation more affordable and accessible for residents.

Watch Michelle Reyes' video report below: PikeRide expands electric bike share service into Southeast Colorado Springs

Dominic Saiz, who lives in the area, said he's seen PikeRide bikes around Colorado Springs before and believes bringing them into Southeast could make a difference for the community.

"I honestly think it's pretty cool, and it's really convenient," Saiz said.

He said the bikes could offer another option for people who don't have access to a vehicle or need an alternative to public transportation.

"Just in case somebody just doesn't have a car. I mean, everything that we have at our disposal now is to help us for the future," Saiz said.

PikeRide Executive Director Tara McCarthy said the organization heard directly from Southeast residents about the need for additional transportation options.

"We have heard a lot from Southeast residents about a lack of transportation options in their community, which is the exact reason why we extended our service here," McCarthy said.

The expansion was made possible through state grant funding, with five stations installed over the course of two weeks. The service area officially opened Oct. 23.

The initial locations were selected to connect residential neighborhoods with essential destinations. Five stations with bikes are currently available, including locations near Chelton Road and Verde Drive, the Family Success Center, Winnipeg Drive and Airport Road and Boggs Place and Preuss Road near Adams Park.

Additional parking-only stations are also available near Sierra High School, the Armed Forces Southeast YMCA and the Walmart neighborhood on South Academy. Those locations will receive bikes as additional equipment becomes available through the grant.

A transportation option for the community

For Saiz, the expansion represents more than another way to get around. He said the bikes could also offer environmental and health benefits while helping residents save on transportation costs.

"Whoever invented these, they're doing Americans a favor because gas is just too expensive right now," Saiz said.

He added that he hopes more transportation options like PikeRide continue to grow throughout the community.

"I have a feeling that it's only going to get bigger and bigger with gas prices, so any way that we could avoid that, but not only avoid that, but to grow as a community," Saiz said.

McCarthy said PikeRide is also intended to complement existing public transportation services, including Mountain Metro buses.

"We, as a part of the public transportation system here, bike ride is a first and last-mile solution to folks that may be using Mountain Metro bus services," McCarthy said.

She said the goal is to help residents reach everyday destinations including work, school, job interviews and medical appointments.

"PikeRide really believes that everyone should have the right and the dignity of transportation," McCarthy said.

How to use a PikeRide bike

Getting started requires downloading the PikeRide smartphone app and creating an account. Riders can then locate available bikes, scan the QR code near the handlebars and begin their trip.

The pay-as-you-go rate is $1 to unlock a bike, followed by 25 cents per minute.

PikeRide also offers monthly and annual memberships, which include up to 90 minutes of ride time per day. An annual membership costs $165.

We also have two affordability programs for folks who are of low income or no income, so folks can apply for those programs for subsidized membership through our website, McCarthy said.

Qualifying riders can access a subsidized annual membership for $20 through one of the organization's affordability programs.

Once a ride is complete, riders must return the bike to an approved parking location within the service area, lock it and submit a photo through the app to end their trip.

Riders must be at least 16 years old to use the bikes.

More expansion planned

McCarthy said PikeRide has already seen early interest in the Southeast expansion, receiving an application for its affordability program within 24 hours of installing the stations. Since opening the service area, the organization has recorded at least one ride per day.

The project was developed with input from community partners, including the Rise Southeast Coalition, the Thrive Network Family Success Center through Pikes Peak United Way and the Colorado Springs Planning Department, which helped develop the Southeast Strong plan.

PikeRide plans to continue expanding its Southeast service area over the next couple of years.

For Saiz, having more transportation options available is a positive step toward helping neighbors get where they need to go.

"If we keep doing this as a community, it's only going to work out for the best," he said.

For more information about bike locations, pricing and discounted membership opportunities, visit pikeride.org.

The Colorado Army National Guard has helped rescue or extract at least 50 people and 20 pets as crews continue working around the clock to help communities impacted by flooding in southwestern Colorado.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Holm, a pilot with the Colorado Army National Guard's Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, said the Guard's aviation task force had completed 14 missions as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, accumulating 23.3 hours of flight time. The National Guard's response covers 12 counties under disaster declarations, with operations based out of Pagosa Springs in coordination with the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office and emergency management officials.

Holm said the Guard began mobilizing last Friday. Crews conducted aerial surveys to assess damage, identify people in need and determine where rescue operations were necessary. CLICK HERE TO HEAR FROM A COUPLE RESCUED.

"What I saw from the air is, you know, that community is definitely impacted and it looks like a long-term impact just from the level of devastation," Holm explained.

