Good morning, Colorado Springs.

A man was taken into custody after an hours-long standoff with Colorado Springs Police on Thursday — officers confirmed his arrest following the tense encounter.

Return to Nature co-owner Jon Hallford is appealing his 20-year federal prison sentence handed down last month by a Denver judge after he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit wire fraud—his defense filed an appeal with the Tenth Circuit on July 7 and he faces a late August sentencing on state charges for abuse of a corpse.

On June 30, repeat offender Hayden Cutter, 31, was arrested after deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office stopped his black Subaru Legacy without a license plate near a hotel parking lot east of Colorado Springs—officers found 86 grams of meth, fentanyl pills, a knife, a replica Uzi airsoft gun, and drug paraphernalia, and Cutter now faces charges including unlawful possession and special offender charges while being held on a $75,000 bond.

A new report by the Trust for Public Land showed that Colorado Springs parks, trails — and open spaces generated nearly $100 million of economic value in 2024, with 22 million visits boosting local property values and tax revenue.

City officials said the findings prove the strong role of natural areas in supporting the local economy.

Colorado Springs Utilities said crews will work on Austin Bluffs Parkway until November to build an electric substation—drivers should use alternate routes as underground water, wastewater, electric and fiber lines are relocated.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is considering six Colorado facilities as potential ICE detention centers, including the Huerfano County Correctional Center in Walsenburg (capacity 752) which has water and sewer services ready if ICE approves.

Walsenburg Mayor Garry Vezzani supports the plan to help ease local debt, while Colorado Springs officials said they are not involved and stressed that immigration remains a federal matter.

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.

Boys with Blue Concert

5-7 p.m. — Sunshine Studios Live — All ages welcome — Enjoy a night of music with TH3TA, Alyssa Mongiovi, and Evan Bingham.

Community Block Party

10 AM – 2 PM — Family Success Center - Pikes Peak United Way — Free entry — Enjoy a lively neighborhood celebration with food trucks, games, and community resources.

Flyin' West Performance

4-5:30 p.m. — Ent Center for the Arts — Tickets starting at $140 — Experience the captivating performance of Flyin' West in Colorado Springs.

Mangia! Italian Kids' Cooking Camp

1-4 p.m. — 1753 S 8th St, Colorado Springs — $8.50 ticket fee — Young chefs get messy making pasta, pizza, and cannoli at this fun-filled cooking camp.