Colorado Springs School District 11 students can now apply to HBCUs for free,  thanks to a new partnership between D11 and the Common Black College Application (CBCA), announced today.

When the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) started tracking Santa in 1955, "The Mickey Mouse Club" was in its first year on television, Jonas Salk's polio vaccine was declared safe and effective, "Autumn Leaves" was climbing the charts and Ford's Thunderbird made its debut.In Colorado Springs, the local newspaper misprinted a phone number for Santa that actually rang to NORAD, then located at the Olympic Training Center site. A NORAD official who picked up the call played along, and the long tradition was born.It makes sense that NORAD, which monitors and defends North American airspace 24/7/365, would surveil the additional space craft piloted by Santa Claus, which NORAD says in a release it's "proud to continue each year."Tracking, which can be viewed here, launches today, Dec. 1, and features Santa’s North Pole Village, a holiday countdown, games, movie theater, holiday music, webstore, and more, the release said.The website is available in eight languages — English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese — because kids worldwide want to keep track of their favorite jolly old elf.You can also track NORAD's holiday mission through the Santa app found in the Apple App and Google Play stores. Santa's journey also will be documented through social media on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, as well as on partner platforms: Bing, Amazon Alexa and OnStar.Starting at 2 a.m. on Dec. 24, website visitors can see updates as Santa makes preparations for his flight. At 4 a.m., trackers worldwide can call to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) where they will either speak with a live phone operator or hear a recorded update."NORAD Tracks Santa is truly a global experience, delighting generations of families everywhere," the release said. "This is due, in large part, to the efforts and services of numerous program contributors."

The national nonprofit Cohen Veterans Network of mental health clinics for post-9/11 veterans, service members and their families has opened a new location in Colorado Springs.

The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office announced today it has completed the official canvass of the 2022 General Election.  

Questions are still emerging over a June 2021 bomb threat allegedly made by Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, believed to be the same Aldrich accused of the Club Q mass shooting that killed five people and injured 18.

Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell faces a federal lawsuit filed by his former commander that alleges a litany of missteps, including hiring an officer who had shot three people in 10 months while at another agency; promoting a "bully;" ignoring evidence of a forgery, and misusing public funds by assigning sheriff's employees to work for his private company, iXeros, on county time.

A 25-foot section of the historic "Sacred Cloth" pride flag was unfurled at City Hall this morning to honor the LGBTQ+ community and those lost in Saturday's tragic mass shooting tragedy at Club Q.

State Sen. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, who's served as a representative and senator in the State Legislature since 2010, issued a statement today, Nov. 23, to constituents and supporters, reflecting on his time in office and conveyed sympathy to the victims of the Nov. 20 Club Q shooting.

All City of Colorado Springs administrative and elected offices and agencies will be closed Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25 in observance of Thanksgiving.

Colorado Springs has been stunned by the mass shooting at Club Q. The Colorado Springs Independent, the Business Journal's sister publication, has coverage of the investigation and the suspect, comments LGBTQ and gun safety advocates and from around the web, and a list of contact information…

Colorado Springs Airport saw 201,555 total passengers travel in and out of the airport in October — up from 195,094 in September. Overall traffic is up 3.8 percent on October last year, despite 4.4 percent fewer seats.

A last-minute ordinance that would block flagpole annexations in Colorado Springs got another airing on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Utilities Board meeting, revealing a standoff among developers — those who control land within the city limits and those who want to develop property outside the city.

At a Nov. 15 town hall, Colorado Springs Utilities COO Travas Deal addressed a new council ordinance — proposed by Utilities — that would make it harder for developments outside city limits to tap city water supplies.

After recently raising gas and electric rates in response to forecasts that natural gas prices could go through the roof this winter, City Council is expected to approve a proposal from Colorado Springs Utilities to lower them.

Sun Country Airlines will start flying out of Colorado Springs Airport next summer.

Colorado is expected to get more than $40 million from a national legal settlement with Walmart over the superstore chain’s involvement in the opioid crisis, Attorney General Phil Weiser announced Nov. 15. 

Starting Nov. 18, Colorado employers can apply for new grants that will help them register their own apprenticeship program or join an existing registered apprenticeship program.

The City of Colorado Springs has been named a Gold Military Friendly Employer (Government/Nonprofit) and a Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly Employer. 

The city's long-term study of transportation needs has opened for comment.

Colorado is seeing “unprecedented” transmission levels of RSV, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials say — and with surging COVID and flu, it's part of a "triple-demic" Colorado hospitals are facing right now.

Skate in the Park kicks off for the season Friday, Nov. 11 and runs until Jan. 31.

Digital versions of Colorado-issued driver licenses and ID cards can now be stored in Apple Wallet.

The drive-thru COVID vaccination site at The Citadel mall will close tomorrow (Nov. 9) El Paso County Public Health says.

You can still register to vote today. Locations are here.

After four years at the helm of Colorado Springs Utilities, CEO Aram Benyamin is leaving but won't say where he's going.

When the Indy profiled Henry Allen Jr. a decade ago after he was elected to head the Colorado Springs branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), we quoted him saying, "As long as you believe in the civil rights of all people, you can be a part of the NAACP. It's not based on what the color of your skin is; it's what your belief is."

University of Colorado campuses had a $8.7 billion economic footprint across the state during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, including $440 million generated by UCCS, according to a new business research study from the university.

City Councilor Stephannie Fortune said in a release today that she won't seek re-election next year due to serious health considerations. 

A political newcomer in the Colorado Springs mayoral race continues to outpace other contenders in fundraising for the April 2023 contest, according to campaign finance reports filed Nov. 1 for the period from Sept. 29 to Oct. 27.

Despite noise from election conspiracy theorists, roughly 71 percent of Coloradans believe that elections in the state will be fair and accurate in 2022, a new survey from the University of Colorado Boulder shows.