But he also witnessed neighbors helping one another as the flooding unfolded.

"That community also... what I saw is them coming together. There were a lot of neighbors helping neighbors," he added.

During one mission, crews were sent to check on an elderly resident to make sure she had enough supplies to last one to two weeks. While the helicopter was on the ground, nearby residents flagged down the crew, saying they were out of water and needed to be evacuated. The mission quickly turned into an extraction of an entire family and their animals from a home near County Road 500, southwest of Pagosa Springs.

The Guard was operating two helicopters out of the Pagosa Springs Airport: a UH-60 Black Hawk and a UH-72 Bravo Lakota. Both aircraft are equipped with hoisting capabilities, allowing crews to reach people in areas inaccessible to ground vehicles or larger aircraft. Holm said the Black Hawk can carry more patients while still performing hoist rescues. The smaller Lakota is particularly useful in tighter spaces and higher elevations, with visibility that makes it effective for search operations. Depending on the circumstances, crews can conduct extractions close to the ground or use hoists reaching as high as 275 feet.

"We train hoist operations and confined aerial operations frequently. It's part and parcel with our daily activities," Holm said.

For Holm, the missions are especially meaningful because they allow him to use skills he has spent much of his career developing. He joined the National Guard at 17 and grew up in a military family. Originally from Nebraska, he transferred to the Colorado National Guard in 2017 and eventually became a pilot after beginning his career in aviation maintenance.

"This is very, very fulfilling for me to be able to use, you know, a skill set that I've always desired to develop, and I can return those skills back to the community by utilizing these helicopters to do exactly what they're designed to do," he said.

The demanding operations have required crews to work long days, sometimes beginning before 6 a.m. and continuing into the evening as the Guard works to maintain nearly round-the-clock operations.

Holm said crews regularly check on one another during high-risk missions to ensure both soldiers and rescue operations remain safe.

"At the end of the day, that's who we are as Colorado guardsmen. We're your neighbors. We're here to help and we have the expertise to do that," he said.

One particularly memorable moment came after Holm and his crew rescued a family stranded in the backcountry. After safely transporting the family to Pagosa Springs, the crew later encountered them again while shopping at a local grocery store. Holm said it's uncommon for rescue crews to reconnect with the people they help after an extraction.

"So when that happens, that is pretty rewarding cause it's unique. Oftentimes, we don't get to make contact with the people that we're helping," he stated.

Holm also urged the public to stay clear of restricted flight areas and avoid flying drones near rescue operations.

He said drones have become an increasingly common concern for aviation crews, but temporary flight restrictions established in coordination with the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office and emergency management officials are helping protect rescue operations. His message to the public: respect those restricted areas to protect rescue crews, aircraft and the people being transported.

Holm said the Guard's response will continue as long as necessary, with weather experts monitoring the potential for additional rain and snow heading into the weekend. He said the timeline for the mission remains dependent on changing conditions and the needs of affected communities.

"We're gonna be down there as long as necessary to get the community safe and the help that they need," Holm said.

And while the work can be demanding, Holm said Guard members are proud to be able to help their fellow Coloradans.

"At the end of the day, we are your neighbors too. This is what we train to do every day, and I know each and every one of my brothers and sisters in arms are happy to use our skill sets to help the very people that we live next to."

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Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election, casting a mail-in ballot in a contest that will decide America's future as the Trump era slowly comes to an end.

The Vatican confirmed Friday that the Chicago-born pontiff had submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, citing his long-standing belief in civic participation.

Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen" and has done so "whenever he was eligible to do so," the Holy See press office said.

Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in effect after Melania Trump, Pope Leo appeal to Putin

The statement said he had also voted while living in Peru whenever he was eligible. Leo lived in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop for over 20 years.

"The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," it added.

Leo holds U.S. and Peruvian citizenship, and is also the head of state of a foreign country, the Holy See. The city state is an absolute monarchy with no political elections.

This election, Illinois voters are deciding whether to elect Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to his third term, and they're also filling an open U.S. Senate seat after longtime Catholic Democrat Dick Durbin's retirement. President Donald Trump is not on the ballot but he has campaigned hard to try to preserve Republican control of the U.S. House and Senate for the final two years of his second term.

Leo's vote was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, which quoted the chief of staff at the Will County clerk's office as saying the pope, registered at a New Lenox address, requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3.

The request was made just 10 days before Leo underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. Leo has been slowly resuming his activities at the Vatican after being released from the hospital Oct. 17.

