Good morning, Colorado Springs.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department knocked down a house fire near Lake Avenue and Venetucci Boulevard on Saturday, July 5 as crews reached the scene around 1 a.m.—everyone inside escaped with no injuries despite heavy damage to the home.

A suspect fled after an armed carjacking occurred Sunday morning in Colorado Springs—officers say the suspect threatened a driver with a firearm near West Colorado Avenue and then evaded capture after a brief chase when the vehicle was found on South 8th Street.

Officers responded to a domestic disturbance on July 6 in the 600 block of Cana Grove near South Murray Boulevard and East Fountain Boulevard—where they found two injured victims and arrested 26-year-old Michael Sotelo-Ballesteros after he reportedly broke into a home, attacked a woman and a man, and then assaulted officers during his arrest.

Johnny Morris, 46, and Hailey Cole, 43, are accused of killing Stephen Walker and Timmy Huston on Dec.

19 when a plan to steal a car to drive home to Mississippi led to the murders—Morris allegedly killed Walker at a Colorado Springs sober-living home and later beat Huston before their cases were moved to El Paso County for trial.

Mountain pine beetles are surging in Black Forest, and the Colorado State Forest Service is placing synthetic pheromone packets on trees to deter the pests—local residents and county officials are also cutting down dead trees to reduce fire danger.

Colorado State Patrol warned travelers returning from the holiday weekend that heavy traffic and increased DUI enforcement may slow commutes (including a recent checkpoint in Weld County).

Troopers urge drivers to be patient and give others extra space as random sobriety checkpoints continue through Labor Day.

In June, Colorado Springs homes had a median sales price of $500,000 and stayed on the market for an average of 40 days while new listings dropped 8.7% from May and were 12% higher than last June—Windy Bailey of the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors noted that low buyer confidence is prompting sellers to be flexible with pricing.

Summer Concert Series Featuring The Vindicators

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Bancroft Park — Free entry — Catch high-energy performances by a band of middle school teachers mixing classic rock and contemporary hits.

MyCraft Camp: Artsy Summer Fun for Kids

1-4 p.m. — Painting with a Twist — $125 per person — Kids aged 6-16 enjoy themed paintings, crafts, and snacks in a creative summer camp atmosphere.

Interwoven - Polymer Clay Workshop for Moms and Kids

10 AM - 12 PM — Meraki Springs — All materials provided — Create beautiful suncatchers in a fun mommy and me crafting experience.

Guppy and Me Summer Camp

2 PM – 4 PM — Little Fins Swim School — Registration required — Enjoy a parent-child summer swimming experience with fun activities and water time.

Cool Science Event

10 AM – 4 PM — Space Foundation Headquarters and Discovery Center — Free with General Admission — Enjoy hands-on science activities and demonstrations for curious minds of all ages.

Family Fun! Customize Your Sweet Bear

2:00-3:30 p.m. — Painting with a Twist — $27-$29 per person — Unleash your inner artist while creating a masterpiece alongside friends and family with optional drinks and snacks.

Colorado Springs Open Source Software Monthly Meetup

5-7 p.m. — Pikes Peak Library District - East Library — Free entry — Explore the power of AI tools in application development with expert Venkat Subramaniam.

Summer Concert Series

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Bancroft Park — Free entry — Enjoy the groovy sounds of Hoodoo Honey as they blend classic blues with a soulful twist.

All-Ages Story Time

1-2 p.m. — Peterson Library — Free entry — Enjoy an hour of delightful stories, songs, and crafts for all ages.

Jazz Thursday with Sarah Groh Trio

5-8 p.m. — The Mining Exchange — Free show — Experience the soulful sounds of jazz standards and folk classics performed by the captivating Sarah Groh Trio.