It is unclear how Leo returned the ballot. The pope's older brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week accompanying parishioners from St. Jude's, an Augustinian-run parish in New Lenox, Illinois. The elder Prevost attends Mass there, and Leo gave a talk at the parish in 2024 while still a cardinal.

Pope Leo needs no further cancer treatment after lung surgery, his doctors say

Prevost's past votes have gone Democratic and Republican

Since 2000, Robert Prevost has voted in five primary elections, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times, according to records held by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The records do not show which candidates he supported. Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot. No such declaration is required in general elections.

While registered in heavily Democratic Cook County, Prevost requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010. After moving to the more conservative suburban Will County, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

The records also show that he submitted ballots in every general election since 2000 except those in 2020 and 2022.

Clashes with Trump

Since becoming pope, Leo has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump for repeatedly condemning the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and calling for dignified treatment of immigrants.

Earlier this year, Trump called Leo "weak" and captive to the "radical left."

Responding to Trump's public rebuke, Leo told reporters en route to Algeria in April: "I'm not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the church works for."

"I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems," he said.

The public dispute has subsided in recent months.

RELATED STORY | Pope Leo XIV: Not in my interest to engage Trump over Iran war

A pope who follows U.S. politics closely

Leo has made clear on several occasions that he follows local and national U.S. politics closely, and is not afraid to intervene.

He has repeatedly called for reflection and humane treatment for immigrants in his native U.S. amid the Trump administration crackdown and mass deportation program.

Recently, Leo reiterated official church teaching declaring the death penalty "inadmissible." He made the pronouncement in a social media post on the World Day Against the Death Penalty, which came as the U.S. announced plans to livestream an execution by firing squad. The plans were later scrapped.

In 2025, Leo intervened in a debate over abortion, after Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich announced plans to give a lifetime achievement award to Sen. Durbin. The plans drew objection from some conservative U.S. bishops given the powerful Democratic senator's support for abortion rights. Leo called for respect for both sides, but he also pointed out the contradiction between people who call themselves "pro-life" but also support the death penalty.

Also in 2025, Leo said he was "very disappointed" that his home state of Illinois approved a law allowing medically assisted dying, which is condemned by the Catholic Church.

Todays Forecast:

Clouds have already pushed into southern Colorado and they will stick around throughout the day. There are some areas experiencing some patchy fog this morning. That should lift by 10AM. Later on today, highs will reach the 60s along I-25. These temperatures will continue into the weekend.

Colorado Springs forecast: High: 62; Low: 43.

Colorado Springs this morning has temperatures in the 40s. Clouds have already moved in and will remained draped over the Pikes Peak Region throughout the day. Afternoon highs will reach the lower 60s. This evening will be dry with overnight lows dipping back into the 40s.

Pueblo forecast: High: 65; Low: 44.

Pueblo is waking up to some patchy fog. That will clear throughout the morning. Morning temperatures are sitting in the mid-40s. By the time the afternoon rolls around hgihs will top off in the mid-60s. Clouds will linger into the evening and tomorrow morning.

Canon City forecast: High: 66; Low: 44.

Canon City is staying calm this morning and temperatures are sitting in the 50s. Highs will eventually reach the mid-60s. There will be some cloud cover that continues to stream into the state as our next system approaches. Canon City will stay dry throughout the day and winds will be calm. Overnight lows into Saturday morning will be in the mid-40s.

Woodland Park forecast: High: 58; Low: 36.

Woodland Park has temperatures this morning in the upper 30s. As our next system approaches, it will bring more cloud cover across the higher terrain. Temperatures will be slightly cooler today with highs getting into the upper 50s.

Tri-Lakes forecast: High: 60s; Low: 41.

Monument will have temperatures this morning in the 40s. Clouds will stay across I-25 throughout the day, but won't have much of an impact on highs. Afternoon temperatures will reach the upper 50s. Looking ahead to Saturday morning, temperatures will be in the lower 40s.

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

The eastern plains have some patchy fog this morning, and this will erode over the next few hours. Temperatures will eventually reach the 60s this afternoon. Clouds will stick around throughout the day and into the overnight hours.

Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: High: 63; Low: 41/42.

The southern I-25 corridor is starting the day with temperatures in the lower 40s. Winds will stay light today and dry conditions will last into the start of the weekend. Afternoon hgihs today will reach the lower 60s for Trinidad and Walsenburg.

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

The mountains are nice and clear with some chilly temperatures this morning. Lows are sitting in the upper 30s. By the afternoon there will be some rain chances towards the southwest corner of the state. Some stray showers will work their way towards the northeast. Highs will be in the 50s and 60s.

Extended outlook forecast:

Looking ahead to the weekend, Halloween is still looking nice. A stray shower is possible in between Colorado Springs and Denver, but most of the area will be staying dry. Highs will be in the 60s along I-25. Temperatures will start to dip on Sunday, but rain chances don't arrive until the overnight hours. Monday will bring some rain and windy conditions. Afternoon highs to start the work week will be in the 50s.

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If you're a regular reader of news outlets like this one, you've probably seen this headline before: This could be the last time you set your clocks back for daylight saving time.

Daylight saving time ends Sunday morning in 2026, and yes, the twice-yearly ritual of changing clocks could eventually come to an end. Whether that will actually happen remains uncertain.

Almost all Americans, except those in Hawaii, most of Arizona and U.S. territories, will need to set their clocks back one hour. Many electronic devices, including televisions, computers and smartphones, will adjust automatically. Non-digital clocks will need to be reset manually.

RELATED STORY | Alternative bill to permanent daylight saving time gains support from doctors, lawmakers

President Donald Trump has said he supports making daylight saving time permanent. Under that approach, clocks would move forward in March and remain there year-round.

Such a change would not affect sunrise and sunset times during the spring, summer and early fall. However, from early November through March, sunrises and sunsets would occur an hour later.

In July, the Sunshine Protection Act passed the House by a 308-117 vote. The bill would make daylight saving time permanent.

A 2025 AP-NORC poll found that most Americans oppose changing clocks twice a year. Only 12% of respondents support the current system of setting clocks back in November and forward in March. Forty-seven percent oppose the changes, while 40% are neutral.

RELATED STORY | House passes bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent

If Americans do not want to change their clocks, would they prefer permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time?

It depends on whom you ask.

Overall, 56% of respondents prefer permanent daylight saving time, compared with 44% who favor permanent standard time. Among self-described morning people, however, standard time holds a slight edge, with 50% support compared with 49% for daylight saving time.

The Senate has until the end of the year to take up the Sunshine Protection Act before House approval expires.

If the Sunshine Protection Act becomes law, some places, including Indianapolis, would see sunrise times later than 9 a.m. around Christmas.

One complication is a growing push from sleep scientists to make standard time permanent. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports the Sunshine for Our Kids Act. Like the Sunshine Protection Act, the proposal would eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes. The difference is that it would make standard time permanent by ending daylight saving time, causing sunrises and sunsets to occur an hour earlier during the warmer months.

As daylight saving time ends this Sunday, Colorado drivers are being reminded to watch for wildlife on the roads. The earlier sunsets coincide with animals moving to lower elevations for the winter, increasing the chance of encounters during the evening commute.

Wildlife moves during peak traffic

Bridget ORourke, statewide public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said clocks turn back an hour Sunday, which means it will get darker earlier. She said wildlife are moving to their winter homes during the busiest morning and evening traffic periods.

Wildlife travel along roads for a variety of reasons, but mainly theyre looking for food, water or shelter, ORourke said. Theyre trying to get away from the colder temperatures at higher elevations.

Wildlife-related crashes

October through December are among the busiest months for wildlife-related crashes in Colorado. Colorado State Patrol responded to 3,811 crashes involving wildlife last year.

Record bear activity

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reporting record-high bear activity across the state this year.

In Colorado this year, we have seen a record high number of bear incidents and activity, ORourke said. And so bears are going to be walking along roads during dawn and dusk. And their goal is to just fatten up and eat as much as they possibly can before winter. So its safe to say that Coloradans will see more bears along our roadways this year.

What drivers should do

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends slowing down in wildlife crossing areas, scanning roadsides for movement and giving animals time to cross. Drivers should also remember that where there is one animal, there may be more nearby.

If you see wildlife along the road to slow down, stay alert. If you see one animal, youre likely to see more along the roadway, ORourke said. And then also to have a little bit more patience to give them time to cross the road.

Seeing wildlife can be really exciting, but its really important that safety is the priority, ORourke said. So that should be the priority for yourself, other drivers, and the animal.

If a collision happens, drivers should contact Colorado State Patrol for assistance.

Wildlife crossings and a new optional fee

ORourke said wildlife crossings, overpasses and underpasses in the state are another part of watching for wildlife on roads.

Colorado is actually a leader for being mindful of wildlife migration patterns as we build new roads, ORourke said. Coming in January of 2027, Coloradans are going to see an optional $5 fee on their vehicle registrations, where if you want to pay into wildlife crossing projects, you can.

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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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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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